We are a very curious species - we are indeed. We want to know ourselves, to understand our place in the world, where do we fit? We ask ourselves so many questions about our essential natures, we develop overarching theories and create personal stories of identity. Most of us, in some way or another, find ways to pidgeon-hole ourselves.
Ah but that pidgeon-hole (whatever one you choose) just keeps shifting and changing. Maybe that's why we are endlessly asking ourselves, "Who am I?"
Some things stay the same, I guess. "I have big feet," for instance, or "I'm an Aquarius." The deeper truths, the ones that shape-shift, are far more intriguing (at least to me), such as "I was young, but I'm not anymore. What does that mean?" Or "I'm a Capricorn currently experiencing a Pluto transit." Yeah.
Obviously, I'm still thinking about the big astrology flap based on Parke Kunte's ignorance. For those of us who study astrology, it was simply annoying, but for many who know nothing about the goings-on inside the ecliptic, it was worth considering - I think because it challenged people's ideas about who they are, even for those who don't "believe" in astrology.
The take home message is clear: just because someone releases a statement about something doesn't make it true. But how cool that some of us took the time to think about what it might mean to identify ourselves differently. You see? This is the very reason I so adore our species. We are full of questions, always. Sweet.
These daffodils are not blooming outdoors - this is in front of the fountain at the National Gallery of Art. Harbingers of a season to come.
14 comments:
during my undergrad i got to work with the thinking of gregory bateson. one piece of his leapt back to me when i read this morning's thought here: "we say the map is different from the territory. but what is the territory? operationally, somebody went out with a retina or a measuring stick and made representations which were then put on paper. what is on the paper map is a representation of what was in the retinal representation of the man who made the map; and as you push the question back, what you find is an infinite regress, an infinite series of maps. the territory never gets in at all." all the layers of description and definition and labelling of ourselves are like that infinite series of maps - the real "we" never gets in at all. labels are for products! steven
Those daffodils made me smile!
yeah, questions are good. searching is good. some answers once in a while would be good too! hee hee
I'm so glad you noted that the daffodils were not blooming outside. I was getting ready to have a serious case of envy.
Daffs are on sale in LONDON.....
here they seem a million light years away
last night I knitted and read a book,
so much for Manhattan nightlife!
Hear Hear, Steven! Labels are for products.
How many times have we cringed when people made assumptions about us based on our 'label'?
Great post, Reya. I laughed out loud when I read the title.
We're strange and funny - both weird and ha=ha.
People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly when you're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down..
whoops, I got side tracked with your title. Cant get the Doors out of my mind now:)
Jim Morrison - wow - what a piece of work HE was, eh?
I've heard of early daffs, but NEVER in January. Reya, email me. The address I have for you doesn't go thru anymore. Cubie
Thanks for the link yesterday to the article at Planet Waves. When I heard the "new zodiac" article on the Nightly News podcast, I knew something was boneheaded about the reportage.
I usually notice this when they report a "scientific discovery" that doesn't make sense, or else is something that was "discovered" years ago. I guess the shoe is on the other foot now, with an astronomer totally misunderstanding how astrology is calculated.
People ARE strange!
Rebecca? OH YEAH
Yes,indeed.
I thought the whole astrology flap funny - who knew so many people identified so much with their sun sign?
I am a Libra and I'm stickin' to it. No matter what anybody says!
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