Being contemplative

From Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung:

"I have frequently seen people become neurotic when they content themselves with inadequate or wrong answers to the questions of life.  They seek position, marriage, reputation, outward success or money, and remain unhappy and neurotic even when they have attained what they were seeking.  Such people are usually confined within too narrow a spiritual horizon.  Their life has not sufficient content, sufficient meaning.  If they are enabled to develop into more spacious personalities, the neurosis generally disappears."


From his auto-biography: Memories, Dreams and Reflections, page 140.

Connecting Rhythms

The four of us in my unit. And I guess, tonight, my unit is the family home. Interesting that the place of residence of one of the offsprings has become the home for the family. Mom, "M", "G", and I. We are each doing our own individual thing - each person separate, but there seems to be a rhythm in our individual work that is connecting us together in this space tonight. It's interesting.

A Quote from Carl Jung

A few months ago, I came across a book called the 'Unlived Life' and it is written based on the teachings of Carl Jung. Since then, I have explored more books on this psychology and recently came across an on-line video with an interesting comment he made about one of his patients and how this comment applies to us all:

"And that this is the thing people are looking for: an archteypal experience that gives them an incorruptible value. They depend upon other conditions, they depend up their desires; their ambitions; they depend up other people because they have no value in themselves. They have nothing in themselves. They are only rational; they are not in possession of a treasure that would make them independent.


"But when that girl can hold that experience then she doesn't depend anymore; she cannot depend anymore; because that value is in herself, and that is a sort of liberation."


"And that, of course, makes her complete. Inasmuch she can realize such a numious experience, she is able to continue her path, her way, her individuation."

A Canadian Autumn Afternoon

Drizzling rain...joggers running on well-treed paths by the canal. the smell of wood and fallen leaves. strolls with dog across the fields. calm.

Antiques in Northern Vermont

On a recent trip to the back country roads of northern Vermont, we stopped by an antique shop along the side of the road. Buried in the back of the shop was a 1927 Heintzmann baby grand piano. Heintzmann was a Toronto piano maker, and the reseller was an Ottawa/Montreal/Kingston company. The antique dealer said that the original owner was from Canada, and when she moved to the USA, the piano went with her. Her daughter sold it to the dealer. It was beautiful. The beautiful cracks of the aged paint on the wood made it so much more special....only real, good solid pieces are able to escape some the refinishing of the wood by unappreciative owners.

Original ivory keys. Lift the cover...dustless. 1927.

Piano at the Grocery Store

There is an old piano in the sitting area of the grocery store close by my office. Every now and again, the casual drifters that make the grocery store their hang out will play a tune that livens up the chore-like atmosphere of the store. And, on some occasions, the tune being played will be cause for me to stop and watch. Today was one of those days. The person playing was wearing flip-flops on callous feet, and playing with such precision and ease, and what a lovely tune.....made me stop in the midst of my temporary repreive from the office...and watch his fingers dance lightly and deliberately on the keys.....beautiful.

Speaking of grocery stores, had a wonderful weekend trip hanging out with my Mom in Toronto. TNT grocery stores certainly cater to a niche in the market, a void in the marketplace waiting to be filled....

Found an amazing place for 'yum cha', with flavours reminiscent of the Hong Kong where I spent my early adult life. Real Hong Kong flavours with chefs that take pride in their work. Oh, it makes me "homesick". :-)

A jog along the river

Jogging along the river during the fading sunset. The blurry soft orange of the sky reflected in the moving water. Stillness...in motion. The motion of the the gentle gurgling water, the motion of my movement. But stillness.