Precession and Whatnot

As soon as I woke this morning, I felt numb inside, numb to all emotion. The power principles that usually help to lift the mood were not working. 

I’ve recently questioned the Universe’s sanity over her decision to enroll me in multiple courses of instruction simultaneously. I reasoned it might be helpful to have a heart-to-heart with Princess Amy if a small cluster of gray cells in the brain has anything to pass for a heart.

“Amy," I said, "I feel like a man who has drunk from the cup of life and found a drowned beetle at the bottom.”

"Perhaps life in the 21st century is an acquired taste," she said. "I remember that you hated Brussels sprouts for years but now you fancy them. Give modern life the same chance you gave Brussels sprouts."

"You think there's hope in that approach, do you?"

"You might consider this," she said. "When you examine it narrowly, how little do you really have to dislike about your current situation? You're only unhappy because life isn't like it was in the gay nineties but just think how very few there are of decades like the 1990's. One in a century is my guess."

Our talk didn't help. Some occasions demand nothing less than a time-out. This was one of those occasions. Minutes later, had you been looking for me, I could be found walking through Magnolia Plantation. My plan was to consider all my options, which didn't take long. There were few.

As I strolled casually down the sidewalk with the artist formally known as Prince singing "Get Crazy" in my left ear, a fire truck suddenly popped up like a demon king in a Thai water opera, and tooted a horn that sounded like Rush Limbaugh denouncing liberal democracy. 

It's never difficult to tell the difference between a ray of sunshine and a Genome who's been pushed too far. And in that moment, it has never been more clear.

That doesn't mean that I tornadoed around in public like the Tasmanian Devil. Certainly not. I behaved like the nice boy next door, always my strategy when in public. I mentally gave the driver a piece of my mind and I searched the databanks for choice, juicy words.

If negative emotions ever invoked a dark reality on any piece of fire-fighting equipment, that f-f equipment was one.

The major exception to the rule about Taz's behavior is that I often, regrettably, do behave like Taz when in the company of Ms. Wonder. What a saint she is! I don't know how she puts up with me. Please contribute to her campaign.

But in that startling moment mentioned above, the Limbaugh moment, the idea of being tugged this way and that, reminded me of the Buckminster Fuller concept of precession. 

I know! Look, I've never denied that my mind works in mysterious ways. Mr. Fuller's precession is just another example of that. Some people find my chaotic thinking amusing. It may be helpful to think of it like Brussels sprouts. I'll bet you once didn't like them either.

An example of precession is the combined effect of the sun’s gravitational pull on the Earth and the velocity of the Earth as it circles the sun. The first force is acting to pull the Earth into the sun; the second is working to escape the sun's pull and send the Earth hurtling into the cold depths of space. 

The combined effect of the two forces provides the perfect combination to keep the Earth in orbit at just the right distance from the sun to support life and be hospitable to you and me.

I know! Magic!

I can only hope that a bit of precession will result from my personal tug-of-war and have a magical effect on my life. And on Wonder's life. She deserves it far more than I do. 

Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying the idea of escaping gravity and flying off into space isn't appealing.

Ride The Wave

          There is a tide in the affairs of men [and women] that,                      taken at the flood, leads on to victory.

                                      ~~ William Shakespeare, McBeth

One of the secrets known to the masters of Alchemical Shamanism is that the Universal Consciousness works for the good of its children. Simply stated, the Universe is looking out for your best interests.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not pretending to be a master of anything. No, I got my information straight from Ms. Wonder, who, as you know full well, is a master of everything.

She denies it but I can see through her attempts to pass as a normal denizen of the earth. Probably an alien avatar sent to guide humans to higher consciousness and create a better life on the planet for everyone. I mean, those are my thoughts.

I do know a little about life energy, sometimes called vital energy, but only because I follow the path of Fierce Qigong in my quest for Camelot. I do hope you pay attention to the regular postings here on The Circular Journey because if you miss a few episodes you're going to find yourself lost. Just think of missing an episode of Morning Show and you'll get the idea.

                  *** Questions?

                Consult the disclaimer at the end of this post (not now; 

                wait until you get to the bottom.)

So, as I was saying, I know that vital energy, the Qi (energy) in Qigong (energy work), fluctuates. It rises and falls, it grows and subsides, and it's in constant motion between negative and positive, dark and light. Lupe makes use of these Qi fluctuations when performing her duties as Emergency Backup Mistress of the Greater Wilmington Night.

When the energy is directed toward you, it comes at you like the swells of the ocean that build in power and momentum until they break into waves. All you need to do is wait for the right moment and then launch your Qi surfboard onto the crest of the wave. That energy wave will deliver you to your dreams.

That's all there is to it. Simple.

Simple but not easy. How do you know when the right wave comes along? How do you know that the next wave is for you?

There is a method of living that will put you on the right wave without knowing beforehand that it's your dream ride. I call it fierce living or living life on life's terms. 

Waves come and go. Some are meant for you and some aren't. What you do is paddle out into the deep water (or get out into life where opportunity will bump into you). That's where the waves crest and when a promising opportunity comes along, you take it. If it's not for you, it will either never build to anything worthwhile or else, you'll fall off. 

It doesn't sound ideal but it's the best option we have. When the right wave comes along, you'll be there riding it for all you're worth and, if you don't abandon it, you'll be carried almost effortlessly to your goal.

That's the method I'm using in my quest for Camelot.

Disclaimer: (read the following very, very fast)

The information and content provided in this blog post are for entertainment purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any exercise, or wellness program.

If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe at any time, whether following the suggestions in this blog post, or any other situation you may find yourself in--love relationships can sometimes be the most problematic-- stop the activity immediately and contact your health-care provider.

The Quest For Camelot

In the words of some poet or other, I've forgotten the name just now, all troubles afflicting modern life, no matter how alarming they seem, will subside into a mere trifle under the influence of a steaming cup of the globally grown and locally, what is it? That's right, the locally roasted brew-haha that we affectionately and respectfully dub as Jah's Mercy.

The above is what Mr. Kier, my high-school English teacher, would call a run-on sentence. But aren't some subjects deserving of a lengthy treatment? I think so.

Although coffee is a favorite subject of mine and I am fiercely devoted to the stuff, on this particular morning, I was inclined to question the poet's sentiments. 

I'd wandered around the long-leaf pine savannah of Brunswick Forest, drinking a triple-shot espresso, and expecting the mood to lift like the morning fog. Didn't happen.

Eventually, I came to the spot where my Rock, that most dependable paragon of strength and resilience, stood looking out over the waters of Evangeline Lagoon. 

That very spot, that sun-flooded Eden, is the most congenial spot for happily-ever-aftering--think of Camelot where it never rains 'till after sundown, and by sunup the morning fog has flown. That's the baby!

However, on this particular morning, it just wasn't so. The mood remained bleak and grey. I didn't like it.

What to do? That was the question I asked myself. Surely there was a power principle in my mental toolbox, a metaphorical socket wrench that I could use to tighten up the emotional works.

I looked inside for an answer or a clue to brighten the day. And I was in luck.

Last night on Deb & Samantha, that's the name Wonder and I gave it, but if it's not the name of the podcast, I apologize. Anyway, on that podcast, Samantha said, or maybe it was Deb, that we tell ourselves stories about our lives and those stories become our lives.

Now, I agree fully that we tell ourselves stories about our lives. I do it all the time. And I'm open to the idea that those stories become our reality. Given that, pay close attention because what I'm about to say is the salient point.

Change the stories you tell yourself and you change your life.

I don't know about you but, as for me, I love that idea. This blog has always moved in that general direction and I think that with a bit of tinkering, The Circular Journey can, and will, become the stories that change my life.

And so now I'm off on the quest for Camelot!

But I won't find it without your help. Please stay with me.  

Don't forget to tell your friends about The Circular Journey and leave a comment because I'd love to hear from you. Remember my friends, life comes hard and fast. It pays to be ready for anything. 

Fierce Qigong!

Sing In The Sunshine

We'll Sing In The Sunshine

A song written and recorded by Gale Garnett in 1964.

In the song, a woman tells the person who loves her that they will be together for a time but then she will go away. She promises him that he will always treasure their time together.

We first met Uma at a pet adoption fair promoted by Best Friends, the adoption agency. Her name then was Reeces, because her fur was dappled and spotted, and brought to mind the popular candy known as Reeces Pieces.

Only a few months old, it was clearly evident that she wasn't very sociable. In an open crate with three other kittens, perhaps her siblings, she was alone in one corner as far away from the others as possible. 

My heart went out to her when I recognized that solitary nature. You see, I too am a lot like her. I prefer my own company to that of others although I've learned to pretend well enough to fool most people. 

I knew right away that she was going to come live with me and that I was going to give her the best life possible.

About a week later, with all the paperwork and veterinary exams complete, the Best Friends reps brought Uma to our home. 

I'll never forget the sight when her carrier was placed on the floor across the room from Ms. Wonder and me. The rep opened the door of the carrier and Uma came dancing out and crossed the room to introduce herself.

When I say that she danced across the floor, I mean that she seemed to be floating inches above the carpet and moving to music that only she could hear. She never stopped dancing to that music for the next 19 years.

She stole my heart in that moment. Forever more when I spoke of her, I told people that she was my heart.

Not long after coming to live with us, she stopped eating. I was inconsolable. Her veterinarian, Dr. Barbara, told me to leave her in the cat hospital for the rest of the day so that she could work with her.

For the remainder of that day, I thought of nothing else but Uma. I stayed in a bookstore across the street from Durham Cat Hospital, so that I could get to her within minutes.

I'm not a religious person, but when someone you love is in trouble, you do everything you can to help. That includes praying. And I prayed. I didn't know who or what the prayers should be directed to, so I just prayed to the sky. Continuously.

Toward the end of the day, Dr. Barbara called me and told me that Uma was eating and that the exam and lab work were normal. I felt a gratitude so deep that I doubt I've ever felt a deeper. 

When we were back home, I never left her presence for the next few days. But during that time, Uma told me that for the remainder of our time together,

We'll sing in the sunshine

And we'll laugh every day.

We'll sing in the sunshine

But then I'll be on my way.

And she was right. She was the delight of our lives for almost nineteen years. In truth, she wasn't the most loving of our five cats. She wasn't the sweetest. She wasn't the least trouble. But even though she never weighed more than ten pounds, she took up most of the space in our hearts.

During those years, she told us that,

I'll sing to you each morning.

I'll kiss you every night.

But don't cling to me

Because too soon I'll be out of sight.

We said our final goodbyes a few weeks ago, but I can't seem to let her go. And just as she made clear so many years ago when she was only a kitten,

When our time together is ended

And I have gone away

You'll think of me every day, and you'll say,

We sang in the sunshine.

We laughed every day.

We sang in the sunshine

And then you went away.

Thank you, Uma Maya, Queen of Cats and Empress of Chatsford Hall. I hope that when it's my time to go away, you will be the first to greet me on the Rainbow Bridge. Until that time,

I promise to sing in the sunshine

And remember you fondly every day.

We Need a Vacation

"For the last several months I've been chivied by the sewer harpies in the relentless manner of Patrizia's terrier, Snowball," I said to Ms. Wonder. 

"Let me see if I remember that story. You were riding your bike in the manner of look, Mom, no hands. Is that the story?"

"That's right," I said pleased that she remembered. "I was negotiating the sharp curve on the road that ran by Aunt Maggie's house."

"It didn't turn out well, as I remember," she said.

"Is that how you'd describe it?" I said, "The full account includes something about skidding off the road and falling to earth amid the briars and brambles of a passing blackberry patch."

"Yeah, it's quite a funny story when you take the time to tell it in full," she said.

"I didn't enjoy it,"  I said.

"That story," she said, "makes me think of..."

"No," I said holding up a hand in the internationally recognized signal that means, Go no further. "If you're thinking of something to do with Napoleon or Catherine of Russia, or if there's a mention of sea biscuits,  I don't want to hear it."

"But why?" she said.

"No relevance," I said.

"How do you mean, no relevance?" she said. "Napoleon couldn't have been happy with the way things turned out for him."

She gazed at me with a twinkle in her eye indicating that she was having fun ribbing me. I returned her's with a gaze of my own to indicate that the ribbing stopped here.

"Alright," she said. "I'm teasing but it's well-intended. I only want to cheer you up. I know that sewer harpies are no laughing matter. Have you talked to Dr. Beach about it?"

"I haven't as yet," I said, "and she's not a doctor; she's a therapist. I do speak to Feldspar about it, and it sometimes seems to help, but it's a temporary palliative and not real progress."

"Remind me who Feldspar is," she said.

"Not this time," I said. "Feldspar is part of an alternate dimension and I'm not sure you're ready to hear about him."

"Well," she said, "I know that feldspar is made up of a group of alumino-silicate minerals and is the most abundant mineral making up the earth's crust."

"Are you sure about that?" I said.

"Of course," she said, "is that what you're thinking of?"

"You do know everything, don't you?" I said.

"Akashic Records," she said as though it explained everything.

"I'll ask him about that the next time I see him," I said.

"Ask who?"

"Feldspar, my spirit guide. He's a yard gnome. I thought you knew that."

She removed her glasses and rested her head in her hands, her eyes covered. I've read about the move, of course, but this was the first time I'd witnessed it.

"We need a vacation," she said. 

"We're going to Litchfield on the 19th," I said.

"Not soon enough," she said. "We need a vacation now."