Greetings!

seems i am in a story/parable mood lately so here is another one that i'd like to share. i have a sense that it's based on a buddist teaching but i dunno for sure. i like it in either case and it's something i have often reflected on when i have complaints.

A man was taking a walk through the countryside one afternoon when he walked by a farmhouse. He stopped to say hello to the farmer that was sitting on his front porch. They exchanged greetings and the man noticed that there was a puppy on the porch and he was whining and crying while just laying there. The man thought it kind of odd but said good evening to the farmer and continued on his walk.

On his way back the man waved to the farmer and couldn't help but walk over and ask him about why the puppy was still lying there whining. The farmer replied that the puppy was lying on top of a nail sticking out of the wood. The man asked why didn't the puppy get up to which the farmer replied "I guess it doesn't hurt enough".

There is a parable from the tradition of Vedanta that I'd like to share. I'm using the female pronoun here but of course there is no He/She when it comes to Universe / God / What Is etc. It's both and none at once.

When God first created people she loved them so much she gave them everything but most importantly, everyone had direct knowledge of God, of love and of unity. Time went by and the angels and guardians came to God and said Have you noticed that they aren't learning anything - every time there is a problem they just remember that they are one with you, with us, with love and it's all fine. No one is learning anything!

God agreed and asked for suggestions on where to put this great knowledge so that people would not find it so easily and begin learning. One guardian suggested that it be put at the top of the highest mountain - for it would not be discovered there. No God said - they are smart and getting smarter all the time - they would surely find it there no problem.  Another suggested that it be put on the very bottom of the deepest ocean - but to this God said No - they are curious seekers and would find it there.  An angel put forth that it be put in outer space for surely they won't leave the planet - too difficult! But to this God also said No, they are clever and stubborn and one day they will build something that will get them out into space.

They thought and thought - where indeed could this great knowledge be put? Then one quiet little angel timidly spoke up. How about you put it inside their hearts? They will have to look deep inside.  God agreed and made it so.

Riffing on the theme of intimacy and communication - here is my latest painting. 

Oddly enough the quote is from People Magazine - which is quoted in a book I have about oracles - this one relates to the 7 of hearts. Intimacy is something I've been thinking about lately - something also that I can see I'm trying to process with my creative work.

"After 50 years of treating sexual dysfunction, Masters & Johnson have a humble definition of good communication in a relationship: It's the privilege of exchanging vulnerabilities."

We know it can be difficult to expose our hopes, dreams, fears and doubts to another person. We know that looking into the deep recesses of our hearts and searching for the shaky, gelatinous lump we call personal truth is a delicate and frightening process. There has to be a deep trust in the one who listens because sharing at that level can expose us to ridicule, disapproval, or rejection.

We call sharing the softest, most tender part of ourselves intimacy. People speak about "being intimate" but they often mistake sexual intercourse for intimacy or closeness. They say "Oh we've been intimate for months." But if you think about it two people of any age or any gender, whether they know each other or not can get naked and roll around in the dark together. That's not intimacy. You are only truly intimate when you're vulnerable and honest. Sometimes you find that you can make messy with your feelings but it seems more often the case that we don't - or worse as I've observed with both genders - throw up all kinds of thoughts and emotions as a smokescreen pretending to be intimacy. In the end though I believe that no one can really love you unless you expose the wacky carnival whirling inside your head.

Maybe that's why I paint.

acknowledgment to Leann Richards Author of "The Oracles of Love"

And one more from my "Worms of Serenity" project.

Robert Anton Wilson left for the next experience yesterday 1/11/07 at the age of 75. He is sorely missed from this here plane of existence. He left us with a great deal though and for that I give immense gratitude and appreciation.

For those of you not too familiar with his work - do yourself a favor and read some of his books, check out his site.  Feel free to be amused and confused by them - that would tickle him I think. Google video has a few gems too so go on...google him.

I'm posting a little painting I did a few years ago that was inspired by Bob. He had a thing for the number 5 and so do I. Thanks Bob!

Bob left us with instructions to 'keep the lasanga flying' - indeed Bob we will do our best. Maybe. (heh!)

Another in my series of  the "Worms of Serenity"

As mentioned in my previous entry, I was a bit of a weird kid. My Mom was a very devout Catholic which meant my Brother and I were too (or else!). We belonged to the Legion of Mary which had a group for girls sorta like the Girl Scouts - but for God. I remember even wanting to be a nun when I grew up - I was that into it. It was all about Saints and the Virgin Mary for me. I read stories of Saints all the time and collected Saint prayer cards like other kids collected baseball cards. I collected little plastic statues too.

Even though I left the Catholic dogma years ago, I have to admit that it's left it's mark. Catholic mythology is incredibly rich, spooky and downright interesting when viewed through an anthropological/artistic lens. Recently I started painting a series of cards as an homage to the Saint cards I used to collect. I used my trademark worm thingys instead of people saints. (Hey it's what I know how to paint ok? I'm not an illustrator for crying out loud.) I did a draft of 6 yesterday and wrote little prayers to go with them. They represent qualities and ideas that I feel I need a reminder of now and again. We probably all do - now and again.



 I'll post the rest in the coming week. Your feedback or suggestions for additional cards would be appreciated.

My mom just reminded me of the imaginary dog that I had when I was four years old. His name was "Butterball" and he was a reddish cocker spaniel mixed breed.

One day I was in the front yard playing with him when our neighbor from the end of the block walked by. She heard me calling "Butterball!" and stopped in her tracks. She walked up to my Mom who was weeding around the front stoop. She hadn't been paying much attention to my antics - she'd grown used to having a weird kid. An invisible dog was much easier (and cleaner) than a real one so what was the harm?

It turned out that the neighbor had a reddish colored cocker spaniel mixed breed named Butterball and he died the year before we moved onto the block. I don't remember much but my Mom says we weren't invited to the block parties again.

Man I was a weird kid.