In an interview with Claude Samuel, Olivier Messiaen gives some insight into how he thinks about writing for piano.(hint - it's more than three easy steps...)

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The answer is to seek authenticity in both our actions and our thoughts.
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more notes on meditation here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/

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I was listening to some lectures by Malcolm Gladwell where he is talking about the craft of writing.  I'm a Gladwell Fan, an enthusiast.  But he makes some disparaging remarks about the semi-colon that I could not leave un-remarked!  

(I refer to one of my videos about the semi-colon in Annie Dillard's writing: https://youtu.be/bOgTFa_87Qs.)

Ley lines are visual alignments of neolithic monuments; mystical earth energy; deliberate alignment of occult architecture; any/all/other/none of these.  Either way, in the modern city the natural ley line is overwhelmed by the electrical grid.  In this episode, we listen to  and comment on a recent field recording where I am walking down by the river sampling the VLF electromagnetic hum of the city power grid.

I use Lions Mane in my morning coffee.  An adaptogen is a supplement intended to de-stress the system.  Wouldn't it be great if we lived in a adaptogenic society?

"Lincoln in the Bardo" is a remarkable piece of writing.  The characters speak in epitaphs throughout, which makes reading the book a deeply involved experience.  .   The final the sensation, having reached the end of the book, is one of a generous and compassionate recognition of our condition.  Letting go of grief.  Yes, really remarkable.

Time to check in and see what's going on at the piano.  Updates on practicing and composition...perhaps a live feed of some new music?

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Garth Brooks tells a story in this song.  The story teaches us what it is to look  for the authentic moment and have the wisdom of compassion to react with skillful means.  



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We are blessed as humans to be surrounded by a poetic halo filled with objects of our choosing.  Today I was reading this beautiful memorial poem written by James Fenton.  

For Andrew Wood by James Fenton

What would the dead want from us
Watching from their cave?
Would they have us forever howling?
Would they have us rave
Or disfigure ourselves, or be strangled
Like some ancient emperor’s slave?

None of my dead friends were emperors
With such exorbitant tastes
And none of them were so vengeful
As to have all their friends waste
Waste quiet away in sorrow
Disfigured and defaced.

I think the dead would want us
To weep for what they have lost.
I think that our luck in continuing
Is what would affect them most.
But time would find them generous
And less self-engrossed.

And time would find them generous
As they used to be
And what else would they want from us
But an honored place in our memory,
A favorite room, a hallowed chair,
Privilege and celebrity?
And so the dead might cease to grieve
And we might make amends
And there might be a pact between
Dead friends and living friends.
What our dead friends would want from us
Would be such living friends.



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What is it that's there right now?  a physical sensation?  A thought?  A thought about a physical sensation?  Anxiety about a future reaction?  Becoming familiar with asking that question opens a field of awareness.

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more notes on meditation here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/

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