Our experiences and consequently our perceptions, gives us
a limited view of the world, a sliver of reality, if you will.
It's a valid sliver, but only a sliver. Thought of in this way,
It's a wonder any of us can find similarities of experience
and understanding with others...
a limited view of the world, a sliver of reality, if you will.
It's a valid sliver, but only a sliver. Thought of in this way,
It's a wonder any of us can find similarities of experience
and understanding with others...
I'm all about seeing clearly, but each of us sees clearly differently,
depending on our identity (selected experience) and worldview.
For the past couple of years, I've been noticing what others
choose to believe and asking why. I'm not exactly sure what to do
with some of the differences I have have difficulty understanding
or even how to talk to someone with a completely different
worldview. I certainly have my own way of seeing and I find
some worldviews mind-boggling. However, it's always a good
idea to question your own sliver of reality.
depending on our identity (selected experience) and worldview.
For the past couple of years, I've been noticing what others
choose to believe and asking why. I'm not exactly sure what to do
with some of the differences I have have difficulty understanding
or even how to talk to someone with a completely different
worldview. I certainly have my own way of seeing and I find
some worldviews mind-boggling. However, it's always a good
idea to question your own sliver of reality.
The Role of "Chance"
The musician and composer, John Cage, thought of "chance" as
something that happened to us, but also as something you could
invite into your life. Why would you do that? Because, if you
operate according to your own will or our story of how things are
or should be, you eliminate possibilities.
something that happened to us, but also as something you could
invite into your life. Why would you do that? Because, if you
operate according to your own will or our story of how things are
or should be, you eliminate possibilities.
Cage invited "chance" into his life and [art]. The idea was to give
his will, his wants, his desired outcome a break and let "chance"
make a decision. By using what he called "chance operations", he
could destroy his narrative, his particular point of view. It's not that
his point of view wasn't worthy, just that it was limited and there
were a multiplicity of points of view he many not have considered.
It's a mindset where he let things be as they are without imposing
his own judgments on them.
his will, his wants, his desired outcome a break and let "chance"
make a decision. By using what he called "chance operations", he
could destroy his narrative, his particular point of view. It's not that
his point of view wasn't worthy, just that it was limited and there
were a multiplicity of points of view he many not have considered.
It's a mindset where he let things be as they are without imposing
his own judgments on them.
Life is a dance with "chance"; always uncertain, often out of our
control, and this is scary. We can embrace it, as John Cage did.
Whenever we feel our ego or rigid story is in charge, or we're
resisting reality and forming judgments, it's time to get curious
and ask questions like: "How else can I look at this?" or "What
other choice could I make?" Why not let things be, invite "chance"
in, and explore the many possibilities that arise.
control, and this is scary. We can embrace it, as John Cage did.
Whenever we feel our ego or rigid story is in charge, or we're
resisting reality and forming judgments, it's time to get curious
and ask questions like: "How else can I look at this?" or "What
other choice could I make?" Why not let things be, invite "chance"
in, and explore the many possibilities that arise.
Kim Manly Ort
Writer, Photographer, Workshop Facilitator
Writer, Photographer, Workshop Facilitator
~
"Life is like a box of chocolates,
you never know what you're going to get."
you never know what you're going to get."
Forrest Gump
~
Personal Note: What John Cage and Kim refer to as "Chance" I call
"The Mystery." Some call it "Spirit", or even Intuition; tapping
into something greater than my self for Inspiration... My husband
sees each day as a new life experience that offers a portal to Eternity,
if we let it, even the mundane, like mowing the lawn. Sometimes he
will randomly choose from a list of possibilities for the day, or do
what he feels drawn to do that day. Is that "chance" or opening to
the Field of "The Mystery" - or his own Intuition? He says:
Intuition is the mainline to "The Universe." It's how "The Universe"
communicates. It's the flow of awareness that comes from
"The Universe."
"The Mystery." Some call it "Spirit", or even Intuition; tapping
into something greater than my self for Inspiration... My husband
sees each day as a new life experience that offers a portal to Eternity,
if we let it, even the mundane, like mowing the lawn. Sometimes he
will randomly choose from a list of possibilities for the day, or do
what he feels drawn to do that day. Is that "chance" or opening to
the Field of "The Mystery" - or his own Intuition? He says:
Intuition is the mainline to "The Universe." It's how "The Universe"
communicates. It's the flow of awareness that comes from
"The Universe."
~
John Cage (1912-1992) was an American composer, music theorist,
writer, philosopher, and artist. Cage studied Indian philosophy and
Zen Buddhism in the late 1940's, and the I Ching was a source of
reference for him, using it as a "random chance generator", as well
as a philosophical reference.
writer, philosopher, and artist. Cage studied Indian philosophy and
Zen Buddhism in the late 1940's, and the I Ching was a source of
reference for him, using it as a "random chance generator", as well
as a philosophical reference.
~
Photo - Mystic Meandering
Moon and reflection in skylight
a portal to eternity? :)
Moon and reflection in skylight
a portal to eternity? :)
I've only heard a very few of the "happenings" from Black Mountain College, where John Cage was part of creative expression, or maybe from somewhere else. Mainly discordant noise IMHO. But perhaps you had to be there in the experience. I did like the visual expressions! Lights, various moving things hanging around, people dancing freely.
ReplyDeleteOh I wasn't aware... Have no heard him myself... Thank you...
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