2018.04.23 - Day 40

Storm - could be - lots of interpretations maybe need to remember there is more than one path and open to other possibilities.

Alma - looked at your book - interesting. Gurdjieff's name comes up everywhere. He seems to have influenced a lot of people. I always remember the story of how, at one of his retreats, there was a really obnoxious man who kept getting angry and complained about everything. He eventually left and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. But Gurdjieff sent someone to bring him back, saying they needed to work with the discomfort the man provided. Something like that :)

I was just sitting here with my head resting on the desk, half asleep, thinking about this morning's PaB session. Sitting around the fountain, Nunavut seemed to become our Shangri-la except that Nunavut is not an actual, bonafide fictional place. Still it became a place for our imaginations to roam freely. For some reason I found that wonderfully refreshing. Maybe I needed an escape to whiter pastures. edited 17:45, 23 Apr 2018

It's World Book Day, Happy World Book Day everyone! What better day than to start reading a new book?

"But wait. What of your project related to the Imagined Future Self? That was to culminate with that future self journeying into social media?" This I've done, along with all the preparatory work, and with the bonus of bringing it into Second Life with a new avatar.

First the final comments from that. Social media: results on Mastodon have been much better than on diaspora*, I think because diaspora* feels a little colder and the scholarly Mastodon instance I chose a little more intimate. The Mastodon interface seems better laid out (think Tweetdeck for Twitter versus using Facebook on a browser). It's easier to find things and do things, it's easier to find people with similar interests, and I probably wrote a better introduction on Mastodon because the guidelines are better. Anyway, I've had many more responses.

That said, and although I'll continue to maintain a presence on those social media, there's nothing else relevant right now that would further further this 99 day project. So onto the backup project.

Many years ago, in 2008, Pema told us some of us about a book called "Homo Ludens", written in 1938 by the Dutch historian and cultural theorist Johan Huizinga. Pema mentioned that the book made clear connections between human culture and human play. Additionally, in 2009, Bleu's Salon of the Senses invited Tom Boellstorff (SL Tom Bukowski) to speak about his book "Coming of Age in Second Life" in which he cites Huizinga, and describes "Homo Ludens" as a founding text of game studies. It's very relevant to Play as Being.

At the time I couldn't get hold of a copy. But as of 2016 there is an inexpensive paperback edition published by Angelico Press, and there may be other recent editions available too.

Anyway, I shall begin reading "Homo Ludens" and commenting here. I doubt I shall finish it by Day 55, especially with "Conference of the Birds" demanding time too. If Eliza extends the day limit, I shall definitely use that! ;-)) edited 21:14, 23 Apr 2018

Savoring.

Rain fell hard, all afternoon, dishwasher also, churning away. Womb-like. Out to sea.
Closed my eyes in signal of "please don't talk to me, or at least don't need me to answer." Now clear, distinct layers of cloud cover. Chimes lightly chiming.

Sleepy. edited 23:25, 23 Apr 2018

Walking in a local park, on one of our first truly spring-like days. Just walking, and self-remembering -- There was a moment of what seemed like "hyper-reality" ... seeing the paved trail curving ahead of me through the stark gray tree trunks, and the pale green moss lining the path on both sides. The feel of my arms and legs moving rhythmically as I walked. All so vivid and present in awareness.

Zen, I have heard that story about Gurdjieff too. I suppose one of the best ways to learn about ourselves is by observing what really irritates us.

Had dreamcircle tonight
The common themes were:
architecture( prestigious, circular,escalators, stairways and shelves)
Relationships (unexpected)past and present
Screens-covered and exposed. edited 13:52, 24 Apr 2018