2018.04.28 - Day 45

Yes Storm – we needed the instant reactions to be able to survive or we wouldn’t be here to consider this. The quote needed more context. Tart is mostly pointing out that our brains do this automatization so well that it hides the constructed nature of our reality from us. Reading about another ‘altered state of consciousness’ now, hypnosis.
We don’t seem to hear much about hypnosis nowadays except as a form of entertainment.

Love Riddle’s playful posts and Steve’s sketches. I would find it hard to do sketches like that because I would have to put every detail in and get everything just right. A time limit would be the answer. I never did much drawing when I painted – just a few lines then started in with the paint. Abstract painting was different. I would sometimes just squeeze different colours onto the canvas and push them around a bit and then let the painting develop itself. A bit of an analogy with waking up here maybe. Changing from the representational methods and perspectival cultural rules to letting paint do its own thing and just flowing with it 

Could never be bothered with digital painting. Used to think I was more of a broad-brush person cos never liked finicky details of computer programming, for example. But I’m pretty perfectionistic with music tracks - getting all the timing and levels, EQ, compression etc just right.

Savoring.

Last night, middle of the night, smiling and dwelling on "I truly like these people." Morning, today, smiling, and "Yep, they are honestly great." Reading, re-reading, resisting urge to comment as intention to listen, appreciate.

A response though, that the question came up in a recorded class years ago, and wish I'd labeled recordings better. I probably lifted it out of context. :)

Thank you Riddle! :))

Just one brief thought today, chosen from so many runners-up: "Play has a tendency to be beautiful."

The last couple of days have been full of distractions and low on energy, making it difficult to practice or write even briefly. Today has been a bit more spacious, and I have found opportunities to sense myself as present in what I am doing in the moment: making lunch, washing dishes, reading, ... But this practice (along with my unsuccessful efforts at lucid dreaming) are making me aware of just how unstable and flighty my mind is. The slightest distraction pulls me off task, and I cannot keep a consistent intention in the foreground of my awareness for more than a very short length of time.

I'm also continuing to play with self-hypnosis, but I'm still not sure what to make of it.

Today started cooly, locked out of our winery rehearsal space.
The eventual being let in and singing the whole concer...t resulted in tightening up of lower back muscles:(
The evening brought me into a work auction(first for us). Very generous people. The school will
have funds for the transition of space. Yay!