“You must write for yourself, above all. That is your only hope of creating something beautiful.” ~ Gustave Flaubert
When several years back I first wrote the fantastic legend of the Bear Drum, it was meant as a short story depicting the young shaman Tengis’ adventure in the Siberian Taiga, near the shore of the Sacred Lake Baikal. It was a story I put on paper for myself because it just popped into my mind and because I thought it was, well…beautiful. Little did I know that this short story would eventually become the foundation for the epic novel, entitled The Earth Shifter.
Siberian shaman beating shamanic drum by the Sacred Shaman Rock, on the shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia
Hi Jan, thanks for sharing your timely concerns regarding the state of our planet. It is unconscionable that politicians play lip service to their constituents while being bought out by big oil. At some point we’ll reach critical mass and it’ll be too late to act… as we Terraform ourselves to death. Climate changes will force us to change the way we live. I remember the images of Beijing, China in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. People were walking
around in masks the air was so thick with factory pollution, there was talk of cancelling the games! Their gov’t was forced (reluctantly) to shut down the local factories for several months. We have to ween ourselves from coal, fossil fuels, since we already have
alternative energy sources. We all need to petition and force our respective gov’t to act.
Firstly, make it a CRIME to accept corporate bribes (donations, campaign contributions, perks & kickbacks). Then jump start the economy by replacing old industrial infrastructure, slowly trickling down to the consumer level. Natural gas would be a reasonable transitional fuel, but we definitely need to adopt clean renewable resources.
We have the technology and manpower to do this, but we also need the willingness to change for the good of all.
Just my thoughts on the matter, I’m sure there are more creative solutions, but we really need to start for real. Thanks for introducing this subject from the heart♥
Presenting a short dialogue between two characters I know quite well, ME and I.
ME represents me when I really think about climate change and what it means
I represents me when I want to convince myself that it will be okay, or when I don’t want to think about it because it is too upsetting, or because thinking about it should naturally lead to doing something about it, and how hard is that? I mean, I have a life to live and blogs to write and a family to care for and places to go and things to do, and Christmas presents to buy. I’m too busy to pay attention to this.
ME: Climate change is real. There is almost universal agreement about this now. Climate change has the possibility of drastically changing our environment and our way of life.
In thy closed lips I found a mute language of unspoken tale,
mystical like a woven filigree embedded inside the heart's frame...
the threads of intrinsic silken threads now weave us together
beyond the cycle of time ,we exist as wanderers.
what sees the eye,what catches the vision,
rarest of rare escape the provision,
the pristine wavelength of the divine bestowed on us
through matters of time...
like a sip of wine intoxicating
the dip of amor soaks with inebriation
but the richest in all divine love
uplifts the souls in uttermost devotion...
Lavinia, I adore your new life! Everyone deserves to be happy just like you, but first we all have to leave our comfort zone. I’m thrilled to hear of your new experiences and enjoying the most precious things in life. London is exactly like you describe, it’s diverse, multicultural and lots of fun. Definitely one of my favorite cities for work and play, hope you fall madly in love and complete the fairy tale before you wake up in Romania. Just kidding! 😀
BJ, u certainly exemplify what it means to be a friend by the way you lead u’r life. God Bless U 4 that! U’r sermon was truly heart warming and inspirational. I’m so happy to be u’r friend WHEN we meet up, i’ll give you a great big hug! Love this part:
“So, to simplify – a friend is a close acquaintance, whose company we enjoy, that we share a common struggle or cause with. Brothers and Sisters, all of Heavenly Fathers children here on earth struggle each day to find their way back to Him. Brothers and Sisters, we are ALL friends…we just haven’t met each other yet.”
The International Geophysical Year was an actual event in world history. Taking place from July 1957 to December 1958, the I.G.Y. centered on a global series of events highlighting physical sciences and their applications, including seismology, meteorology, and rocketry.
Like a middle-aged man revisiting the “Futurama” he saw at a world’s fair in his youth, Fagen’s “I.G.Y.” captures the essence of this postwar world in an almost regretful retrospective. The outwardly hopeful yet internally disenchanted aura that marks the song represents a society’s aspirations of greatness while also reflecting a deeper understanding of the imperfection inherent in reality.
This paradoxical relationship between promising dreams and discouraging truths is brought out in the lyrics of the song. The refrain’s “what a beautiful world this will be; what a glorious time to be free” fills the listener with an uneasy desire to believe what is being said. The lyric: “well by ’76, we’ll be A-O-K,” when looking at the ’50s with the eyes of ’82, reveals a somber sense of the long road ahead.
Though the words are interesting and thought-provoking, the shining strength of “I.G.Y.” is its captivating world of musical textures. From the song’s mystical, engaging, and almost cosmic intro to the wistful and gently piercing synth-harmonica that reappears throughout, “I.G.Y.” invites the listener into its realm and immerses him in the rich musical landscape. The experience is greatly enhanced when the song is played in a high-quality stereo surround setup; brilliantly defined instrumental and vocal tracks separated among speakers give an added dimension to Fagen’s ingenious arrangements.
Years after hearing this song for the first time, I found myself watching the movie October Sky, which was based on the childhood of rocket pioneer Homer Hickam. When Homer’s achievements were recognized in a school assembly, a large banner was seen hanging in the packed auditorium proclaiming “International Geophysical Year.” I couldn’t keep myself from believing that all of the young people present must have had a touch of that same optimism, though their hopes were yet unclouded by any worries of their future.
Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream’s in sight
You’ve got to admit it
At this point in time that it’s clear
The future looks bright
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from new york to paris
Well by seventy-six we’ll be a.o.k.
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there’s time
The fix is in
You’ll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we’ve got to win
Here at home we’ll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There’ll be spandex jackets one for everyone
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from new york to paris
(more leisure for artists everywhere)
A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We’ll be clean when their work is done
We’ll be eternally free yes and eternally young
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Though the words are interesting and thought-provoking, the shining strength of “I.G.Y.” is its captivating world of musical textures. From the song’s mystical, engaging, and almost cosmic intro to the wistful and gently piercing synth-harmonica that reappears throughout, “I.G.Y.” invites the listener into its realm and immerses him in the rich musical landscape. The experience is greatly enhanced when the song is played in a high-quality stereo surround setup; brilliantly defined instrumental and vocal tracks separated among speakers give an added dimension to Fagen’s ingenious arrangements.
1EarthUnited 