Here's a sneak peak at the flyer I will be handing out at Goddard this weekend- 
made with some lovely victorian designs offered by internet angels.  Enjoy!

Some thoughts on ways of knowing

Feminists, educationalists, psychologists, and scholars in general seem to point to the time period of the scientific revolution as the birthplace for our modern disconnect with our own lived experiences; a time of a profound transformation of and shift in human consciousness occurred.   It’s ideas have infiltrated cultures around the globe and resulted -I would argue-in litigious societies with high incarceration rates, unimaginable violence, and epidemic rates of psychosis.  I am increasingly fascinated by the way the mind relates its own experiences and the shared world ; the yin/yang relationship of intuition vs. reason.  I’m realizing that the deep contrast in the values assigned to these ways of knowing drives my own self image, and are often a crippling force in my ability as an artist and a woman to manifest myself and my ideas in the world.  I think there are significant parallels to be drawn between this struggle for knowledge and the primordial male (reason-sky) and female (intuition-earth) energies of the universe.  Most of us wear the skin of reason - to do otherwise would make us societal outcasts- but the continual demands for inauthentic expression takes its toll, and we are unable to live up to the demanded logic of the rational exteriors.  In The Reenchantment of the World, Morris Berman refers to this as the “sickness of contemporary life”, which stems from a futile attempt by the scientific culture to eradicate holistic perception.  The problem is that this holistic perception is rooted in our biology- it is part of the makeup of our beings, and so the denial of it creates schisms in behavior and psychology that are not easily reconciled.  (William Reich’s ideas about “body armour”- come to mind here).  In 1958 Michael Polanyi wrote a pivotal book about this, in which he described the difference between “tacit knowledge”- knowledge that can only be communicated via “extensive personal contact, regular interaction  and trust”, and explicit knowledge, which can be codified into language and transmitted.  Despite the fact that most of us think of ourselves as rational beings. most of our core values and ideas come from our lived experiences- from a kind of knowledge most of us are consciously unaware of possessing.  As the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal said “The heart has its reasons which the reason does not at all perceive”.

Spiritual Punch cards come to college with me

Spiritual Punch Cards are coming to Goddard College- I'm currently very excited to be working on a performance art piece in which I become a snake oil salesman type character that can "sell" (give away) the punch cards.

....  To be presented at Goddard College in Plainsfield VT in the beginning of February.

Revolution

"PERHAPS the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." Thomas Paine's introduction to "Common Sense"

Zzoe and I took a trip to Cape Ann this weekend sans children (o mi god), and after seeing the miles and miles of traffic-endless gas burning metal boxes full of crazed animals trying to get to the beach-and the garbage created by us all that later washed up on the beautiful, once wild beaches, I got back ready to start a revolution. It can take a long time for water to cause a rock to crack ,but once the crack begins to open and the light begins to pour in, it comes faster than ever thought imaginable. I have started to question everything around me, everything I see, and I am becoming more and more aware of the cancer of consumption and self gratification that is bringing our planet to a a standstill. I also am becoming painfully aware of my own part in it, and unwillingness to change my personal habbits. (It's hard to be a flaky artist and organize yourself against the 'get it now' mentality), but I am more and more discusted by the evidence of selfishness that shows its ugly face in every aspect of day to day living. I have been reading Ghandi's autobiography "My Experiments with the Truth" (Satyagraha) and I find that truth is a good word to resolve the search for the answers to big questions. Instead of approaching a problem with a solution, he askes a question, and then another, and then changes his mind when evidence shows him something must be false. Can we all question our lives continually? Maybe that is too much to ask...but maybe we all need a little more self examination. Like so many people, I have been devastated by the BP oil spill, but I think we all need to take a good hard look at our own part in this disaster. Every time we consume something that traveled, any time we get in our car, buy anything plastic, ride in an airplane...we are a part of the problem. I need to think about that. Zzoe and I have made a pledge to stop buying disposable food containers at all costs. We are going to pack dishes,cups, and silverware in the car and- to remind us of the cost of short term conveniences we are going to make a garbage sculpture with the kids of all the disposables we use in a week. I will post a picture when we finish it.

Music...some thoughts

I played cello with Elizabeth last night at the John St Jam right here in Saugerties. What a cool event! Musicians sit in a round and take turns playing to the audience, who surround them in all directions threatening to overflow the room.As I sat listening to the music I felt calmer and more at peace than I have felt in weeks. This is the beautiful thing about listening to live music- you can't distract yourself with housework, driving a car, or any other of the meaningless tasks that seem to demand attention when listening to music. Last night I really allowed myself to step inside of the music-let it take hold of my soul and shake me gently into presence. For at least this hour last night, I sat in stillness without the least desire to get up and "do something", and while I was listening, enchanted, to the various musical styles and people playing them,that without question this was the most important thing on the earth for me to be doing. I found a great, great joy in giving myself the permission to let go and witness this magic making that is so full of spirit and life. I am realizing that a good deal of the "lost" feeling that so often threatens to overcome me grows out of a sort of forgetfullnes. I am forgetting to feel joy, forgetting to see the world and all its beings as millions of miracles. Forgetting that each breath brings new life. Being a part of this joyful, music making community last night I felt as though anything was possible. I think that too often I approach my life while thinking "what can I get out of this- where can this bring me?" Instead of "where am I? Where am I? where am I now?" So thank you to everyone who was there last night. I will try to carry this feeling of peace and spirit with me as I move through my day today. Maybe I'll even listen to some music!
FYI - here's the link to the site http://www.johnstreetjam.net/

hello (hello hello hello)

...is there anyone out there (out there out there out there)....
blogging is definitely an act of faith!

they are here!

They are beautiful. The first were given to my family members, next I delivered a stack to Elizabeth's door for her to hand out. For some sharp, eloquent, and witty writing, I suggest looking at Elizabeth Cady Stanton's works. She continues to be an inspiration to all of us who hope for a more equitable future.