review, books

Providence

Providence is Daniel Quinn’s autobiography. Though it obviously differs from Ishmael, a work of fiction, I kept feeling that while reading Providence, I was reading what that book would be, had it been narrated by Ishmael.

The book tells of Quinn’s 50 years leading up to writing Ishmael, from growing up in the Great Depression, to studying as a Trappist monk under Thomas Merton, and his eventual rejection of Christianity and its god.

At one point, Quinn describes what he experienced as a Trappist monk when he was allowed to go outside for the first time in three weeks:

I turned and faced the sunshine, and the breath went out of me as if someone had punched me in the stomach. That was the effect of receiving this sigh, of seeing the world as it is. I was astounded, bowled over, dumbfounded. Everything was burning. Every blade of grass, every single leaf of every single tree was radiant, was blazing -- incandescent with a raging power that was unmistakably divine. I was overwhelmed. In a single second of this, of seeing this truth, tears flooded my eyes and poured down my face as I walked along... What I was seeing was reality, was the world as it actually is, every moment of every day.

What struck me so about this, is that the passage describes something akin to what I experienced after opening my eyes after meditation in the arboretum upon Sehome hill – though more of a white radiance than raging flames. Perhaps there’s something to that, no?

The book is a recommended read for fans of Quinn’s other works.

11th Annual Baker Blues

I went to Baker Blues festival yesterday. My third or fourth year, I think. They moved to a new location this year, and amped the whole thing up to three days.

Music this year eclipsed the past. Chris Duarte? The closest thing living to a Hendrix or Vaughan today.

My arms are burnt to a crisp.

review, books

The Spell of the Sensuous

The Spell of the Sensuous is a mystical trip into the heart of animism. Magician David Abram bridges the questioning of Civilization with a look at traditional Shamanism – the “ecological dimension of the shaman’s craft.” From the first paragraph of this text-book of Deep Ecology, I was hooked. Abram’s claim is that, as humans, we have cut off contact with the non-human world, and that this is a deadly way to live. He waxes poetically on the emergence of the phonetic alphabet, analyzing that as the act that severed our connection with the sensuous, feeling world.

It is an amazing book that with every word tears away the veils of perception – shows you the world in a different light. I’ve read it twice now. Once, I started it before leaving for Thailand, and finished it there in the North. And again I picked it up towards the end of my trip and completed it upon return. It has carried me on my journey, There and Back Again.

Mountain Rose Herbs

I was linked to Mountain Rose Herbs through LearningHerbs.com. They are a “global provider of bulk organic herbs, spices, teas, essential oils and other herbal miscellany,” and have become my standard herb provider.

In my order was their Tea Sampler, which includes the following:

Dream Tea This infusion blend is based on an ancient formula said to evoke powerful and colourful dreams. It is especially blended for the dreamer, stimulating vivid and easily recalled dreams. A light, minty yet, rich flavor. Very enjoyable after a rich or large dinner. Contains: peppermint*, mugwort* and damiana leaves, chamomile* flowers, gotu kola* and rosemary* leaves, rose petals* and, a pinch of stevia*. Traditionally used for- Enhancing dreams Fairytale Tea A delicious drink for children and adults. A delightful and inspiring infusion blend full of flowers & fairy magic; perfect for bedtime stories. Contains: calendula*, red clover*, lavender* and chamomile* flowers, lemon balm*, catnip*, spearmint*, skullcap* and thyme* leaves, oatstraw*, lemon peel* and, a pinch of stevia*. Traditionally used for- Encourage calming Peace Tea This is a gentle and calming nervine blend; a chance for reflection;an opportunity to imagine a peaceful world. Takes the stress out of life for a while. A wonderful infusion drink for meditation and quiet moments. Contains: Chamomile* flowers, spearmint* leaves, passionflower herb*, rose petals*, lavender* flowers and, cinnamon bark*. Traditionally used for- Encourage relaxation

And I purchased a bag of 21st Century Tea:

There are so many ways that our immune systems can be overwhelmed ... air, water, workplace, stress etc. This infusion blend is not only helpful, but comforting, strengthening and delicious. Contains: Red clover blossoms*, nettle* leaves, pau d'arco, alfalfa* and sage* leaves, St. John's wort* herb and a hint of ginger* root. Traditionally used for- General health and taste

I love all the teas. They’re all, without doubt, the best tasting I’ve had.

I also picked up some dried Lemon Balm for ice tea and a little powdered goldenseal root.

Learning Herbs

LearningHerbs.com is run by John Gallagher, one of the creator’s of Wilderness Awareness School’s Kamana program. The site offers a DIY kit that caught my eye a while ago, but I only recently decided to order. It came last Wednesday.

Included are the instructions and ingredients to make an echinacea tincture and an herbal salve. It’s amazing how simple both are to create, and they both provide a great confidence boost for an herbal noob like myself.

The salve I’ve been using for about a week as a lip balm and on itchy bug bites. It works great for both. I was only able to get my hands on some vodka a couple days ago, so the tincture still has another 6 weeks to sit before I can report back on that.

For anyone interested in herbs, I definitely recommend forking over $50 for the kit. I love it. It also includes access to a 7-day online course, that I’ve yet to begin, but plan to when the time is right.

medical

M for Medic

Today was my Red Cross CPR and First Aid class. The 2 hours spent on first aid were a joke. Compared to that, Wilderness First Aid might as well be an EMT course. We just watched a video for the different illnesses and wounds covered, and the solution for all of them was “dial 911”.

The CPR portion of the 9AM-4PM class, on the other hand, was great. I learned a lot – not surprising, as I didn’t know anything about it going in – and might even remember a thing or two.

I recommend signing up for the CPR class. The instruction was good, the classmates fun. (Speaking of which, I was the only one taking the course for fun. All else were required by work or school.)

So now I am certified by the Wilderness Medicine Institute in Wilderness First Aid, the American Red Cross in Standard First Aid, and the American Red Cross in Adult CPR. This winter I plan to take the week long Wilderness First Responder course. Look out medics.

Sidewinder

My SideWinder Charger arrived yesterday. It takes a bit of effort, what with all that cranking, but works. Within a couple minutes I’m able to raise a cell phone from the dead for long enough to make a call. Good for emergencies.

RIP Noise

http://www.infernalnoise.org/

Beloved friends and accomplices, The Infernal Noise Brigade has died young. Come and celebrate its pretty corpse. Former Infernalistas the world over are en route to Seattle to swell the band's ranks into a giant, implosive force before leaping into the grave. Join us for one last march (7/28) and a massive all-night funeral wake (7/29)--at which the Infernal Noise Brigade will, though technically dead, perform two final sets before descending into hell for their rewards, either in the seventh ring (for violence to the possessions of the capitalist state) or the ninth ring (for treachery against Homeland Security). The INB's Last March Friday, July 28, evening-time The East Precinct Seattle, WA free The INB's Final Party Saturday, July 29, 9 pm - dawn In Georgetown - locale posted at www.infernalnoise.org sliding-fee donation (to benefit radical movements/artists)