As I hover over the news and feel the hangover from all this stress, I give my mind another chance to relax by jotting down a few words.
Of course, I didn’t swear an oath to post every week (like some, daily; oh my goodness, save me!π). However, as I mentioned in my last post, I need to talk to my “Patient Stone” to help me gather my scattered thoughts.
Honestly, I have numerous projects and ideas to pursue and share, but my busy mind is too preoccupied to concentrate on them. On the other hand, I had to delete many of my old posts because WP warned me that my 13 GB storage limit was full, leaving me with the choice of upgrading or deleting. Since I couldn’t afford to upgrade, I had no option but to delete them. Now I have some space to post more!
I think, as well as believe, that the animals have their own characters and, in their own instinctual life, have their own species-specific way of living, even though we compare some of them, like sheep, with humans in the form of messes.
Dr Jung viewed βmass-mindednessβ and mass psychology as perilous, believing crowds trigger βthe dynamisms of the collective man,β transforming individuals into βbeasts or demonsβ until they join a mob. Crowds diminish morality, incite fears, provoke βinfantile behaviour,β and can cause even the most virtuous to lose their significance, resulting in βpsychologically abnormalβ individuals. Mobs foster βherd psychologyβ and produce βmass man,β who is childish, irrational, irresponsible, and emotional. The crowd dissolves personal responsibility, facilitating crimes and increasing reliance on the state.
The levelling down of the masses through suppression of the aristocratic or hierarchical structure natural to a community is bound, sooner or later, to lead to disaster. For when everything outstanding is levelled down, the signposts are lost, and the longing to be led becomes an urgent necessity.
~Carl Jung, CW 17, Para 248
Now, Iβd like to share one of my Facebook posts that reflects my thoughts. It is a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, a notable American poet, painter, and social activist. Ferlinghetti published works of many Beat poets and is sometimes considered a Beat poet himself, although he never liked that label!
You are Whitman, you are Poe, you are Mark Twain, you are Emily Dickinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay, you are Neruda and Mayakovsky and Pasolini, you are an American or a non-American, you can conquer the conquerors with wordsβ¦.
~βLawrence Ferlinghetti. From Poetry as Insurgent Art [I am signalling you through the flames].
Pity the Nation (After Khalil Gibran)
Pity the nation whose people are sheep
And whose shepherds mislead them
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars
Whose sages are silenced
and whose bigots haunt the airways
Pity the nation that raises not its voice
but aims to rule the world
by force and by torture
And knows
No other language but its own
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed
Pity the nation, oh, pity the people of my country
MyΒ country, tears of thee
Sweet land of liberty!
I’d also like to share one of Mozart’s greatest works, a requiem, to comfort the spirits. Wishing all individuals friends a peaceful time. ππ
lampmagician 
As always, a wonderful blog. Al the best, Mike
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As always, thank you, dear brother. You really made my day! Sincerely, Aladin.
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ItΒ sounds like writing is a much-needed escape for you right now.
Your reflections on Jung and the Ferlinghetti poem are a powerful reminder of the importance of the individual voice against the ‘herd.’
Thank you for the Mozart Requiemβa beautiful way to find peace.
Wishing you a lovely week! ππ
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Thank you sincerely for your kind and thoughtful comment, my dear Luisa. Everything you said is true! I’m happy to create a peaceful environment here. Wishing you all the best. πππ€π
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You’re more than welcome, my dearest Aladin πβ£οΈπ
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Sorry you had to delete those old posts. At any rate this post is terrific and provided great food for thought on this weekend.
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Thanks a lot, mate, for your kind and generous supportβit’s genuinely appreciated!
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Dear Aladin,
The herd has always been unappealing to me…. to all artists and thinkers.
Yet, the herd … the sheeple, baa (bah) on.
I am somewhat scattered lately, but that’s okay. I seem to have developed a knack for surviving, in what I have deemed is a creative mess.
It is the world that is having the problems. Yes, it is a heavy duty job staying beyond the fray. I am thankful for where I live, and who I love.
Keep on keeping on with the patient Stone! Thank you for the poetry and cartoon!
Your Stone helps me too. Thank you!
xoxoxoxoxo
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Very insightful, once again, my dear friend! I believe that those of us trying to sustain our art in these difficult times often feel scattered and confused, even though we continue to grow. Still, our surroundings and love support us.
And yes, my stone assists me, just as yours does, my wise friend, because I believe everyone needs such stones.
PS: I often respond late to comments on my weekend post because I dedicate the weekends to my family, which causes delays in my replies!
A heartfelt thank you, Resa, dear, for your kindness, as always.
ππππ₯°π«
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Never worry about when you reply…or if you do!
I’ve been so busy, you are one of the few people I’ve had time to visit.
I haven’t posted for 2 weeks.
I’m slowly getting back to my regular rhythm.
I’d like to post about my Art Show, but am still looking through pics.
So, I have a post on The Beatles coming out on Friday. I started working on it in early March. xoβ¦πβ¦πΈπΈπΈ
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First, you are a truly wonderful friend, and I feel deeply privileged to be part of your special circle, my lovely Resa. I’ve noticed you are seldom around, and I hope it’s solely due to daily stress.
Of course, I would be very happy to see your photos.
Sending my warmest regards, Aladin. πππ«
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Aww, thank you my friend!
I will be posting more.
The art show I did was a lot of extra work out of my normal life.
It was an exciting happening for me, but I had to give up time doing something, to make time for the show. So, blogging was the only option.
Now, I’ve wrapped the show, but it created a chaos at home.
I decided to dedicate a specific closet for art storage, which led to cleaning of the closet, which led to things I haven’t seen in 25 years.
The human, as a pack-rat, must sometimes part with things they really don’t need, but feel they need.
So, I have been busy physically, mentally and emotionally, as I unpack the weight of the past, and pack up the weight of the future.
Does any of this make sense, Aladin?
xoπ©΅β¦πβ¦π©΅xo
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Lol! Yes, I understand what you’re referring to. I need to do the same, but as you mentioned, it requires a lot of time, and parting can be emotional. Still, priorities always guide our lives.
Take care, my lovely friend.
π€πβπ
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You too! κ¨οΈκ¨οΈκ¨οΈκ¨οΈκ¨οΈκ¨οΈκ¨οΈxo
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Yes pity the nation whose people are sheep . Well shared π
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Unfortunately, there are many of that kind in the world! Thank you so much for the kind comment and for stopping by. ππππΉ
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Yes right ππΌ
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Thank you, dear Priti. πππ
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ππΌ
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Dr. Jung’s fear of The Masses is justified… And “group-think” often produces terrible ideasβΒ in creative / brainstorming spaces for example. When 20 agreeable people in a board room all support a bad idea someone suggested.
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