"In active contemplation, a person becomes able to live with themselves. They learn to be at home with their own thoughts. They become, to a greater and greater degree, independent of exterior supports. Their mind is pacified not by passive dependence on things outside themselves--diversions, entertainments, conversations, business--but by their own constructive activity...thinking their own … Continue reading Our Own Inner Truth
Within the next few weeks, I will be traveling on the earthly plane to visit my daughter in Virginia in order to be present for the arrival of a new grandson, and to share in the joy of participating in the activities taking place surrounding the appearance of a brand-new life in our extended family. These … Continue reading A Threshold of Joy
The Challenge of Comprehending Consciousness I know that there is a connection between my inner world and the world without. Subjectively, it is clear to me that this is the case, and I am confident that the statements I make, the theories I embrace and put forward, are a reflection of my genuine knowledge—the genuine … Continue reading The Challenge of Comprehending Consciousness
“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds...is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.” --Rachel Carson … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 9: Journey Into Nature
When the opportunity presents itself to venture out into the natural world for a camping trip, performing my traditional morning rituals in the woods is like meeting with old friends in a forest. The simple pleasures of preparing the first meal of the day beside the trees and in the cool early morning air are … Continue reading Our Connection with the Natural World
The title of the song in the background of the video below is “Beyond This Moment,” by Patrick O’Hearn. I’ve mentioned his work before and heard it on the radio on the way home one evening, and it stuck with me. The title started me to thinking about how we might discover what lies “beyond … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 8: Beyond This Moment
Day six of covid infection... Finally beginning to feel human again after five horrendous days of illness this past week. My experience with this illness has been very educational and directly responsible for an environment where my basic brain functionality suffered a major impairment of unprecedented character in my nearly seven decades of life. In … Continue reading And on the seventh day…
I finally had a chance to post the poem I worked on during my recent trip into the mountains, and hope my readers and visitors will enjoy this brief video. https://videopress.com/v/SlIyuuM6?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Here is the text of the poem, so you can read along as I recite it. Enjoy! The Only Light in the Wilderness The … Continue reading Light in the Wilderness
A few weeks ago, I ventured out into the wilderness of the northern mountains in my home state for nine days, in a remote area designated as a campground in the Stokes State Forest. I generally prefer to visit state parks when camping, since most often there are public facilities available, and options for enhancing … Continue reading Wonder in the Wilderness
While reviewing my personal journals this month, I was surprised to come across a lengthy account of a particularly intense episode during one of my ventures within, which I had set aside a few months ago. I generally prefer to review my writing after some time has passed, as I frequently find the routine of … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 6: Metaphor and the Inner Experience
John's Consciousness 