Digging through the information stored in my brain in memory is sometimes like conducting an archival search of historical records. Even though, according to modern neuroscience, reviewing our memories is not usually a precise recreation of those remembered moments, stored over the years in which they were relegated to long-term status, we actually reassemble the … Continue reading The Archives In My Brain and In My Heart
In just a few days, I will have completed my 70th revolution around the sun. In these times when humans are routinely reaching into their 80's and 90's, it may seem like a fairly routine accomplishment, but in so many ways, in my case, it's almost a miracle that I am still here to mark … Continue reading On The Brink Of Seventy
“We are at this moment participating in one of the very greatest leaps of the human spirit to a knowledge not only of outside nature, but also of our own deep inward mystery.”—Joseph Campbell While Joseph Campbell lived, he was considered as perhaps the most important scholar of the mythologies of the world. His seminal … Continue reading The Man, The Myth, The Legend
There have been moments lately, where it seemed to me, that I, myself, have been chasing the shade. Clearly, in the summertime, when it gets particularly hot, and the sun is particularly dangerous, we find ourselves moving our chairs so that they remain in the shade. As the sun creeps up, we move the chairs … Continue reading Winter Pastoral: Chasing the Shade
While reviewing some material on the subject of science and spirituality recently, I encountered this article about meetings between Albert Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore, two individuals who I have admired for many years, and for some reason I did not ever encounter this information about their meetings. These two men were clearly on different paths, … Continue reading Scientists and Spiritual Thinkers
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
Every year as the weather becomes milder and the seasonal changes begin in the early spring, although I await with much anticipation to see the blossoming of all the greenery and flora around my modest home, I also have to consider the tasks of straightening up and clearing out of the overgrown plants and ivy … Continue reading Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Universal Mind series. Background composition of human head and fractal clouds to complement your layouts on the subject of mind, dreams, thinking, consciousness and imagination The subject of transcendence as it relates to our subjective experience of consciousness is pretty broad in scope and complexity, and while it is one of the core issues when … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 5: Transcendence Intro
Back in September of last year, I posted an account of the removal of the tree out in front of my home, whose presence we had enjoyed for the previous thirty years of residence in our neighborhood, and I shared a video of me reciting the poem I wrote in response to the event itself, … Continue reading After A Tree Falls
John's Consciousness 