Grab Bag
Just a motely assortment of things today. The first two are informed by my visit at Shaw's Garden today, specifically in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, and the latter is inspired by axiem, whose use of "soundtracks" for the Continuum made me want to come up with some soundtracks for the writing in the Memories section of the journal.
-E
Chinese Garden Observation
Sitting here in the Chinese Garden, I find myself trying- and failing- to find words to describe it. Words to capture the sound of the wind and waterfall, words to describe the bamboo and vines that stretch to meet the pond, words to take in the light perfume the air takes on here in the Pagoda. It fills me with contentment, peace; here it is loud but always quiet, stirring but still, in that way only things from China seem to be to the mind of this Westerner.
To call it Edenic would be disingenuous; Eden is something permanent, perfect, eternal. This is not. This is a respite; a place to come and walk around in, a place to listen, smell, and see, or perhaps even, just as I am doing now, a place to meld with for a bit while putting pen to paper.
There is only one word for it, really: Tao. This is a place that runs according to the Tao, acting without action, healing without bandaging. The Chinese Garden is a place to take comfort in the gentle way of the world before returning to a life that so often seems divorced from it.
It seems fittingly ironic that this "friendship garden" should be experienced so fully in solitude; but then, perhaps the friendship it fosters is with the Tao itself, and, just as meaningfully, with myself.
Japanese Garden Meditation
There was a time when this garden was nothing but a foolish, impossible dream. And yet, here it stands, an inspiration, reality and dream all in one.
Foolish, impossible dreams make life worth living.
1. Frozen Lightning: "Marquee Moon," Television, Marquee Moon
2. Heroin: "Dead Man Walking," David Bowie, Earthling
3. Ingram: "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," The Animals
4. Jumping: "Jump," Van Halen
5. La Belle Dame Sans Merci: "Matty Groves," Fairport Convention, Leige and Lief
6. Old Friends: "Hello Old Friend," Eric Clapton
7. Raining in January: "Stay," David Bowie, Station to Station
8. Raining in January: "Wild Horses," the Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers
9. Fall, or, the Damnation of Heaven and the Salvation of Hell: "Fallen Angel," King Crimson, Red
10. Demon: "Behind Blue Eyes," The Who, Who's Next
11. Echoes: "Skellig," Loreena McKennitt, Book of Secrets
12. Asp: "Thorn Tree in the Garden," Derek and the Dominoes, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs"
-E
Chinese Garden Observation
Sitting here in the Chinese Garden, I find myself trying- and failing- to find words to describe it. Words to capture the sound of the wind and waterfall, words to describe the bamboo and vines that stretch to meet the pond, words to take in the light perfume the air takes on here in the Pagoda. It fills me with contentment, peace; here it is loud but always quiet, stirring but still, in that way only things from China seem to be to the mind of this Westerner.
To call it Edenic would be disingenuous; Eden is something permanent, perfect, eternal. This is not. This is a respite; a place to come and walk around in, a place to listen, smell, and see, or perhaps even, just as I am doing now, a place to meld with for a bit while putting pen to paper.
There is only one word for it, really: Tao. This is a place that runs according to the Tao, acting without action, healing without bandaging. The Chinese Garden is a place to take comfort in the gentle way of the world before returning to a life that so often seems divorced from it.
It seems fittingly ironic that this "friendship garden" should be experienced so fully in solitude; but then, perhaps the friendship it fosters is with the Tao itself, and, just as meaningfully, with myself.
Japanese Garden Meditation
There was a time when this garden was nothing but a foolish, impossible dream. And yet, here it stands, an inspiration, reality and dream all in one.
Foolish, impossible dreams make life worth living.
1. Frozen Lightning: "Marquee Moon," Television, Marquee Moon
2. Heroin: "Dead Man Walking," David Bowie, Earthling
3. Ingram: "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," The Animals
4. Jumping: "Jump," Van Halen
5. La Belle Dame Sans Merci: "Matty Groves," Fairport Convention, Leige and Lief
6. Old Friends: "Hello Old Friend," Eric Clapton
7. Raining in January: "Stay," David Bowie, Station to Station
8. Raining in January: "Wild Horses," the Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers
9. Fall, or, the Damnation of Heaven and the Salvation of Hell: "Fallen Angel," King Crimson, Red
10. Demon: "Behind Blue Eyes," The Who, Who's Next
11. Echoes: "Skellig," Loreena McKennitt, Book of Secrets
12. Asp: "Thorn Tree in the Garden," Derek and the Dominoes, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs"