Based on my own life-experience, the observation of others and academic study, I have come to the conclusion that our bodies have their own wisdom and they speak to us with eloquence if we but listen. Symptomology is the study of symptoms.......messages our bodies give us when there is a malfunction or dysfunction. Pain and fever are two biggies, but there are many others: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, warmth, redness, alterations in the perceptions of various senses, changes in routine body functions, cravings, etc. The list is remarkable in its vastness and variety. The problem seems to lie in the realm of not recognizing body messages for what they are.
With minimal effort we can learn to recognize these messages and even develop some degree of understanding as to what they mean.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Wisdom of Romance
Can there be wisdom in romance? I venture to say that there are those who would say no, but after attaining
sixty-two years among the human species and a variety of non-humans, I would have to say, "Absolutely!"
For one thing romance alters our vision so that we do not notice minor flaws.....much the way moonlight or candlelight are so much more flattering to everything and everybody. It allows us to get close enough to each other to learn the important things like character, moral compass, tastes, philosophy, political outlooks, religious beliefs. These are things it takes time to find out. Romance allows us not to be put off by superficial appearances, long enough to establish a life connection. Yes, I would say there is wisdom in romance.
sixty-two years among the human species and a variety of non-humans, I would have to say, "Absolutely!"
For one thing romance alters our vision so that we do not notice minor flaws.....much the way moonlight or candlelight are so much more flattering to everything and everybody. It allows us to get close enough to each other to learn the important things like character, moral compass, tastes, philosophy, political outlooks, religious beliefs. These are things it takes time to find out. Romance allows us not to be put off by superficial appearances, long enough to establish a life connection. Yes, I would say there is wisdom in romance.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Wisdom of Gardens
I have seen some really magnificent gardens in my time. They include the rose gardens of Connecticut, the Tuileries in Paris, and a reproductions of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. My favorite is always the one at home.
When MaryBeth was little and I was trying to put her to bed, we would lie close together and talk about the garden we would plant someday. I guess the original discussion was generated by the rising popularity at the time of that wonderful children's book, The Secret Garden.
We naturally planned a walled garden, but we planned a multitude of others, too, depending on where our fancies led us. Our walled garden had one large oak tree in the northwest corner. Then, there was a pond with great golden carp over which were draped three lovely weeping willows. The walls were covered in climbing roses, bougainvillea, honeysuckle. morning glories, and moonflowers. There were rocks around the pond that were surrounded by ferns,and lichen, like a velvet carpet, covered the larger ones. There were gardenias and night-blooming jasmine in abundance in each corner and nestled amidst all that fragrance were wooden benches where we could sit and absorb all that wondrous beauty.......a banquet for the soul.
We planned one garden for just roses......every color...every fragrance.....every size and variety. There would also be both a kitchen garden filled with herbs, fruits, vegetables...and a medicinal garden. We would be experts in these areas....get back to nature. And a "white" garden where every blossom would be.......you guessed it...... white.
Gardens have a serenity about then.....even the wild, unattended ones. They are one with nature and they
play their part in the eco-system whether cared-for or not. Everything in the garden exists within the framework nature. While we are in them, we do, too.
When MaryBeth was little and I was trying to put her to bed, we would lie close together and talk about the garden we would plant someday. I guess the original discussion was generated by the rising popularity at the time of that wonderful children's book, The Secret Garden.
We naturally planned a walled garden, but we planned a multitude of others, too, depending on where our fancies led us. Our walled garden had one large oak tree in the northwest corner. Then, there was a pond with great golden carp over which were draped three lovely weeping willows. The walls were covered in climbing roses, bougainvillea, honeysuckle. morning glories, and moonflowers. There were rocks around the pond that were surrounded by ferns,and lichen, like a velvet carpet, covered the larger ones. There were gardenias and night-blooming jasmine in abundance in each corner and nestled amidst all that fragrance were wooden benches where we could sit and absorb all that wondrous beauty.......a banquet for the soul.
We planned one garden for just roses......every color...every fragrance.....every size and variety. There would also be both a kitchen garden filled with herbs, fruits, vegetables...and a medicinal garden. We would be experts in these areas....get back to nature. And a "white" garden where every blossom would be.......you guessed it...... white.
Gardens have a serenity about then.....even the wild, unattended ones. They are one with nature and they
play their part in the eco-system whether cared-for or not. Everything in the garden exists within the framework nature. While we are in them, we do, too.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Wisdom of Moonlight
Diana, the virgin huntress, is the goddess of the moon, which is my favorite celestial orb. The moon rules much of our existence, from farming to romance, from tidal activity to mental activity, cycles both internal and external. That is one powerful reflective device. The moon is not a star which is why it does not create its own light, it merely reflects the light of our sun which is the "star" of our solar system. Are you confused yet? Not to worry, Apollo is the god of the sun and rides across the daytime sky in a chariot driven by Phaeton. They chase Diana round and round, which is another story. People "dance" by the light of the moon, embrace and kiss, "moon-bathe". They eat, sleep, dream and make love by her celestial magic. Like candle-light, moon-light is flattering, frosting everything with silver, softening lines and wrinkles, and imbuing everything it touches with its ethereal illumination and primal power. The wisdom of moonlight is ancient and eternal and endlessly renewing.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Wisdom of Money
This is a hard one. There is wisdom in money and other financial instruments, but only if they are earned, spent, invested, saved, and donated judiciously. It can be a hedge against future times of famine, so to speak, a safety net, a life-saver, a protector and comforter if used properly. It can be the motivator of the worst kind, inducing already weak and twisted individual to new depths of wrong-doing. The only REAL value money has is the one we (society) sets on it. In and of itself it has neither meaning nor value. It can accomplish great good, make dreams come true, save lives, but you already know the flip side.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Wisdom of Honor
Honor is the ultimate acceptance of responsibility for something. It is the willingness to face up to hardship, pain, sorrow, humiliation, loss and death and give absolutely everything for a principle or cause. If it proves that your cause fails, your principle is broken, it is the willingness to accept the consequences. People die for the sake of honor all the time. Personally, I would rather that they live honorable lives thereby teaching all who come after them that is is better to live an honorable life than to die an honorable death. An honorable life teaches us how to live. An honorable death teaches nothing.
The Wisdom of Discretion
This is a big one. THERE IS SERIOUS WISDOM IN BEING DISCRETE. You should probably get that emblazoned on your forehead AND a tee shirt. Being discrete in behavior and communication is NOT.....I repeat.....NOT....the same as lying. At least not in my dictionary. Discretion is the choice to say nothing when saying something would cause pain or damage. Lying is trying to get out of responsibility for something. Discretion is taking responsibility.
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