The winter solstice is approaching, "the windows are filled with frost. I tried to tell everybody, but I could not get across." The light dims, the arc is at its lowest and almost seems to vanish some days during deep dark December. It is an especially good time to meditate on darkness and those dusty niches. Or I could go shopping. Or put on some seasonal music. Or imagine depression morphing into melancholy, one of my favorite things. This failing of the light this year is further underscored or reflected by the current economics of loss, desperation and outright greed.
"Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" Ike Quebec
I can not offer any antidote to what is happening. I can only tell you where I am and what I feel amidst the turmoil, sort of. I'll try to be honest and not too heavy handed. I know that is hard for some of you to believe, but bear with me.
"Tenderly" Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Treasure friendship and love. They are eternal and fleeting. They are mysterious and tangible. They can make the world go away for a time. They can make the world precious and full of soul.
Seek out the authentic in people and experience. The quintessence of living beings and inanimate things. Cultivate this feeling. It is curled away within and without, like a smokey chimera.
Keep a twisted dark sense of humor. It comes in handy when the outrageously incomprehensible is staring you in the face each day. Take nothing too seriously. It's not worth it, seriously.
Laugh as much as you can. At yourself and the rest of the world. It's good for you and the soul of the world. Try to make others laugh, even if you fail miserably, as I often do. If they don't understand my humor, too bad. Some people have the sense of humor of a lug nut.
Love animals. Get a cat, dog, bird or howler monkey. Talk to them and hug them. Realize that they are living sensitive creatures with rights. In many cases, I prefer them to human beings.
"Slippery People" The Staple Singers
Appreciate irony. It's all around you waiting to be discovered and gently folded into your being. Sometimes, not so gently.
Read books that do something for you or to you whatever that might be.
Sit down and listen to music for a spell.
Eat good well prepared food and drink good wines. Life is much too short to eat bland food lacking in soul and wines that are blase mass-produced specimens without character. "Salt Song" Stanley Turrentine
Give to the poor and unfortunate.