Nicely written, Sculptor. I've experienced what you wrote about in the past, and reading what you wrote could close my eyes and re-visit it in my mind. Thank you.
So much of what we see, hear, and feel in our lives is filtered through someone else rather than ourselves. In a way, I would say, that in a world where we are more connected than ever, we are in fact disconnected. I don’t believe anyone can make a solid judgement on anything without first experiencing it first hand. By trying new things and opening yourself to new experiences, you can learn a lot about yourself. Kinda a green eggs and ham thing.
Sometimes you need that bit of mediation. Without that hat, the sun can kill you out here. Without those shoes your feel can be cut, bruised and burned. Without sunscreen, your chances of skin cancer when you age skyrockets. In truly extreme heat, something we have seen a lot more lately, a loose, light colored fabric covering is necessary. It reflects the light and keeps moisture close.
Never mind the risks of cold weather or clouds of mosquitoes.
Still, I don't feel fully naked if I'm wearing shoes and a hat. I also often need to carry a waist pack or backpack. But it is close enough to naked that I'm not quibbling.
Beautifully expressed, Timothy. Thank you for this. I do love some entomology. It enriches not just the use of words, but the depth of thoughts.
Agreed with the variances in immediacy, too. My personal parallel is music. There is a difference to me in the music I make with my own hands and the music I listen to. The former is profoundly more intimate than the latter. However, the latter also has its own profundity in varying degrees, depending on if it's music I listen to while working, driving, doing chores, socializing, being intimate or while simply listening. I have a personal preference for which state yet an appreciation of all. And perhaps my preference would be diluted if I spent all my time there.
Haha, I knew what you meant! I love, love, love etymology. I find it really interesting in that it tells us a lot about why words came to mean what they do and how meanings change and evolve according to need. It’s like examining rings in a tree or fossils, they show a history of us, of how we thought about different ideas and how ideas were exchanged at different times.
I very much enjoyed your take on immediacy. It is reflective of the earliest folks who participated in social nakedness, the Gymnosophists (naked philosophers) in what is now Pakistan about 2500 years ago. They shed themselves of material things, including clothing, to be closer to nature as a spiritual practice. In my research on sacred places I have found that going barefoot is helpful in sensing the subtle positive aspects of a location, that then with regular use becomes a ritualistic center or spiritually imbued. There have been studies on the human capacity to detect the geomagnetic field, and those who do best are either wearing just a cotton shift or are not wearing anything. Immediacy, as you observe, is having the opportunity for one to experience without insulation or interpretation. Thank you for a thought provoking article.
Nicely written, Sculptor. I've experienced what you wrote about in the past, and reading what you wrote could close my eyes and re-visit it in my mind. Thank you.
So much of what we see, hear, and feel in our lives is filtered through someone else rather than ourselves. In a way, I would say, that in a world where we are more connected than ever, we are in fact disconnected. I don’t believe anyone can make a solid judgement on anything without first experiencing it first hand. By trying new things and opening yourself to new experiences, you can learn a lot about yourself. Kinda a green eggs and ham thing.
Thanks Timothy - a really thoughtful piece that has reminded me how difficult it is to experience anything directly, immediately, truly unfiltered...
“Naked when possible, clothed when practical.”
Sometimes you need that bit of mediation. Without that hat, the sun can kill you out here. Without those shoes your feel can be cut, bruised and burned. Without sunscreen, your chances of skin cancer when you age skyrockets. In truly extreme heat, something we have seen a lot more lately, a loose, light colored fabric covering is necessary. It reflects the light and keeps moisture close.
Never mind the risks of cold weather or clouds of mosquitoes.
Still, I don't feel fully naked if I'm wearing shoes and a hat. I also often need to carry a waist pack or backpack. But it is close enough to naked that I'm not quibbling.
Beautifully expressed, Timothy. Thank you for this. I do love some entomology. It enriches not just the use of words, but the depth of thoughts.
Agreed with the variances in immediacy, too. My personal parallel is music. There is a difference to me in the music I make with my own hands and the music I listen to. The former is profoundly more intimate than the latter. However, the latter also has its own profundity in varying degrees, depending on if it's music I listen to while working, driving, doing chores, socializing, being intimate or while simply listening. I have a personal preference for which state yet an appreciation of all. And perhaps my preference would be diluted if I spent all my time there.
*etymology. Ugh. Auto correct. Sorry.
Haha, I knew what you meant! I love, love, love etymology. I find it really interesting in that it tells us a lot about why words came to mean what they do and how meanings change and evolve according to need. It’s like examining rings in a tree or fossils, they show a history of us, of how we thought about different ideas and how ideas were exchanged at different times.
For example, "I'm gay" has an ENTIRELY different meaning in 2023 than it had in 1923.
Very true!
I very much enjoyed your take on immediacy. It is reflective of the earliest folks who participated in social nakedness, the Gymnosophists (naked philosophers) in what is now Pakistan about 2500 years ago. They shed themselves of material things, including clothing, to be closer to nature as a spiritual practice. In my research on sacred places I have found that going barefoot is helpful in sensing the subtle positive aspects of a location, that then with regular use becomes a ritualistic center or spiritually imbued. There have been studies on the human capacity to detect the geomagnetic field, and those who do best are either wearing just a cotton shift or are not wearing anything. Immediacy, as you observe, is having the opportunity for one to experience without insulation or interpretation. Thank you for a thought provoking article.