liminal_luke

I´m of the opinion that if we´re gonna talk about Voldemort and his loyal band of Death Eaters, we might as well say the Name. There´s no special virtue in cloaking words in a symbolic and easily seen through vagueness. Which is not to say it is not a smart move, legally speaking.

I remembered that Thomas Moore distinguished between soul and spirit in his book Care of the Soul. Feeling lazy, and not remembering well, I asked Gemini (AI) about Thomas Moore´s distinction. Although I´m loathe to quote AI (what kind of a creature am I turning into?) I´ll make an exception this once. .................................................................................................................................................................................................... Thomas Moore, particularly in his seminal work "Care of the Soul," makes a significant distinction between soul and spirit, drawing heavily on archetypal psychology (especially that of James Hillman, who was influenced by Carl Jung). This distinction is central to his philosophy and offers a different perspective than traditional religious or psychological views. Here's a breakdown of his distinction: Soul: Emphasizes Depth and Complexity: For Moore, the soul is not an ethereal or purely spiritual "thing" that ascends beyond the body. Instead, it's about the depth, richness, and complexity of human experience. It's about how things feel to us, the nuanced textures of life, and the imaginative dimension of existence. Rooted in the Ordinary and Mundane: The soul isn't found in extraordinary, transcendent moments, but rather in the everyday, the mundane, the imperfect. It's in cooking, gardening, tending to relationships, appreciating art, and even in our struggles, flaws, and suffering. Imagination as its Organ: Moore argues that the imagination is the primary organ of the soul. It's through imagination, dreams, myths, and symbols that the soul expresses itself and reveals its meanings. Embraces Pathology and Shadow: The soul is not about perfection or constant happiness. It embraces the "dark" aspects of life – sadness, melancholy, suffering, even neuroses. These are seen not as problems to be fixed, but as expressions of the soul that need to be listened to and understood, rather than eradicated. Connected to the Body and World: The soul is deeply embodied and connected to the material world. It finds expression and meaning through our physical experiences and interactions with the environment. "Care of the Soul": The concept of "care of the soul" involves paying attention to this imaginative, emotional, and embodied dimension of life. It's about finding meaning and depth in our ordinary experiences, embracing our vulnerabilities, and cultivating a sense of the sacred in the mundane. Spirit: Tendency Towards Transcendence and Abstraction: Moore often associates "spirit" with a drive towards transcendence, purity, and abstraction. It's the part of us that seeks to rise above the earthly, the messy, and the imperfect. Can Lead to Disconnection: While not inherently negative, an overemphasis on spirit, without the grounding of soul, can lead to a disconnection from the body, emotions, and the realities of human experience. It can foster an attitude of trying to "fix" or escape problems rather than understanding them deeply. Associated with Certain Religious or Ideological Stances: In some contexts, Moore sees "spirit" as leading to rigid moralism, simplistic answers, or an avoidance of the complexities and ambiguities of life, precisely because it seeks to transcend them. Can Be Disembodied: When spirit is detached from soul, it can become disembodied and lacking in depth, leading to a superficial or overly intellectualized approach to life. In essence, Moore's distinction can be summarized as: Soul is about immanence: Finding depth, meaning, and sacredness within the ordinary, messy, and embodied experience of life. It's earthy, imaginative, and embraces the full spectrum of human emotions and imperfections. Spirit is about transcendence: Reaching beyond the ordinary, towards ideals, purity, and a more abstract, often disembodied, realm. Moore isn't necessarily against "spirit" as a concept, but he critiques a modern tendency to prioritize spirit over soul, which he believes leads to a loss of meaning, emotional disconnection, and a shallow approach to life's challenges. His work is a call to reclaim and cultivate the soul, bringing depth, imagination, and a sense of the sacred back into our everyday lives.

Ya think? It´s true that I don´t capitalize my name but no, I´m not an enlightened Bum. Just an everyday bum Bum.

At least on this forum, the enlightened tend to have names that suggest purity. Also, a tendency to forego capitalization. See: stirling, spotless.

I´m something of a bear myself and I have trouble with it; twinks, on the other hand, are inveterate repeaters.

One of my favorite Bums, Brian (now passed on), was very involved with that system and seemed to love it. You @BigSkyDiamond might enjoy reading what he had to say on the topic.

Oh how I would of loved to have quiet intellectual conversations in kitchens while enjoying tea with homemade preserves! I was born in the wrong place and time. Instead, I´m sitting here by myself while people half a world away threaten to out me (inaccurately) as "liking Trump."

Well, you already know how it is. The 4th is associated with fireworks, barbeque, parades, and beer. Drunken grilling accidents? Deeply American. Critical thinking? That´s more of a Russian thing.

If I disagreed with you, would I be allowed to say so? In the US I am not permitted to loot your businesses, graffiti your garden walls or spit on your security guards, no matter how strong my feelings, but I can still say my piece. In this respect, the constitution still stands. But this post of mine, like yours before me, is current event talk, and the rules of this forum are stricter than the rules of the street. I am willing to stop. Are you?

What can I say? Once a year I try to get in the spirit. Besides, many of my adopted paisanos (to the consternation of some and delight of many) live in the US. Vive Los Estados Unidos!

America is a vast patchwork of different cultures. We´re obscenely rich and heartbreakingly poor; rural gun-toting Texans and progressive rainbow flag-waving denizens of West Hollywood; black and brown and white like hulled rice. I can´t help but think, despite all the problems and fighting, that there´s something beautiful about the messy mix of it all. Happy 4th!

But denunciatory rhetoric is so much easier and cheaper than good works, and proves a popular temptation. Yet is it far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. -- William L. Watkinson

@Cobie´s advice about living a normal life, eating healthy, and being grounded is great. I would also suggest getting an evaluation from a psychiatrist.

Brahma Viharas for the Win! (or something like that)

Human madness is overwhelming, so I recommend becoming a kindness specialist. Maybe your heart feels an affinity for a particular issue -- poverty, environmental protection, racism...whatever it may be. I think it´s enough to concentrate one´s change-the-world efforts in that one area. Or perhaps you´re not drawn to big splashy issues at all, but you´re an excellent gardener: brighten the world with flowers. Or lets say you´re an artist or a cook or the neighborhood extrovert who smiles and says hi to people walking down the street. It all counts. So many ways to heighten the vibe.