Sunday, December 1, 2013

Yes, This Blog Still Exists...

A writer takes earnest measures to secure his solitude and then finds endless ways to squander it.
Don DeLillo

...some time ago decided I was gonna focus on practicing yoga and not think about it so much...read about it less...certainly stop arguing about it...and, for the most part, that's been a good thing...

...though, as a result, have also been writing about it a lot less....as readers may've noticed...but, then, I'm writing about other things less, too, as I try to work on a novel about dysfunctional superheroes...which I haven't been doing much in recent weeks, either...okay, let's fact it, I been slacking...

...anyway, more recently been practicing yoga a lot less, too, due to the injured arm...iced as I type...(was telling a friend about it, said it was getting better for a while, but then the recovery seemed to plateau....she asked if I was icing it...I said I was until it started feeling better....took me a couple minutes to make the connection between those two answers)...

...nonetheless, went on a yoga retreat with my friends and teachers John and Diana at a hilltop villa in the Umbria region of Italy...
...yes, that's actually the place...ancient stone buildings with modern infinity pool, hot tub, and yoga studio....before and after which, spent time in the magical city of Florence...

 

...as well as Barcelona (see also the lovely Antonio Gaudi doorway, at the top of the post),


and Madrid...

...after so much quality time with Miro, Picasso, Bosch, Botticelli, and ancient, storied rivers of red wine, wasn't easy to settle back into the autumn at home...been doing a lots of meditation and mindfulness mini-retreats, and, a few weekends ago, a Yin Yoga teacher training with the amazing Corina Benner in an area of South Philly not long ago infamous as the city's mafia battleground, now one of it major hipster neighborhoods...impermanence, y'know...

I heard the old, old men say,
'Everything alters,
And one by one we drop away.'
They had hands like claws, and their knees
Were twisted like the old thorn-trees
By the waters.
'All that's beautiful drifts away
Like the waters.'
William Butler Yeats, The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water

...but, anyway, told some fellow students about my semi-legendary blog...figured it might be a good time to post something...anything...for whatever it might be worth...

I had a discussion with a great master in Japan... and we were talking about the various people who are working to translate the Zen books into English, and he said, "That's a waste of time. If you really understand Zen... you can use any book. You could use the Bible. You could use Alice in Wonderland. You could use the dictionary, because... the sound of the rain needs no translation.
Alan Watts

7 comments:

Bob Weisenberg said...

Welcome back, Jay. And thanks for the great travelogue. I'm furiously studying Italian, as my wife and I are moving there next year for at least six months.

Bob W.
http://bobweisenberg.wordpress.com/

Sabine said...

LOL!!! Nobody can go on being a cynic while facing the beauty of umbria and tuscany! Nice to see your days at least have been happy! the zen - authors words are true. go on! If you are alive you have to go on with it without pause anyway! and do not stop sharing!!!! all the best! Sabine

Eco Yogini said...

welcome back!! And WOW what a trip- those photos are gorgeous.

Breaks can always be good for the soul :)

the walking man said...

With Mr. Watts I would have to agree.

OH man talk about a buzzkill I lived in South Philly when Rizzo was mayor, I liked it.

Now that Detroit is falling apart and possibly going into Bankruptcy today at 10am all everyone has been talking about is selling our 122 year old collection of art. *sigh*

Christine Vyrnon said...

Part 1 of my comment: We both still exist.

Part 2 of my comment: Bosch.

Anonymous said...

Hey Jay,

I've been on a similar trajectory though I regret it didn't take me to Europe.

Less talking about and more doing works well when there's nothing to rattle the cages. Just wait. Something will change and words written and read will be a welcome refuge again.

It's nice to see your name again. Happy New Year.

Daisy Deadhead said...

Great photos, and I've missed you, my man !