Who Are Your Song Bearers?

Now, I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
--Leonard Cohen

Phix's Curiosity: what sparks my interest

Watch this space to see what's sparked my interest this week.  A random grab bag of delights!

Once upon a time, there were no lights but candles and lamps at night.  There was no tv, cellphones, video games in leisure time... People found ways to enjoy that time and one of the ways they did that was music.  Once upon a time, music was a community thing, not reserved for the stage, or the school auditorium - it was participatory & shared in families, and with friends. 

Who are the song-holders in communities now?  How/does music pass down from generation to generation? Songs are sort of like stories - what are we missing when they disappear? And more importantly - what are we missing out on within our communities when we no longer share participatory music within and across our communities?  And by participatory - I don't just mean participation-by-receiving.  Going to a concert is receipt of music, passive participation in the act of creation.  

I love participating in the act of creating music with other people.  Alone it's... a little hollow, to be honest.  Though sometimes, late at night, alone in my car, with my kids in the car, sometimes just gonna sing along with whatever is on, or whatever's in my head.  When I'm playing with others, I don't care if the people I'm playing with are particularly good. I care very deeply that in the moment they are enthusiastic and authentic about participating with their whole heart with joy.  Broken strings, missed lines, missed notes, messed up harmonies, whatever. The music, like water, flows around it and keeps moving. 

It seems like what I hear these days is, 'oh, I... haven't played in a while... I've lost a lot. I don't play as well as I used to'  Yeah.  I feel that.  Me too. And. Come play with me. We can be joyfully terrible together.  

I miss having people to play with. On the upside, kiddo #1 wants to learn guitar this summer.  I am trying to figure out if there's an instrument I can be terrible at with her.  I guess... worst case, this is the summer I try to pick up fiddle...

But... open invitation. Wanna sing some songs? I'm game.  Seriously.
  

Medusa's Garden

When you need every one and everything around you to just stop.

The world needs to slow down so I can get my song on. This seems to be the year that I'm finding a lot of joy in the arts & crafts.  Spinning, weaving, and music all day? Yes please. Alas.  That's not the way the world works. 

Boundaries.  Setting down the workaday, making time and saving energy for the other stuff.  That's... a project... Creating space. To do the important stuff... 
 


Ariadne's Yarn: playing with threads

What I'm up to with fiber and possibly how mythology and stories all tie together.

Just a few more rows (COMMITMENT) on the scarf now.  And I wrapped up the pretty blue stuff and started working on some natural blue-faced leicester - it's so soft.  It's going to be a beautiful something some day! :)
 

Mythic Librarian: the art of arranging a life 

Thoughts on ontology and ways to organize a life.

 In my work life, there's been a bit of politics.  It's the nature of trying to coordinate many people's frameworks into one that works together.  People's world views are how they've mapped their mental models to the world.  When that mental model is challenged, the resistance can be... significant. Asking people to recognize the flexibility of their maps is always an exercise in tact and diplomacy.  There's a reason that ontology has its own branch of philosophy!   

I don't mean to come off sounding like I'm whining about it - this is one of the things I generally really enjoy about my work. Frameworks, ontologies, perspectives.  I'm getting better as I get older about trying to make sure the folks I'm working with understand that their perspective is (probably) valid... from their perspective.. but that it fits into this other perspective in *this* way. 
 
With love, and structure, and organization, and curiosity - may Ariadne's ball of yarn guide you through the labyrinth safely until next time!

--Susan