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And the sangria she drinks is made of fruit

We either make ourselves miserable
or we make ourselves strong.
The amount of work is the same.
Don Juan Matus

You are the Sun in drag.
You are God hiding from yourself.
-Hafiz

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I got stuck in Memphis once.
It was the most fortuitous stuck that ever happened to me.
Midnight at Marlowe's with my wonderful child.

I love your posts and look forward to them.

Vanda

I think your daughter is very lucky to have a mom that loves her so much.

:-). I'm the lucky one.
Oh, btw, reading your posts has inspired me to pick up a copy of the Tao Te Ching. I've been reading it to Alchemy in the evenings. I'm so surprised how she just sits and listens and isn't bored. I fluctuate on how I feel about the Tao... Do I continue to fight or to I let go? And isn't that Taoist in and of itself? Catch-22.

vanda

Cool - so which translation did you pick up? Some seems to focus more on the "everything you read should be a paradox, or at least a balanced opposition" mindset, while others are more poetic.

Know what you mean about dealing with Tao - remember that those who act also serve Tao. ;) One thing I think I keep in mind is that while one may not be able to fully swim against the current in any given situation, one can often make lots of tiny little adjustments that eventually will make it possible to divert the river, dam the stream, or even dogpaddle one's way to shore.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1842930567/102-7704703-1779320?v=glance
That is the version I purchased.
It seems to be rather poetic and the images are gorgeous. I think you would like them judging by what you've posted to your LJ. I also think that the translator has maintained some of the "balanced opposition" aspect.

In my recent pursuits I assumed the mind set that I would do the necessary mundane footwork to cause the ultimate magic to happen. What I found is that I caused a whole different scenario to manifest and partly missed my goal. I am aware that I could take further steps to pursue the goal I set, but how far should I go to achieve that goal? At what point are you working against the great power? I think when you are working with the great power that events move so smoothely and logically that the end is more an inevitability than a goal to be pursued. Then I think I may be wrong and that I must fight for what I want and achieve my goal using all reasonable effort.

I am learning, however, that the focus on the "now" and living in the "now" can help allay (sp?) the anxiety of the aforementioned situation.

I guess it comes down to basic beliefs...do I believe the great power is so great? Do I believe in magic? Most of the time I do.

:-)

vanda

Ah yes, I picked that one up at Barnes & Noble recently but had only sampled it. Apparently it's heavily influenced by my favorite version by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English (but of course, in true fannish household fashion, I can't find that particular book right now - I've either loaned it out, or it's in one of the dreaded Piles of Books To Be Reshelved).

In any particular situation, I know I am only one of the actors - that other entities may also be taking action, or not. [I use "entities" to cover anything that could conceivably take an action - thus not only individual people, but also groups, animate objects, and even natural forces.] Some will act with understanding and intention; some with blinding stupidity, or defensive self-justification. So, even if I am trying to act or not act in best accordance with the situation as I see it, I am aware that I am not the complete master or mistress of fate. (A very annoying concept to a full-time control freak like me, but experience teaches best - or worst.)

In my recent pursuits I assumed the mind set that I would do the necessary mundane footwork to cause the ultimate magic to happen. What I found is that I caused a whole different scenario to manifest and partly missed my goal.

*nod* I am not a Taoist lawyer or doctor, nor do I play one on TV. :) But I've been in similar spots, I think. One question I might ask myself there: does it seem to be easier to adjust my goal, or myself? Sometimes I can glimpse an even better goal. Sometimes, I find a better me instead. I agree when Tao is flowing, things often seem effortless, but if the water is churned up and muddy already, maybe one's only options are "keep swimming, start floating, or sink".

Or, if I decide that maintaining my self is more important than achieving my goal, then I reevaluate why I am pursuing the goal in the first place. Sure, I may be learning a lot from the sheer effort (that which doesn't kill you, etc.), but maybe I could learn the same lessons and accomplish something positive, too!

I'm a firm believer in trying for a win-win situation whenever I can. I may look like a rugged loner :) , but I do have a deep-seated streak of inclusiveness and compromise. I'll work hard with others and even bend over backwards -- as long as they indicate they want to work with me in turn. However, I have unfort seen that for some people (deliberately or otherwise) there has to be a "loser" for them to feel that they are "winning", and so many of the situations they end up getting into (consciously or not) are set up for someone -- or at worst, everyone :( -- to come out of it badly. I try to avoid those people now, having learned that one can't save everyone, and esp can't save people who won't even try to save themselves first... but sometimes one doesn't recognize a person is that kind until it's too late and you suddenly realize that the only way they're going to swim is if you drown. First. And that means sometimes, swimming free is the only option left, if one is to be true to oneself. *sigh*

I don't believe in Tao. I just experience it too often to even begin to doubt.

I tried to send email to the address I had and it bounced, so I'm sending you email via lj. My email is
noire at panix dot com

It appears now that I'll be flying on Saturday June 11th (John is now in an all-day meeting on Saturday) but we'd love to see you (in any plural combination of your choice OR singular) for brunch on Sunday June 12, if that works for you. Don't worry about the food part--after all, we had to show off Boston, but we did live in DC and know there's great food there! I can't eat eggs, so that's my big trouble with many brunches. I think we'll be staying at or near Tyson's (that is not decided yet--John still has to put in for the hotel, but since they've got him at a meeting on Saturday, SAIC is going to pay. Dammit!)

Hope to see you soon!

Was it the Radix address you had problems with? If so, Radix is apparently doing some overly aggressive spam filtering (and of course, insult is added to injury in that some spam still gets thru) so I am worrying a little about what mail I don't know I'm not getting. :(

I'll send you direct mail later but I've already put the date on the calendar....

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And the sangria she drinks is made of fruit

Memphis

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DC visit

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