Naturalist Annie Dillard mused, “The question from agnosticism is, Who turned on the lights? The question from faith is, Whatever for?” John Muir answered, “faith is a baptism of light.”Polyphemus Dillard published Pilgrim At Tinker Creek in 1974 and it became a Pulitzer Award winner. Considered by Edward Abbey as the “true heir apparent” to Henry Thoreau’s … [Read more…]
[Including a student’s response] Professor Loren Eiseley was a brilliant post-renaissance scholar who received world-acclaim for describing overarching themes that integrate science and religion. He also became an extraordinary Naturalist, philosopher, poet, humorist, sage and master storyteller. Much of his work has been recorded in eleven spirit-filled books and his overriding theme is that miracles … [Read more…]
“Heaven knows that John the Baptist was not more eager to get all his fellow sinners into the Jordan than I to baptize all of mine in the beauty of God’s mountains.” John Muir A glorious sunrise spread its warmth over the eastern Sierra and began melting the frost on our sleeping bags. The Biodesign students grabbed a light … [Read more…]
“we are so both and onefulnight cannot be so skysky cannot be so sunfuli am through you so I” e.e. cummings (100 Selected Poems) Some of e.e. cummings fans regard this untitled poem as his finest work. However, with nearly 3,000 poems published, it might be a fool’s errand to judge. However, what may not … [Read more…]
“Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.” St. Augustine One year, after discussing “The Big Bang Theory” in … [Read more…]
Cautiously emerging from Covid protocol practices, I was recently blessed to reconnect with a former teacher/colleague Gordon Anderson aka, Mr. A.—Gordy—Sir Gordo, who belongs to a pantheon of gifted math teachers. He fully understands that math can be a daunting discipline, especially for right-brain dominant students. He has an uncanny ability to help students make … [Read more…]
A Libra’s Bipolar Views Of The 4th of July Celebration. On the one hand, we should all be walking around each day with our arms raised heavenward in a state of ecstasy and adulation for the privilege of being alive in these United States of America. Of the estimated 108 billion modern humans who have lived … [Read more…]
TUESDAY, 6-21-22 marks the summer solstice when the sun reaches its northernmost annual migration. This conjured up a beautiful Biodesign synchronicity that occurred on top of Yosemite’s Half Dome. Mother Nature saved one of her greatest gifts for the last Class to visit Yosemite. With billions of stars, too numerous to count, the students were … [Read more…]
It turned out that fire was one of the most important elements in the Biodesign experience. Typically, every day of our studies at Yosemite and Mendocino ended with a circular celebration around a campfire. Often the combination of heat, light and the transformation of solid wood into gaseous flames served as a metaphor for mental … [Read more…]
( Easter Messages from Peter Roget and Sir Isaak Newton) “Measured on the vast scale of the universe, the globe we inhabit appears but as an atom; and yet within the compass of this atom, what an inexhaustible variety of objects is contained; what and endless diversity of phenomena is presented; what wonderful changes are … [Read more…]