“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…]
One of my favorite learning activities of each Biodesign Class was to consider the socio-cultural importance of the plants, animals and people associated with secular and religious holidays, including Valentine’s Day. Valentino of Terni was a 3rd century Catholic Bishop who was beheaded by Roman soldiers under the order of Claudius II. His “crimes” included … [Read more…]
One of the greatest Biodesign discoveries was that Darwin contemporary, Lord Alfred Wallace, described music as a quintessential component in human spiritual growth and development. Each day Biodesign students were greeted at the bio-lab door with music from quadraphonic speakers. The music could have been Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Folk, Opera, Reggae or Gospel, etc. … [Read more…]
Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, chap 28, “Amazing Faith.” “His ship survived the storm, and years later he became a priest. He had not forgotten his brush with death and was inspired to write a prayer of thanksgiving, describing his perilous journey. The prayer was actually a poem, which he used as a basis … [Read more…]
Although, as a little boy, I attended Sunday school at the little white church in Oakville, Ca., my spiritual search was low-key at best until I was 31 and Lettie asked her fateful question: “Is memorizing all the parts of a fetal pig really important?” (Biodesign Out For A Walk, chap. 1. “Genesis: Lettie’s Question.”) … [Read more…]
“One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.” – John Muir “Red exhaustion rips at your throat and salt sweat spills off your forehead and mats your eyelids and brows… The long distant runner is paid by the snap of a white thread across his chest. You are paid by the … [Read more…]
Although I have never met Dr. Michael Adams, son of Ansel Adams, our spirits were recently engaged in a splendid synchronicity that began nearly 40 years ago. It involves a revolutionary advanced biology class that I was privileged to participate in at St. Helena High School in the Napa Valley. It was revolutionary because the … [Read more…]
“What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.” – Renee Daumal EVERY HUMAN BEING should be fortunate enough to sleep at least one night on top of a mountain, under a starry blanket. John Muir exhorted his followers, “go to the mountains and get their good … [Read more…]
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Many of the older Scots claim that they can communicate spiritually with deceased family members and friends by a process they call “kything.” If this is so, I am guessing that John Muir … [Read more…]
Thursday, 8-25-16 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. The NPS has often been described as, “America’s Greatest Idea,” and if this is so, John Muir may arguably be considered “America’s greatest naturalist.” It is impossible to imagine how the Park Service would have evolved without his vision, passion and dedication. After … [Read more…]