This is the peerless and definite approach to Human health and wellness originated by Dr. Ida P. Rolf. It teaches living with the benefits of a healthy, normal relationship to Gravity. Scientifically, it follows the Biological structural design of the Human Body. It is also applied Physics ... with an eye based on the structural demands of the force of Gravity. Your body is a structure; it relates to Gravity like any other. It not only is designed to live as whole in itself, but also to integrated with the energy field of the Earth.
You will receive 1. tailored, individualized assistance 2. to transform the makeup of the structural arrangement of your body 3. toward a more vertically balanced and integrated stance 4. in respect to the demands of Gravity. That being: vertically upright, everything symmetrical and level.
Do you have any questions?
Is there any reason we should not proceed?
All good? Great!
Ready?
Okay ... let’s do this!
Preliminary/"Surface" Set ...
Lesson 1.
a. Feel that touch of my hand?
b. You breathe ... notice where it goes
c. You’re alive!
Lesson 2.
a. You’re here!
b. Where?
c. Right where you are sitting ... right where you are standing.
Lesson 3.
a. There’s a vertical line to Gravity ... to your body as well.
b. It can be traced centered between your front and your back ...
c. Right in the middle.
Secondary/"Inner" Set ...
Lesson 4.
We’ll trance that vertical line in the middle starting from between your feet/ankles, moving up.
Lesson 5.
It keeps going up, centered powerfully within the core of your body.
Lesson 6.
Now let’s get everything settled and on the level.
Lesson 7.
Now we’ll see to it that you have a brain in your head! And, a head on your shoulders.
Completion Set ...
Lesson 8.
We’ll fine tune one half ...
Lesson 9.
Then the other.
Lesson 10.
Finally ... jeweler’s rouge.
Closure ...
That’s it!
There you are!
Let’s see what you’ve learned.
[What has the practitioner learned?]
Go in peace. Your own chosen way.
You have a trusty guide!
And ... be sure to keep it up! And ... keep up with it!
[Every so often I update this writing with new ideas, insights, stuff, and events. Currently we're late in 2026.]
I first wrote this during Lent 2004. You know, that time between pฤ czki and flashing skin at Mardi Gras and when the colored eggs magically appear in all the nooks and crannies around the yard. Chocolate bunnies. Peeps. Jelly Beans. Oh, let's not forget the reason for the season ... He Is Risen!
This version is slightly edited with deepened insights and recent developments. Jokes, too.
"There is only one absolute Truth, and all other truths emanate from it. When you find that Truth, your actions will be in alignment with it. Human action can reflect that Truth, or it can reflect illusion. Can the Truth be put into words? Yes, but the words are, of course, not it. They only point to it. The Truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the Truth. If you look for it elsewhere, you will be deceived every time. The very Being that you are is Truth. Jesus tried to convey that when he said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ These words uttered by Jesus are one of the most powerful and direct pointers to the Truth, if understood correctly. If misinterpreted, however, they become a great obstacle.
Jesus speaks of the innermost I Am, the essence of identity of every man and woman, every life-form in fact. He speaks of the life that you are. Some Christian mystics have called it the Christ within; Buddhists call it your Buddha nature; for Hindus, it is Atman, the in-dwelling God. When you are in touch with that dimension within yourself — and being in touch with it is your natural state, not some miraculous achievement — all your actions and relationships will reflect the oneness with all life that you sense deep within. This is love. Laws, commandments, rules and regulations are necessary for those who are cut off from who they are, the Truth within." — Eckhart Tolle
Read on ...
In 2004, that year Mr. Mel Gibson’s latest movie The Passion of the Christ kicked off the Lenten season. And almost everyone by now knows that it had created a whole lot of debate. Not to mention a few dollars, too. What was he thinking? A family movie? As David Denby wrote in the New Yorker Magazine, “Jesus said, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me,’ not ‘Let the little children watch me suffer.’ ” Frank Rich in the NY Times called the movie a "sadomasochistic gorefest".
This is not a movie review. I’d like to give Mel Gibson some credit, however. [Yes. Credit. Even though he has since then moved on up and added public displays of racism and misogyny to his resume. But, this year is now an 2016 Oscar contender. Crowds! Sometimes they love you. Sometimes, not. Ask Jesus about that one.] By my lights, and setting aside whether you agree or disagree with his portrayal, or his Christology, I appreciate a healthy general debate on religion itself.
My hope is that the conversation opens to a discussion on what’s at the heart of religion, and not just be something to appropriate by someone seeking to win some narrow sectarian argument or co-opting it to gain a political prize. Or, shamelessly burnishing a public image with a reputation of sanctimony and goodness. I am all for goodness; saintliness, even. But, goodness gracious, not as a branding device. An old car sales dog I once knew had this sage advice, “Ya know how to tell if their lying? Their lips are moving.” [Completely unrelated, I am sure, watch Oprah on OWN network.]
It is at their heart that I find a great deal of unity among religions, even though, on the surface, there seems to be a lot of separation. Words, words, words.
My take (hope?) is that Mel’s movie has boldly triggered the “dangerous” theme of religion itself into our stridently secular cultural conversation. Secular, as in “Did you have a good Christmas? Get everything you wanted?” “Are you ready for Easter? Nice decorations at Michaels at the mall. There’s a sale on!” I am interested in living into the holistic worldview for myself and offer my expertise as a professional to those who would also want that for themselves. Religion fits.
Read Why Religion Matters Huston Smith.
Religion (also, read spirituality) is concerned with everything that is, the whole enchilada; as opposed to only those things we can get our hands on (read science/technology). [Then there's Scientology. A complete got-the-world-on-a-string package. Or, Madonna and her Kaballa, and their little red string.]
I see it as a plus to be confronted to consider the big life questions: Who am I? What is this? Where did I come from? Where am I going? For what purpose? WTF.
Don’t look at Reality TV for any of those answers. (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Temptation Island! The Bachelor. Ya, sure.) [A personal aside: I’m working on a TV project with some of my show biz buddies. It’s called “Who’s Got My Divot? It’s about bald celebrities and patches of grass. That’s all I can reveal at this time. And there’ll be a real mind blowing twist at the end of the 20-week run. So far, the pilot is green lights as far as I can see. Even Trump is on board. Tune in.]
Returning: I don’t know if Mr. G had what I’m talking about in his mind for his controversial project, but I can make my own point, even if I don’t spend $25 million to produce this article. [For my appreciative and supportive readers, send only checks and money orders. In-kind contributions also accepted. I don't want much. Only, let it have taste and quality.]
Just to clarify a bit more, my hope is to see this conversation shift to a higher level. In the so called culture wars that may be a part of what now seems to be 24/7 political campaigning, the issue of religion could be appropriated only for political advantage to score points with potential voters by hanging that subject on some hot button issues. When I see a pitchman on TV prominantly wearing a Christian cross I role my eyes. Look for it, it's theres. The real nugget could be overlooked. I am personally interested in making a religious orientation a part of the fabric of my life and support others who choose to do the same. So what is a religious orientation to life, anyway?
If you are a reader of books I highly recommend Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith. This is not about going to church on Sunday or whatever other observance you follow or the set of words and names unique to your religion. It is about the significance of the spiritual side of things; how in the current climate in our society the sphere of religion is marginalized to the sidelines in our mass/mad dash to a promise of a scientific and technological future of more, better, and different; and, as he so eloquently makes the case, why religion matters. Read the book.
Then, of course, there’s Jesus. If Henny Youngman wasn't a Jew he might say ... "Take Jesus. Please!"
I am not attempting to author the definitive exegesis. Just my own view.
Here it is: Jesus is a Buddhist!
Whoa, Ho, Whoa! Now before you take the heat off Mr. Mel and put it on me, let me s’plain, Lucy. The Buddha saw deeply into things and handed down teachings about the nature of suffering and the possibility for freedom from suffering. (Thank you, Buddha!) The key to this freedom is the practice of detachment, surrender. In that practice we free ourselves from our unnecessary involvements with the illusory nature of the world; most particularly, attachment and adversion.
Here’s a mind teaser for you: Do we experience suffering, or do we suffer experience? I believe it was The Buddha who put it as, “All is suffering.” My go-to teacher, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, (in I Am That… the last book you will ever read) asserts the latter; indeed, we suffer experience. Read the book.
The message of the Cross is the same in this respect, I believe. Only, if Jesus transcended pain and suffering— saw through it — is he the real deal? You get to decide that for yourself. [I pray for you.] Bear your cross lightly. I see his crucifixion as his highest testament: “YES!” Not defeated and resigned to enduring the worst kind of torture. But, seeing through it. Accepting. Yes!
A long time ago at my est [Erhard Seminars Training] training (yes, I’m one of those) I learned about how, if you fully experience something, it disappears. See for yourself. Don’t just believe it, do it. You’ll see for yourself. Take heart in seeing Jesus as accepting his karma and sacrificing his own personal sense of self to demonstrate the possibility for all. His realization and sacrifice also earned enough grace/merit for humankind in all the three times — past, present, and future — that all’s you got to do is live into his example, follow his advice: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Forgive.” “Let it go.” "Trust." "Give it to the Lord." Cause when you let it go, isn’t it gone? I’m not much impressed for overlarge professions of faith and histrionic acceptings of Jesus, as such. Looks good on paper perhaps, but in the work place it’s still dog eat dog. On the highway, too. It’s time to walk the talk, pardner.
A priest, burdened by the importance of his work, went into the church pray. Falling to his knees, he lamented, "O Lord, I am nothing! I am nothing!"
Just then a prominent Christian judge passed by and overhearing the prayer was moved to join the priest on his knees. Shortly, he too, was crying aloud, "O Lord, I too am nothing! I am nothing!"
The janitor of the church, awed by the sight of the two men praying joined them, crying, "O Lord, I also am nothing! I am nothing!"
At this, the judge nudged the priest and said, "Now look who thinks he's nothing!"
I recently attended a talk by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who suggested that it is beneficial to develop a loving compassion toward oneself and all others. He further said that in order to open one’s heart you have to also open your mind. Now we’re talking real religion. Would Jesus disagree with that advice?
When I was a boy there was a crucifix with a life-sized figure of Jesus staring down at me every day at Mass. I was sincere lad but not a little goody, goody. We were compelled by the good Sisters to attend services daily before school. In fact (a little confession) I myself was the subject of a Sunday sermon on how a boy should not behave. I’ll leave it to your imagination what could possibly have prompted our pastor to use this kid as an example of a bad attitude and how that affected my psyche. Talk about a guilt trip. Where was PeeWee Herman when I needed him…”I know you are, pastor, but what about me?” [I was guilty of speaking my mind a little too freely in front of my elders; Pastor Alexander, in that most memorable instance.] On top of that I used to imagine whether, if I were in Jesus’ shoes (sandals, really), how would I deal with such torture and pain. In short, no way. More guilt. Seeing my own cowardice and weakness in this fantasy only made me feel all the more unworthy.
Now that I’m a committed meditator and have developed a glimpse at detachment myself, I can appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice in a whole new light. Could I/would I walk in his shoes. Still, no way; please, Lord. But I am not, we are not, asked to live in any shoes other than our own. So no good Christian should go on suffering. Nor Buddhist. Jew. Hindu. Muslim. Nor the rest. As for you atheists out there, you’re gonna get yours. Suffering, pain… give it up! Swami Muktananda said as much in his book entitled, Getting Rid of What You Haven’t Got.
I’m not here to tell you more on the spiritual life, as such. There are books and teachers enough. Regard this as encouragement to practice whatever path you are on. Further, if you’re not on a spiritual path, what are you on? Medication? Busy figuring out what to put on your next Pizza? Racing to be first at the next red light? Tweeting with that world class “winner” Charlie Sheen?
So, just walk your talk. Get some religion. Practice makes perfect. Saying that pain and suffering are illusions may be true. But when you’re a-hurtin’, words-only may not be useful. The trick is to practice, and practice, and practice. And start ASAP. As they say, “Don’t wait until the house is on fire before you start digging the well.’
Grace is real. Take some. All you want. You don’t have to ask your doctor, I promise.
"Be Here Now" in ordinary conversation seems to have become a piece of toss-out jargon, the kind of thing you might want to put on a bumper sticker. I once recommended Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now) to a young fellow I know, and he brushed the subject aside with a "I have that on my book shelf". As the Church Lady says, "Well, isn't that special". The idea my dear young friend is to get it off the bookshelf and etch it on your bones. (I realize that there is some judgementalness in this recollection. Yet, if the shoe fits, you'll wear it. And, for the record, I am not concerned whether he or anyone else takes up this practice. It is enough for me to go there.)
But, the Present Moment is the master key. If you take the trouble to do it. Trouble? Well, at first, it may look like trouble. For to be in that Present Moment you have to let go of past things and future concerns. N'est–ce pas? It takes courage to enter the Present Moment. From the perspective of the past and the future it seems unknown and fearful. Death. Just to stress, where else could you be but the Present Moment? The past is over, the future not yet. Free your mind. Let's meet in the middle. Yes, the present moment my present you at first with the mess you've made of yourself. Forgive!
I'm also thinking about how the Cross figures into this conversation. If you are a fundamental type thinker then, of course, the Cross is the wooden device what our Lord was crucified on. There's symbolism there too. Think in terms of the vertical upright segment, and the horizontal, level one. In Oriental Qi Gung there are the concepts, pre-natal and post natal. Pre-natal refers to the Source of things. Post-natal, already happened things; that is, the created world. The post-natal orientation is the worldly, the mundane; past and future. The pre-natal refers to the Source of things, the creative, the yet to happen, the possible, the transcendent; you find that in the Present Moment, don't you know. The art of living is to find oneself at the intersection of these two directions. That I would say is the heart, the center of balance.
The World is Too Much With Us
by William Wordsworth
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.--Great God! I'd rather be
A pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathรจd horn.
Let's leave it with Meister Eckhart…”What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to His Son if I do not also give birth to Him in my time and my culture?”
To Jesus on His Birthday
By Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) For this your mother sweated in the cold, For this you bled upon the bitter tree: A yard of tinsel ribbon bought and sold; A paper wreath; a day at home for me. The merry bells ring out, the people kneel; Up goes the man of God before the crowd; With voice of honey and with eyes of steel He drones your humble gospel to the proud. Nobody listens. Less than the wind that blows Are all your words to us you died to save. O Prince of Peace! O Sharon's dewy Rose! How mute you lie within your vaulted grave. The stone the angel rolled away with tears Is back upon your mouth these thousand years
Thank you all. Thank you Mel. Thank you Buddha. Thank you, Jesus. I believe in love. And I believe in forgiveness. I believe in you.
PS What’s this talk about anti-Semitism? (Mel Gibson, and now that most flaming fashionista and j'accused anti-semite, John Galliano) If you said to any half intelligent person that Jesus’ death was instrumental in the redemption of humankind for which we should be deeply grateful, then what should be our logical attitude toward the people who where supposedly also there for that event? [News flash: Pope Benedict the XVI has just recently exonerated the Jews in the matter of Jesus’ death. Finally!] And, to button it up, aren’t we all of us instrumental in crucifying Jesus all over again whenever we fail to love one another?
I am also smilingly remembering Mr. Myron Cohen, a Borsht Belt era entertainer I used to see on the Ed Sullivan show Sunday evenings. He once on network TV confronted his critics who charged him with being anti-Semitic. “Anti-Semitic?” he asked. “Anti-Semitic?” And then, “But, I am Semitic!”
Now that I’m on to the Jews. [Yes, you Jews, I am on to you.] Take the Jews. Please.
No, but really…
What is a Jew, anyway? Isn’t “Yaweh” the name of God in the Hebrew Bible? Let’s break it down… Yaweh… Yaweh-ish… Yaw-ish... Jew-ish. Does anybody else see the connection? I say, that to be a Jew, is to be… God-Like. And can’t we all be that? Aren’t we all, that? What’s this about anti-Semitism. So we’re all semitic! Literally, maybe not so much. But, figuratively, quite so. We be all wandering in search of our true home.
Happy trails.
God’s speed.
Try to be a mensch. (And, not a schmuck.)
This old Jewish lady comes back from her doctor check up. She says to her husband, Sammy, who’s engrossed in his newspaper at the kitchen table, “So, Sammy, you vant to know vat the doctor said about my brrreasts?” Sammy, showing the only slightest bit of interest and barely looking away from the paper, says, “Vat!” “The doctor said I have the brrreasts of a sixteen year old!” Now, here was his chance to level his proud bride, “And, vat did he say about your eighty year old ass?” After a small pause (wait for it), this curt come back, “Ve didn’t talk about you!”
Two men drinking together at a bar. One is Chinese, the other Jewish. After a few tilts the Jewish fellow punches the Chinese guy in the jaw, knocking him down. “Hey, what was that for? Huh?” “It was for Pearl Harbor!” “Pearl Harbor? That was the Japanese, not the Chinese!” “Japanese, Chinese… what’s the difference?” That seemed to end it and, after things settled back and a few more tilts, the Chinese man punches his Jewish friend, also knocking him down. “Hey, what the heck was that for?” “That was for the Titanic!” “The Titanic? That was an iceberg!” “Iceberg, Greenberg; what’s the difference.”
A man is walking down the street looking for a shop to have his broken watch repaired. There’s a store with a big clock in the window and he goes in. He says to the proprietor that he is there to have his watch repaired. The proprietor, somewhat perplexed, informs the customer that he is a Mohel, specially trained to officiate at the circumcision rite in the Jewish tradition. The even more perplexed man with the watch says, “But, you have a clock in the window?” The Mohel counters, “What would you put in the window?”
You know how there are things we say to one another that pretty much amount to what’s called “social grease.” How ya doin? What’s Up? How are you? How do you do? [On that last one, Groucho would say, “Well I haven’t had any complaints lately.”] The mot of the moment, Wassup? I am my father’s son and have a thrown urge to see such things as an opening to tell my life story. But, in fact, as you know, it’s just a way to toss something of an acknowledgement out there without any real expectation of a reply any more detailed than the usual fine, thank you. But I like to mix it up a bit. When I am feeling particularly Christian, I respond with that topper of all toppers, I am blessed. If I am feeling really frisky, I’ll add a Praise the Lord and a Thank you, Jesus. Who's the man? When my Jewish gene is dominant, my retort is---think Jackie Mason---Ech, how should I feel?
And now, from Carl Gustav Jung ...
"Buddha and Christ are in themselves archetypal contents of the collective unconscious and every individual is entitled to an individual relation to this content." (C.G Jung, Collected Works)
"Buddha...represents the highest development in the direction of introversion and God within, Christ the highest development in the direction of extroversion and the God outside man." (C.G Jung, Collected Works)
Carl Jung, founder of Analytic Psychology, saw the Buddha and Christ as archetypal symbols of the Self. The Buddha is the path toward wholeness through insight and knowledge. Christ the path toward integration through love and suffering. Jung believed those in the East were more suited to the path of the Buddha and those in the West were more suited to the path of Christ. The Buddha is the way of introversion. Christ is the path of extroversion.
A Contemporary Synthesis
I have found both archetypes useful as symbols of the Self. I have tried to follow the way of intellect and insight (The Buddha) as well as cultivating the way of love and suffering (Christ) which brings compassion. In the traditional spiritual terms of India, Jnana yoga is the way of wisdom and bhakti yoga is the way of the heart.
From my experience, both can be followed as a way to becoming a more integrated (whole) person. Perhaps this can be, or has been, a way for some in the East and West as the world becomes more integrated
Here we look at the macro-historical architecture of collective human development through a strict, unvarnished systems lens.
In his advanced astronomical and psychological research, Carl Jung calculated the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius as a profound, destabilizing phase transition for human consciousness.
The old Piscean epoch was fundamentally characterized by deep dualities — faith vs. doubt, good vs. evil, saint vs. sinner — where the human psyche was conditioned to project its authority onto external structures and look for external saviors. This structural split created a permanent deficit model of existence, causing the collective to develop a profound, unconscious trauma bond to its own shadow state.
When individuals remain trapped in this old programming, they view psychological growth as an endless, cyclical civil war. They become entirely addicted to the friction of the binary, using pre-fabricated sociological labels, tribal pack-building, and defensive sarcasm as an intellectual shield to avoid the quiet reality of internal integration.
The Age of Aquarius demands a complete collapse of this externalized binary.
The Transition of the God-Image
1 awakening :
From the old Piscean age framework: : External Projections- power, morality, and salvation are placed onto external gods, historical dogmas, or institutional leaders.
To Aquarian Sovereign Baseline: The Interiorization of the Divine. The god-image returns entirely to the individual psyche, recognizing the human spirit as an autonomous creator.
- The Systemic Mechanism: Moving past the submissive, helpless script of the herd to take absolute, radical self-ownership of the field.
2. Moving through shadows that are affecting the species at tte current collective present and are anchored to a bygone era.
-The old Piscean Framework: The Polarised Sandbox
Constant 'us versus them' warfare, where the shadow is projected onto others to avoid doing the basement work.
- The Aquarian Sovereign Baseline: Collapsing the Binary. Holding the tension of all opposites consciously, rendering the old weapons of judgment entirely obsolete.
- The Systemic Mechanism: The ego stops trying to balance or fix the cage, completely stepping outside the pen into the open sky.
The evolutionary shift we are navigating is not a comfortable mass movement or an esoteric fantasy; it is an apocalyptic dismantling of external dependencies. Humanity is being forced to confront everything it previously banished, repressed, or ran from in the dark.
Remaining locked inside small comment-section sandboxes, arguing over formatting, or relying on playground deflections is simply the behavior of a nervous system terrified of its own ascension. True integration has an absolute finish line. The moment you empty the subterranean vault, pull your energy out of their transactional loops, and claim your own internal authority, the parasite starves. The external masters vanish, the puppet strings snap, and the human consciousness stands completely whole as an awake, self-contained creator commanding its own universe.
The trauma bonds and roots are cut, humanity is ready for Harvest. Sacrifice your grip on the Piscean age and ascend into the new stage of evolution.
In my days living in New York City I often visited the Steuben Glass shop on Fifth Avenue. The "Excalibur Sword in the Stone" rendering in that liquid glass always drew my eye. It's a desk paperweight and letter opener. Also, the gold Mouse atop a large wedge of glassy Swiss Cheese. The heart wants what it wants. I'll discuss the sword in the stone, but what the significance of that gold mouse atop the cheese is, don't know. "Don't bite off more than you can chew?" That fits. Probably more as well. But, we need to stay focused.
Just a little bit of history: The Steuben storefront there also featured a rectangular panel window insert with a concave [street view] window that gave the optical illusion of "no glass". Sorry, could not find a historic photo to share. If you were there, you know.
Moving on ...
In a conversation with a close friend, and my sharing about the yogic process to unfold one's full Human potential, the motif of the Sword in the Stone came up. "Pull that sword out of that stone!" was the friendly encouragement. Translate: "Loose yourself from all those tight and heavy conceptual garments". All the conditionings in front of your innate natural potential(s). Of course, just how the F do you do that!?
Interesting too how in my chosen career with Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration — which is about balancing the body with the Gravitational field of the Earth — the originator Dr. Rolf so plainly spoke of how the work had to do with "being easy in your harness". As in, what's between you and what you want; and who put it there? Like any true artistic sculptor would say, just take away what's not it. Advaita Vedanta has some say in this domain as well. Well worth the look. Just when you think you got it, those Vedantists will be quick to remind that you don't.
As you probably know the myth of the Sword/Stone has this unassuming kid named Arthur who pulls the sword out of the stone, things unfold, and thus it all goes to signify his rightful claim to the British throne.
I've been named "David" and, as you most certainly know, there's that story of Goliath and the unassuming innocent sheep herder kid who's good with a sling shot. Also, middle name "Daniel". My parents gave me a tall order and big shoes to fill. It's my belief that what felled that giant wasn't a stone from David's sling, but his pure innocence. Daniel too must've had that same vibe. Innocence. That just may be the lynchpin point of this writing. Innocence ... not knowing that you can't. Shout out and props to my brilliant and gifted Rolfer, Roshanna Evans; she treated me to a showing of "Being There" when it was in theaters in the day. Just adding, there's ignorant innocence and enlightened innocence. The movie is about the former. I'm for living into the latter. Human potential, after all. It is.
Actually, and obviously, there's more to the Arthurian legend. The sword he pulls from the stone breaks apart in battle. [BTW what kind of putz puts a sword in a stone anyway? And, certainly not one worth its edge. Maybe a Saint? Read on, wait for it.]
Back to the legend: Then the Lady of the Lake gives him the invincible Excalibur, signifying his rightful place on the throne. Now, with such a winner for a sword, how to rule is the question. Like we see in the news, the sword can be used to control the folk; or, it can be used to protect them. But not from some invented enemy. There's the true enemy, and we all should live to see having that invincible sword in our "sheath". But do we know it? What am I talking about? It's not about answers, it's more about raising questions.
In light of all that we have to look again at the Steuben creation. It is named "Excalibur". OMG! I got it. That glass represents the stone, and the lake! Isn't that something? No wonder I've been so deeply moved by that sculptural metaphor. I'm thinking they might as well have come up with a fountain pen version on that same theme. "The pen is mightier ... ".
What's in a myth? What's in the myth for us, is more the point. A takeaway which we can use constructively in our lives. Interesting stories, surely. But, as something to contemplate as it relates to one's life, there's that too. And, that's what we're talking about here now.
In high school somehow I got turned on to metaphor and simile. Self-proclaimed myself, "Metaphor King". That's those Jesuits for you. My teachers. AMDG ... "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam". We inscribed those four letters on the tops and bottoms of ever dern page of homework. Among the many lessons, that may have been the biggest one. "For the Greater Glory of God." A standard for living ... for "LIFE"!
Okay, let's focus. Sword and the Stone.
And, the obvious question ... just how does one in fact pull out said sword from said stone?
Here's a clue to where this is going. It is said that the heart and soul of the Samurai is the "girdled" sword. I played Pyrrhus in my high school production of the Fall of Troy. I was in the Science/Latin track in school. That play is the Homerian classic where an overly zealous warrior wins a "Pyrrhic" victory. Like what the Zionist regime in Israel is going for in their God-inspired quest to rule their chosen territory(s).
It's a product of my amalgamated learned lessons from schooling and in terms of life experience that I look at things from many angles. This, I believe, is an innate Human ability; but it's a muscle that needs to be exercised. I'm also enough of a scientist to not want to settle on any one thing, as the thing. Science is an ongoing inquiry into learning what it is. Settle on the current thing based on its verifiability and its usefulness. But ... but, don't hold on when new information comes to light. Okay? On my resume is a scientific endeavors. I've been around so-called scientists who've made discoveries then go on with that as their thing to peddle. You have a bright idea, you want to share it. Natural. The true scientist is one who keeps the inquiry open. Not to settle. Kapische? Just when you think it is, it isn't. Advaita Vedanta 101.
Here's the famous depiction of where you stand in relationship to the Elephant has a lot to do with what you interpret. And, as you probably have also seen in the news, lots of argument over just what is an Elephant. Notice the blindfolds. Lesson: sticking to just one interpretation of anything can be blindness. Ignorance ... of other points of view. Again, see how it plays in the actual news ... Oh, Boy!
At this point in the writing I can see that there are many permutations on this theme of seeing the different angles. The challenge is to select from among to make the point. I already like to "wramble" as a writing style. But, one writes for a reader, that's an angle to keep in the gestalt front and center. I'm not at the level [yet] where my reader following is so down on my shit that they gobble up whatever I toss out. Yet.
Okay. So the question is just what is the sword, and what is the stone. Symbolically. On the inner dimension. The one thing that comes right to mind in respect to this question is "somatic experiencing". Somatic Experiencing. It's the felt inner sense. In particular to this discussion, any feelings that are so established in the flesh of the body itself they read as "stone". Solid. Hard. Immovable. This can also relate psychologically to tightly held notions, opinions, preferences ... like that. Nothing wrong with any of that. Except ... Except when the feelings and the thoughts don't match the present reality, but act like fixed lenses through with the present reality is refracted by unconscious default. You know from "refracted". Listen to any pol for a stunning example. Seems the times are so refracted that we have to scramble intellectually to keep a handle on reality. The Reality, not some pol's say so what like we hear from the so-called elite ruling class.
Admonition: When you're a stone setter [set in your ways stone solid] you are a dead ender. In other words, beware holding on to something that doesn't fit. You know, the Gate of Heaven is open to all, but it is very, very narrow. You can't get in with a load of stuff on your back. Verbum Sat Sap.
"Somatic Experiencing." It's somatic by definition from the understanding the body and mind are a unity. Feelings have their thoughts. Thought have their feeling. The point is that we have associated certain thoughts with certain feelings. "I feel like eating an Apple." "And, where do you feel that?" And, certain feelings with certain thoughts. We are responsible for the world we see. How we see it, that is. And, the kicker is this ... The World Is As You See It. Don't like it? Change your prescription. Not some Pollyanna rose colored glasses sort of thing. But, clear lenses which show things wiped clean of our self-made projections.
How then does this have to do with pulling swords out of stones. The paradoxical solution is to stop the pulling. Don't let your wants hurt you is some received good advice. Let it be. Props on that to John Lennon.
The interesting thing is that when you let it be, that posture allows space for whatever it is — a thought and/or a feeling — for such to evolve. As opposed to holding it tight, keeping it in place. There's that truism, the more you resist the more it persists. It may seem like an insurmountable challenge ... to let things be. But, with a little and regular practice on a daily basis, the point proves itself. Stick with it. Use that sword wisely. Live knowing how to use it, and at the same time not to use it. Be a legendary Hero!
Some interesting associated history: [Online search]
A historical "sword in the stone" belongs t Saint Galgano (Galgano Guidotti), a 12th-century Italian knight who thrust his weapon into a rock at Monte Siepi in Tuscany as a vow to abandon violence for a life of faith.
This unnamed sword appears first in Robert de Boron's c. 1200 poem Merlin. Young Arthur pulls it out to prove his rightful claim to the British throne. In major medieval texts like the Post-Vulgate Cycle and Sir Thomas Malory'sLe Morte d'Arthur, this sword breaks later in a duel against King Pellinore.
Excalibur: After the first sword breaks, Merlin takes Arthur to a magical body of water. Here, the Lady of the Lake gifts Arthur the true, enchanted blade known as Excalibur.
I don't have even the slightest clue how come I am his namesake. Uncle Dave Wronski. Aka "Downright Dirty Dave". Known as such, far and wide.
How come?
He's in the show biz. Seen here back stage in his favorite haunt, the show girls' dressing room. Perhaps for inspiration? Who can fathom the swamp of motives and impulses in another Human being; heck, hard enough to get clarity on that such in oneself. No?
Well ... D. D. Dave is a musician. Piano player estraordinaire. Writes his own music, song lyrics too. Sticky point is that his lyrics are the worst. So outrageously loaded with all kinds of innuendos and double meanings in the category often referred to as the "BLUE". Nothing is sacred and every which manner of perversion and decadent filth is the rule for his songs. The music itself, however ... divine. Heavenly. Some have even had deep discussions on how such lofty inspirational musicality can be combined with lyrical themes based on the lowest perversions, and worse.
It should be stated at this junction to understand that a strong familial inclination among the Wronski's is the quest to harmonize the so-called opposites. A noble enterprise. Not really. It's just born out of the clash in that group's genetics to have been given a full compliment of all the best of Humanity; and, all the worst. The latter, also in full measure. The reconciliation imperative is hard a wired inclination naturally built into the quantum level structure of what it is to be "Wronski".
The whole family is scratching their collective heads as to how come such a rotten Apple got into the family Apple barrel. Again, not so much that it's there, but that it should show itself so brazenly in a member of the fold. Keeping up appearances sort of thing. Okay? And, don't let's get into that self-searching psycho bullshit telling me that maybe there's a shadow archetype running in the family genetics what has not been brought to light. That's such an upsetting notion to any true blood Wronski that to even suggest that it's a tell of truth of such gets such a strong reaction that you'll be banished as a friend ... forever. Don't tell me who I am! You take care of the how you are! C. G. Jung: bone up on his teachings for more on this subject.
Like I said, Dirty Dave plays the piano. Virtuosic. World acclaim. But, those lyrics.
He once was up for a gig at a trendy night club but the manager insisted that he only play his music, leave the lyrics out. Like I said, pretty raunchy stuff. "Wraunchy Wronski"? No, that's an appelation we have for yet another of the Wronski clan. Who as you might surmise from the nickname covers the raunchy side of life to a fair-thee-well. And, some say, and then some.
So Downright Dirty Dave gets the gig. Agrees to the nix on the, ahem, lyrics. He's at center stage. The audience is spellbound. Exquisito. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! You get the picture.
The set's finished, time for a break. Time for a leak. As Uncle would also often also say, " ... time to lay some pipe". "Drop a deuce." "Soil the potty." "Push out a stinker." "Take a ..." He is a poet of the scatalogical. Ahead of his time? Perhaps. If you've lived long enough in present times you can see the evolution of mores of the times. "Free the nipple"? That's almost a quaint thing to say. "Free the pussy" now seems to be in the warm up pitcher's box. And, let's not get any snide wise cracks on the use of the word "box".
As so it goes ...
As he's coming out the men's room someone says to him, "Hey, mister, your fly is down and your dick is hanging out!".
DISCLAIMER: This will obviously come off as a "shaggy" Pierogi story. The difficulty is that the strict economy of language in the Olde Polish tongue does not translate at all into English while keeping with the original's economy. The deliciousness, however, has been retained. Some would say, even more so with the extra umami from the garnishment of the English "condimentisement".
Okay ... on to the tale ...
It claims to be the best Pierogi in Warsaw? That's quite a place holder in a town — in a country! — where the humble Pierogi is the esteemed non-pariel national culinary sacrament.
Never mind the hyperbole, you want to know where that joint is what boasts the best in a world in a culture where each and everyone only partakes of the best all the time, every time? And, by "best", we're talking about what your Babcia makes. Or mine. That which each and every Polish boy and girl is stuffed full with from day one, and is engrained as the gold standard of such. "Mom's Apple Pie" sort of thing.
If you got Polish blood in you the gold standard for Pierogi is always and ever shall be ... Babcia's. And, don't let's go off on a nostalgic culinary imagining of her Chicken soup; always served with the requisite Chicken foot.
Kielbasa? As any Pollack worth their salt will tell you, there's no such thing as the perfect Kielbasa. Life is just a search for Kielbasa perfection. Forever sought, but never attained. Like balancing the body with the Gravitational field of the Earth. An open ended potential; not a fixed goal to reach. But that's a whole other story.
Heck, part of the appreciation of the Kielbasi is in the endless varieties. The search itself. Choice of smoke. Grind size. Garlic/no Garlic. Terroir. Fresh vs. Smoked. How much smoke. Ready to eat vs. uncooked. And, of course, the love what the maker has invested into it. As you can tell, it's an alchemical challenge.
Where is this joint? If you turn left facing north at the south side of the light fountain in the old town section, then go to the middle of the next block and look down the narrow lane to your right, you'll see the small inky light lit shingle on the left with these words carved in relief: [Loosely translated from the Olde Polish vernacular.] "This Babcia Done Do Smacks All Other What You Call Your Pierogi!". The word in Polish is Smakosz.
The place, it's called "Who's Your Babcia?". So you already know the gauntlet in definitely down on the claim to be the best.
Okay. Come on in.
The place is what you'd expect. Scrupulously clean. That scores a solid "One Babcia" on the Polish Michelin Guide's counterpart. Polish homes are kept clean. Immaculate. Fact.
Sit yourself down at a table or a booth. Linen tablecloths and napkins. White, white. Like I said ... clean. Spic and Span.
There's no menu. Just a lovely serving of Pierogi. You do have a choice however; three, or four. The three are served together on one plate; the fourth on it's own, and smaller plate-wise. Why we'll get to that shortly. That is, if I can write this shortly. Light a candle.
So what's on the plate? Pierogi! Duh! Okay, what kind? There are varieties you know.
Your plate of three Pierogi presents to you three triangular shaped dumplings, plump with fillings, and crimpted to seal the folded edges traditional Babcia-style with fork tines. Oh sure, there's the fancy fold over ones, but Babcia as she says, "I give them a good forking!". She don't mince her words. Doesn't mind either the double meanings. In fact, she's one down for an off color joke. "Clean in the kitdchen, dirty in the bedroom."
One variety is the classic Potato and Cheese filling. Mashed whole boiled starchy Potatoes with a good portion of plain old melty yellow cheese. No fancy-ass Cheddar or some other $32.00+ per pound artisanal rarity ... just some plain old melty yellow Cheese. Kapische? Pierogi has simple roots, so keep it simple. K.I.S.S.
The dough wrapper is a thing in itself. Not thin and springy like a Wonton wrapper. Or, thin and even like for Ravioli. A dough mixed with as many farm happy Hen eggs as can be mixed in to the finely milled [ground in house] hard Wheat flour, then hand rolled to cover a large table top, then cut into wide strips, then squares. 12 centimeter squares, that is. How come 12? 12 Apostles ... anybody? Duh! How thin? That's a master class in itself on how thin is it. She knows, and you just have to get it from standing by her side as she does her thing. How thin? Thin enough so it's not a belly stuffer, but thick enough so you know you're biting in to some dough. Duh! Okay?
Each one filled generously with as much as can be held tight when the two opposite corners of the squares are brought together to form a triangle. This step is pure Babcia. How much filling to make it a delight, but not too much to not let you close off the crimped edges ... that there skill is long learned in Babcia's kitchen. She eyeballs every one with exactitude of a rocket scientist. A skill which can't be told, just shown and followed ... and followed ... and followed. In the Olde Polish it is said: "Just do it like I do it, you Kapusta for brains!".
And, speaking of Kapusta ... we now put a fork into the second Pierรณg. Homemade Sauerkraut flavored with Juniper Berries mixed together with thinly sliced Onions sautรฉed to just a trace of caramelization ["browning" as Babcia would say] with a generous grinding of house speciality lightning-zinger black Peppercorns foraged wild in the deepest jungles of Sumatra. On special occasions she may even dot the mixture with flecks of house smoked Ham hocks. Sometimes in season when she forages for wild Mushrooms, she'll add some chopped up into the filling. No telling, though, when that delicious extra will show up. Good karma at work when it happens.
On third base we see another classic. That firm, dry Farmers Cheese, moistened with a bit with house made Sour Cream and generously flecked with chives from the roof garden. Which by the way is also available for dining; but the demand is high and there's a wait list. Don't be fussy. You came for the Pierogi, don't forget.
All three served with points toward the center on the round plate. [Square plates! Ugh! Might as well have them marked with bold letters "TRENDY". Babcia goes with solid tradition. She says, "You mouth round ... so you plate round! Now eat!"]
There's a generous dollop of Sour Cream in the center, maybe if she's in the mood, a spoon of Ossetra Caviar on top. The Pierogi after having been boiled are given an ever so light fry in her home churned Butter from the Cows she herself milks herself. Always with some bits of browned Onions and Bacon bits to garnish. The latter, as you might guess, from the heritage breed Porkers she butchers herself; then, of course, smokes dem critters too. What kind of smoke? Her secret. Rumor has it she uses generous amounts of Buffalo Grass with the hard woods of her choosing, the same grass which she uses to make her famous ลปubrรณwka. And, yes, she distills her own Vodka too. Illegal now, but she's "Grandmothered" in on account of having been making it for who knows how long now.
Almost forgot ... the whole presentation is sprinkled with fresh Dill fronds. And, of course, from the roof Garden. Which by the way is especially romantically atmospheric at night with the surround of Beer Garden stings of colorful lights. Great for proposals. Which are attempted often, but on account of that Babcia has a say in everything of what goes on in her place, don't always pan out as hoped for.
The fourth offering is optional. Sort of like a dessert, but not really. Fresh Plum filled, sometimes Prunes. It may seem like it doesn't go, but it does. And then some. Most delightfully delicious. Always with the Sour Cream. A must. On a plain plate. Just that.
With what to wash it down, you ask? Two choices. Both house made. Vodka. Beer. It would take as much or more amounts of words what have already been written so far to describe the Vodka and the Beer. Just to say all the ingredients are locally sourced. Potatoes only for the Vodka. Beer is whatever the F the old lady feels like brewing up. Never disappoints, so feel free to partake. Vodka-wise it's plain, or ลปubrรณwka. That latter is the classic flavored with Buffalo Grass. Sometimes if Babcia likes you and who you're with she'll send over a "Polish Kiss". It's a cocktail with homemade Apple Cider with a kicker of ลปubrรณwka.
Anything else. Well ... Pickles. Made on premises. Dills with Garlic. A complimentary one or two depending on size sliced lengthwise in the traditional Polish way. More, if you want ... but, for the money.
By the way, there's a mean old shaggy dog* lazing in the corner near the fireplace. Don't look at the dog! Look to your Pierogi! Kapische?
* That shaggy dog is another whole story. A "shaggy" dog story that is. Let's not go there. You've probably had a sufficiency, and any more would be a super abundance.
