After 25 years adjunct teaching at the college level, I was done. I enjoyed teaching public speaking and freshman composition. I loved the in class discussion over essays read. Teaching how to conduct research, and write a reasoned argument, as well as how to evaluate sources became more difficult each passing year. The shift to seeing students as customers is real. I do miss the student willing to put in the effort, though they became few and far between. I have written a few pieces and perhaps will do more. My love of reading keeps me happy and content. I found your writing by way of your piece on the voynich manuscript. Looking after my 2 ferrets has made my life most pleasurable. Looking forward to your writing! 🌻
But don't the songs of innocence come *after* the songs of experience? The beginner's mind, isn't that an aim to *become* a child again?
Interesting, Justin, but I think this has to be juxtaposed with capitalism's attempt at infantilization. More relevantly, perhaps, isn't there always a tendency to want to go 'back' because the world, time, and language are seen as a 'fall'? As if we could or should go back to a supposedly pre-conceptual and 'intuitive' way of being (J. Zerzan).
Not sure, but for us the Fall was never a fall. Yes, a recovery of our 'fitrah' (true nature) is paramount, but one that avoids all the tensions between simplicity & sophistication (of the mind), childish innocence and maturity, because the world, time and nature- the cosmos (to go back to your earlier essay) - are "signs".
Hello. I couldn't make a choice on your first poll question. The essays I enjoy the least are the argument and issues-based ones, but sometimes those are interesting. I loved "The Transmutean Hypothesis," and "Gone Bad, Come to Life." History and memoir are tied for faves, but I've also enjoyed reading some of your fiction. "Boogaloo" was a fun and interesting story, for instance. On the question of whether your writing is fresh or repetitive, I also couldn't make a choice. It's maybe a little bit of both? I know that's a contradiction, but it comes from the gut. And just because a thing is repetitive, doesn't mean that it's bad.
The lack of enthusiasm for experimental metafiction is truly dismaying as it's some of the best I've read anywhere. I believe the word I used at one point was Borgesian.
After my 75th birthday and some panic/downs-and-manic/up type cycles (i.e. my serious-psyche trying to avoid letting me open up to speak 'naively' of the map/model I've been developing for ’40 odd’ years) I found myself with the form of conundrum you mention.
I took the leap and am writing a new way as you seek to do.
Of note, I would link that 'child-like' or childish renewal you address to what is called Beginner's Mind in meditative practice...
What I see from many years of seeing people as a psychotherapist is the reality that there is a subterranean/non-obvious big uptick in Consciousness going on… It leads to many 'layerings' of schismogenesis – individuallly plus collectively.
I only took one course in Philosophy in 1966 which I flunked for how little it held me... same as the Hon BSc in Physics I'd started but dropped after a month being bored! Moved to psychology and thankfully got dumped out of a doctorate as being too metaphysical/mystical etc.
My work is on articulating a Daoist/Psychosynethetic Way, a crossing of Eastern and Western forms to address value, purpose, pain and joy. Thus particularly the craziness of ego stuff – i.e. of how self vs. other is entangled metaphysically with Inner self vs. Outer self – Yin-ish vs. Yang-ish... which 'echoes' out into our global and cultural institutions. Psych diagnosis I see as the silliness of seeing People as either more Introverted or Extraverted...(for Monel, of course!) Poor or Rich, Traumatized or supposedly Not... just more This or That etc. etc... Wholeness be Damned as an Aim, it's too complicated....
All as we sit waiting for Chi or child-like innocence to arrive and lead us on 'home' when We Are/Have Both Those... as in Jean Gabser's EPO...
Once I’m closer to publishing (late this year/early next) you are exactly the kind of person I’d cherish to give me feedback.
On the childishness stuff: it was Schlick, in an essay titled 'On the Meaning of Life', of all things! A lovely essay. Read contemporary analytic philosophy on meaning of/in life, you won't find it discussed. Alas.
I need to change my vote. I couldn't see the full categories on my phone so for the first question I pressed "memoiristic and subjective essays" when my actual choice is "experimental metafiction." I'm dismayed to see this category only at 12%! The post last week (if experimental metafiction is indeed the correct category for it) was sublime, as were the chrono-swooping ones from last year.
The poll might have been the most nerve-racking thing I have ever participated in. I love the guest-posts because I like seeing exciting writing by authors new to me, and whose Substacks I cannot afford to subscribe to, but only if they supplement the Smith-Ruiu content instead of replacing it! And one post per week is enough, but additional posts are more than welcome!
I was also surprised by how few people seem to like the metafiction. Ever since I learned about the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which I am hoping one day to get to visit, I have been fascinated by these artistic takes on scientific curiosity, or whatever it should be called. When it is done right, it really makes one think. I just received the Weschler book on Zohars, and I am looking forward to reading it. Once I have managed to get through J R that is. (I am glad to have finally had a good enough excuse to start.)
Wow, that was an inspiring read. As a one of the currently-cramped, still eking out an inflated salary in Wordle-Land (for now), I say go for it! "Half-measures availed us nothing..."
"Do you think religious faith is prima facie ridiculous?" That doesn't seem fair. Alternatively (after Julian Bagini), "Do you think religious faith requires belief that supernatural events have occurred here on Earth?"
Greetings,
After 25 years adjunct teaching at the college level, I was done. I enjoyed teaching public speaking and freshman composition. I loved the in class discussion over essays read. Teaching how to conduct research, and write a reasoned argument, as well as how to evaluate sources became more difficult each passing year. The shift to seeing students as customers is real. I do miss the student willing to put in the effort, though they became few and far between. I have written a few pieces and perhaps will do more. My love of reading keeps me happy and content. I found your writing by way of your piece on the voynich manuscript. Looking after my 2 ferrets has made my life most pleasurable. Looking forward to your writing! 🌻
But don't the songs of innocence come *after* the songs of experience? The beginner's mind, isn't that an aim to *become* a child again?
Interesting, Justin, but I think this has to be juxtaposed with capitalism's attempt at infantilization. More relevantly, perhaps, isn't there always a tendency to want to go 'back' because the world, time, and language are seen as a 'fall'? As if we could or should go back to a supposedly pre-conceptual and 'intuitive' way of being (J. Zerzan).
Not sure, but for us the Fall was never a fall. Yes, a recovery of our 'fitrah' (true nature) is paramount, but one that avoids all the tensions between simplicity & sophistication (of the mind), childish innocence and maturity, because the world, time and nature- the cosmos (to go back to your earlier essay) - are "signs".
Hello. I couldn't make a choice on your first poll question. The essays I enjoy the least are the argument and issues-based ones, but sometimes those are interesting. I loved "The Transmutean Hypothesis," and "Gone Bad, Come to Life." History and memoir are tied for faves, but I've also enjoyed reading some of your fiction. "Boogaloo" was a fun and interesting story, for instance. On the question of whether your writing is fresh or repetitive, I also couldn't make a choice. It's maybe a little bit of both? I know that's a contradiction, but it comes from the gut. And just because a thing is repetitive, doesn't mean that it's bad.
Thanks for your work. I enjoy it.
Justin are you by any chance a fan of WG Sebald, because that's what your writing reminds me of most for some reason, in a good way :)
The lack of enthusiasm for experimental metafiction is truly dismaying as it's some of the best I've read anywhere. I believe the word I used at one point was Borgesian.
Hello Justin,
After my 75th birthday and some panic/downs-and-manic/up type cycles (i.e. my serious-psyche trying to avoid letting me open up to speak 'naively' of the map/model I've been developing for ’40 odd’ years) I found myself with the form of conundrum you mention.
I took the leap and am writing a new way as you seek to do.
Of note, I would link that 'child-like' or childish renewal you address to what is called Beginner's Mind in meditative practice...
What I see from many years of seeing people as a psychotherapist is the reality that there is a subterranean/non-obvious big uptick in Consciousness going on… It leads to many 'layerings' of schismogenesis – individuallly plus collectively.
I only took one course in Philosophy in 1966 which I flunked for how little it held me... same as the Hon BSc in Physics I'd started but dropped after a month being bored! Moved to psychology and thankfully got dumped out of a doctorate as being too metaphysical/mystical etc.
My work is on articulating a Daoist/Psychosynethetic Way, a crossing of Eastern and Western forms to address value, purpose, pain and joy. Thus particularly the craziness of ego stuff – i.e. of how self vs. other is entangled metaphysically with Inner self vs. Outer self – Yin-ish vs. Yang-ish... which 'echoes' out into our global and cultural institutions. Psych diagnosis I see as the silliness of seeing People as either more Introverted or Extraverted...(for Monel, of course!) Poor or Rich, Traumatized or supposedly Not... just more This or That etc. etc... Wholeness be Damned as an Aim, it's too complicated....
All as we sit waiting for Chi or child-like innocence to arrive and lead us on 'home' when We Are/Have Both Those... as in Jean Gabser's EPO...
Once I’m closer to publishing (late this year/early next) you are exactly the kind of person I’d cherish to give me feedback.
Thanks for your article Justn and reading me.
Many Blessings, Barry
On the childishness stuff: it was Schlick, in an essay titled 'On the Meaning of Life', of all things! A lovely essay. Read contemporary analytic philosophy on meaning of/in life, you won't find it discussed. Alas.
Keep up the good work dude!
I need to change my vote. I couldn't see the full categories on my phone so for the first question I pressed "memoiristic and subjective essays" when my actual choice is "experimental metafiction." I'm dismayed to see this category only at 12%! The post last week (if experimental metafiction is indeed the correct category for it) was sublime, as were the chrono-swooping ones from last year.
The poll might have been the most nerve-racking thing I have ever participated in. I love the guest-posts because I like seeing exciting writing by authors new to me, and whose Substacks I cannot afford to subscribe to, but only if they supplement the Smith-Ruiu content instead of replacing it! And one post per week is enough, but additional posts are more than welcome!
I was also surprised by how few people seem to like the metafiction. Ever since I learned about the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which I am hoping one day to get to visit, I have been fascinated by these artistic takes on scientific curiosity, or whatever it should be called. When it is done right, it really makes one think. I just received the Weschler book on Zohars, and I am looking forward to reading it. Once I have managed to get through J R that is. (I am glad to have finally had a good enough excuse to start.)
Very nice.
I see they haven't entirely killed off your soul and spirit.
Good. Do not let them.
Thumbs up icon.
Wow, that was an inspiring read. As a one of the currently-cramped, still eking out an inflated salary in Wordle-Land (for now), I say go for it! "Half-measures availed us nothing..."
"Do you think religious faith is prima facie ridiculous?" That doesn't seem fair. Alternatively (after Julian Bagini), "Do you think religious faith requires belief that supernatural events have occurred here on Earth?"
Are you experiencing a mid-life crisis?
As if we know anything.
Why are you asking us?