In Blake's early career he was largely an
aphoristic poet. To begin looking at the man
I've selected a few aphorisms that seem to
me most creative:
How do you know but ev'ry Bird that cuts the airy way,
Is an immense world of delight, clos'd by your senses five?
Eternity is in love with the productions of time.
The most sublime act is to set another before you.
Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image
of truth.
Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd.
And this from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell:
PLATE 11
The ancient Poets animated all sensible
objects with Gods or Geniuses, calling
them by the names and adorning them with
the properties of woods, rivers, mountains,
lakes, cities, nations, and whatever their
enlarged & numerous senses could percieve.
And particularly they studied the genius
of each city & country. placing it under
its mental deity.
Till a system was formed, which some took
advantage of & enslav'd the vulgar by
attempting to realize or abstract the
mental dieties from their objects: thus
began Priesthood.
Choosing forms of worship from poetic tales.
And at length they pronounced that the Gods
had orderd such things. Thus men forgot
that All deities reside in the human breast.
From Plate 13: (Ellie's favorite)
I then asked Ezekiel. why he eat dung, & lay
so long on his right & left side? he answerd.
the desire of raising other men into a
perception of the infinite.
From Plate 14:
If the doors of perception were cleansed
every thing would appear to man as it is:
infinite. For man has closed himself up,
till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks
of his cavern.
Opposition is true Friendship.
For every thing that lives is Holy.
If you want to look at the whole load try Larry's Blake.
July 14, 2006
July 10, 2006
Stay Awake
Quatrains
For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
RUMI
For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
RUMI
July 06, 2006
housekeeping
Yes. Acts of the Apostles is grinding to something of a halt.
We are a group than likes to rastle with issues and Acts ain't providing it and folks have fallen away and its summer time and most of us would rather be setting down in the back gardens smelling the flowers listening to birds and contemplating the Almighty in the present works of nature.
Two suggestions: one in the short term and one in the longer.
Short Term: we take up something else -- something short(ish) and flexible and maybe non-canonical. A member who has remained quiet over the last few months has a deep appreciation for the poetry of Rumi for example. But there's Gerard Manley Hopkins (a Jesuit -- right Crystal) or Basho (haiku). I'm open to suggestions here -- but I'm looking for something that will not be too long a commitment and will not require that you've been following for months in order to comment meaningfully.
Long Term: At the end of July -- sooner if consensus warrants -- I cancel everyone's membership and then immediately invite them to rejoin. Thus giving folks who are no longer here the option of not coming back -- or choosing to return on their own terms. I'm going to be gone August 4th through 13th -- someplace far far far away from computer access.
These are just suggestions. If alternatives present -- I will abandon them or modify them as needs be.
We are a group than likes to rastle with issues and Acts ain't providing it and folks have fallen away and its summer time and most of us would rather be setting down in the back gardens smelling the flowers listening to birds and contemplating the Almighty in the present works of nature.
Two suggestions: one in the short term and one in the longer.
Short Term: we take up something else -- something short(ish) and flexible and maybe non-canonical. A member who has remained quiet over the last few months has a deep appreciation for the poetry of Rumi for example. But there's Gerard Manley Hopkins (a Jesuit -- right Crystal) or Basho (haiku). I'm open to suggestions here -- but I'm looking for something that will not be too long a commitment and will not require that you've been following for months in order to comment meaningfully.
Long Term: At the end of July -- sooner if consensus warrants -- I cancel everyone's membership and then immediately invite them to rejoin. Thus giving folks who are no longer here the option of not coming back -- or choosing to return on their own terms. I'm going to be gone August 4th through 13th -- someplace far far far away from computer access.
These are just suggestions. If alternatives present -- I will abandon them or modify them as needs be.
July 02, 2006
I have to wonder where some folks find us
A brand new posting on one of Crystal's postings from back in March. commenting on Acts 5:1-11 -- Ananias and Sapphira.
They leave an email -- its up to anyone to email if necessary -- but I'm willing to bet the exchange won't be all that productive.
What I find interesting is the line -- if you can't believe all of it your can't any of it. I really would like to know where that comes from. It holds scripture up to a standard that nothing else on this planet is capable of living up to -- including scripture itself.
They leave an email -- its up to anyone to email if necessary -- but I'm willing to bet the exchange won't be all that productive.
What I find interesting is the line -- if you can't believe all of it your can't any of it. I really would like to know where that comes from. It holds scripture up to a standard that nothing else on this planet is capable of living up to -- including scripture itself.
July 01, 2006
Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30 (NJB)
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians." At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians." At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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