Working Title

Ursula Le Guinn, The Dawn of Everything, Microdosing, In the name of the Bee, and more

In The Presence Of The Allies II

Dear Friends,

Not quite ready to cycle back to storytelling yet. I am happy though to share some of my loves and faves that I hope you will enjoy and gather some sustenance for your spirit and heart from.

Poetry has long been a refuge for me, whether it be Anacreon, Lenore Kandel, Rilke, Hildegard von Bingen, Whit Griffin, Rābiʼa al-ʼAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya, Shams of Tabriz, Emily Dickinson, Wilfred Owen, Ibn Arabi, W.B. Yeats, Robert Graves, Christina Rossetti, Allen Ginsberg, Sappho, or Ursula Le Guinn to name but a few. I share poems here on SubStack that have moved me emotionally, spiritually, politically.

There are so many more poets to explore, Lola Ridge the Anarchist Poetess and the myriads of other poets from over the centuries. There is not enough time left in my life to dive deeper into the seas of poesy as I would like.

I do know that poems can move people in immeasurable ways. Poetry though now days is generally read, I find it best when it is spoken. This is the origins of so much that has come to be known as literature, myth, fiction, his/herstory. It starts with the spoken word, and the spoken word makes all visible, coherent, beautiful, terrible and evokes the Muse.

I have written a few poems in my time, even published a book of them back in the late 1970’s. I look back now, and oh, it was dreadful! ;p I stick with art as of late. Some of the best poetry though that I wrote ended up as lyrics for our band (Grey Pavilion) back when.

So, I hope you enjoy this entry. It has a bit of this, a bit of that.

Cheers,

Gwyllm

On The Mix: Ursula Le Guinn Poetry & Commentary, Reflections on The Dawn of Everything, New Art, Jim Fadiman’s New Book, In the name of The Bee, The Serpent’s Lair, Come To Dust, Coda/The Orb

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Ursula Le Guinn & Commentary

How it Seems to Me

In the vast abyss before time, self
is not, and soul commingles
with mist, and rock, and light. In time,
soul brings the misty self to be.
Then slow time hardens self to stone
while ever lightening the soul,
till soul can loose its hold of self
and both are free and can return
to vastness and dissolve in light,
the long light after time.

Ursula Le Guin

I first came across her works in the late 60s early 70s. Her take on gender roles and on anarchist theory informed my life from then on. The first book of hers that I recall reading was, “The Left Hand of Darkness”. It was an interesting tale of sexuality and fluid gender roles. I think I was about 19 when I read it. Profound, and deeply human, it is a great work. She could have died right after publishing it, and her place would have still been cemented in the Pantheon of American Literature. Yet, her influence on my life didn’t stop there.

When I reached the age of 25-26, I found her book, “The Dispossessed”. This is a tale of Anarchism, free will, sacrifice & conscience. I read it in just under two days. I wept after I read it, as it incapsulated much of what had been going on inside of my mind regarding my POV around what I wanted for the world, and myself. It was shattering in that I had no idea that others had similar thoughts. I was ignorant of Anarchist theory, it wasn’t like it was taught in school, or readily available in bookstores. This of course was pre-public internet. The concept of no hierarchies, the concept of gifting the world your attention, life, talents was a breath of fresh air. I had no idea that such freedom could exist, even if just in theory.

I was always going to write her and thank her for the influences that she had on the various aspects of my life. Of course, as I usually do I put it off thinking everyone immortal to some degree or another.

On one spring afternoon on Hawthorne boulevard in Portland at the Fred Meyers store Mary & I were sitting upstairs by the escalators checking out the yard furniture and dreaming of what we could do with what was available. Suddenly Ursula and her husband came up the escalator heading to the parking lot, my mouth dropped as she was rushing him out the door telling her husband to hurry, they had other things to do, I sat there in absolute heroine worship mode. I thought to get up, and go thank her for her works, but I didn’t, not wanting to intrude on her day.

I can name a few writers/poets who have influenced me; Robert Graves, J.R.R.R Tolkien, Ursula Le Guinn, Ibn Arabi, William Butler Yeats, Ray Bradbury to name but a few. Their books, writings, poetry have all added to my life over the years.

I am grateful for Ursula’s place in my literary world.

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Random Thoughts on “The Dawn of Everything”

While the world seems to burn down, and everything is immersed in politics I have been trying to think of other things to keep my mind going.

I have thought quite a bit lately about how art and writing shape us as a people.

I recently restarted reading “The Dawn of Everything” and it is a slow read due to the copious notes but well worth it. It really is a masterpiece, and I tip my hat to David Graeber and David Wengrow for the effort they put into this wonderful book. (David Graeber died in 2020 just after publication) I recently asked David Wengrow if there was going to be follow-up volumes as noted in The Dawn of Everything. Professor Wengrow answered that he's working on a second volume at this point. Great news, great news indeed.

Why am I on about this? Largely in part because of what seems to be mental stasis around the ideas of community, politics, empathy. The world is not formed by either or situations. Our own story is much, much more diverse than we have been told through the years. 99% of our species story is unknown on the main. We have been handed a bill of goods that tell one story, one story only that we are progressing. I would counter that. What we call Civilization is anything but. We can remedy it, but it will take growing and building community around (in spite of) the dead concepts that still hold so many enthralled. Capitalism versus Socialism/Communism is a great example of this. Why is there such lack of imagination around systems of governance, social equity, and economics?

I have to ask, who was the Bastard that came up with the idea rent? Seriously FFS.

I do suggest that if you want to shake up your belief system, renew your goals for the planet and the human race that you read “The Dawn of Everything.” Reading it as I did during the days of the early Pandemic brought me hope for a better future for our children, grandchildren and generations yet to come. We are not bound and tied to systems that wreak havoc. It can and will be undone. Whether by us, or by the planet. As Edward Abbey mused: “Nature Bats Last”.

The world needs new vision. We are seeing it emerge now on the streets, in the protest, in the writings outside of the established norm, in song, dance, and especially in community coming together.

With all of that said, I deeply suggest that you read this Substack:

Love Is Anarchist - by The Peaceful Revolutionary

It moved me to tears this morning, which as I age is not unusual. I cry for beauty; I cry for vision.

With Love,

G

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New Art:

New piece I am working on. It is along the same lines as “Universal Convergence” (see below) so rather than working in black india ink only, I am now working with more colour than before. Working with coloured pencils, though I am probably going to incorporate acrylic pens as well. These pieces eat up a lot of time!

“Universal Convergence”

Which will soon be available in a large print. It is currently available in Blotter Print over on Gwyllm-Art.Com

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Jim Fadiman

My friend Jim Fadiman has a new book out with his writing partner Jordan Gruber. I want to say that microdosing has helped me bunches over the last few years. Please check this out!

https://www.microdosingbook.com/

Jim Fadiman's latest! A must have!

People have microdosed successfully:

· to alleviate symptoms of depression, ADHD, chronic pain, and long COVID

· for enhanced focus, mental acuity, and physical abilities (including sports)

· to help taper off pharmaceuticals, especially antidepressants and stimulants

· to improve food habits, sleep, and relationships

· to become more aware of personal habit patterns, others’ feelings, and the natural world

· to reduce stress and anxiety

· to help 35+ specific health concerns, from depression and ADHD to headaches and pain relief

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A great poem that I thought you might enjoy:

“In the Name of the Bee” - Pádraig O’ Tuama

I asked the grasses if they believed
but they said believe is a poor verb.
I asked the sun but it had eclipsed.
I asked the tree, and it said stand.
I asked the fieldmouse, it nibbled
a seed in my outstretched hand.
I asked the hare, but it didn’t stop. I asked
the ground but it just kept spinning.
Things grew, then died, then rotted, then
renewed the soil. New things grew. I went to ask
the bee about the future but it had gone
extinct with a bead of nectar on its tongue.
I asked the songthrush about the soul
and it sang until a gate to hell opened.
I asked the mountain what mattered.
It said nothing.

From Kitchen Hymns, Pádraig O’ Tuama, on Copper Canyon Press.

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The Serpent’s Lair

Long Time Favourite…

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Come to Dust

Spirit, rehearse the journeys of the body
that are to come, the motions
of the matter that held you.
Rise up in the smoke of palo santo.
Fall to the earth in the falling rain.
Sink in, sink down to the farthest roots.
Mount slowly in the rising sap
to the branches, the crown, the leaf-tips.
Come down to earth as leaves in autumn
to lie in the patient rot of winter.
Rise again in spring’s green fountains.
Drift in sunlight with the sacred pollen
to fall in blessing.

All earth’s dust
has been life, held soul, is holy.

- Ursula Le Guinn

Coda:

Thanks for dropping in and spending some time on my Substack. Please consider supporting my work here and on other platforms!

Love is the Gateway, Love is the Path, Love in all that there is, and will be.

G