Menolinerayshun; Trying To Bring It Together

G'day, all. Well, that's April well and truly in the rear-view mirror already. I have greatly enjoyed using ibisPaintX (and occasionally PixlR) to create new images to pepper the ether and pierce your eyes. Expect more in the future! It's an entirely different experience from using paper and pencil/paints, and there are things to be done on the app that simply would not take place in 'live medium'. For all intents and purposes, I also have to learn how to draw all over again. It's a bit hit and miss - but a lot of fun. 

I only found one new blog to follow - an Indian ex-pat in France, giving us a tour. Now she has written a very tight little story from a prompt, so I shall be keeping that one on my list! (CanvasWithRainbow.) Thus the rest of the places I visited were all previous players, and it was a delight to see what they all had to share this time around. Interestingly, most kept it fairly loose, as I did, and went with the flow. One lady did pop hits of 1981, and another concentrated on forgotten television shows of the 1980s. Quite some research for them, and they managed all the letters. One gentleman chose to give posts with only five lines in total prompted by keywords for values in life. They were excellent. One of my favourites, though, was Tomichan Matheikal's blog. I 'met' him from last year's A2Z, and we have become good sparring partners, for his posts are always pertinent - with impertinence, topical - with historical context, provoking - but thoughtfully so, insightful - and occasionally inciting... and always, always, worth taking one's time to read.

One of my frustrations during this time - you will have noticed, I suspect! - was the changes being made within the Google/Blogger workings. I like fine the appearance of the updated comments box, but gee whizz, has it caused some issues! Those of you trying to comment from your mobile devices will have found it difficult, if not impossible. Those commenting via laptops and desktops have faced your comments being 'eaten', and we are finding some in our spam folders; some just disappear altogether. These happenings, worse still, are not consistent. Going to forums to see what others are saying and, more importantly, Google, I find that G itself has made no announcement of the changes, and I've only been able to find two - yes two - users bringing up the issue and one response from the G-team acknowledging that there might be an issue. 

Deep breaths... they'll sort it out in the end.

More confuddling to me is that I have the email notification on for blog comments, and while there were two that never got notified for unknown reasons, now another three of you are not getting picked up for email; thus, I only discover you have commented by actually going to the comments dashboard... which we've had to do anyway, haven't we? To clear out the sudden onset of spam that's not spam... sigh..... 

Still more confuddling is that there are a couple (make that maybe four or five) blogs which are now not showing up regularly in my reader... in fact, for two blogs, I seem only to get notified every third or fourth posting from them! I cannot even begin to fathom why this is happening, but I have enough to keep me busy that I can't be fretting about it. (Though, clearly, I do, a bit...)

Now, a few may recall that I mentioned a likely visitor in April. My dear pal, Aitch, arrived on the 24th and stayed till the 27th, and I had a wonderful few days for my birthday. I shall write that up next week - but for now, a wee teaser...

MenoAZering; Z=Zany

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

NB: the following is topical and may be challenging for some - particularly as two links later go to highly sensitive and emotional videos. Other than reading the headlines each morning, I have, as so many have, perhaps been avoiding some of the more harrowing reports. This is a small reparation for my ostrich ways and I hope that you will take the time with me today... (and apologies if you have all seen these things already).

ZANY is the kindest word I could find to describe the state of life for so many people right now. Unconventional and idiosyncratic - some would say that humour was involved, but that one is hard to find in most places at the moment. It is to be admitted that I prayed there might have been a spontaneous outbreak of peace in all the world's trouble spots  - but particularly Ukraine - by the time we reached this final letter of the alphabet. Yes, I remain ever hopeful - yet tempered with the reality.

Idiosyncratic could undoubtedly describe President ZELENSKIY of Ukraine - perhaps even unconventional. He certainly keeps true to his personality and has a particular style about him, manifesting in the form of leadership that most of the world's leaders might do well to emulate. He has a full grasp of the ZEITGEIST of geopolitics and how it has landed his country in the middle of its mess. This comes across well in an interview he did for The Economist at the end of March - and although a month old now, I have seen no other item which reveals the man himself as well as this does. The lead interviewer revels in the first name of ZANNY... and she and her partner ask excellent, appropriate questions. 

...I was only going to give you the link, but I think this is so important an item, I am going to share it fully here to encourage you to listen closely to this man, who has the potential to come across as a ZEALOT, but manages to stay the right side of humble and negate such comparison. I can think of nothing more vital with which to end this year's A2Z.

 

Two weeks after this interview, USA 60 Minutes filed THIS REPORT, which is much more graphic about the war itself, but again, President Z remains consistent. And, of course, I acknowledge that even in the two weeks since scheduling this post, things will have moved along again, but this is something about which we cannot bury our heads. 

This might be a very dour way to complete the set, but as a remedy of sorts, I suggest that if you have access to Netflix or UK's All 4 hub, then do take time to enjoy Zelenskiy's satirical show, Servant Of The People. It is great fun and has a sing-along theme tune. Then think also about how you can contribute towards relief for the people of Ukraine. There are several charities, and it does not take long to search for them. One I admit not having been aware of (but came to my attention simply because of those pesky internet algorithms - they have to be good for something!) CORE - Sean Penn's NGO. In this interview, he talks first about his friend who has landed himself in a very unconventional spotlight - then about CORE.

It only remains to say thank you to all who visited each of these posts - your support of me with your comments is valued greatly. To those who pass by now and then - thanks also, and I hope each found something of worth to take away and ponder. No doubt there will be a 'mop up' post soon, but for now, back to business as usual! 

MenoAZering; Y=Yamini (An FFF Offering)

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

After the Great Sound, the Gods arose. Each had its task in the settling of the cosmos. After the Great Sound came the organising of the matter which manifested and Brahma, who set it all in motion; He was known as the Originator. Vishnu stabilised it all and ensured each part had its allotted time; He was known as the Preserver. Shiva saw that it was necessary to deconstruct to keep things fresh; He was known as the Terminator.

The triumvirate needed aid as things grew more complex. Thus were born the lesser gods, such as Ishwara, the cosmologist; Ganesha, remover of obstacles; Agni, the fire-wielder; Indra, the bringer of lightning and rain... Many layers to manage the creation. 

Among them is Surya, the sun. He reflected all the values of the triumvirate. He is the bringer of light into the darkness, and to Him, we offer the Gayatri Mantra - the great prayer for relief of ignorance. He had three wives. Of these, Saranyu was the mother of Manu (the progenitor of the human race) and the twin gods YAMA and his sister YAMI.

The twins walked a planet they called Prithvi - Earth. Throughout their YOUTH they played there and stayed there. There came a time, though, when Yami looked to her brother Yama and found that she had a YEARNING for him - had the thought that they might populate this world. Yama, however, understood this was not a proper thing between them. He rejected her many times. She kept pestering him, but he kept resisting. 

Meanwhile, their mother had abandoned their father, for she found his light too strong. She did not wish to insult Surya, though, so she left her shadow-self (Chaaya) to fill the gap. This upset Yama, who knew this was not his true mother, and he threatened to reveal her to Surya. Chaaya, in her turn, became so angry with Yama that she cursed him .... that he would no longer be immortal and would die. His was the First Death. In this death, however, he became ruler of the underworld. He became the god of death. As for Yami, she was bereft at the loss of her brother and the focus of her love. She cried and cried and cried and her tears became the river YAMUNA. She wailed and mourned and wailed some more until the senior gods wished her to stop.

"How can I stop when my brother has left me and there is no end to that loss?"

The gods saw that, as there was no differentiation of time, they needed to set things in motion that would allow for change, permit the relief of grief and provide respite to the spirit. Prithvi began to spin and the land upon which Yami walked knew its first period of darkness. This brought about a need to rest, and Yami slept the First Sleep. The First Night was created for Yami and her name became, thus, YAMINI - goddess of the night.

Prthivi continued turning and Surya looked again upon his daughter and she rose to his brightness surprised that her tears were a little less. With each rotation of Prthvi now, Yami gained relief from her sorrow and the planet now had night and day. In the night hours, Yami found that she could communicate with Yama and, when their brother Manu had populated the land, these two saw to it that end of life was taken care of. Yama brings the moment of death, and Yamini calms the jiivas as they transition the YAWNING divide of this world to the next. 

It is said that to bathe in the river Yamuna, one's pains and angst will be washed away, for Yamini has done all the grieving for the world...

[ed.note...then again, to bathe in the Yamuna these days is likely to call for the attentions of the dark twins, so polluted is that body of water! This was an adaptation of the fables evolved from the Rig Veda, bk 10. The 'artwork' is my very poor attempt at recreating Indian Kangra-style images...]

MenoAZering; X=Xanthic

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

The prefix 'XANTH' to a word indicates yellowness. XANTHIC means yellowish, as stained by something that imparts that colour. XANTHOUS means the yellow is inherent to the object.

Yellow is one of my personal favourite colours - that is to say, I adore colour, full stop. However, if - other than the contrasts of black and white - I had to choose only three colours for my world, they would be orange, yellow and green. Of course, quite a range of hues can be developed from these, so variety would still be guaranteed. Why not the primary colours, you ask? Well, I kept the green... and there is enough red in orange to perform as red... and blue can be brought about by subtractive pigmentation. That simply means play around with the colours until you have more than a mudbath. Mixing and blending pigments is one of the great joys of the artist. Not all mixtures turn out particularly pretty, but there is always the option to add just a bit more of this or that until, finally, the tone is found that is useful to the artwork. This can be done with just three, plus B&W pigments. But that is art theory, and, thankfully, I do not have to restrict myself to these three.

Am I done with this letter? No! A few of the posts this month have pointed to my disdain for XENOPHOBIA; I may not have called it that, but the evidence is there all over the globe as it seems so many regimes seek to shut down and solidify their borders rather than open them and provide sanctuary. Why, when to be XENODOCHIAL is often promoted in the philosophy of many religions, and indeed, just in being human? That's to be open and friendly to strangers if you were left wondering.

Why is it that we cannot understand that the world's beauty is all its difference and that blending is likely to produce yet more brilliance??!!! To be forced to take only limited parts of the global palette, though life may still flourish, is to be limited nonetheless. Initially, blending can result in something of a gloop... but a determination to work at it will produce that ultimate life-saving, life-enhancing colour of Bluemanity.

...was that an analogy too far? Are you a rainbow person - or is the preference to stick to the 'colours' closest to you? Go on, tell me  I won't judge you... though I may debate the point!

MenoAZering; W=Window

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

WHEN I look over the other side of my long and light-filled lounge, that WALL is almost 75% WINDOW. An enormous bay-style feature that invites all the outside in. Through it, I can gaze upon the Cowal hills, the rooves of neighbours' homes, the mighty Firth of Clyde, and across that to WEMYSS Bay and Creuch Hill, dotted with WINDMILLS, providing renewable energy.

Through it, I can WATCH - for minutes and sometimes an hour or two - birds on the WING, enjoying the constant flow of salty air. Herring Gulls, Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, WOOD Pigeons and Rock Pigeons, Magpies, Crows, Hooded Crows, and Jackdaws. Goldfinches, Robins, Sparrows... and occasionally, those extra special sightings of a Great Blue Heron or Fieldfares...

That window, that WELCOMING maw of glass WHICH gives so much of the character to the Hutch - this humble abode - has been a saviour to me. During long days of not being able to go out, I never felt incarcerated. I never felt dark during long grey, wet, stormy days to which this area is prone. Other things might darken the mood, but not this place, this sanctuary from which I can look upon the WORLD as it turns, in a small Argyll town on a small Argyll peninsula. From here, I can WONDER at the lack of WISDOM displayed WITHIN that world - despite a treasure trove available to those who would seek it. 

The clouds seen through the glass can make me WHIMSICAL, even WISTFUL. I can imagine creatures and cities and even other worlds in them. If they are dark and menacing, then WICKEDNESS enters the musings. 

At night (as long as the clouds don't linger), I can view the stars. The WINSOME figure of Orion as he strides the firmament, The Plaides, Cassiopeia, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars... oh look! The International Space Station, Starlink satellites... and let us not forget the moon! Oh yes, it's a wonderful window and I am glad to have been able to share it with you this WEDNESDAY.

The fanciful artwork is nothing like my beautiful bay but you can see many of the things I have seen from here by checking out my photoblog (though it is doing something different this month too)!!!

MenoAZering; V=Veritas

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

VINCIT Omnia VERITAS...  truth conquers all things. But it is such a numinous thing, really. Truth is only as static as the knowledge behind it. To a child, Santa Claus is the truth of Christmas. Until he is not. For centuries, the earth was the centre of everything. Until Copernicus proved otherwise. Newton had us all believing that gravity was a matter of massive attraction. Until Einstein came up with his theory of relativity, and we were presented with four-dimensional concepts (the three dimensions of space and one dimension of time). Now, that truth that held good for so long is being shattered, as even more complex theories bring the possibility of a new level of 'truth'.

We live in times where the 'truth' of all VARIATIONS gets traded. VERILY I say unto you that truth can only be so when held against the pattern of everything around it. The truth of an individual's integrity is only as good as the words and deeds that support it. When VAINGLORIOUS leaders spout all their promises, the truth of their intentions will become VISIBLE only by bringing those things into action. When the people who elected them find that the promises are no more than platitudes or outright lies, you would hope that the VOTERS would be concerned about that person's character and VERACITY. Unfortunately, systems are often set up to prevent an actual representation of the will of the people to manifest...

Nobody is perfect, and we are all prone to mistakes in life. This is part of learning, and most infringements are VENIAL. It is VEXING, though, how often those with self-centred personalities end up at the top of the pile. Those with repeat offences of obfuscation, VERBAL jiggery-pokery, VOID of logic, and shameless in these acts.

As a VEDANTIN, I hold that there is only one absolute truth; no truth is absolute. Each of us can hold onto what we believe to be 'the truth' if that is what keeps life stable for us. But the best of us allows for the possibility that 'the truth' is as subject to change as everything else in this existence. The scientific mind seeks VERIFICATION of data to ascertain the VIABILITY of any given theory. This approach does not have to hold only to the hard sciences. Truth can be quantified as that thing that remains stable while all else is eliminated. If the same result is found on several attempts, that result - at least under the parameters of that experiment - can be held as 'the truth' of that theory/test. Until improved parameters and/or theories arise. 

Problems come when adherents to a given truth think their own VALIDITY can only stand if that truth doesn't shift around them. They fight tooth and nail to defend their VERSION of the truth. In doing this, they prevent the progress of knowledge and understanding. There are many in power, in charge of whole nations, who would have everyone in that nation believe 'their truth' and provide everything but the truth to keep themselves in power. 

Then here, again, we are faced with the one consistently proven truth in the history of the cosmos. Nothing lasts forever, and everything is subject to change.  

Permit me the VANITY of sharing one fact that has held true for sixty-three years; today is my birthday!

MenoAZering; U=Ukraine

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

It would be almost impossible, I feel, to go through the alphabet this year without acknowledging the most news-dominant conflict, that of UKRAINE against its much larger, darker cousin, Russia. Or, more specifically, Putin. It galvanised all of Europe and many of the world's other major powers into the more UNCONVENTIONAL battle methodology of economic sanctions against the aggressor. All the words have said, 'we are not at war and will not be drawn into war'... yet the effects of war reach out to us all.

Let the news channels of your own choice inform you more about this. Today I would like to share a recent discovery that tied me more to that country than my sympathies already did.

A few years back, I took the financial plunge into subscribing to an excellent software product called Grammarly. As a life-long touch typist and having experience in proofing and editing, I was ready to admit that menoplyxinaemia had robbed me somewhat of my sharper faculty in those things and was getting frustrated at the UNEXPECTED change in my typing wherein my fingers decided they could work independently of my brain and skip words, phrases, and switch letters around. I had to re-read my posts and messages nth of times to ensure they measured UP. And still, some escaped me. The discovery of Grammarly was a revelation. It was recommended on a writers forum I was frequenting at the time. It was also not cheap. However, I have never regretted the investment. (Just so you know, and if you are interested, you can try a reduced service free version from Chrome Store/Google Play. There are also extensions for Safari, Firefox and Edge.)

What has this to do with Ukraine? Well, it was only a few weeks back, when sharing a link for the software with a friend, that I came upon a piece of info that surprised me. USUALLY, I research everything, and I wondered how this info had not hit me before now. Perhaps because the business is homed in California. The "about" page of the product says nothing much about the founders - and it is not unusual to see names of eastern European origin in the USA. However, in going there in the spirit of sharing, I was interested that they had changed their logo to the colours of the Ukrainian flag. That's quite the move for a large corporation. Thus a little more digging was required by the YAMster, aka Miss Marple Heavy. (No one would ever class me as 'lite'.) 

It turns out the three gents who set it all going are Ukrainians. The programmer escapes focus in most articles. The two key guys, now Canadian citizens, are doing well out of their initiative. The recent logo change is part of broader support set up by Grammarly, wherein they are sending significant funds to the Ukraine war efforts. 

UNPAID advertorial post? Not intended as such... but I do actually love this writing companion and, while quite often I over-ride recommendations, and it is also not 100% accurate on spelling assessment, it says something that even on my very tight budget I am prepared to continue with the annual fee. And I think - weirdly - that fondness grew a few notches for its having Ukrainian roots. It is entirely possible that some of you beat me to the news of its origins... but that is no reason for me not to own up to my own increased awareness.

MenoAZering; T=Thistle

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

Oh, prickly plant of hill and glen, 

THISTLE stand there braw; 

metaphor of character for 

Scots, it's said you draw.

TRUE it is we may seem gruff and

bristle at the jaw;

yet ready ever to defend

this land and its law.

(Ⓒ YAM 2022)

As thistles of all kinds are to be found the world over, I have often pondered why we have it as our national symbol here in the Bonny Land. The Onopordum Acanthium, which is considered and called 'the Scotch Thistle', is not native and is likely to have arrived with increased TRADE from other regions of Europe and beyond. It is this invader which Walter Scott picked as the emblem for George IV's visit to Scotland in 1822, and it has been accepted as a national emblem ever since.

The thistle closest to being considered a native is the Cirsium Vulgare, aka the Spear Thistle. This is the one I became so familiar with during hay harvest on my grandfather's farm. It is shorter, straggly, and, if possible, more prickly than its bigger cousin. Handling bales with those things wrapped into the grass put many a finger at risk! Some years were worse than others, but I never did figure out why. Moisture? Drought? I don't recall it ever actually getting discussed. The men just cut the stuff, and we young 'uns gathered it up. Ah... fond memories of summers that were actually hot and seemed endless, the smell of the fresh hay, the call of the larks and swallows high in the sky, sandwiches and flask tea at lunchtime. Not long, got to make the most of the dry and light. Mum and the aunts were at it too. As we kids THREW the bales out the back, they stacked them, six by six, ready for the TRACTOR to haul them aboard a TRAILER and then to the barn.

...ahhhh... TICK TOCK goes the memory clock... half a century, yet yesterday.

MenoAZering; S=Schism

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

The SPLIT into factions - the disagreements and differences that SEEM irreconcilable. The biff and boff of life can often disrupt connections, but there can be times when those connections are SEVERED entirely. 

For all the differences, we are all essentially the SAME. Yet this has no influence to moderate our tendency to take SIDES. A STANCE is taken, and ego and bravado enhance the SEPARATION that tends to follow. SPARKS can fly, SQUABBLES become abundant and would-be warriors SHADOWBOX, SHIFTING and SHUFFLING around their perceived enemy. Then to stand SHOCKED when blood is SHED...

💙💛💚💜💗

Regular readers here know that the last Friday of any month on DoWY means Final Friday Fiction time. This month is no different! So SELECT your SHOTS (your own, mind, not beg, borrowed, or STOLEN) and tell me a STORY. (If you are new and would like to join in check out the FFF Rulez page up top.)

MenoAZering; R=Reef

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

This was the headline in the Guardian's environment article on March 25th. Having had the great thrill and privilege to snorkel on this REEF (one small part at least), this is a subject close to my heart. Anyone paying attention must know that the reef is the equivalent of the canary in the mine... an early warning system. If the bird ceased RESPIRING - if it went claws up - the miners knew to scarper for the exit. The reef is yelling at all we miners of the climate that things are not well. The state of our seas REFLECTS the state of our land and atmosphere. Everything, REMEMBER, is connected.

Permit me the offering of this podcast... 

MenoAZering; Q=Query

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

Why does Mankind insist on acting like a toddler throwing all its toys out of the pram?

Why do the rich not understand that passing on some of their surplus to the poor will not only help alleviate suffering but lighten their hearts and minds too?

Why is it always the fault of 'the other' and never our own?

Whatever happened to good old fashioned neighbourliness?

Why do people automatically assume that just because that person's got one, they must have one too?

I expect no answers of any QUALITY, for the fact is we are a QUERULOUS beastie. Ever-inclined to think in terms of the "I"/ego and how unfair life is. Yes, a generalisation - but we live in such QUANTITY now, one must take the average. We live in an age of averages. There is no room for the individual. Yet still, the individual keeps baulking and bucking and demanding rights. "I" has become commercial. 

QUONDAM**, there was a trend to QUASH the use of "I" when speaking. This is adhered to by the British Royals... 'we' and 'one' are used instead. In certain circles, 'one' is still used - (i potest esse reus^^). 

... I could go on, but that is sufficient for this QUIRKY post!!!

**previously, at an earlier time...once...

^^ I may be guilty

MenoAZering; P=Psykadelika

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

I have never imbibed anything more mind-altering than an occasional over-indulgence in beer. In fact, apart from a PERIOD in youth, just as with many others of that age, even my alcoholic intake is absolutely minimal. These days, a cider or a beer/lager at Christmas and New Year - and maybe around my birthday - is all that happens. I quite like the taste of a beer or cider, but really, I don't get the POINT of taking any more than a glass. Two max.

Yet I have known many who seek to obliterate themselves, not just in alcohol. If I don't get the need for getting drunk, I most certainly don't get the need for drugs. I have had the PRIVILEGE in life to experience what might be termed as PSYCHADELIC episodes simply through meditation. No chemical assistance required. 

However, it is the fact that such experiences do exist for those PREPARED to PRACTICE that so many others seek shortcuts. The thing is, they are deluded as to what is expected from meditative practice. Further, in PARTICULAR, there was a tendency in the 1960s to describe the drug-induced episodes as spiritual when, clearly, they were nothing of the kind. Matters in this regard were not helped because, in some societies (notably in the Andes and India), specific natural herbs have been used for centuries with ceremonial practice. 

We have large sections of our societies labouring under one addiction or another. Even PRESCRIBED drugs have become a severe PROBLEM. How I wish that these PEOPLE could find their way to the addiction that is meditation. That they could learn to trust the PROCESS of PATIENT and dedicated discipline in self-control, self-regulation, self-development.

Truly, the psychedelic experience of PURE meditation knows no PARALLEL. 

MenoAZering; O=Orb

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

Where to OPEN a post on the letter O? With the perhaps OBVIOUS reference to the planet upon which we reside. This lustrous, OPULENT, generous ORB of such inordinate beauty and surprise. A place that is so precious as to have given forth life. It is not just the ORDINARY life of earth and water, microbes and OOZE, but ever more complex forms leading up to the extra-ordinary, sentient beings that are a virus upon its skin. 

Seen under the microscope of the cosmos, these beings are a wonderment, capable of OUTSTANDING works of art, architecture, mechanics, various sciences, and the ability to imagine. The ability to comprehend the abstract.

Seen in the light of their connection to their surroundings and their effect upon those environs, they are a pox upon the earth. Their incredible imagination seems incapable of comprehending living with instead of against the natural substratum. They are OBNOXIOUS... indeed, they might be classified as noxious weeds, injurious to the wellbeing of everything around them. Including others of their own kingdom, albeit of a different class, order, family, genus, species, subspecies, or race. In fact, often because...

As this exceptional planet ORBITS its sun, one of a gazillion other suns, at the centre of a system viewed from the centre of the cosmos in which it sits, one of a gazillion other systems - a single tree in an endless forest - is anything that OCCURS upon it, this small gemstone orb, of any import at all...?

MenoAZering; N=Noble

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.

(Ernest Hemingway)

MenoAZering; M = Messiah

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

Luke 24:6-7: 

"Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 

'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, 

be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

This pencil drawing I did for my art O Level... for a long time my father had it mounted on the pinboard in his office in Nigeria. I had thought it was long gone. What a surprise to find it in the brown portfolio from the attic... 

resurrected from the dark resting place!

MenoAZering; L=Love (With The Capital 'Ell')

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

LOYAL readers here know YAM's initiative of LOVE with the capital 'ell'... the Love which passeth all understanding. The Love of unification and absolutely no strings. The Love which knows no bounds and holds no expectations. 

Throw Love out into the ether, for the sheer joy of it!!!

Throw Love into the cooking of your food and bring it back into yourself.

Throw Love about with pure abandon!!!

Love not to be recognised, or in anticipation of a return of any kind. Love freely and unfettered.

Show your Love in every little deed; focus and attention without pride bring rewards of satisfaction and gladness of heart.

LET Love be your mantra!!!

MenoAZering; K=Kali Yuga

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

The four great epochs in Hinduism are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and KALI YUGA. Satya Yuga or the Age of Truth, is said to last for 4,000 divine years, Treta Yuga for 3,000, Dwapara Yuga for 2,000 and Kali Yuga will last for 1,000 divine years—a divine year equalling 432,000 earthly years. Hindu tradition holds that three of these great ages of this current universe have already passed away, and we are now living in the fourth one—the Kali Yuga. 

It is the age of disruption, contention, darkness. Floods and famine, war and crime, deceit, and duplicity characterize this age. Kali Yuga has two phases: In the first phase, humans—having lost the knowledge of the two higher selves—possessed knowledge of the "breath body" apart from the physical self. Now during the second phase, however, even this knowledge has deserted humanity, leaving us only with the awareness of the gross physical body. This explains why humankind is now more preoccupied with the physical self than any other aspect of existence. At the end of Kali Yuga, there will be the destruction of the cosmos and it will all start over again. It is not all doom and gloom though. For those who are prepared to seek out the path of light, there will be rewards, their spirits being relieved of much of the suffering that others must bear.

We know that civilisations rise and fall... should our current one be any different?

MenoAZering; J=Jade

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

There once was a dog called JADE

As orange as mar-ma-lade

She'd hold up her paw

and slacken her JAW

and her owner, like butter, was made!

Jade was the first and only dog I ever owned - my heart dog. There had been family dogs, and I'd learned a lot about training from my grandfather and uncle, who were breeders and trainers of Border Collies. Lots of friends have had dogs to whom I could be 'aunty', and then, of course, there are all the lovely dog (and cat!) bloggers I have come to know over my years online, having the great privilege of meeting some 'in the furs' in 2016.

Jade was one of those dogs who thought about what was going on and tended to want JUSTIFICATION for why she was being asked to perform certain things. Her mother was a full-blood Rhodesian Ridgeback who had had an unplanned rendezvous with a neighbour's mixed-breed dog who was thought to be mainly English Staffordshire Bull Terrier... but I think there was a good percentage of German Shepherd in there too. Jade might have needed to know the reasons for certain actions, but once convinced, she was as steadfast and skilled as they come.

Jade also taught me things. By taking her into my life a daily discipline was required that had been lacking. During a period of very low mood, having her and her bro-cat, JASPER, to look after ensured I didn't fall off the end of a pier. From Jade, I learned to double-check everything and not be afraid to make my feelings known. Also, that to play was as important to one's wellbeing as diet. That there are some people who will never be pleased and nothing you do can change that, so just wag your tail and move on...

My darling was with me for fourteen and a half years. It was a shock to me as I selected this image to realise that it is already fourteen years since her passing with only another half to go... 

Still alive in my heart.

MenoAZering; I=Introspection

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

The very nature of creating something that might be referred to as art requires a level of INTROSPECTION. It is necessary to suspend expectation and be prepared to await the revelation each process provides. In pressing the brushes to the canvas, pencils to paper - stylus to screen - there must be INTENTION tempered with a level of self-understanding. An acceptance of what I know I can do and allowance for discovering more ability and about myself as a result of each stroke.

One can set out with something specific in mind but have something entirely different - or at least surprising - by the end. Which is an IDEAL metaphor for life! There are so many factors and INFLUENCES that form our purpose and path. Ultimately, who we are and how we got here matters less than whether we have a full grasp of ourselves and can feel that we are secure in that self-knowledge despite all the external bombardments. If we are, it will show in our confidence, consistent approach, and methodology and will be enhanced by having the courage to assess ourselves at the end of each day (or task).

Did I take on the day/task with the correct attitude?

Did I fight the flow or allow it to move me along another path?

Am I pleased with the results of my words and actions today?

Did I encourage others by words or actions?

IF not, why not? How can I do better tomorrow?

Introspection is an active self-development tool. Taking an INVENTORY of our attitude and behaviour, matching it against whichever set of values/philosophy we choose as our standard, and marking ourselves accordingly, with notes by which we can IMPROVE, must INDEED be considered a worthy thing.

MenoAZering; H=Hope

For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

Saturday at Doses of Wild YAM is usually reserved for quotations. Let it remain so...

"Everything that is done in this world is done by hope."

(Martin Luther 1483-1586)

Even getting up each morning is an act of HOPE - that the day will proceed as planned if plans have been made, or that it will at least be pleasurable, if not. That there will be food for breakfast. The weather will hold, the car will start ...and all wars have ceased...