Here’s the latest Seasonal Dispatch
This first quarter of the year has been devoted to writing, study, and reading.
I am emphasizing my own contemplative work at this time, but am still open to working with others as long as it doesn’t shift my compass too far from the north star.
Latest Publication
In January, I was happy to finally be able to announce the publication of Dolor y Luna, an art text by the Cuban artist and curator Juan Carlos Rodríguez Valdés, with my translation and English version.
It is heartwarming to share with everyone the process of translating this personal poetic memoir – particularly because I don’t speak Spanish, nor does he speak English. There are a few articles relating to the book on this site, along with mentions in my Substack, so I won’t repeat it all again here.
Reading
My bedside stack of books is like having tabs open on my browser, I pop in and out of them from time to time.
- Ithell Colhoun’s Living Stones – all about Cornwall, one of her travel books. Again, like her Goose of Hermogenes, quite personal and visual.
- A Catch of Anti-Letters – Correspondence between Thomas Merton and Robert Lax. I found this book in the give-away section of our public library – and was thrilled to bring it home – I’ve been a fan of Lax and of course Merton forever. The playful way they write to each other is like Pogo cartoons, and similar to the writing of their friend Ad Reinhardt, as well as a bit of Joycean word-play. Two monks in the early 1960s, addressing each other with preposterous names and signing off with pseudonyms. Brother poets and essayists, having worded fun together.
- Then there is The Process, by Brion Gysin, a classic cut-up-technique Saharan beat dreamscape, all happening in Morocco or across the desert, sounds of Jajouka and visions of paradise along with ominous portents and transfigurations. I’m reminded of my early days as a reader, looking to the beats for inspiration. And I love the Sufi atmosphere, even if here it’s clouded in kif smoke.
- Surrealism and Operative Alchemy by Patrick Lepetit attracted me at first with its subtitle, The Secret Language at the Origins of the Surrealist Movement. “Right up my alley,” I thought. Well, part-way through I was still waiting for it to begin when I realized, “Oh, this is a reference book.” Page upon page of paragraphs and paragraphs filled to the brim with references to other references, all gathered together under various chapter headings. I imagine that if I were academic, I’d follow the threads to find more affirmation of what I was studying. But I am not. Instead, I just glossed over, still looking for that secret language, but it was only referred to, not yet revealed. Will I plod through to the end like a good schoolgirl? Yes! because it has some great quotes and rare documentation.
The Substacks
I’ve been working on my Substack, Personal Papers, keeping it up to date monthly, along with intermittent postings to the Shamcher Bulletin newsletter. I’m still in the process of redefining the Shamcher Bulletin to include more personal commentary, but that is still to come. I’m hoping that by the end of April this will have resolved.
I’m also helping to produce a Substack for the Sufi Circle Canada, based on earlier postings from their Heart to Heart Newsletters, as well as new material gathered by David Murray. It’s going out every two weeks, and is packed with research, interesting details and lots of good inspiration about the people involved. As David is an architect, buildings and architecture are often featured as well, giving place and form to the ideas and concepts. It is a trip down memory lane for me to recall those days of Lake O’Hara Camp and the dear shining souls that we were back then.
Platonic Study
This winter and spring I’ve continued online sessions with Tim Addey and The Prometheus Trust. They have been inspirational and transformative. I’m participating in the study of The Symposium, with an eye to the mysteries, and another challenging and rewarding class on Proclus’ Commentary on the Parmenides.
Writing
Working more on my forthcoming novel, Project Wunderkabinett, as it is nearing the finish line, finally. I only need to refine this last draft and it should be good to go into the next and final phase.
I’ve also been writing new contemplative pieces, and I’ll soon be looking for a way to bring them together into a collection. But that will have to wait until Wunderkabinett is completed.
Experiments with AI
I’ve continued my study of AI potentials. I’m especially enjoying the discoveries through slide decks of key concepts held in my writing, and all the images in this Seasonal Dispatch are examples based on this article.
