09 Illness & Creativity:
Dave and Chris talk about how illness can be a call to creativity. Chris starts out with a story of learning from a young cancer patient. We talk about how illness can break down the everyday mindset, or horizontal, material focus and introduce a vertical, or spiritual dimension in life. To make this shift requires an openness to creativity and also allowing inspiration, grace, or a sense of a gift to be received. This gift of creativity can then be shared with others. We talk about the lives and creative processes of Philip K. Dick and Carl G. Jung. As always, Chris and Dave share stories, humor, ideas, and books. Dave closes with a Daniel Ladinsky rendering of a Hafiz poem, “To Build a Swing.”
To Build a Swing
Hafiz, “To Build a Swing,” Translated/Rendered by Daniel Ladinsky, The Gift, p. 48
You carry
All the ingredients
To turn your life into a nightmare─
Don’t mix them!
You have all the genius
To build a swing in your backyard
For God.
That sounds
Like a hell of a lot more fun.
Let’s start laughing, drawing blueprints,
Gathering our talented friends.
I will help you.
With my divine lyre and drum.
Hafiz
Will sing a thousand words,
You can take into your hands,
Like golden saws,
Sliver hammers,
Polished teakwood,
Strong silk rope.
You carry all the ingredients
To turn your existence into joy,
Mix them, mix
Them!
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YouTube: https://youtu.be/NjjTr6SQZMY
Being Fully Human 