“Active imagination refers to a process or technique of engaging with the ideas or imaginings of one’s mind. It is used as a mental strategy to communicate with the subconscious mind. In Jungian psychology, it is a method for bridging the conscious and unconscious minds. Instead of being linked to the Jungian process, the word “active imagination” in modern psychology is most frequently used to describe a propensity to have a very creative and present imagination. It is thought to be a crucial aid in the process of individuation.”
“Enslave me and I am a dangerous enemy; command me and I will make you mad; give me life and you will die.”
― Patrick Harpur, Mercurius: The Marriage of Heaven and Earth
Individuation
I am having a challenging time with this Mercury Retrograde. So, I decided to take some skills I have learned over the years with “active imagination.” I did engage in communication with the planet on various levels. As a planet, an intellectual being (very Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,) astrology and astronomy.
I came to an interesting dialogue with the simple ideas of; don’t force things, go with the flow, and enjoy reflection with an awareness of what lessons are essential to learn.
The most interesting thing came the next morning when my geophysics son explained to me how things move in space.
When rockets leave the earth, they do not travel in a straight line but in a circular one even a spiral. And gravity in space can be used as an advantage or as a good kind of disadvantage in space travel.
Again, he told me some things about Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. I did not realize that it is smaller than our moon and of course has no moons of its own.
Mercury based on Mercurius, that is a lot to learn here, is always open to this type of intelligent awareness and dialogue. You should try it. Be astounded by Mercury Retrograde’s curious responses.
The Bumblebee Performs Live on Purple Anarchy Flowers.
Yippee-ki-yay!
How do I balance out the conflicts in life? China and the USA Military now near Alaska confronting each other, our own x- USA president indicted repeatedly. Then there is an answer…
Nature is consistent like the Bumblebee who visits the same time every year. I hold in my dislike of big punk festivals galore and settle into the world around me.
Up front and personal. A pint of beer at the local pub and a delicious bowl of Grits.
Creativity and my spirituality. What is the difference between discernment, insight, instinct and fantasy or the big one active imagination. I use all of these, but the best is active imagination.
“An active imagination when a person engages with the ideas in their imagination, using it as a mental strategy to communicate with the subconscious mind. In Jungian psychology, it is a method for bridging the conscious and unconscious minds.
Instead of being linked to the Jungian process, the word “active imagination” in modern psychology is most frequently used to describe a propensity to have a very creative and present imagination. By examining the most evident manifestations of the unconscious mind—dreams—a person can learn how to execute this method on themselves.
It is thought to be a crucial aid in the process of individuation. It employs creative imagination as an organ for “perceiving outside your mental boxes.” ~ Analytical psychology
And for me nature always knows when I am doing it… lovely.
The song I created for this is personal but it is from my fantasy and our fantasy is a must if we wonder how the world could be destroyed over computer chips.
We endure the minds of weapons and war!
A catchy tune.
Taiwan produces over 60% of the world’s semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones.
Wildflowers have taught me to be authentic. You cannot mess with a wildflower. It does its own thing. Too much water or love and if will die. One must look at a wildflower with a sideways glance. Appreciation is appreciated. Don’t expect a sweetness without an inward determination or discernment from the wild thing.
Euphrosyne is a Goddess of Good Cheer, Joy and Mirth. Her name is the female version of a Greek word euphrosynos, which means “merriment”. The Greek poet Pindar states that these goddesses were created to fill the world with pleasant moments and good will. Usually the Charites attended the goddess of beauty Aphrodite.
Today while shopping the Sunday crowds were noticeable. The checkout lane was accepted. Yet even with the self-checkout open and the fifteen items or less open, two young men with several Styrofoam cups wanted to go first. They loomed close to me. Thinking my old woman ways would be forgiving and stupid to the fact they would eventually ask the question.
And then it happened the young man said,
“Can you do us a favor…”
I said with well learned flower intention and assertion,
“No. There is a self-checkout over there and a fifteen or less over there. Otherwise, you need to chill and wait like the rest of us.”
I went ahead with the checkout process. These two young men then decided to enter my space. I had to tell them to please step back.
“You need to step back because you are invading my space.”
They were in front of the cash check machine. I had to bag my things. They were shaking their heads like I was playing the wrong card.
You cannot expect older mamas to be sweetie pie by force. If these two young men were older and needed my help, I would have let them through and bagged for them. But these guys thought wrong about me.
It felt good to say “no” and “back off.”
I did not use fuck, or stupid or use my hand finger. I was assertive and authentic like the wildflowers in my garden.
To Jeff “THE WEASEL” Sessions and To Donald “JACKASS” Trump…
I had a dream…. last night … or was it a vision….?!
As told to us by Mr. Shit~ anarchist, atheist with a loving good conscience and beyond….
Mr. Shit woke up this morning with something on his mind. For an old punk with dementia he can be as sharp as a dull knife. He talked about whirling triangles that spoke of “…four combinations of wisdom,” and he talked about how he was part of the fifth part of the whirling triangle equation. “Me, Juno the Asteroid Goddess and the naked Grace AGLAEA.” He told us that it was a puzzle to him and as symbolic as hell or heaven… yet seemed as real as could be!
He told us about the strange dream. He also told us how he was born. He yelled that he remembered his story and yelled this, “He was born from a woman, in an alley, on a bus crossing a border.” This came to his mind because in his vision / dream AGLAEA told Mr. Shit that, “I (she) was born from the thought of Apollo the Hermaphrodite!” Mr. Shit also told us that Juno said she was born from chaos. Singing that, “She stands up for Women’s rights!”
Mr. Shit told us that in his dream he was in an alley. He walked up to a trash can. He saw many things there, yet a couple of books were glowing. He opened one of the books and he read…
“Visit orphans and widows in their distress~ James 1:27” and again flipped through the book and read, “Thus says the Lord: Do Justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in their place.” ~ Jeremiah 22:3
He flipped through another book. He read an outlined quote.
“Have you considered him who calls the judgment a lie? That is the one who treats the orphan with harshness, And does not urge (others) to feed the poor. ~ (107:1-3) Holy Our ‘an.
In his dream he fell back and one of the books fell with him because the whirling triangles moved about him. He was dizzy with wonder. Yet a strength held him up with two large green rough legs. Like claws from another mother. She told Mr. Shit about the exodus of all people, animals, and creatures of the earth… and beyond. This is a mantra that we need all remember.
“You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” ~ Exodus 22:23
Silence moved upon us all as we sipped our cold ice-teas. We will focus on the quotes from those books from the trash can! For coming upon us are days of justice and good conscience.
Mr. Shit drank lots of ice coffee. He told us that going back to sleep was not an option!
Azoth is “all-inclusiveness” and the spiritual ray of Neptune which is the higher octave of Mercury.
How this all came together is a current event of our times. Alchemical symbols and studies are something I do. I have worked with images and ancient insights for years. Not always understanding the full meanings yet trying to embrace them with a current and contemporary heart and mind-set.
I believe as the ancient Egyptians taught, that to understand these ancient alchemical symbols one must “think with the heart and feel with the mind.”
A Grand Trine is a call to see the influence of cosmic realities. To observe the world around oneself and try to make sense of it.
We are all in this together even if we are unbelievable.
I’ve been working with this image for some time. I put my praying mantis spin on the study. The alchemical symbol is based on a sixth century woodcut from the series in Basil Valentine’s Azoth.
Neptune is speaking loudly… I think we all might listen!
A hierarchy of Neptune. Azoth is the measureless spirit of life. The original spiritual fiery water comes through Eden (vapor) and pours itself into the four main rivers of four elements. “Elixir-vitae.”
The spine, a gas that is like steam which may be condenses when exposed to outside atmosphere.
But it may also be super-heated by the fire of purification and regeneration and become a brilliant and luminous fire.
“Between the gods and the plant kingdom stands man, a being endowed with intelligence, creative power and free-will use it for good or ill.
Between the chaste plant and the pure spiritual gods who both turn their whole creative power upward towards the light.”
“For life moves out of a red flare of dreams Into a common light of common hours, Until old age brings the red flare again.”
~ The Land Of Heart’s Desire, William Butler Yeats
Retrospective action is part of a process which helps us find solutions to human problems. So much is going on in the world and in my personal world. Where does one seek or find balance? Meditation maybe? Exercising and eating properly, that might be part of the answer. There is more to hypertension than the human body. It seems a common reality in these dark political times shared by many!
While putting together some positive moves towards balance, I came upon a few old friends. One is a meditation site called freeMedation and an old poem by William Blake entitled Jerusalem. Yes, going back to healthy practices and inspired ideals.
Shocked by the inclusion of this particular rendition of Blake’s poem on this site, it is still very endearing to me. It is a poem set in a place and time that one can transcend using retrospective meditation.
The poem speaks to us. For is not Jerusalem the palace [place] of our heart’s desire?
Below is an image, a facsimile, from my Blake collection. It has vast symbolic layers.
“When the morning Stars sang together. & all the Sons of God shouted for joy”
Side stepping biblical perspective, this image holds reference to three important elements: The stars known as the Pleiades, humanity, and the cosmos. Our foresight needs to put roots into the ground as a solid anchor. This need is achieved by reaching with retrospective action. Thus, bringing together the past, present and future. A balance for our crazy times.
The image shows me understanding revealed in meditation. Therefore, I love Blake’s work.
Urania is talking to Uranus
Ambassador to the planets and stars
She calls to Earth
As a friend of friends,
Catalyst of goodness and humor,
to Uranus ascending electric magma
Eccentric insect antenna muses
Human Beings
To be the best
we can be.
I hope you enjoy the coming eclipse. If you are already there or travel the journey to get there…If you need some reading material while waiting or after it is over and back to normal life… here is my stuff for your reading pleasure….
Flopside comics is proud to continue on the next volume of ten editions of “FUCK” Gazettes. “Fart News” is the smelly echo of the word that is heard around the world. Volume two number one is a reflective piece of fart journalism.
A dualistic pause from the past into the present political drama! Yes, here at Flopside comics we memories quotes of our dear friend Thomas Paine. His good vibrations are close around.
His words echo in the moments of history that still speak to the noble of mind and heart. Pity the other fool that talks of truths…which he doesn’t even come close to saying in all his “tweetrums,” in fact Trump is an asshole… so there you go… that is fart news at its best. So go blow one and remember to be more than an asshole!!
“The emergence of values from remembering repeats in our old age the ancient myth of Memory, the mother of the nine. Muses. Each of the Muses—the patronesses of astronomy, comedy, dance, eloquence, epic, history, music, amatory poetry, and tragedy—artfully forms values by musing upon the goddess Memory who is her mother.
We do not need to form our remembrances into art, as the painter Grandma Moses did in her old age, or into a novel, as Giuseppe di Lampedusa did in his.
We need only to follow Memory’s daughters, musing over our memories and noticing how they take on significant shapes.”
~ James Hillman. The Force of Character: And the Lasting Life.
Illustration from ‘Practica Musicae’ depicting the connection between music, the Muses, and celestial influences.
“Greek rational thought broke away from magic thought processes, and symbolically transferred the center of creative power from the female womb to the male brain (symbolized by Athene’s birth from the forehead of Zeus), creating the great Western cultural distortion that is still with us today, by giving greater value to culture than to nature, to the abstract Idea than to concrete Life itself.”
~Amaury de Riencourt. Woman and Power in History .
These illustrations are a way to in tune with “the female power again.” Intuition, illumination, and humor are a way to hold us on an alternative foundation or path.
A given for us females and a needed endeavor that must be taken by our male comrades. Most importantly for them. If we dare to have a chance in these dark times.
An offbeat flopside comic adventure...
Art -watercolors by Hudley Flipside aka Holly Cornell.
Nine Muses as the source of “in-aspiration,” literally breathing in “I-deas” of Goddess-spirits within. The Muses were originally a triad-the primordial Triple Goddess. First of them was Mnemosyne, “Memory,” who made poets able to remember sacred sagas.
“The whole classical iconographic story of the transformation of the soul and the stages of illumination.”
Apollo is seated at the top and the three Graces are dancing beside him. In his hand is the lyre that plays the song of the universe, and besides that is the vessel of abundance. The inscription over Apollo’s head says,
“The energy of the Apollonian mind moves everywhere through the muses.”
The muses are the inspirers of spiritual knowledge, and the source of their energy is the Graces. The Graces are naked because nakedness represents disengagement form the limitations of the clothing of time and space, but the Muses who represent the message of this naked truth to the world. The Graces are three aspects of Aphrodite. Her inflection as the moving powers of the energy of the world.
Euphrosyne: Joy and the radiance that flows to the world through the qualities of the nine Muses.
Aglaea: Splendor, the energy returning to the deity.
Selene: the celestial body of the moon. The arrow held by Selene in the sphere of the moon is held down, pointing us to the earth and its history, while the caduceus of Hermes points upward, directing us to spiritual heights.
Clio: the muse of history and historical writing.
Calliope: the Muse the radiance of the eternal principle of epic poetry. (Mercury /Hermes)
Thalia: Abundance: that unites the two. When you have put your head in the mouth of the lion you hear the song of nature. Muse of bucolic poetry, the poetry of the nature around you, the sheep and the lion and the trees and the mountains.
(3,4,5 The process of the rendering into the world the radiance of the Apollonian consciousness.)
The same old chaos from the small mushroom man. Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs…. This is a Flopside cOmic. I used to enjoy drawing and doodling this buffoon, but it is not so much fun anymore… redundant and annoying is more like it… the annoying Donald… the small mushroom man.
The central figure is the great serpent whose tail is Cerberus. The three-headed dog who guards the underworld. Thalia is also the name of the ninth Muse. She is both below Cerberus’s head and she is also the central Grace above. Silent Thalia when she is under the threshold of the earth. “You can’t accept the bite of death and so you’re not hearing the song of the universe, and that why Thalia is silent.” We are afraid of the three heads of the dog. Fire of the sun, the present, yielding ourselves to the present. The wolf, the fear of the passage of time. The Dog which represents desire and hopes for the future.
“What binds us is the present, past and future and so we’re bound to the ego. This is the image of the snake biting Peleus’s Achilles tendon.
“Let the serpent of death bite your heel, do hear the song of the universe and then the Muses sing…when you have died to your ego and rational consciousness there open the intuition, that is to say, you hear the song of the muses, and this is the female power again.”
Nine Muses
The first triad of the earth, the moon and mercury.
The second triad is the transition through the sun door into the high sphere of purely spiritual experience.
Terpsichore the muse of dance. (Venus)
Melpomene the muse of tragedy and tragic poetry. (the Sun)
Erato the Muse of the art of erotic poetry. (Mars)
The highest triad where we are released from bondage to matter and death.
Euterpe the Muse of Flute song. (Jupiter, Zeus)
Polyhymnia the Muse of choral sacred song. (Kronos)
Urania the Muse of Astronomy.
(The heaven of the fixed stars)
Sources…
Practica Musicae, Franchinus Gaffurius, Interpreted by Joseph Campbell from his book Goddesses, Mysteries of the Feminine Divine.
The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara G. Walker
Also, today I am adding another most important source. “The Practica Musicae of Franchinus Gafurius” (First published in Milan in 1406)
The images contained in this book inspired my renderings. I was amazed at what I found and so started my journey.
“The High Renaissance in northern Italy was a crucial period in the development of the music of western civilization. The Pythagorean definition of interval in terms of precise mathematical ratio concepts of tuning, the controversy between ration and the “errant” senses…. helped bridge the gap between music as a philosophical science and music as a secular art. “
I include here images from this book. “…evolved both from ancient and medieval tradition and from the demands of performance in the late fifteenth century.”
Original source is acknowledged here with great joy…. the ancient past, the present…. it is amazing how we humans enjoy getting to know our soul, history, inspiration, astrology, philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, science and dare I say music ?
Laws control the lesser man… Right conduct controls the greater one.
~ Mark Twain
As I research this Bannon character, who is about to take over the White House, or become the new Chief of Staff, I see a man with honorable and dishonorable credentials! He is playing the country against itself. All the nasty shadowy things come forth as hate power and helplessness. He plays democrats and republicans against the other. We are being scorched to some unknown place ahead of us.
I have been invited to create a postcard and send it, in opposition of Bannon. Yet, by reading about him I have learned so much more about politics. I cannot say his goals are strangely honorable or dishonorable. He seems like a Hannibal Lecter sort of motivated politician. He seems to want to tear down the system as it is. What value or danger is awaiting “we the people” is not clear to me? He has scorched us.
I will send my postcard. Yet, the contradictory ways of Bannon are strange. But are they? He uses technology and knowledge to manipulate us. His propaganda is meant to awaken a response in us. Edward Bernays knew this by way of Freudian psychology. Not a new game in politics, corporations, or religion.
My postcard will also state an open question to him.
“What is your goal for “we the people?” Are we to be scorched only? You have scorched those in power now! Are you just a Dr. Jekyll -Mr. Hyde evil genius like the newspapers say?”
“You fear the world too much,’ she answered gently. ‘All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach. I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off, one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you. Have I not?”
“Learning from ones mistakes” and the “uncomfortable truth” just about sums up Mercury Rx here. Those aspected by this will find they are constantly faced with intellectual opposition and therefore will have to develop witty deflective responses and a thick skin to criticism at this time. However this enables much wisdom to be gathered because every theory will be put through the wringer in debates. Ideas will have to be validated the scientific way, so generally the mass media will not get away with misleading reporting or unsubstantiated statements.
“To develop witty deflective responses and a thick skin to criticism at this time.”
Husband has some vacation time. He spent all day researching all the places we could go. Las Vegas, Sacramento, Death Valley or maybe Yosemite Park.
“I just don’t know,” I said.
This morning I told him that there is no where you can take me that will make me happier than I am right here. My trees in the garden or the lavender near the miniature lemon tree. Also the things I seek these days are internal joys. Noting compares with the challenges of my mind. Maybe a rough something like kayaking or a path into the mountains near by. Yet still I am happy here, right here. I have so much to amuse me. Chores and responsibilities are my contract and contrast to a willing imagination.
Now that Mercury Rx is happening I feel an interesting shadow coming forth. Husband can run, play chess and maybe we can share a pint or see a band together? It is best to enjoy our time together here.
“I am a product of Los Angeles Country,” says Mr. Fuck.
“Been around. I was left on the doorstep of a record store head-shop in the San Fernando Valley. I teethed on vinyl and breathed in herbs with my milk as a babe.”
SOng ONe
SOng Two
“My best girl Lame Faced Doll says she loves the streets at night in the city of Los Angeles. She takes the metro, bus and walks miles into the high flying sun of mystery. She listens to the music where ever she finds it,” says the brave man Mr. Fuck.
Cameron, West Angel, n.d., Graphite, ink and gold paint on paper, 23 3⁄4 x 36 3⁄4 inches. Courtesy of the Cameron Parsons Foundation, Santa Monica. Photo Credit: Alan Shaffer
“What inspires you is not my concern,” says Mr. Shit.
“Take me to any room and it is a holiday room…what is your concern is not mine.”
SoNg ThrEe
“Boredom and politics… anything but Boredom and politics..
This is dedicated to the man at the art store that threw his cigarette butt down on the asphalt and then picked it back up later and continued smoking it. Repetition always and Recycle everything…” Mr. Shit agrees with Mr. Fuck on this… they are comrades to the end.
Today The Seminary of Praying Mantis has just published the first book (chapbook) of poetry.
A great accomplishment for me today. My first published book of poetry. DIY of highest degree with all the respect due to the many others who share their passion. It is just a hell of a happy day… just one step… of making my dreams come true.
“We were mocking the mockery before these guys and the Chili Peppers (who happened to be on the back page of Flipside # 43 that we were on the cover of)! Where do you think they got the idea?”
~ Eric VonArab is with Louie Garcia.
Los Angeles Flipside Fanzine Back Cover Issue 43. August 1984
Life is a type of cosmic mockery.
The creative impulse seems unique and fresh but often is another mockery of sorts. Walking around the mall yesterday with my youngest son I see fashion has now taken that mockery place for me.
A full circle of fashion that copies my youthful generation. What we purchased at thrift stores; straight legs and big shirts and boots; or fancy dresses from my mother’s youthful generation. Sequin dresses low in the front with a jeweled brooch.
My cats and I are mightily routine orientated. My Monday morning shopping is to avoid the crowds. I am often amused by the magazines at the checkout counter.
Today my heart raced a little faster. Not due to the young men on the cover; I prefer the older and wiser, but the overall layout of the design.
Was it in the mid-1980s when I was at my prime that I orchestrated a hand full of punk musicians to pose partially naked for the cover of Los Angeles Flipside Fanzine 43? I try to put it behind me, but life is a type of cosmic mockery. Hilariously and repetitiously so…
“To answer the question where I got the idea: Out of the black. It was just a flash of insight and some youthful individual female power at the time. I told you to take off your clothes, you did, and I took some pictures.”
~ Hudley Flipside
Los Angeles Flipside Fanzine Front Cover Issue 43. August 1984
~Flopside Comics are Offbeat absurd adult toilet paper humor funnies. Not for those without a nasty and stupid sense of humor. Staring Mr. Fuck and his adventures in life.
Is that comic relief coming out of your “be more than an asshole?”
Proceed at your own risk at all times… no big deal really….
“Art of Fugue”
…. in contemplation on something…all possibilities… and I still say “Fuck Wars”…. around and around we go over the subject… persistently…. I say “Fuck Wars!!”
