Adam Blatner
Words and Images from the Mind of Adam Blatner
Table of Contents:
Autobiographical
Sam Hurt’s “Eyebeam”
I enjoy this cartoon strip, and it has a number of sub-plots, themes that involve a variety of the main character’s friend. One of those that I especially enjoy is “Hank the Hallucination,” about which the following is shown: I enjoy the author’s evident enjoyment of the idea of hallucinating, which, although a sign of […]
School Supplies
For the first time in ages I haven’t shopped in stationery stores or drug stores for school supplies. I have enough to last me, and I won’t purchase more. This “came home” to me yesterday when I was at a Dollar Tree store, when in the past I would buy school supplies. No longer: I […]
Sentimental-osis
I woke up from a dream, and on and forgetting the rich eventful-ness of what was going on in the dream, I experienced a pang of grief-loss. I sensed that dream was still engaging my interest, though I couldn’t say why. Dreams have that power. Then another frame of reference kicked in: I’ve learned to […]
Shadows on the Cave Wall
In a previous blog-post, I was reflecting on the acceleration of the appearance of mysteries. Now there are others that have come to my attention: changes in the speed of light?? What’s with “branes” (i.e., the concept of other-dimensional “membranes")? Static in the gravity field has been attributed to a magnification of the planck-sized (i.e. […]
Shifting Identities
In addition to my major profession “occupation” as a retired psychiatrist and visiting assistant professor, which I’m really not anymore since moving to the mid-California coastal town of San Luis Obispo—and becoming not-more every day—, I am presently editing a book about non-psychotherapeutic applications of Moreno’s methods. In addition, I’m editing and preparing to publish […]
Shree Yantra (plus commentary)
A common theme that I play with is the Sri (pronounced Shree, for “holy”) Yantra (or special meditative design) that I draw to center and relax, thereby opening whatever channel then allows me to become more spontaneous, to be inspired. It’s a fine symbol of whatever there is in the Beyond for me to open […]
Shree Yantra Meditation 1212
This basic diagram is quite meaningful for me and I’ve written about it on my website. A good symbol is evocative—it evokes new associations, creative meditations. For me, my mandalas are two-dimensional visual expressions of the creative process. This variation of the shree yantra partakes of both the aesthetics of geometry and the spontaneity-elaborative process […]
Silly or Profound
I wobble between silly and serious, crazy in a nice way and profound. For example, I am attuned to other dimensions where I open my mind and “channel” writing that I am intuitively somewhat able to translate. Or perhaps I’m just making it up unconsciously—confabulating it. (Look up my comments on confabulation in an associated […]
Singin’ and Dancin’
I’m having a good ol’ time in my community. We dance several types of dancing—square and round, folk (I probably know over 1ooo dances and in the last 56 years done 1000 or more others), and ballroom dances. For over 14 years I’ve sung in our Sun City Texas chorus and this fall we’re rehearsing—all […]
Slight Yikes
Oh, my, getting older, approaching age 78. For a moment I forgot the name of my last kitty who died in 2001, the same year that my oldest grandchild was born. I remembered our first kitty’s name, and second kitty, but Allee had to remind me of the third and then it was, “Oh, yeah.” […]
Society for Metaphysical Ontology
I am proud to announce that I have been nominated for membership in the category of “initiate” of the the Society for Metaphysical Ontology. SOM. Oh, you want to know what this society is? It’s a society that promotes the notion of existence for that which is metaphysical, or beyond the ordinary physical. Humanity in […]
Some Personal Myths
Reading excerpts from Rollo May’s 1990 book, The Cry for Myth, reminded me that I am fortunate to have a number of mythic structures that help me feel grounded in my life. First, there is a myth of progress. At first, I felt this by joining a profession with an ancient tradition and major social […]
Song n Dance
I heard a performer sing old popular and Broadway songs a couple days ago, and knew some of them. It reminded me that I may not have shared that part of my life—that I made up song books, held song fests, sang songs for our Sun City Follies when we lived in Texas, programmed song […]
Spiritual Journeys
One of my life themes or journeys has been a sort-of wrestling match with God. In the first phase, below the age of twelve, I accepted without any personal feelings. Nothing more was being asked of me—just some involvement in my dualistic identity as a Jew whose “people” had all these long-ago experiences—and some not […]
Springtime ‘Splanation
Somebody asked me, “Whaddaya mean, ‘Splanations’?” So okay here’s uh xample. Why does the cosmos go “bloom”? Well, first of all, most folks don’t even see spring bloom because it sorta sneaks up on you, goes too slow for your brain to sort it out. There are naked trees, then pregnant trees, then “Bloom!” There […]
Springtime Adventurations
Riding my bicycle around the larger neighborhood, about a 5 mile loop, noticing that on the heels of Daylight Saving Time we’re warming up (literally) to the Vernal Equinox, when the night-length equals the day-length. That adds up to Springtime! (Which reminds me of “In Just-spring” by e.e. cummings. ) Those lil’ buds on the […]
Stimulating You To Learn On Your Own
My friend Russ Williams works to promote ethics and a kind of non-denominational spirituality at his website, “Ethical Edge.” Lately he ran a small column on me, my history. So I thought I’d at least link to it here.
Surgical Instruments
One of the ironies of my life is that although I ended up in psychiatry, as a kid I wanted to be a surgeon. I had no idea what was involved. But since I needed surgery (as a kid—and in pretty much cured me), this lovely article in LIFE magazine on February 11, 1946 was […]
Surrealism’s Relevance
Creativity is our new meme—the theme that is relevant for our time. The surrealistic artists anticipated this by a century, but so much creativity has characterized the many “inventions” of the 20th and beginning 21st century that it’s time we became aware that, as the philosopher Nikolai Berdyayev said (in Rissian), “Be creative, and foster […]
The “Ethos of Effort”
This term refers to the un-thought-out valuing of effort, trying hard, doing your best. I was a little delayed in popping out of bed, enjoying the relaxation of sleeping, then enjoying a relaxed contemplation, but I was a little jolted by a guilt spasm at my lackadaisical behavior. I heard the line from and old […]
The Art of Blogging
So perhaps we consider blogging as an art form, as valid as sculpture or dance. How much attention should I put into it? Should every piece be rehearsed, re-worked, evaluated in terms of a variety of criteria? Is it elegant, well-written, understandable, persuasive, innovative? It is the extension of easy self-publishing, that’s all. Open to […]
The Becoming-Ness of God
I give thanks this Thanksgiving for life, life with Allee, family, etc. I realize very dimly that I am part of this whole God-Becoming-Everything. Lest that seem too proud, you are also, and everything and everyone else is, also. I like that phrase, “becoming-ness,” actually. It could perhaps make for a good sermon. My life […]
The Bunny Blatners
Tumpy Bumpkin and Bumpy Tumpkin are the Bunny-Blatners who live in a little tiny house under a tree next to a meadow by some trees bordering on a sweet little stream with froggies and such living in it. That’s their address. You ought to be able to find it. Sometimes, though, they forget who is […]