Thoughts: Paying homage to Vincent….
Sure – click on the picture to see it larger….
Part of the way you know Vincent Van Gogh did a super job with “Starry Night” is all those starry nights you & I have seen and whispered, “Bet that’s what Vincent saw!”
Alex Ruiz created the work above (you can see more of his work here) and here’s what he says:
I’ve often wondered about how the night sky looked to Van Gogh when he painted ‘Starry Night.’
This is an homage to him, and to his painting, one of my all time favorites. We see him standing here, looking up at the night sky…probably in awe, as he wondered how he would capture the beauty he saw. As well, this was the view from the sanitarium he was staying at, as it’s well known that the poor guy was quite mentally troubled. (For the record, it’s believed he painted this from inside the sanitarium, but I didn’t want bars on my image!)
I wanted this piece to be somewhat magical and fantastic, not just a normal night painting. Hence the large moon, large stars, transparent clouds etc., yet keeping a mostly realistic feel to it.
If you see the original painting, you see so much motion…it’s as if he saw the vibration on all the objects, and that he captured the wind! Thanks for looking, and I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Writings: One year. Cool ’nuff. Carry on….
Well, you’ve been with me for a while now, so you know the story.
I love it, a year after getting “The World According to Brother Ian” going, that somewhere between 250-400 people check into this blog each day. Some of you write me, occasionally you comment beneath each posting, sometimes you hit “like” on Facebook, and most days I just post it & you just read it. That seems to be the usual rhythm.
I feel lucky.
There are three pastors, one priest, five nuns, and at least one monk who troll this blog for sermon ideas, essay ideas, and (one said) jokes.
One of my songs ended up being used at a peace rally, another for a lullaby by a traveling band with a baby, and another has been played at seven different weddings that I know of. I love the idea of everyone singing along.
One teacher friend of mine said she occasionally uses ideas she gets here for story prompts in her language arts class.
Sometimes people write to me and tell me something that’s posted made them cry. Others laugh, think, react, and occasionally drop me a note that I am barking up the wrong tree.
But at the end of the day, it feels good to have this little place that you & I can meet and swap stories. You inspire me day by day with the words and pictures we share.
Thanks for being there… and let’s keep this thing going.
Thank you for your love and support, and as it says in the Ten Most Important Things, thanks for working with me to heal & share.
Blessings, dear heart –
Brother Ian
Starpeople: The Milky Way, through arbutus (madrona) branches
You already know I’m a superhuge fan of Chris Teren – his amazing eye for capturing the natural world with his lens is shown here, in this video he made one night on Stuart Island, in the San Juan Islands. He says this video was created out of 650 still images shot in July 2014, and put to music to create this movie.
And then….wow! Thanks, Chris!
Music credit: “Oh K.” by Black Ant – thanks to www.freemusicarchive.com
Like Chris on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerenPhotography
See more of Chris’ work here: http://www.terenphotography.com
Writings: Rumi’s “The Guest House”
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honourably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
–Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
Poetry of Music: “My Back Pages,” with Dylan & pals
I figure any time you get George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Neil Young & Tom Petty to sit in on one of your songs, you know you’re having a good day.
Here’s Bob Dylan‘s “My Back Pages” with friends…..I put the words below, so you can sing along, too:
My Back Pages, by Bob Dylan
Crimson flames tied through my ears, Rollin’ high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads, Using ideas as my maps – “We’ll meet on edges soon” said I
Proud ‘neath heated brow
Ahh, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that, now
Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
Rip down all hate, I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull, I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep somehow
Ahh, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now
Girls’ faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, though somehow
Ahh, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now
A self-ordained professor’s tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty Is just equality in school
Equality, I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow
Ahh, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now
In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I’d become my enemy In the instant that I preach
My existence led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow
Ahh, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now
Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt somehow
Ahh, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now
About Brother Ian
Over the centuries, Brother Ian has been collecting stories & information & discourses for the purpose of elevating the human condition as needed, dissecting it when necessary, and building the case for hope.
In the spirit of noting that organized crime, organized baseball, organized labour, and organized religion tend to engender controversy & occasional discord, I promise to be neither organized or critical of those who are.