Blog - Page 48 - Jean Raffa

Learning From 9-11, Envisioning a Better Future

Last time I used my right-brained mythos thinking to examine the symbols of the 9-11 terrorist attack. Is this just so much airy-fairy hooey, or is it reasonable to consider that tragic event a portent of things to come? Are our most revered institutions not only endangered, but crumbling like the twin towers because of humanity’s ego-centric, upward-striving, linear mindset? Are we being challenged to expand our thinking and adapt to a very different world than any that has ever existed before?

September 21, 2012 No Comments

A Lesson from September 11: Is Our Dualistic Thinking Doing Us In?

Look at the symbolism. A skyscraper is a hierarchical structure. In the towers of banks, hotels, condominiums and corporations, the most prestigious level is the top. Thus, like the Egyptian pyramids, the Biblical Tower of Babylon or the towers that wealthy citizens of San Gimignano, Italy built during the Middle Ages, skyscrapers represent the way our minds are structured.

September 18, 2012 No Comments

Flexing Our Mythos Muscles

In his book The Alphabet Versus the Goddess, vascular surgeon Leonard Shlain writes about the brain’s role in the evolution of our species. His research suggests that historically there has been a cause-and-effect relationship between an obsessive left-hemisphere orientation and the ascendency of the separate, abstract, male Sky God, the dominator mode of governance, and the repression of women and minorities.

September 14, 2012 No Comments

Crumbdungeon or Changing Woman?

I love the writing phase of a book, but promoting it is an entirely different thing! Neither my personality nor my brain finds anything fun or easy about that. It didn’t help that my computer skills are rudimentary and our internet service was wonky!

September 11, 2012 No Comments

Moon Over Lake

Lately I’ve been thinking and writing a lot about nature. I’m starting to wonder why. I do have kind of a “thing” about nature. Always have, I guess. For the first 12 years of my life I loved playing outdoors. One of my favorite haunts was a secret “cave” under a trinity of palm trees beside the back alley. I’d hide there under thick palmettos, savoring the shade and enjoying not being seen by the occasional passer-by.

September 7, 2012 No Comments

Relaxing at the Beach on Labor Day Weekend

Last evening I sat out on the deck and took this picture of the fading light behind the mountain. Although the first day of Autumn is still three weeks away, we’re already seeing signs of it here. The cherry tree silhouetted against the pink sky has already lost most of its leaves and the buckeyes are turning yellow and brown. Most of our shrubs have completed their show, but the lacecap hydrangea in the foreground will bloom a while longer.

September 4, 2012 No Comments

Dream Symbols of the Beloved: Part II

My friends, My family is with me in the mountains to celebrate summer’s last hurrah! Writing two posts a week takes more time than I

August 31, 2012 No Comments

Freeing Buried Emotions

haven’t exercised regularly this summer and am getting increasingly stiff. Today I did a lot of bending and stooping and weed-pulling in the garden around the root cellar, and soon afterwards felt the need for two Aleves! I know this isn’t unusual for my age, but I also know it’s not inevitable.

August 28, 2012 No Comments

Re-Stocking and Moving On

The property on which our family’s summer home sits in North Carolina was purchased over 40 years ago by my husband’s 101 year-old father and his second wife! Yes, he’s alive and living comfortably with Winn, his third wife! This amazing man is the son of a poor Italian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island in the first decade of the 20th century.

August 24, 2012 No Comments

Soul-Making Halfway in Between

A typical Westerner, Carl Jung approached his soul-making work by strengthening his mind with logic and will-power until his ego-spirit mustered the courage to step aside. This allowed soul to move into consciousness, revealing disowned parts of his psyche. In the process, his unique creativity was released. The East historically begins its quest by quieting the mind and practicing physical austerities aimed at humbling and displacing the ego-spirit.

August 21, 2012 No Comments

Jean
Benedict
Raffa

Matrignosis

A BLOG ABOUT INNER WISDOM