Naming the Animals, part II

These.
every softness and roar,
every color and yarn,
Each motion, every moment.   These days are epics.
We cannot comprehend of what quality until time has stretched
us, a bit further.

Yet, each is miraculous.
If you believe one thing.  Believe in this.

Andrew Tipton

Self. Illumination.

It is fascinating to me how we treat ourselves differently depending upon the presence or absense of others.
It's as if we live double lives - one version of ourself takes shape when there is a crowd, and the other when we are certain of our complete seclusion.
It is not a new thought, I know.  We might assume that this is simply how life is lived, extending effort when it is socially required, and then withdrawing when we have time to ourselves.  It's our culture, it's what we do.   People need time to unwind, to relax and chill out.
But, what I have noticed (mostly in myself) is that the quality of our time spent alone seems greatly diminished compared to the moments we share with others.  there is an increasing and fierce difference not only in what we do, but the level of attention and affection that we give ourselves when no one else is watching.   In short, our alone time is missing love.
I think one of the great benefits to social exposure is that it unleashes a side of us that wants to impress, wants to speak about fascinating topics, wants to savor delicious meals or enjoy life unsparingly.   our exuberance creates an extremely positive atmosphere most of the time, and we walk away from a day or night feeling alive and passionate.   We treat our bodies well and we treat our minds well when we are interacting with others.
On the reverse, think of the time that is spent alone..  when the only person around is ourself.  Does it look different?     why do we spend so much effort on our interactions with others, and yet devote so little affection to our own sacred aloneness?
 I think most of us have a debilitated perspective on what it means to have time just for ourselves.  For most of us, our primary focus in life revolves around relating to  and enjoying other people - unfortunately that creates an unengaged, disinterested attitude towards aloneness.  While we certainly need space to recharge and relax, there is so much pleasure that can come from treating ourselves well, even when no one else is nearby.    Our self is the most important being in our universe, it is our closest friend, our greatest ally, our health, our wellness..    I believe that the quality of life we enjoy is greatly reflected in how we fill our empty spaces.  
I want to advocate self-enchantment.. intense and deliberate.   I am excited that we each have space to be ourselves uninhibited!   what a gift!    Im excited to begin seeing my aloneness in a different light, taking a wilder and more ambitious interest in self.



Andrew Tipton

Naming the animals, part 1

vivir y morir son comunes y porque son comunes, tienen disappered en nuestras mentes.
para evolucionar, creo que debemos tomar nosotros mismos a los lugares comunes. 
en la tierra y en el conocimiento, y tenemos que ver esos lugares con nuevos ojos - los ojos de los niños que todavía tienen admiración por los detalles comunes.
Gran parte de lo que hacemos, se realiza a ciegas.  

Andrew Tipton

Americana Sunrise.

Americana / Sela Bay.    Polaroid 420,  Land Camera.

 

 

Andrew Tipton

Rebelious October

Talk to me.   Tell me everything.  There is nothing I do not care to know.
You drive me crazy.  good ways. Sideways.  
I ask..   I am asking. 
|  I do not see a straight line. leading anywhere.
And part of me wants to make sure that the world knows,  ,
I see that there can't be anything but what has already been waiting.   In the depths..  ocean blue. 
can you find the source of rain.  but it falls,
Even. When we can't grasp ourselves. Yet, here we are.
 I admire the ones who take care to live recklessly.
  I admire the thirsty, the screamers, the dis-conventionalists.  I adore the epic silences that follow. flickers of wisdom and tiredness.
we are each born screaming... And gradually fall silent.   Asleep in our armchairs,
   I see no reason to admire practicality.   I have the urge often times to sail in to the ocean and not to look behind me..   but I know I would.    And I wonder if sometimes to be whatever it is that the world needs,  perhaps you must become something you do not yet believe in. yet yourself, 
 Begin and find him walking beside you. Already.



Andrew Tipton

Sail the caribbean

This is a track from Jesse Cook's newest album.. "The Blue
Sessions"

I am fascinated by the feeling of this. Not just the song, (which is my favorite
by the way) but the resonating shift

in his music.. you can literally hear the change - its not a gentle step in a
new direction.. its a leap somewhere into an unknown darkness.


My first time listening, I was entranced by the black moodiness.. its so
out-of-character for Jesse.. and that feels wildly good to me.



So much of my thought recently has been focused on returning to a
sense of impractical choice. I find that there is such a quick
response in myself to step away from bravery..  an almost automatic behavior to hide behind
the practicality

of a decision - (not many people in this culture will call you out on
adhering to a practical lifestyle).   There is a great deal of security making
choices that have little risk.    It
becomes our habit, I think, to turn away from our fantastic and adventurous
mind.. 

But this is such an uninspiring way of living! When we always choose the
practical route.. we quietly shut away the marvelous side of being alive.  We may live safely, and we may die
comfortably, but there will not be a story worth sharing in the end...   when our time is finished, the world will never
have felt our presence, never known that we ever came or went.    


 



I am beginning to admire the impractical choices of others.. the ones based
on something deeper and more passionate than predictable and rational decision
making.     These
are the ones to watch – these are the people that are excited to be here.   



 



This album.. Blue Sessions, is a punch in the face of practicality.   Jesse Cook let go of the musician he is known
to be.. he is challenging the roots of practical expectation.    I am excited to see that!   I am excited to feel that same urge inside my
own bones.   



 



 



 



Andrew Tipton

May Your Limits Be Unknown

We try to make ourselves.. to keep ourselves something tangible, and coherent, and lasting.. but it is the definition of self that confines self.

We are convinced that we must cling to what we have built around ourselves. The stories must last! I AM! We scream that mantra. but we are not our stories. We have no claim on our trophies or our failures. We are not yesterday.. anymore than yesterday is today. We are the now. We are the moment that is happening. We are the day in hand, the certainty of hope, the racing heart.

I have a failing will to be anything that I have ever been. I am curious and terrified to discover what person lies beyond my expectations.

We are not confined to live as we have ever lived. To think as we have ever thought, or to speak any word that has ever left our lips before.

Today. We are new.

May your limits be unknown.

-Andrew Tipton