11.23
Bredonborough.
From a Crafty…
My spiritual teacher recommended I write you this letter as he said it is "a great joy for a teacher that they have provided the 'poetry of circumstance that allows students to begin seeing through the mask of their personal lies", and also that it is important to acknowledge this with gratitude. Guitar Craft provided me the conditions for such an opportunity.
At the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists II concert in Seattle I experienced a notable amount of negative resistance. I am happy that over the years my 'work' has allowed me the small amount of intelligence to recognize that this resistance is a sign to be attentive. The resistance and negative state grew throughout the evening climaxing pre-concert. I felt an urge to isolate myself from the group and to go against the instructions of the boundary and 60 point exercise. At the time I couldn't make sense of this state or understand why I was feeling this way. The conditions of the performance from start to finish were all in accord with my personal aim for myself as a musician and I felt a distinct split between my higher understanding of what was happening and my habit based feeling and overall state of being. Being and knowledge were not in accord, my level of being trapped in the loop of habit.
This 'public' performance was the first for me in two years and three months. The first since leaving a professional touring and recording band which I played in for five years, The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists II concert helped me to see the habits, ideas and views that had crystallized in me, specifically, from my time with this band and, in general, from the generation I am part of…
Giving mindful attention to the internal negativity and resistance it came clear to me that the OCG concert was… a profoundly revealing mirror for me personally. The OCG was truly playing with spontaneity, combined with mindfulness and intention…
From the reply…
the negativity / resistance we experience is itself a blessing: a necessary condition which, as you see & so well describe, is a sign to be attentive - to bring an affirmation & a yes! to match it. then, something else can happen. but, unless you were sufficiently present in that moment, an outcome of your prior honourable work & application, the situation would have become more stuck & inflexible.
let's hear it for the poetry of circumstances!
11.45 From one point of view, The Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists is a development from The League Of Crafty Guitarists. Today, The LCG places a far higher demand upon the capacities of the players; not so much in terms of guitar playing & knowledge of repertoire, more in terms paying attention to what is going on within & without them: simply expressed, maintaining presence. The OCG is more accepting of those without very much experience, subject to the willingness & commitment to making the effort to be present. The OCG is a remarkable undertaking: it presents rare opportunities for insights into a complex society in action, in microcosm.
Off with the Minx to collect Mother-In-Law Barbara for an adventure of the Garden Centre kind; although describing Holloways as a garden centre is not giving this fine establishment the credit it deserves.
20.50 Traveling to Holloways through Worcester, there is extensive flooding of the Severn. Melting snow in the Welsh mountains comes down into the waters of the Severn & then meets the floods of the Avon, joining together to land on Tewkesbury; as in 2007.…
Tasty lunch in the conservatory restaurant I…
II...
… and a look around the interior design rooms, pots & garden antiquary. Then back to the conservatory restaurant for tasty tea with cake & scones.
Back to domestic organization, packing for traveling,
e-flurrying.
Early evening street I…
II...
III...
21.16 Done. To gentle.
Bredonborough.
From a Crafty…
My spiritual teacher recommended I write you this letter as he said it is "a great joy for a teacher that they have provided the 'poetry of circumstance that allows students to begin seeing through the mask of their personal lies", and also that it is important to acknowledge this with gratitude. Guitar Craft provided me the conditions for such an opportunity.
At the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists II concert in Seattle I experienced a notable amount of negative resistance. I am happy that over the years my 'work' has allowed me the small amount of intelligence to recognize that this resistance is a sign to be attentive. The resistance and negative state grew throughout the evening climaxing pre-concert. I felt an urge to isolate myself from the group and to go against the instructions of the boundary and 60 point exercise. At the time I couldn't make sense of this state or understand why I was feeling this way. The conditions of the performance from start to finish were all in accord with my personal aim for myself as a musician and I felt a distinct split between my higher understanding of what was happening and my habit based feeling and overall state of being. Being and knowledge were not in accord, my level of being trapped in the loop of habit.
This 'public' performance was the first for me in two years and three months. The first since leaving a professional touring and recording band which I played in for five years, The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists II concert helped me to see the habits, ideas and views that had crystallized in me, specifically, from my time with this band and, in general, from the generation I am part of…
Giving mindful attention to the internal negativity and resistance it came clear to me that the OCG concert was… a profoundly revealing mirror for me personally. The OCG was truly playing with spontaneity, combined with mindfulness and intention…
From the reply…
the negativity / resistance we experience is itself a blessing: a necessary condition which, as you see & so well describe, is a sign to be attentive - to bring an affirmation & a yes! to match it. then, something else can happen. but, unless you were sufficiently present in that moment, an outcome of your prior honourable work & application, the situation would have become more stuck & inflexible.
let's hear it for the poetry of circumstances!
11.45 From one point of view, The Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists is a development from The League Of Crafty Guitarists. Today, The LCG places a far higher demand upon the capacities of the players; not so much in terms of guitar playing & knowledge of repertoire, more in terms paying attention to what is going on within & without them: simply expressed, maintaining presence. The OCG is more accepting of those without very much experience, subject to the willingness & commitment to making the effort to be present. The OCG is a remarkable undertaking: it presents rare opportunities for insights into a complex society in action, in microcosm.
Off with the Minx to collect Mother-In-Law Barbara for an adventure of the Garden Centre kind; although describing Holloways as a garden centre is not giving this fine establishment the credit it deserves.
20.50 Traveling to Holloways through Worcester, there is extensive flooding of the Severn. Melting snow in the Welsh mountains comes down into the waters of the Severn & then meets the floods of the Avon, joining together to land on Tewkesbury; as in 2007.…
Tasty lunch in the conservatory restaurant I…
II...
… and a look around the interior design rooms, pots & garden antiquary. Then back to the conservatory restaurant for tasty tea with cake & scones.
Back to domestic organization, packing for traveling,
e-flurrying.
Early evening street I…
II...
III...
21.16 Done. To gentle.
