Really interesting to read Thompson's words and your words as they resonate directly with a fresh insight I had recently about meditation practice (looking AT vs. being IN). I wrote about that in case you're interested:
This is a wonderful reframing Baird: 'being in' rather than 'paying attention to' - it's a rephrasing that, I think, works for place and landscapes as well as for meditation. Words matter don't they! I had a meditation teacher who taught us to 'let our thoughts be' rather than 'let them go', as 'letting go' carries a very subtle sense of aversion. Just that one tiny word shifted my whole understanding of meditation.
Excited to see you mention embodied cognition. I encountered it while looking at what movement (running specifically) teaches us - how the sensory and motor systems play a role in cognitive processing. It's funny when you think about it, that we would imagine that our bodies are nothing more than 'vehicles' for our brains. That they would not help us find - and hold - knowledge themselves. Studies have shown that the physical action of moving forwards into a landscape - where uncertainty lies - increases the size of the hippocampus in the brain, which was instrumental in our evolution. Movement of the body (including to lift a paintbrush!) is inextricably linked with knowledge.
Having just got back from a (gentle) morning run I can vouch for the fact that things get worked out when we move our bodies, anxiety gets shifted, dilemmas untangle and decisions seem to have made themselves by the time you unlace your shoes. I didn't know that about the hippocampus, that's fascinating, Sam! Thank you.
As further south descends into heatwave stupor I welcomed memories of the cool touch of a northern haar.
I'm missing you all and we still won't have good enough internet until 27th for zooming but I shall be back soon after in our new home weaving in a new space and place. ✊🏼to our US friends.
My painter girlfriend who lived in New York, Susanna Heller, was quoted in an article, after navigating through some personal challenges, as saying I survive on the tip of my pencil
Really interesting to read Thompson's words and your words as they resonate directly with a fresh insight I had recently about meditation practice (looking AT vs. being IN). I wrote about that in case you're interested:
https://bairdbrightman.substack.com/p/a-new-insight-about-meditation
Love the selected paintings, Samantha. So liquid and evanescent. 👏
This is a wonderful reframing Baird: 'being in' rather than 'paying attention to' - it's a rephrasing that, I think, works for place and landscapes as well as for meditation. Words matter don't they! I had a meditation teacher who taught us to 'let our thoughts be' rather than 'let them go', as 'letting go' carries a very subtle sense of aversion. Just that one tiny word shifted my whole understanding of meditation.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Samantha. And yes, "Let them be" is definitely better!
Very thought provoking and beautifully written. Thanks
Thank you Cathy!
Just lovely. Thanks for this.
You're welcome Kalle, glad you enjoyed it!
Excited to see you mention embodied cognition. I encountered it while looking at what movement (running specifically) teaches us - how the sensory and motor systems play a role in cognitive processing. It's funny when you think about it, that we would imagine that our bodies are nothing more than 'vehicles' for our brains. That they would not help us find - and hold - knowledge themselves. Studies have shown that the physical action of moving forwards into a landscape - where uncertainty lies - increases the size of the hippocampus in the brain, which was instrumental in our evolution. Movement of the body (including to lift a paintbrush!) is inextricably linked with knowledge.
Having just got back from a (gentle) morning run I can vouch for the fact that things get worked out when we move our bodies, anxiety gets shifted, dilemmas untangle and decisions seem to have made themselves by the time you unlace your shoes. I didn't know that about the hippocampus, that's fascinating, Sam! Thank you.
As further south descends into heatwave stupor I welcomed memories of the cool touch of a northern haar.
I'm missing you all and we still won't have good enough internet until 27th for zooming but I shall be back soon after in our new home weaving in a new space and place. ✊🏼to our US friends.
It will be lovely to have you back with us Linda - meantime, good luck with moving, unpacking, settling in! Stay cool :-)
My painter girlfriend who lived in New York, Susanna Heller, was quoted in an article, after navigating through some personal challenges, as saying I survive on the tip of my pencil