I so love this description: "Then came a butterfly, a Mourning Cloak, with chocolate wings edged in butter and studded with blue jewels—a worthy distraction from writing."
When I take time to create a life separate from the vortex of technology I feel more able to direct the use of my own senses. As if I am taking back something I've forgotten belongs to me in the first place.
Although I certainly appreciate much of what tech has brought into my daily life, I'd trade every bit of it for the chance to watch a single crystal of ice forming on the edge of the pond.
I have never personally enjoyed sci-fi as a genre, the excitement in annihilation evades me. Your posts always uplift and encourage me to keep pace with the awe and beauty around me. Nature is right here as a primary teacher as we humans falter and lose our sights while embracing progress. Thank you, your piece will linger with me. I'm going for a walk on the windy, Atlantic coast of Massachusetts today and will be thinking of you in the mountains up the road, Bryan!
I never knew that about mourning cloaks. Thank you for leaving us with that hopeful image of a butterfly surviving winter tucked in the bark of a tree.
Such a beautiful piece, speaking from your own place of connection and wonder, but also because of it's intellectual clarity. The fact that humans can manipulate the world around us in ways that are intentionally (or unintentionally) dreadful and life-threatening is not an expression of the sublime! It is an urgent summons for us to use the amazing gifts of self awareness, caring, intelligence, and courage that we too- infrequently show evidence of possessing. Thank, Bryan!
Great Essay, Brian. Tech makes my brain hurt. Nature soothes it. Nonetheless, even computer code can be sublime if it is elegant, like poetry - the simplest, cleanest, and fewest commands to do the job. Much like your butterfly - the most efficient design for its intended purpose.
Wow, Bryan, talk about being triggered. I could go on and on and on in response to your essay, but I fear writing one “on” too many. Instead, I’ll share a little poem I carry around in my heart as an antidote to so many of Big Tech’s — and life’s — threats. Consider a lyrical EpiPen. It’s Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Trees”:
“Be still my heart, these great trees are prayers.”
Experience the Awe and Wonder of Insects: increased attention to the outside environment. You will be reminded of the smaller, more complex things in the world, like nature, that you are part of. You do not need to know the science of insects to be amazed by the insects. But we can be inspired even more when we learn a little about them.
This is really beautiful! I wrote a book about a similar theme dystopian future where how a group of teens in the future use technology to find their way back to nature… abandoning the tech that showed them the way… to return to the forest… very inspired by your words and their echoes in my book. Thank you for writing it!
You've inspired me to return to first drafting with pencil and paper. Incredibly beautiful during the upheaval were living. "I wandered not far from home into the gray woods, sat beneath one of those holdout blaze-yellow aspens, and began writing my first draft, as usual, in pencil in my hard-bound notebook. Then came a butterfly, a Mourning Cloak, with chocolate wings edged in butter and studded with blue jewels—a worthy distraction from writing."
Hear, hear!
I so love this description: "Then came a butterfly, a Mourning Cloak, with chocolate wings edged in butter and studded with blue jewels—a worthy distraction from writing."
When I take time to create a life separate from the vortex of technology I feel more able to direct the use of my own senses. As if I am taking back something I've forgotten belongs to me in the first place.
... and I did mean music when I mentioned art, Melissa! 🎻
Although I certainly appreciate much of what tech has brought into my daily life, I'd trade every bit of it for the chance to watch a single crystal of ice forming on the edge of the pond.
... as you so well explain and render and accomplish, my friend!
I have never personally enjoyed sci-fi as a genre, the excitement in annihilation evades me. Your posts always uplift and encourage me to keep pace with the awe and beauty around me. Nature is right here as a primary teacher as we humans falter and lose our sights while embracing progress. Thank you, your piece will linger with me. I'm going for a walk on the windy, Atlantic coast of Massachusetts today and will be thinking of you in the mountains up the road, Bryan!
Say hello to the sea ducks for me!
All I get when I click on the aforementioned article is this: "Unlock this story for just $2.50 $1 a week for 1 year."
Guess it's back out to the garden for me!
Oh, crap -- I didn't know that it's paywalled. Sorry! The garden's a better place, anyway. :-)
I never knew that about mourning cloaks. Thank you for leaving us with that hopeful image of a butterfly surviving winter tucked in the bark of a tree.
They'll be on the wing much longer for you!
Such a beautiful piece, speaking from your own place of connection and wonder, but also because of it's intellectual clarity. The fact that humans can manipulate the world around us in ways that are intentionally (or unintentionally) dreadful and life-threatening is not an expression of the sublime! It is an urgent summons for us to use the amazing gifts of self awareness, caring, intelligence, and courage that we too- infrequently show evidence of possessing. Thank, Bryan!
... and this is why we so need the poets. Thanks, Scudder!
The opposite of sublime awe is horror. And it’s horror that I find when contemplating the explosion of AI that is about to envelop us.
Like you I find my sublime joy in the Authentic world of nature, not in the Artificial.
Great post thank you.
Great Essay, Brian. Tech makes my brain hurt. Nature soothes it. Nonetheless, even computer code can be sublime if it is elegant, like poetry - the simplest, cleanest, and fewest commands to do the job. Much like your butterfly - the most efficient design for its intended purpose.
What about the marine sublime, Brad? Got some for us?
We'll get to that soon. Stay tuned.
Wow, Bryan, talk about being triggered. I could go on and on and on in response to your essay, but I fear writing one “on” too many. Instead, I’ll share a little poem I carry around in my heart as an antidote to so many of Big Tech’s — and life’s — threats. Consider a lyrical EpiPen. It’s Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Trees”:
“Be still my heart, these great trees are prayers.”
Thanks, Bruce. I'll go read it -- my welcome shot in the arm (er, thigh)!
Experience the Awe and Wonder of Insects: increased attention to the outside environment. You will be reminded of the smaller, more complex things in the world, like nature, that you are part of. You do not need to know the science of insects to be amazed by the insects. But we can be inspired even more when we learn a little about them.
Yeah, insects -- even better than psychedelics! Thanks, Bernie!
For me it is currently in small things like the magic of slime molds...
This is really beautiful! I wrote a book about a similar theme dystopian future where how a group of teens in the future use technology to find their way back to nature… abandoning the tech that showed them the way… to return to the forest… very inspired by your words and their echoes in my book. Thank you for writing it!
My kind of plot. Thanks, Kelsey!
❤️
You've inspired me to return to first drafting with pencil and paper. Incredibly beautiful during the upheaval were living. "I wandered not far from home into the gray woods, sat beneath one of those holdout blaze-yellow aspens, and began writing my first draft, as usual, in pencil in my hard-bound notebook. Then came a butterfly, a Mourning Cloak, with chocolate wings edged in butter and studded with blue jewels—a worthy distraction from writing."
LEUCHTTURM1917 (B5) (7 x 10 in), lined, hardcover notebook; and Pentel GraphGear 500 (0.5mm) — I rarely leave home without them.
Thank you!!