Musing: "Skin Deep: Appreciating Your Value as You Age"

Catherine Saint Louis wrote an article this week for the New York Times entitled, "Skin Deep: Appreciating Your Value as You Age". It is interesting because she interviewed a couple of "model-turned-psychotherapists" who just wrote a book about about women aging in this modern world. I'll consider here a couple of ideas briefly mentioned and smoothly glossed over in the short space allowed for in the Times.

One of which is the notion that there is something to be considered in the impulse itself to "fight" age: to do battle with nature, to combat the aging process. Just consider for a moment that this is the language of advertisement and that the words we use to describe aging shape the way we experience it. And right now that experience is like war.

Wow, really? I can't think so. In fact I am more inclined each day to see that I become more myself with each passing year, that now, and perhaps this is the benefit of learning certain things sooner in life rather than later, but now when I look in the mirror I see me. This hasn't always been the case, and my experience tells me what the authors of the book "Face It" are trying to say, is that the reason or impulse behind the need to "fight" some part of yourself is what should be addressed: not the lines around your mouth or the creases around your eyes.

Perhaps aging gracefully is about aging peaceably.

Another point the article mentions about the book is that there is no real model for the modern way women in particular age, especially with the accessibility and relative affordability of laser treatments, Botox or plastic surgery and the other means we now have of externally manipulating appearance from stomach staples and face lifts to hair dye and tanning sprays. On this subject I am ambivalent. Perhaps more than anything, I have to acknowledge that as human beings we have an incredible ability to make nectar from poison, so I find I am unable to be disparaging of any means within the realm of well-being if it brings the user greater peace and happiness, health and well-being. As to the longevity of these means who can be certain?

I will take a moment here to also mention the idea that there is the additional factor of a radical diet. Never before has there been such a high percentage of processed food in the average annual caloric intake. Who can yet know what a lifetime of corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, pesticides and herbicides looks like, but what is certain is that there are children growing up on these things from the very beginning and that has never before occurred in the history of humanity. It has not really been possible.

The other day I had a stark realization about this idea when I saw a man pass me in the car and he was eating a hamburger. Not unusual, but it struck me just how incredible it really was. Think about it for a minute as though you were living 150 years ago. What exactly would go into providing you with that hamburger (not to mention the car you're riding in)? Consider the cow: raising it, slaughtering it, grinding the meat, starting a fire, grilling the patty. Then the bun: plowing the land, planting the seed, tending the crop, harvesting it, hulling it, grinding it, removing the germ so it stays a nice bright white on the shelf for years; consider mixing the dough, kneading it, waiting for the yeast to rise, rolling it, cutting out the bun, baking it, cutting it in half. Consider now the lettuce and tomato in a similar way, the condiments, the wrapping paper. Are you overwhelmed yet by just how intensive the process is? A hamburger is a highly processed food. The amount of time and energy needed to produce it should indicate to you that it is something you, in theory, should only be able to afford occasionally. And yet now it happens all the time: humanity flying down the highway at a fast speed eating faster food. Should we not consider that this practice might also influence the aging process, that living life this modern way might speed life up?

If we are to as the article suggests, "appreciate our value as we age", then we are to appreciate our value now, in this present moment. In this case immediate gratification is not out of the natural means of acquisition. I'm sure you have heard about a miraculous and costly supplement called human growth hormones (HGH) that is on sale now and is touted as the supplement for anti-aging and weight management. It is true, HGH is effective, but what is so fascinating and often overlooked is the fact that the human body is the greatest resource for it, and we are capable of producing it immediately. Some time ago I learned from a recording by Deepak Chopra that human growth hormones (HGH) are released in the skin when it is massaged with warm sesame oil. Just rubbing a bit of oil into your skin each day before you bathe will instantly release a shower of HGH washing your body in an invigorating fountain of youth. Whether you spend two minutes or twenty doing this is better than not doing it at all, and moreover it is free HGH: truly miraculous!

Hmmm. So perhaps aging gracefully means aging peaceably and with great freedom?

Musing: Feast or Famine

A tale of two wolves.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle between two wolves is inside us all. One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is God - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Meditation: What Value Do You Bring to the World?

Let me expand for a minute on my last post. It is a broad topic and there is plenty of room for misunderstanding. What I mean to say is something akin to the idea that there is merit to be found if you look, in anything, anywhere.

I am reminded by a book I read a long time ago by Auschwitz survivor Victor Frankl called, "Man's Search for Meaning". In it he basically describes the means by which he endured truly extraordinary circumstances in a concentration camp that were beyond his control. Central to his idea is the notion that man has the ability to choose freedom, even in the most dire circumstances. That we have inspiration for that freedom in our personal value.

Think on it a minute. Everyone is of value. You are a valuable person. There is some quality about you that is irreplaceable in the world. Whether you are a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a friend or lover, you are in some way unique to the world. You exist in a way that no one else can for yourself and for those around you. There is something about you that can not be duplicated or imitated, it is yours alone and the world is a better place because of it.

Today's meditation: determine what value you bring to the world and recognize the value of others in your life, even those you resist or with whom you have difficulty communicating. Let this be the place from where you act, the source of your inspiration, the quality that brings freedom into your day-to-day life.

Meditation: Can Yoga Make You a Better Person?

Every now and then I find my at home yoga practice needs a little inspiration.

Most of the time I am content to practice a personalized version of Bikram's 26 postures with a few modifications and additions, but when I'm not I turn to Podcasts. My favorite right now is Elsie Escobar's Anusara Yoga Kula ("community"). I've actually been following her for about two years (?) and in that time her life has really changed. She got married, moved from L.A. to Pennsylvania, and had a baby. Somehow she maintained her connection to her kula and is back posting regularly. So yesterday I looked her up and did Episode 70: "Does your yoga make you a better person?".

The topic struck me as particularly pertinent, and now I realize that this past weekend on two separate occasions and with two very different people, I had the opportunity to discuss the relevance of spirituality. My Friday Friend and I tend to have talks about this often. It is something we consider regularly. She is a practicing Christian, and I have an appreciation for various aspects of most faiths. (Can that sound any more vague? What I mean to say is that I believe there is something guiding, shaping, and exploring this reality that is shared and quite powerful; that it is based in love and peace, stillness and respect. And frankly, I have a hard time trying to tie it all down to a few words.) So we sit sometimes to talk about what it is we believe to be true. She is curious because we tend to agree on many many things, but there are subtler aspects of terminology that sometimes make us pause and look more closely. Regardless of the finer points, we both agree that practicing spirituality is an important part of daily life.

My Saturday Sister is also a Christian. The nature of what we discussed was very similar. She simply commented on how attending service on Sunday set her entire family up for a much more pleasant week. Rather than being baffled by just how simple it was to set the mood for happiness and respect, we both simply recognized that again, spirituality is an important part of daily life.

Now here we come to the meat of the matter. Should it matter that I am not a Christian per say? Or that someone else is Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Tao? Well, Mrs. Escobar began her class Monday on my mat by suggesting that as long as what you practice makes you shine brightly from a place of love, then truly, the more of that the better, brighter, shinier the world will be. That moving in ways that encourage you to open your heart, stand tall, and support yourself from within extends outward, bringing love, courage, and truth into the way you move through your day.

I think about how in school there were teachers that I learned from better than others, and that the same wasn't necessarily true for my friends. These experiences shaped who we became, who we are now. Spiritual teachers I imagine, are quite similar. There are some that will resonate more strongly for others than the one that resonates for us. But isn't it our collective responsibility as part of humanity to recognize what it is that makes us similar, what it is that ties us together, than focus so strongly on what it is that defines us as separate or distinct? Have we yet to learn that this isolation is not quite sustainable? Perhaps...

I'm reminded of something I learned in college about the I-Thou/I-It philosophy of Martin Buber. The part that made the strongest impact on me then still does today: it is the idea that man can come to see the boundaries between us not as walls, but as permiable screens enabling us to keep our unique shape but see through to the truth on the other side. When man exists in this condition of I-Thou, he is one with his creator, he walks with God. He is in unity. He is in a sustainable relationship with the universe. At least this is how I remember it. I would love to know your thoughts. Perhaps if you've read this far, you might consider jotting your initial impression below in the comment box...

Musing: New Moon, Theater, and Valentine's Day

"This past Valentine's day began on a new moon weekend and I spent it at the theater."

Let me explain. For the last two weeks I've had a version of writer's block. I've had the ideas and energy for writing of a different sort, and that means no blogging. This is natural. When I'm steeped in imaginary worlds I'm removed from this one for sometimes days at a time. Then there is this odd puncture, the bubble bursts and I have the beginning sensations of shame. It is subtle, but soon I'm feeling indulged and I seek to reconnect with the material world. I surface, share a few observations, and then hopefully submerge again in creative bliss. When I am at a loss for words, I sew.

Now let me explain the sentence above. It is completely true, every word. But given the SEO intelligence of today's culture, if you were the engine you might read it as having something to do with some tabloid follow up to a recent smash hit film. The truth is, last weekend we had a new moon in Aquarius and it coincided with the biggest romantic holiday of the year, which I happened to spend in Boulder at an incredible theater.

My husband was invited to be a guest writer for one of the plays that evening at the Hitching Post Theater in north Boulder, CO. Once a month Erin Kelly and Jesse McDonald produce an incredible evening that showcases Colorado talent in an unconventional and spontaneous theatrical experiment that is unique every time. In the morning on the day of the performance writers meet and learn the theme for that evening's performances. They blindly choose the head shots of two actors and then get three hours to write a short play. At noon they relinquish all control and actors, directors, assistants and stage managers take over, learn the script, and perform it that evening to a live audience twice. They have shows the second Sunday of every month. Visit their site for more information!

Musing: Biognosis "knowledge from life"

I'm reading a new book by Stephen Harrod Buhner. It's call The Secret Teachings of Plants: in the Direct Perception of Nature, 2004. I've read parts of it before, but for some reason last night I picked it up and did something I haven't done since graduate school on principle and that is, open the cover and begin at the beginning (said Alice).

On page three of the introduction I learned this,

"This gathering of knowledge directly from the wildness of the world is called biognosis--meaning 'knowledge from life'--and, because it is an aspect of our humanness inherent in our physical bodies, it is something that everyone has the capacity to develop. It is, in fact, something that all of us use (at least minimally) without awareness in our day-to-day lives.

The ancient mode of cognition is crucially important for us, as a species, to reclaim, for we live in dangerous times. The threats to ourselves and the planet that is our home have never been more dire. These threats come from ways of thinking that are not sustainable, that bar little relation to the real world, and that are an inevitable error inherent in the linear fanaticism and mechanomorphism (seeing the world as a machine) of contemporary perspectives. They are threats that come from the dominance of one particular mode of cognition to the exclusion of all others.

To correct this imbalance, we need to come to our senses, to reclaim the ability each and every one of us has to see and understand the world around us (an ability that has been built into us over evolutionary time) in ways far more sustainable and sophisticated than reductionistic science can ever attain."

And that, I thought, is the reason why I identify with my knowledgeable friend when she says she officially can't stand the eighteenth century. That "enlightened" age of reason and change when man believed the only way to truly understand the way a heart worked meant you had to deprive it of the means to do so. Thankfully, Romanticism kept our hearts afloat during such critical times, and I might argue it would do us a bit of good today, to remind ourselves what being Romantic actually means.

Meditation: Wisdom is not a product of thought.

I have spent a lot of time pursuing wisdom. Most of it in the classroom. Twenty-six years as a student to be exact. That is more than many, but much less than some. Does time spent deep in thought make me more or less intelligent, than my fellow being human? Not necessarily. Much of it depends on having a keen eye for detail and developing the patience for exploration. This is actually what I taught when I taught Art History for three years at university. There is no shortcut to wisdom, to deep knowledge: wisdom is the shortcut. It is simply the product of practice, a matter of attention, something you already possess, something you can already sense. In meditation this morning I was reminded of something Tolle says in his book Stilllness Speaks:

"Wisdom is not a product of thought. The deep knowing that is wisdom arises through the simple act of giving someone or something your full attention. Attention is primordial intelligence, consciousness itself, it dissolves the barriers created by conceptual thought and with this comes the recognition that nothing exists in and by itself. [Attention] joins the perceiver and the perceived in a unifying field of awareness; it is the healer of separation."

~Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks, Chapter Two: Beyond the Thinking Mind

Musing: Slow Fashion

I just thought I would post a link for my European readers to this award for Slow Fashion. Like slow cooking, slow fashion concerns itself with the manner in which something is made. Those of us who subscribe to green fashion tenets most often also subscribe to ideas of slow fashion.

For Meleté and Mnemosyne this means quite a bit. Our process takes time, so when you see that our turnaround for orders is about 3-5 weeks, let me tell you just what that means. Once you have placed your order and introduced yourself I know you, or at least something about you; your shape in the world and the colors you like to wear, colors that make you feel good about yourself. Then it is on to the practicalities of manifesting your desire.

First: the material. I work primarily with bamboo, organic cotton, and hemp. Unfortunately, these materials are not widely available and rarely make an appearance at your local fabric store. So, over the years we have done plenty of research and now order our material from some tried and true sources. Availability is limited, and so is the selection.

Second: the color. Since most of materials come to me in black or natural, I've had to become quite proficient at dying garments and fabric myself using a rather precise concoction of soda ash, salt, and natural pigments. You would be surprised at how long it took to actually be able to achieve consistent results given these variables and water temperature, volume, and cycle length.

Third: prints and patterns. When I first started this process, I learned quite a bit about silk screening, embroidery, and airbrush. I have a real desire to see graphic elements on my designs and at first that meant painting my own silk to screen designs. We still use those screens to pull patterns on some of our most popular pieces (Little Miss and Turn of Tide).

Fourth: pattern making. Meleté is a sister shop that is designed to take Mnemosyne's reproducible pieces and offer them in standardized sizes and colors, as well as bespoke or custom. So I either begin with a pattern I've drawn and graded by hand, or I take my basic sloper and create a new pattern specifically for someone's measurements. Altering a pattern to fit perfectly takes time when done mindfully, but the effect is well worth the additional effort and small fee.

Fifth: cutting. I make sure that when I cut a garment I do so one piece at a time, I line up the grain and I'm sure to press the fabric before hand. These are some simple things that make a big difference in the final drape and look of a dress, skirt or shirt. They are also things that make me feel like my mom or grandma; both of them are real sticklers for clean lines and perfect seams. And ultimately, it is my intention that when you order a piece from me, you receive something that feels like it was made by a loving sister or aunt.

Sixth: sewing. Everything is sewn together by hand using cotton thread. It makes a big difference in the longevity of a garment. If you are using natural fibers, you should really use cotton thread. Polyester is synthetic, plastic, and it will ultimately cut the fibers of your clothes before releasing its hold. So trust me, you would rather have a garment wear evenly, and be evenly open to repair or rebuilding, than you would a garment that shreds itself apart before the material shows any sign of reasonable wear and tear.

Seventh: finishing. The polish of a piece is in the finishing. And really, this is where I find myself most closely linked to the traditions of the past. Whether I'm adding repurposed buttons to a fresh design, or embroidering some heirloom pattern, I feel the deep connection that activity gives me, not only with my family, but with women and creators across and through time. It is a slow process, meditative, and reflective. It is a rhythm that ties loose ends together, finishes seams, and irons out creases, literally and metaphorically.

All of these things go into your piece before I press it, fold it, wrap it, address it, and send it to your home. This is a gift you give yourself or someone you love and I know it, because it is a gift you've also given me. You gave me time spent slowly, making something beautiful. And that is the way I prefer to spend my day. And today is my birthday.

Sustainable Creation: Berlin Fashion Week

This week is Berlin Fashion week, and the green movement in fashion is making an impression. Read all about Francis Prince, founder of a green fashion event TheKey.to, in this Spiegel Online International article, "How Green is Your T-Shirt?" by Jess Smee from today.

Thanks Rokalina, for sending this to me!

Meditation: Perception, Taste, and People's Priorities

Charles Baudelaire once said, "In supernatural states of the soul, the profundity of life reveals itself in the sight before one's eyes." That is certainly true in this case. Below I've pasted a copy of an email I received from my mother-in-law a few days ago. It is about an experiment on perception conducted by the Washington Post. I make a few observations following the copy.


"Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.

The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, how many other things are we missing?"

My Observations:
How lovely that it is children or young people who stop to look and listen? They seem closer to existing all the time in that supernatural state; they are still receptive, lack conditioning, and can immediately perceive the truth or beauty of an experience.

Perhaps this is why they say children keep you young at heart? Is it because they remind us that we have an inner beauty meter, and that meter needs guidance from no one? And that by participating in these observations of beauty we can strengthen the field of such things and thereby foster more of it, in a world that so clearly needs it?

If this idea strikes you as important, you might want to look at a book called, "The Biology of Transcendence", by Joseph Chilson Pearce.

Today's meditation: The power of pausing to enjoy something beautiful is immeasurable.

Sustainable Creation: Big Bambú

In the November 2009 issue of Architectural Record there is an innovative take on sustainability.

Every month my dad gives me his hand-me-down copies of this reputable journal and I peruse it for pleasure and inspiration. There is a lot of innovation in architecture and I like imagining myself using it. This time I found something truly tickling.


More than functional or sculptural, Big Bambú is fantastic, a whim, a sustainable process without end. What good exercise. I'm reminded of something I heard recently: creative people tend to enjoy the process much more than the result (Chopra), and the process is the present, what you do now will be part of some process tomorrow which is also the present (Tolle).

Today's Meditation: what in your life has some sweet and endless rhythm?

Musing: Transfiguration

Last night I was at a tea party when someone asked the question, "If you could have any ability that you do not already possess, what would it be?"

My husband answered immediately, "I'd fly." Good answer we all agreed. Various other responses circled the table when finally it was my turn. After much consultation on what exactly the word was that best described my desire, I settled on "transfiguration".

I had it in mind that I'd be able to shape-shift in typical Hogwart fashion save the spells. So things like flying and holding my breath for minutes are understood, but what is essential is that I'd maintain my human perspective. There would be little worse than having the ability to turn into a lizard, scale a vertical cliff, reach the top and forget that I too can be an eagle. Lunch.

Here is the dictionary definition of "transfiguration": noun

• a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state

SO yeah. Now that I know this, I suddenly realize that I already have this rather subtle ability. And that perhaps I have not yet realized it's full potential. Thank you J.K. Rowling, for making that word a part of my vocabulary beyond it's typically religious connotations.

My musing for today: be the bird not the reptile.

Amused

"The Muses are all of one mind, their hearts are set upon song and their spirit is free from care. He is happy whom the Muses love. For though a man may have sorrow and grief in his soul, when the servant of the Muses sings at once he forgets his dark thoughts and remembers not his troubles. Such is the holy gift of the Muses to men."

~Hesiod~