a new name, same ‘ol blog

• by ~summer~
• Filed Under: none
• Date: Apr 1,2008

Welcome to my new URL and new blog name, The Tao of Summer!

I have for quite some time been pondering a blog name change, but couldn’t come up with a blog name and URL that suited me well enough to bother. All I knew was that “jaded” seemed to describe an old me, a me that was still in the infancy of being distraught over a stolen presidency, the shame of Gitmo, and an Guiness and maryjane induced numbness that I’ve since knocked. I’ve stopped with the self medication, and I’ve long since knocked off on the use of the pseudonym.

Though I have not shed off all my cynicism and jadedness, I’ve certainly transitioned into a more centered and focused way of being. I think there is something to be said about how we define ourselves, and everyday seeing that I was defining myself as “jaded” seemed to be putting me into a place that no longer felt right. Then, a couple of nights ago as I was just going to sleep, this name, The Tao of Summer, popped into mind and so I ran with it. I went with .net ’cause I ain’t no commodity, and a one-woman show can’t quite be an .org. I spent some time yesterday setting up the new wordpress database and importing all my old posts and comments into this blog.

I anticipate that I’ll still be blogging about the same topics, (though maybe I can get myself out of this guarded place that I seem to communicate from)…it’ll just be under the new banner.

As for the Tao, I’m not a studious student of religion. I was raised by a father who had left behind the Baptist beliefs of his parents when the government hauled him off to Thailand to be an instrument of the Vietnam War, and a mother who came of age in Southern California in the ’60s and who just believes in the Golden Rule and some sort of cosmic energy. The organized religion in my life has included the annual obligatory attendance at the Baptist Church with my grandparents, a free church camp I attended a couple of years in 3rd and 4th grade (my best friend was going, and what I remember is I Corinthians 13.4, macramé, and canoing), tagging along with friends to various masses, and a few months of youth group with friends in high school - sort of a western religion smörgåsbord where the offerings were white bread and processed meats.

I’ve long since decided that my beliefs are much more eastern, more inwardly focused than outwardly worshipful, more now than later. My ability to communicate about my religious philosophy is along the lines of that old Edie Brickell song, What I Am…you know, “I know what I know and I know what I mean…” But there is something in taoism that has alway resonated with me, reinforced my sort of String Theory concept of the way things are, an encompassing notion of that thing I call intrinsicness.

From wikipedia (which is, you know, the preeminent resource for defining the world’s religions!):

Tao or Dao (?) is the order of the Universe, when used in Wuji, Tao is a primordial state of non-being in ontology, a state without bounds or limits in the Taoist cosmogony, intangible, unfathomable and un-analyzable empirically and taxonomically (Tao Te Ching; Verse 1).

By definition Tao is a Chinese character commonly translated as a path or a way.

All things arise from Tao. They are nourished by Virtue. They are formed from matter. They are shaped by environment. Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honour Virtue. Respect of Tao and honour of Virtue are not demanded. But they are in the nature of things. Therefore all things arise from Tao. By Virtue they are nourished, developed, cared for, sheltered, comforted, grown and protected. Creating without claiming; doing without taking credit; guiding without interfering - this is Primal Virtue. (verse 51. tr. Gia Fu Feng)

The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right. The ten thousand things depend upon it; it holds nothing back. It fulfils its purpose silently and makes no claim. It nourishes the ten thousand things. And yet is not their lord. It has no aim; it is very small. The ten thousand things return to it, yet it is not their lord. It is very great. It does not show its greatness, And is therefore truly great. (verse 34. tr. ibid)

Yield and overcome; bend and be straight; empty and be full; wear out and be new; have little and gain; have much and be confused. Therefore wise men embrace the one and set an example to all. Not putting on a display, they shine forth. Not justifying themselves, they are distinguished. Not boasting, they receive recognition. Not bragging, they never falter. They do not quarrel so no one quarrels with them. Therefore the ancients say, “Yield and overcome.” Is that an empty saying? Be really whole and all things will come to you. (verse 22. tr. Gia Fu Feng)

Namasté

• Tags:

a new name, same ‘ol blog

• by ~summer~
• Filed Under: none
• Date: Apr 1,2008

Welcome to my new URL and new blog name, The Tao of Summer!

I have for quite some time been pondering a blog name change, but couldn’t come up with a blog name and URL that suited me well enough to bother. All I knew was that “jaded” seemed to describe an old me, a me that was still in the infancy of being distraught over a stolen presidency, the shame of Gitmo, and an Guiness and maryjane induced numbness that I’ve since knocked. I’ve stopped with the self medication, and I’ve long since knocked off on the use of the pseudonym.

Though I have not shed off all my cynicism and jadedness, I’ve certainly transitioned into a more centered and focused way of being. I think there is something to be said about how we define ourselves, and everyday seeing that I was defining myself as “jaded” seemed to be putting me into a place that no longer felt right. Then, a couple of nights ago as I was just going to sleep, this name, The Tao of Summer, popped into mind and so I ran with it. I went with .net ’cause I ain’t no commodity, and a one-woman show can’t quite be an .org. I spent some time yesterday setting up the new wordpress database and importing all my old posts and comments into this blog.

I anticipate that I’ll still be blogging about the same topics, (though maybe I can get myself out of this guarded place that I seem to communicate from)…it’ll just be under the new banner.

As for the Tao, I’m not a studious student of religion. I was raised by a father who had left behind the Baptist beliefs of his parents when the government hauled him off to Thailand to be an instrument of the Vietnam War, and a mother who came of age in Southern California in the ’60s and who just believes in the Golden Rule and some sort of cosmic energy. The organized religion in my life has included the annual obligatory attendance at the Baptist Church with my grandparents, a free church camp I attended a couple of years in 3rd and 4th grade (my best friend was going, and what I remember is I Corinthians 13.4, macramé, and canoing), tagging along with friends to various masses, and a few months of youth group with friends in high school - sort of a western religion smörgåsbord where the offerings were white bread and processed meats.

I’ve long since decided that my beliefs are much more eastern, more inwardly focused than outwardly worshipful, more now than later. My ability to communicate about my religious philosophy is along the lines of that old Edie Brickell song, What I Am…you know, “I know what I know and I know what I mean…” But there is something in taoism that has alway resonated with me, reinforced my sort of String Theory concept of the way things are, an encompassing notion of that thing I call intrinsicness.

From wikipedia (which is, you know, the preeminent resource for defining the world’s religions!):

Tao or Dao (?) is the order of the Universe, when used in Wuji, Tao is a primordial state of non-being in ontology, a state without bounds or limits in the Taoist cosmogony, intangible, unfathomable and un-analyzable empirically and taxonomically (Tao Te Ching; Verse 1).

By definition Tao is a Chinese character commonly translated as a path or a way.

All things arise from Tao. They are nourished by Virtue. They are formed from matter. They are shaped by environment. Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honour Virtue. Respect of Tao and honour of Virtue are not demanded. But they are in the nature of things. Therefore all things arise from Tao. By Virtue they are nourished, developed, cared for, sheltered, comforted, grown and protected. Creating without claiming; doing without taking credit; guiding without interfering - this is Primal Virtue. (verse 51. tr. Gia Fu Feng)

The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right. The ten thousand things depend upon it; it holds nothing back. It fulfils its purpose silently and makes no claim. It nourishes the ten thousand things. And yet is not their lord. It has no aim; it is very small. The ten thousand things return to it, yet it is not their lord. It is very great. It does not show its greatness, And is therefore truly great. (verse 34. tr. ibid)

Yield and overcome; bend and be straight; empty and be full; wear out and be new; have little and gain; have much and be confused. Therefore wise men embrace the one and set an example to all. Not putting on a display, they shine forth. Not justifying themselves, they are distinguished. Not boasting, they receive recognition. Not bragging, they never falter. They do not quarrel so no one quarrels with them. Therefore the ancients say, “Yield and overcome.” Is that an empty saying? Be really whole and all things will come to you. (verse 22. tr. Gia Fu Feng)

Namasté

• Tags: