Cultivating a Great Mind #1

I recently decided to combat the currently addled state of my head's inner workings by consciously cultivating my mind to be a Great Mind... I realized when I set this goal, that it was indeed a rather lofty one (especially given the capitalization), but I determined that I would forge forth despite the seemingly impossibleness of the situation. So I decided that I would first study Leonardo Da Vinci, without a doubt one of the greatest Great Minds that has ever existed, and in being such would make an excellent master to model my own Great Mind after.

Or so I thought. But then I started reading about Da Vinci and browsing his notebooks, and quite quickly came to the realization that I just pushed my already-lofty goal through the roof and out into the universe somewhere where it shall float around way out of my reach until I learn how to be an astronaut.

The man, quite simply, had a brain I will never be able to even come close to emulating, quite frankly. If his brain is to thinking like the ball is to baseball, then I am trying to pitch a home run hit with a pea. Seriously, a pea - and my horrible analogy right there between Great Minds and peas and baseballs should prove it. If not, then consider the fact that I'm not even sure it was at all a true analogy. I do know it wasn't hyperbole because my brain is very much mushy peas these days.

But let's get back to Da Vinci's truly Great Mind...

I have decided that the first step I will take in emulating the master is to start wearing a notebook for constant observation recording. I can do that. My observations will not contain anywhere near the amount of brilliance in those of the master, but I can wear a notebook and observe.

So yesterday at the Dollar Tree, I found the perfect notebooks. Tiny little composition books that I two-hole punched and strung on yarn, attach a pencil - and voila!... I am wearing a little orange notebook in which I am anxious to begin recording and discovering my brilliance, or incredible lack thereof - whichever the case may turn out to be.

Do you think Da Vinci found his notebooks at the Dollar Tree? Maybe that should be the first "wondering" I do in my notebook...

I got nothing

The other night as I lay in bed drifting off to sleep, inspiration hit me and the words for a new post here on the blog started tumbling into perfect sentences in my head.

It was witty. It was charming. It was amusing. It was thought-provoking.

And then I woke up and it was gone.

Sigh.

Grandmother Winter dreams again

Out in the cold night I watch the full moon
rise up from the mountains like a god
emerging from dark sleep, scattering light
across the yard.

Sudden snowlight shimmers
on the immense winter quiet.

A string of colored prayer flags tied in the black
branches of the apricot tree lifts praises
to the wind, and clear high notes
of a small round bell spin through icy air.

There are many ways to pray.

I crawl under the branches of the blue spruce
to touch its winter body, watch moonglow sift
though blue green arms like snow and sink
into the long cold dream of stone.

These nights pass slowly, offering deep rest
to the garden — white sage and purple penstemon,
iris bulbs buried in red earth.

They offer rest to silver spun cocoons wrapped tight in elm,
rock squirrel under juniper and to the long slow
heartbeat of black bear sleeping not far
away —

in the mountains where the fire faithful
sun will rise and the longest night will yield
its winter dream once more.

~Unknown


Wise Winter Solstice Blessings from Our Family to Yours
May this Time of Rest and Repose bring you Peace and Wisdom