Soft Launch

by Richard Reeve on August 5, 2010

in @CCSeed

After a hiatus, I’ve recently announced the soft launch of a new blogging effort at Richard Reeve.

Do stop by.

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Ripeness Is All

by Richard Reeve on January 9, 2010

in AziMuth

King Lear and the Fool in the Storm
Image via Wikipedia

I had my first Shakespearean moment back as a junior in high school when I was struggling my way through King Lear and came upon the words of Edgar:

“Men must endure / Their going hence, even as their coming hither; / Ripeness is all.”

These lines have been interpreted in a stoic way, emphasizing the drudgery of existence, the need for ‘resignation, fortitude, suppression of emotion.”

It’s funny how the alchemical power within the image grabbed hold of my young imagination. Instead of stoic fortitude which seems to stress waiting for the storm to pass, these line has always held out a powerful message of hope for me.  Within our struggles to find ourselves and/or meaning, the need to persist against and endure would be meaningless if it were not for the ripening that is occurring.

Like fruit, the soul thrown into the storms of life gradually matures until that exquisite moment of ripeness occurs.

Have you bitten into a perfectly ripe pear recently?

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The Cards

by Richard Reeve on January 2, 2010

in AziMuth

Discarded Deck of Cards on Bench, Bishopsgate ...
Image by DG Jones via Flickr

We are prone to anxiety.  Perhaps we have a weak immune system.  Or maybe it’s some other weak link in the chain of our being…self esteem, cancer, shame, manipulation, fear.

Regardless of who we are, the weak links exist.  While our lived responses might have contributed to making those links even weaker, the fact is that we all have to play the cards we are dealt.

Often times the youth I work with will take an inordinate responsibility for many things about themselves that are outside their control, while dismissing the actions that they did willfully unleash on their loved ones and the world.  Deep self loathing is directed at the cards they have been dealt.  It’s as if they have become paralyzed by the facts of themselves.

Much of the initial focus with these youths is getting them to accept the cards life has dealt them.  It’s a huge turn in their journey when they can stop fretting about the cards and begin to consider how to best work with them.

A huge transformation takes place when we become conscious of ourselves not just as we want to be, but as we actually are, including the darkness and the weakness.  With acceptance, these aspects begin to get integrated.  Then our strengths can work in conjunction with them.  Conversely, when we only strive after what we wish we were, our strengths work against our weaknesses.

Depression has been defined as anger turned within.  Acceptance in the form of compassion turned within creates an unexpected pathway that has all the spiritual hallmarks of liberation and joy.

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I Spy…

by Richard Reeve on January 1, 2010

in @CCSeed

…A Happy New Year!

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Ends and Beginnings

December 30, 2009

Image by Mr. Usaji via Flickr

“well, my window
looked out on the Squero where Ogni Santi
meets San Trovaso
things have ends and beginnings”
Ezra Pound, Canto 76
As we turn the page on the aughts and plunge headlong into the next decade I find myself taking the measure of the emerging Self.
What were your most pressing concerns at [...]

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Tidings of Comfort and Joy…

December 25, 2009

Image by SCholewiak via Flickr

Wishing you the spark of the Spirit today and throughout the upcoming year.

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Blogging Gratitude

December 24, 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Two seasonal shout outs to the biggest supporters of Catskill Cottage Seed over the past 18 months.
On the public side of things, Liz Strauss, doing what she alone seems to have the knack for, continues to link to this blog and share the relevant posts for her audience through her Friday cafe. [...]

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The Gift of the Shared Item

December 22, 2009

Image by curiouslee via Flickr

I recall an awkward theater games exercise back in my college days: one prop, a book; and one line, “I give you this book.” Then in randomly generated pairs this micro-play would get recast dozens of times.
In many ways the “shared item” practice of the social media space reminds me of [...]

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Many Moves

December 22, 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Lately I’ve been learning how to play, in a metaphorical sort of manner, speed chess. Let me explain.  As my training progresses one of the main challenges for me has been to open up to the multiple options in any given situation.  My tendency has been to lean heavily on one type of [...]

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Sugar Sugar

December 19, 2009

We started our journey last weekend by driving way into the hills to cut down our tree and precariously drive it back home strapped to our roof in the midst of an ice storm (third year in a row for that tricky drive).
Tonight the mysteries deepened with the alchemical gold that can be [...]

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