From Inside The Sane Asylum

Unless you learn to face your own shadows, you will continue
to see them in others, because the world outside you is only
a reflection of the world inside you.

N D Shadow
The umber in us all.

The Sane Asylum Wisdom Series

We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds what ever we choose... Thank you +melya mai

melya mai

Made Me Grinn Series

The Sane Asylum Quote Series

From The Road

From the road...I remember well the day. It was in Veracruz. It was a hot day with a humid breeze from the ocean. I was sitting in a small hotel lobby and he came through the open door and asked if he could play a song for me. He had a well worn but beautiful bass violin by his side. To the objection of the hotel waiter, I asked asked him to please join me.

He played a selection from Czardas by Monti...He had been trained as a classical violinist in Mexico City and now spent his days wandering the streets of Veracruz giving of his soul to whoever would stop and listen and pay him a peso or two. He taught music for many years but said the young people not longer had interest in the arts.

I treated him to his favorite beer and slipped him a decent reward for his story and song. I watched him walk outside as he waited for a bus ride to take him home with his large and beautiful bass. I motioned for him to return and said, "I am going your way señor, can I give you a lift?"

When we arrived at his one room home on the outskirts of town, he insisted I join him for his daily diet of flour tortillas and onion sprinkled with a little table salt. I must say, one of the best meals of my life, sitting at that small wooden table.

The floors in his home were dirt floors and his north walls were covered with news print and some pictures from playboy magazine. You heard me correctly. We laughed about his favorite month. I still laugh today when April rolls around. I saw small pieces of plywood stacked
neatly in one corner. Seems he spends any spare money he accumulates to buy wood to make ukuleles which he give away to interested children, with a lesson or two. He had several in various stages of completion leaning against the wall. One drew my attention for its color and style, but he refused my offer of payment.

On my departure I asked who was his favorite singer. To my surprise he said, "Willie Nelson". I smiled, offered him an embrace of friendship and yes I did leave twenty pesos under the tin plate.

I often think of my friend with a big heart and a song to give for anyone who will listen. To this day I occasionally sprinkle a little table salt on an onion to honor his spirit. Be well my friend...

His name is Dario...The salt of the earth...
Ego, my friends call me Doc

Stopped To Ponder

When they criticize you and you notice that you love them still.
Your work will be done.

The Sane Asylum Wisdom Series

"And the young, they can loose hope cause
they can't see beyond today...
The wisdom that the old can't give away."

Pearl Jam lyrics ( The Boat Captain)

Finding The Self

Goodbye, Columbine
Now your path and mine
We must part this world of sublime
But keep a lookout on this day
For you know I will return this way
Be it noontide, a cool eve, or in the winter time.

Ego

The Fool of Rockwall

If I were a fool of any sort, 
I’d leave Redwall and travel forth, 
For only fools seek Terramort 
On the pathway leading north. 
This trail brings death with every pace; 
Beware the dangers lurking there, 
Sticklegs of the feathered race 
And fins that in the ford do not stir. 
After the ford, on night one day, 
Seek out the otter and his wife. 
Forsake the path, go westlands way, 
Find the trail and lose your life. 
When in the woods this promise keep, 
With senses sharp and open eyes, 
‘My nose shall not send me to sleep’ 
For buried ones will surely rise. 
Beat the hollow oak and shout, 
‘We are creatures of Redwall!’ 
If a brave one is about, 
He’ll save any fool at all. 
Beware the light that shows the way, 
Trust not the wart-skinned toad, 
In his realm no night no day. 
Fool, stay on the road. 
Where the sea meets the shore, 
There the final clue is hid; 
Rock stands sentinel evermore, 
Find it as I did. 
The swallow who cannot fly south, 
The bird that only flies one way, 
Lies deep beneath the monster’s mouth, 
Keep him with you night and day. 
His flight is straight, norwest is true, 
Your fool’s desire he’ll show to you.” 
 

A funny thing happened on the way to therapy...

"The light you are trying to see at the end of your tunnel is not the illusion.
The  tunnel is your illusion."

Ego

The Sane Asylum Wisdom Series

Inside The Sane Asylum- Super Luner

Many of you know Jes B Rambling from his post to The Sane Asylum.  He is always trying
to capture and document hysterical sites. Last month he went out to document
the Super Moon. This is what he recorded in his field notes.
Thanks Jes for your observations!

All that you touch
And all that you see
All that you taste
All you feel
All that you love
And all that you hate
All you distrust
All you save
And all that you give
And all that you deal
And all that you buy, beg, borrow, or steal
And all you create
And all you destroy
And all that you do
And all that you say
And all that you eat
And everyone you meet
All that you slight
And everyone you fight
And all that is now
And all that is gone
And all that's to come
And everything under the sun is in tune
But the sun is eclipsed by the moon

There is no dark side of the moon really
Matter of fact it's all dark

Lyrics by Rodger Waters

From the Road. Old Man With A Red Cane

From The Road...

I had heard stories of this old man with the red cane and how he walked daily along the shore. Always at the same appointed time. Some just called him the Hermit, others spun their own tales of fantasy and intrigue. Regardless of the tales, he captured my imagination and I made it a point to pass by that stretch of coastline on many occasions just to get get a glimpse of the old man with a red cane legend. 

When I first saw him approaching I could not restrain the passion in my voice..."Good day sir," forced its way out. With a hint of disparity he said, "What do you want."  I politely, as best I could, responded, "I did not intend to disrupt your peace." He quickly quipped, "and what would be the point in that?" 

"Well sir the legend of the ole' man with a red can lives on you know." I said.

He smiled and quipped, " I guess you are here to ask me about the meaning of life then?" I laughed and then we both got a good laugh together. "People think what they want to think, and it's none of my concern," he said. I asked him if I could see his cane, it was one to be admired. It was a twisted vine in shape, with a carved Eagle appointing the head. It was a fine cane. Made from the Elder Wood vine. He showed the markings where smaller vines left their markings and how he carved animals around its core.

He makes canes, not to sell but just for his own pleasure. Said he probably had over 200. Some with so much meaning he looks at them everyday.

About midway in our conversation I teased him a bit and asked, "Well, when you going to tell me the meaning of life?" It was as if time stood still in that moment. He never looked up and quietly responded. "But why you ask the meaning in life...does it exist...yes it exists. It is. Life has meaning because it exist. We do not ask the meaning of a rose, or a sunset, or a birdsong...and surely you agree that human life is more wondrous than a rose, why should we demand that a human life be justified by some meaning...By just existing we matter." 

What a nice lesson from the Old Man With A Red Cane. It was so well spoken that nothing more needed to be said. We talked a while about his beauty. Not long, for I had invaded his privacy.  Odd thing though, he gave me a final farewell by saying, "I'm sorry if I disturbed your peace sir." And smiled. Even gave me a strong embrace..."Be well my dear friend."

Ego-My friends call me Doc

The Sane Asylum Wisdom Series