Living Untethered by Michael Singer

Just finished Michael Singer's book Living Untethered--it made a really big impression on me. If I had to summarize it (and I might massacre it, I am warning you), I would say that it is very clear account of what it is to be inside of you, why the mind does what it does, how the heart opens and closes and why we have such trouble "being here now." When we encounter an interaction that is uncomfortable, we push it away in order to protect ourselves instead of letting the experience come in and go out again--i.e, if we have a bad encounter with a snake, we then associate every time we see something snakelike (i.e., a piece of rope, a big worm) to that bad experience and it brings up the past trauma over and over again even though it is not the reality in front of us. When we store up these past experiences, they compound and become a mess of blockages that inhibit our energy flow, prohibit us from our natural state of wellbeing and affect our spiritual growth. Singer attempts to shed light on this by illustrating how the moment in front of us is not bothering us but we are bothering us. He shows us that we have the capability of freeing ourselves from this scenario, leaning away from the noisy mind and changing our focus to what is right in front of us, the reality as seen clearly in the stillness. Away from worldliness into spirituality. A lot to work on but being clear and aware is the first step...

The Farnsworth Museum

Artists have a way of finding the best places on earth in which to spend time and I never realized how many great artists have been attracted to the state of Maine over the years, either as full time residents, summer dwellers or occasional visitors. I took a recent visit to the Farnsworth Museum and realized again what a first class museum it is, right in the heart of the midcoast city of Rockland. The museum's primary focus is to celebrate Maine's role in American Art and here is a sampling of featured artists who have spent time in this beautiful state.

Why The Brain Loves Music by Oliver Sacks

I have written about Oliver Sacks before but find this lecture Why The Brain Loves Music he gave at Columbia University particularly fascinating. It is the basis of his book Musicophilia...It is a long lecture but if you can spare the time, well worth it. And if anyone has any doubt of the power of music to pierce your heart, have a listen to this P.S. 22/Andy Grammer rendition of Don't Give Up On Me and sing it at the top of your lungs. It transforms me! I've shared it before but could listen over and over...just to see those kids and Andy Grammer light up!

Sacks refers to himself as just a country doctor and "an explorer and naturalist, exploring many strange, neuropsychological lands — the furthest Arctics and Tropics of neurological disorder.” Seldom has there been a physician more compassionate and incessantly curious about all aspects of the human condition. In addition to Musicophilia, Sacks is known for books such as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, An Anthropologist on Mars, Awakenings, Seeing Voices, Island of the Colorblind, The Mind’s Eye, and Hallucinations. He has also written personal accounts of his own life including the titles Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood and his motorcycle days in On the Move: A Life. Additional books include The River of Consciousness, Gratitude and final essays published after his death entitled Everything in Its Place.

Painting of the Week

Tree of Life Series, mixed media on paper mounted onto canvas, 60” x 22”, Grantham, New Hampshire

Charity of the Week:

Save The Children

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.