I went to the library to return some items and to pick up some others yesterday. When covid arrived back in 2020 the library stopped accepting donated books because of the transmission risk. Recently they have started taking donations again; they sit on a cart that you have to walk by to get into the main space and are up for grabs to buy at a dollar for paperbacks and two dollars for hardbacks. I was not looking for reading material as I have so much of it already; but I did go over the books on the cart and through the several bags of books near the cart, looking for pictures for collage work. As I took each bag to a nearby table instead of standing hunched over by the floor, an older man walked up and started a conversation. He said that the donated books that aren’t bought go into the basement of the library and that there are many, many books down there. He said it is an ongoing chore to lug the books down there. He also said he had a surprise gift for me. He walked away, went into a room off to the side, and came back with a sturdy book tote bag. Handing it to me, he said, “Whatever books you take are less that I have to lug downstairs,” and walked away.
I pulled out the books from the bag sitting on the table and quickly realized I had hit the jackpot, but not for pictures. The titles you see were all in one bag. I took everything from that bag except for two books; one was a detailed account of an alien abduction and I forgot what the other one was.
I’ve read Campbell, Keyes, Jung, and Castaneda before but none of these books. I’ve heard of the other authors but have not read them. I do notice that all of them are written by white men. Although so many white men in authority are slimeballs, and so many men in general are also slimeballs, this stack of titles shows me that many aren’t. I cannot stress it enough my fervent hope is that every human being with benevolence of heart and intent come together and work to keep light alive, as light will always vanquish darkness. It’s tough to know who to trust and what is in any person’s heart. You don’t have to know everything about someone but you can know enough to know they are part of the human family that wants our Mother Earth to keep going and who would like to see the human family members living in peace and in harmony with our Mother Earth and with each other.
I remember awhile back, Björn had us write a poem based on book titles. I have decided to write a book title poem with these in hopes that the thread that can begin to weave the vision outlined above.
A final word before getting to the poem. The old man who walked up to me was one I’d never seen around there before. He was waiting in the wings as I walked out. Perhaps he made it his mission to encourage the patrons that day? Or maybe, he was an angel, giving me a reading list that will help me navigate through the loss and grief of my mother’s passing, the difficulties of connecting with long-estranged family members, and through the generally crazy times we all seem to be finding ourselves existing within more and more.
Please feel free to build your own book title poem and link your post to this post. You can also put it in the comments directly. The words not in parentheses are the titles. The full list of titles is at the bottom of the page.
Navigator
(how long have existed)
Man and His Symbols (?)
(from them are constructed)
Myths, Dreams, and Religion.
(myths acculturate and
dreams metaphorize and teach;
yet religion often controls with
judgments in the duality of)
Good and Evil.
(how do we navigate)
Love, Power, and Justice (?)
(the $64,000 question:)
How to Enjoy Your Life in Spite of It All (?)
(please! open the manual on)
Care of the Soul.
(do the homework and practice from the)
Handbook to Higher Consciousness.
(incorporate non-dualistic)
Dynamics of Faith
(into your trifecta of mind, body, and spirit.)
Seeing Castaneda
(is everything x infinity +1. spin)
The Wheel of Time
(and take a)
Journey to Ixtlan(; then
rest in faith and cultivate)
The Courage to Be
(here, together, in peace, on Earth)
Book titles with authors:
Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung
Myths, Dreams, and Religion Edited by Joseph Campbell
Good and Evil by Martin Buber
Love, Power, and Justice by Paul Tillich
How to Enjoy Your Life in Spite of It All by Ken Keyes, Jr.
Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore
Handbook to Higher Consciousness by Ken Keyes, Jr.
Dynamics of Faith by Paul Tillich
Seeing Castaneda by Daniel Noel
The Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts about Life, Death, and the Universe by Carlos Castaneda
Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda
The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
I’m linking this to earthweal’s Open Link Weekend.