unconscious - Blog Posts - Yoga Vidya International - Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality2024-03-29T06:57:38Zhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/unconsciousUncoiling part 1 (revisited)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/uncoiling-part-1-revisited2011-05-02T02:01:39.000Z2011-05-02T02:01:39.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/444px-bakemono_tobyo.jpg?w=444" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(« <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bakemono_Tobyo.jpg">Tobyo</a> » from the Bakemono-Dukushi - Unknown Artist)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://kiwi6.com/swf/player.swf" id="audioplayer" height="24" width="290"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://kiwi6.com/swf/player.swf" ></param><param name="" value="" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param></object></div><br /><div align="center"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://kiwi6.com/swf/player.swf" height="24" width="290"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://kiwi6.com/swf/player.swf" ></param><param name="" value="" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param></object></div><br /><p>« Uncoiling I » was originally written in September 2002, elaborating on drafts dating back to September 2000, and was first published in 2004.</p><br /><p>At the time the music first came about, it was as if my activities were conspiring to remind me of the composition. I had just moved into a new house, and I had planted about half a dozen small trees which needed to be watered on a daily basis. So there was much coiling and uncoiling of the garden hose going on. Also, I recall having to untwist an impressive length of black plastic tube which had been abandoned on the roof, previously put there to serve as part of a swimming pool heater apparatus.</p><br /><p>But the title of this miniature fugue for quartet rather comes from the notion of Kundalini energy, one of my subjects of interest at the time. From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> :</p><br /><blockquote><em>(...) literally means coiled. In yoga, a "corporeal energy" - an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, lies coiled at the base of the spine. It is envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as 'serpent power'.</em></blockquote><br /><p>The first clip is an edited MIDI version that was completed in August 2007, mainly to incorporate vibraphone into the piece, and also features classical guitar, fretless bass and piano.</p><br /><p>The second clip is the original 2004 draft version.</p><br /><p>As the title suggests, the piece is the first of a series. At least two other parts are in the works, the second growing into a piece of metallic, heavy prog thing, while the third will be more in an hybrid electro prog rock style, along the lines of « Into The Ashram » for instance.</p><br /><p>There are no plans to include vocal melodies on any of the three sections for now, but here is the poetry which the music has inspired.</p><br /><p><em><br />apparently finite<br />yet in eternity<br />there is no part of you<br />that is not part of me<br /><br />our worlds colliding<br />it's not you i'm seeing<br />but how you're reflecting<br />in my understanding<br /><br />as your view touches mine<br />asking me to decide<br />between growth and decline<br />this is no time to hide<br /><br />though my blood is boiling<br />i am not unknowing<br />it's only the prompting<br />of the future knocking<br /><br />forcing me into place<br />the unseen architect<br />completing the puzzle<br />so splendidly perfect<br /><br />no venom poisoning<br />but love in the making<br />the serpent is rising<br />its power uncoiling<br /></em></p></div>Upward (The Idler part 3)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/upward-the-idler-part-32010-07-15T22:00:00.000Z2010-07-15T22:00:00.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_Johnson_Heade_-Blue_Morpho_Butterfly_ATC.jpg">Blue Morpho Butterfly</a> by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Martin_Johnson_Heade">Martin Johnson Heade</a>)</span></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.the.idler.2007.part3.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/prqlfttskgvethodhyiy/b4bcfac5e450ab7618a2c2342a70a9bcc6c18319/Asset/5013702/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.the.idler.2007.part3.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/prqlfttskgvethodhyiy/b4bcfac5e450ab7618a2c2342a70a9bcc6c18319/Asset/5013702/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" allowscriptaccess="never" height="100" width="400" allownetworking="internal"></embed> </object></div><br /><br /><p>The third part of “The Idler” is entitled “Upward.”</p><br /><p>The idea behind the movement is quite simple : once the necessity of evolution has been recognized and accepted, there’s only one way to go and its up.</p><br /><p>To convey the feeling of somebody who is reinventing themselves, the music reintroduces some of the themes already presented earlier in the suite, but gives them new forms or turns them completely inside out.</p><br /><p>There are no vocals in his section. Here's the associated poetry :</p><br /><p><em>I only have myself to blame<br /> As the mirror reflects my shame<br />I've seen the past and it was lame<br />Yet it defined a better aim<br /><br />Walked on and on along this route<br />I know the place inside and out<br />So long a time spent in circles<br />I know by heart all the cycles<br /><br />Exhausted of repetition<br />I'm ready for evolution<br />I recognize elevation<br />Essential to perennation<br /><br />Pick me the flower yet ungrown<br />Map me the location unknown<br /><br />Tell me the joke that's not absurd<br />Build me the floor undiscovered<br /><br />Lead me up steps I never took<br />Fry me the fish I'll never hook<br /><br />Reveal the cards as yet undealt<br />Evoke the sentiment unfelt<br /><br />Write me the story yet untold<br />Warp me in time yet to unfold<br /><br />Push me further than my intent<br />Touch me farther than my extent<br /><br />Sanctify sinner yet absolved<br />Ask me the riddle left unsolved<br /><br />Draw me the shadow of a doubt<br />Situate me outside of out<br /><br />Tailor the skin that's yet unshed<br />Summon the spirit yet undead<br /><br />Revive the man who never died<br />Mix me the color never eyed<br /><br />Paint me the canvas yet unframed<br />Attain the goal yet to be aimed<br /><br />Grant me the reward yet unearned<br />Teach me the lesson yet unlearned<br /><br />Upward bent and forward headed<br />Purposeful until upgraded<br />Unending magic carpet ride<br />On winds of change unfazed I glide<br /></em> <br /></p><br /><p>And here’s what it sounds like when we perform it. Again, the live version is very different from the working version :</p><br /><div align="center"><object height="344" width="425" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/ucEof-wTgDw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ucEof-wTgDw&hl=en_US&fs=1" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ucEof-wTgDw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" height="344" width="425" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div></div>In The Taste Of The Day (The Idler part 1)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/in-the-taste-of-the-day-the2010-06-17T23:40:50.000Z2010-06-17T23:40:50.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/the_idler_upward_butterfly_painting320.png" alt="the_idler_upward_butterfly_painting320.png" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("Upward" - detail from an old kindergarten painting)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object height="81" data="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fpoligraf%2Fin-the-taste-of-the-day-demo&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=be1b1b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fpoligraf%2Fin-the-taste-of-the-day-demo&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=be1b1b" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fpoligraf%2Fin-the-taste-of-the-day-demo&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=be1b1b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="81" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div><br /><p>The Idler was born of a combination of concepts discovered while exploring various domains of knowledge during the second half of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s.</p><blockquote>« <i>The idler who does not arise when it is time to arise, who is full of sloth though young and strong, who is lazy and weak in thought and mind, does not find the path to insight.</i> » – The Dhammapada</blockquote><p>I was developing an interest in Buddhism, and from the works of Jung, in the concepts of synchronicity, and the collective and individual unconscious, in particular in their various manifestations as guide to personal evolution :</p><blockquote>« <i>L’exigence de l’inconscient serait donc l’exigence de cette évolution, l’inconscient se rappelle à nous pour réaliser ce processus d’individuation, ce processus d’éveil.</i> – C.G. Jung »</blockquote><p>I wondered what would happen to an individual utterly oblivious to signs, or intentionally inertial. So I imagined a confrontation between a fictional character, The Idler, and their unconscious. Frustrated by the indifference of its protégé when facing dreams, somatic troubles, preoccupations, and other such signs, the unconscious takes human form in order to convince The Idler of the necessity of evolution, not only on the material plane, but also with respect with his emotive, affective, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions.</p><br /><p>Here are the lyrics :</p><br />« I don’t have the time » is the lie<br />I will not believe<br />Coming from you the alibi<br />Will not deceive<br /><br />« I have no control over it »<br />I will not allow<br />As objection to disbelief<br /><br />« I just can’t change » is this hell<br />You just don’t leave<br />While heaven is ignored you’ll keep<br />Facing the heat<br /><br />Until this point you will admit<br />I will uphold my aim<br />You let your own inertia<br />Ignite the flame<br /><br />Distract yourself in the tasks of the day<br />Don’t lie I know you’re only idling<br />Divert yourself in the taste of the day<br />You know I know you are only hiding<br /><br />Angels timely sent<br />Keep getting lost in the noise that is maze<br />Blind to dreams even deaf to body<br />Fate is left to the hands of the clock</div>