Rise and Shine!

Okay, so if I say the word “diner,” do you know what I’m talking about?  If not, go here and/or here.

And now: back to Joni-Fest.  If you were to draw a family tree for the musical heritage of any of today’s singer/songwriters, the trunk would inevitably be labelled “Joni.”  No joke.  One of the most powerful aspects of her legacy is the layers that are in her songs – layers of metaphor and imagery in the lyrics, and layer upon layer of sound in the music.  She is the only artist whom I have never pressed “Fast Forward” on when she comes on the shuffle in my playlists – after several decades of (near obsessive) listening, there is always more to hear.  Check it: 

Steps:

1.  Outer Space

• materials
• remove or turn off distractions
• clear workspace

2.  Inner Space

• body relaxed but aware (this takes a little time)
• connect to breath (so does this)
• clear head

3.  This is an interpretive drawing.

Draw yourself, Ivan Brunetti-style, as a waitress in a diner.  

What are you doing?

What are you saying?

What are you thinking?

You have three minutes – go!

4.  Look at your image – did you follow the criteria?

5.  Title: Joni Mitchell – “Barangrill”

6.  Date it.

7.  Email it to me today, or save it to send on Friday.

Now, how can you set yourself up for a successful, productive day?  

If you’re interested, there’s more info about “Barangrill” here – which is from the album For the Roses.  Fun fact: the photo on the cover of the album was taken at Joni’s home in Halfmoon Bay, which is over on the Sunshine Coast.  Don’t you wish you could write “Halfmoon Bay” as your address? 

For the Roses was mainly about Joni’s increasingly ambivalent relationship to fame.  If you want to get blown away by her guitar work, her use of consonants to create images, and her ability to seemingly bend time in a song, take a trip over here. In my opinion, the misty quality of the archival footage adds a whole other layer; it kind of makes this like being sung to by a ghost…

See you at 10:00!

PS: “Joni Mitchell.”  Is it working, yet? 

Morning.

This week it’s going to be all Joni Mitchell all the time.

You may remember from Term Two that we drew to the original version of one of this Canadian goddess’s most famous songs, “Both Sides Now,” and then later we drew again to the version she did about three decades later, when her voice was about three octaves lower.  

Joni is widely considered, along with Bob Dylan, the most influential singer-songwriter of all time.  My hope is that by the end of this week you will understand why, and that whenever anyone anywhere says the words “Joni Mitchell,” you will stop whenever it is that you are doing and reflexively do this: 

Steps:

1.  Outer Space

• materials
• remove or turn off distractions
• clear workspace

2.  Inner Space

• body relaxed but aware (this takes a little time)
• connect to breath (so does this)
• clear head

3.  This is an interpretive drawing.

What is your experience of Time?  Draw that.

Start when the music starts, and then keep your pencil moving for the entire length of the song; stop when the music stops.

4.  Title: Joni Mitchell: “The Circle Game.”

5.  Date it.  

6.  I am going to ask that you send me all five of the Index Card Drawings we do this week.  You can either do that one at a time, each day, or you can send me all five on Friday – your choice.

Now, how will you use this time productively while you wait for our Class Meeting to start?  Perhaps a goal journal entry?  Perhaps a check-in with your The Black Cauldron partner(s), helping each other set realistic goals for the day?  Perhaps draw faces and hands until you can’t stand it anymore?  Maybe check Fridays virtual HW sheet to see if you missed any key items?  Maybe sit in silent awe of what you just heard?

See you at 10:00!

ps: You can find more information about “The Circle Game” here, at jonimitchell.com; this site is a lesson in Depth and Complexity. No joke.  

pps: “Joni Mitchell.” 

Morning.

Steps:

1.  Outer Space

• materials
• remove or turn off distractions
• clear workspace

2.  Inner Space

• body relaxed but aware (this takes a little time)
• connect to breath (so does this)
• clear head

3.  This is a copying drawing.

Choose:

• sketch out the entire image, calmly and purposefully – fill in with detail if you have time
  or
• zoom in on one aspect and draw it in detail, aiming for precision

This is another Margaret Jones illustration from The Mabinogion, “The Cauldron of Rebirth” (sound familiar?).

If you want a higher res version that you can zoom in on, right-click on this to open it in a new tab or window after you get the music going. 

4.  Before you begin drawing, press “Play” in the YouTube window below to listen to what is, in my opinion, one of the most sublime pieces of music ever – the 3rd Movement of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 – played by one of the greatest concert pianists ever, Leon Fleisher, with one of the best orchestras of its time, the Cleveland Orchestra, led by one of the world’s best conductors, George Szell.  (Shout out to those heartbreaking cello solos by Jules Eskin! Wow!). This is why you put in all those hours on the bench, otaku. 

Now stop reading this, press play, scroll back up, and start drawing.  Start when the music starts, and kept your pencil moving until the music ends, then stop. 

Deep breath.  Go. 

5.  Date it.

6.  You do not need to email it to me, but we will look at it later.  If it’s loose paper, file it somewhere organized and safe. 

Is there anything in “The Cauldron of Rebirth” image that might be useful for your The Black Cauldron work?  Do you want to practice more of it, or save it/print it/file it?

And now that you’re at it, perhaps consider writing down your schedule for the day.  We’re going to try to do crossword puzzles, so Class Meeting might go until around 12:00 or so, depending on how clever y’all are.  

Bring it. 

See you at 10:00!

Morning.

Steps:

1.  Outer Space

• materials
• distractions removed (anything that might buzz or ping or flash turned off)
• clear workspace

2.  Inner Space

• body relaxed
• connect to your breath
• clear head

3.  This is an interpretive drawing. 

What is one possible way that our society or our way of being might be changed for the better by this present experience?  Draw that.  Keep your pencil moving for the entire five minutes.

Doing > thinking.  

This is the music to play while you do that – start when it starts; stop when it’s over:

4.  Take a look at your work without judgement.  Did you answer the question that was asked?  Is there anything you need to add to make your intention or meaning clear to an outside observer?  Labels, thinking bubbles, captions, etc?  

5.  Date it.

6.  Take a clear photo. 

7.  Email it to me before the class meeting.

And hopefully you’re now feeling sufficiently groovy enough to start a relaxed and purposeful day.  

See you at 10:00! 

If you can, bring a calculator or a phone with a calculator app, or have a calculator up on your computer screen.  Get ready to work with some data sets, kids!

PS: The music is Erykah Badu.  Actually, her full name (or part of it) is Erykah Badu also known as Medulla Oblongata also known as Sara Bellum also known as Annie also known as Analog Girl In A Digital World also known as Maria Mexico also known as Lowdown Loretta Brown. 

Don’t you wish you had a name like that?  What would your version be? 

That will be our Check-In question!

This isn’t a dream.  Follow me toward your index card drawing prompt.

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Okay, now that we’re here, take a moment to still your mind.  Actually.

And now, calmly and purposefully, practice reading instructions carefully.  Do the steps in order, one by one.  Actually.

Steps:

Outer Space

1. Remove distractions.  This includes turning off notifications and text alerts. 

2.  Clear off your workspace.

3.  Prepare your materials: sharp pencil, comp book, a sense of focus.

Inner Space

1. Relax your body.  Start at the top of your head and end with the tips of your toes.

2. Take an extended moment to focus on your breath and try to get into that calm and friendly place Lynda Barry says images are attracted to.  

When You’re Ready

1.  Draw an index card-sized frame.  Dare yourself to do it without a ruler.  Breathe through the discomfort. ; )

2.  Your job is to copy the below image of a Welsh countryside.

You need to draw the entire image within the time limit – six and a half minutes – calmly, without getting OCD about any one particular area.  

If you want to challenge yourself, try to capture as much detail as possible while still capturing the whole picture.  Think lines of a map.  Think spatial relationships. 

Let go of perfect.  Capture the place. 

When you are ready, press “Play” in the YouTube window below the image to drift on a cloud the sublime Sabine Meyer playing the 2nd Movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic: an old classroom classic. 

Keep your pencil in motion for the entire six and a half minutes; stop when the music stops. 

This is the image:

This is the music:

3.  Date your image and add the title: “Welsh Countryside.”

You do not need to send me this drawing, but file it somewhere safe: we will look at it when we do one-on-one conferences a little later in the term. 

Now, reread the instructions and look at your drawing.  Did you do what was asked of you?  Did you miss any of the instructions by mistake? 

Is there anything in this image that might be useful for your The Black Cauldron work?

Next:

Consider making a checklist for the day and/or checking yesterday’s homework sheet (did you forget anything?).  

See you at 10:00.  It will be a slightly shorter meeting that usual as I have a staff meeting at 11:00.

Until then, tootles.

PS: I once asked two clarinetists with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra what the best recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto was (this is not how most of my conversations go) – they looked at each other and then said, at the same time, “Sabine Meyer. Abbado.”

Welcome back. 

Steps:

External Space

1.  Find somewhere you can work uninterrupted.

2.  Gather your materials: comp book, pencil, a willing spirit.

3.  Clear off your work space.

4.  Draw an index card-sized frame on your page.

Inner Space

1.  Relax your body.

2.  Take an extended moment to focus on your breath.

3.  Press “Play” below to hear two great tastes that taste great together: Simply Red’s mid-80s British soul-pop hit sung by the heart-filling Angie Stone, lynchpin of the neo-soul movement that slid across the late 1990’s into the early years of the 2000s.

What are you willing to wait for?

Draw whatever this is in detail, keeping your pencil in motion for the entire 8-minutes. Label the important details.

Date it.  Give it a title.  Email it to me. 

What could you do from now until our meeting that would be productive and set you up for a relaxed and efficient day?

See you at 10:00! 

PS: From The New Yorker:

“On my island, I can live out my wildest dreams!”

So, the challenge is on: a full “sit,” guided by Dr. James Maskalyk.  This is open to family members, too! (Not required!)

Set aside about 45 minutes.  Have your comp book handy.  Read this whole post before beginning.  

I’ve cued up the video to begin just before the guided meditation starts; you are more than welcome to dial it back to the beginning and listen to a report on life in the ER and in Toronto from about two weeks back, if you want the full ride, but that is optional. 

Steps:

1.  Find a place where you will be uninterrupted for about 45 minutes – let your family know you’ll need time and space.

2.  Establish a comfortable sitting position – something upright and alert, but also something you can maintain for an extended period of time.  This could be lotus position (if you are bendy and used to sitting that way) or crossed-legged, or in a comfy chair (we’re not jealous at all, Ancie and The REAL Maya, really we’re not) (okay, we’re totally jealous), or seated upright on a sofa with your legs stretched out in front of you. Make sure you have something soft under your butt, but not so soft that your posture collapses – think rug, yoga mat, a towel folded in half, etc.

3.  Have your comp book and a pencil or pen beside you.

4.  If you are doing this alone, you may want to use headphones.

5.  Press “Play” on the above video and listen to the introductory ideas (don’t get hypnotized by the groovy t-shirt!).

6.  There are four bells during the sit – one to start, one at the halfway mark, one three minutes before the end, and one at the end.  Use those bells like we use the chime in class before reading or writing: open up your hearing and listen all the way to the end of the tone.  When the first bell starts, close your eyes and do your best to keep your eyes closed for the duration of the sit.

7.  “All” you have to do is focus on your breathing, and follow the instructions from Dr. Maskalyk.  When distracting thoughts come up, acknowledge them, and then let them drift away.  Watch your thoughts passively rather than analyze them.  Try to avoid “should” thinking.  Allow what happens to happen.  

8.  If you lose focus or get caught up in your thoughts, forgive yourself, and then go back to breathing in through your nose, noticing the sensation of the air entering your nostrils and the feeling of expansion in your chest and/or belly, and then the release of the breath and the feeling of emptiness.

9.  If you are struck by inspiration during the sit, make a quick note in your comp book and then close your eyes again and go back to focusing on your breath.

10.  There are many periods of extended silence during the video – just keep breathing.

11.  For some of you, this time will pass in the blink of an eye; for others, it will feel like an eternity.  Both responses – and anything in between – are totally natural and acceptable.

When you are done:

• make notes in your comp book about what stood out for you in the experience – things Dr. Maskalyk said, images that drifted into your mind, what your body felt like, your emotional response, etc.
• Post at least one comment using “Leave a Reply” below, using your class name.  Feel free to build on others’ comments.  Possible ideas:
  – what were the positive aspects of this experience?
  – many cultures and traditions have some form of meditation practice at their core, going back millennia in time – why do you think this is so?
  – how might this mindfulness practice be useful to you in your life?  What aspects of it might be helpful for you?  When might you use it?
  – connections to Wagamese and/or our work in mindset?
  – what images floated through your mind during the sit?
  – how did you feel afterward?

Please complete this by Monday evening, including posting your comment(s), and bring your ideas to share in our Class Meeting Tuesday!

(PS: I believe most people engage with Dr. Maskalyk’s guided meditations through facebook, but there are a few more uploaded on YouTube that you can explore if you like!)

Wakey, wakey, y’all.  (Somebody text Obi: tell him to wake up Donkey!) 

Steps: 

1.   Think about your external space.  What do you need to do to get ready?

• find a place where you can work uninterrupted
• get your materials: comp book or paper, pencil, willing fingers, a slow, calm mind
• clear off your work space as a visual cue for your mind to also clear space

2.  Think about your inner space.  What do you need to do to get ready?

• relax your body
• slow down your breathing
• be willing to let what happens happen without judgement.

3.  Draw an index card-sized frame.

4.  Press “Play” below to listen to the unworldly beauty of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers.  This is what I imagine the Children of the Evening sound like when they sing for King Eiddileg in The Book of Three.

5.  Copy the image below.  You only have four minutes to do so – what do you need to draw in order to capture the essence of this place?  Try to do so with some degree of precision and calmness.  Think about lines.  What kinds of lines are here? Where does one line end and the next begin?  

5.  Put today’s date outside the frame of your drawing (inside the frame is okay if you have actual index cards). 

You do not need to email me your work.  At some point this term we will do one-on-one conferences; I’ll ask to see your drawings, so if you’re working on loose paper, file it somewhere organized and safe.

See you at 10:00!  

PS: the photo is of the countryside outside Milford Haven in Wales. You’re welcome. 

The picks are in.  Hmmmm…. can you spot the pattern?

Remember: no spoilers!

Rise and shine, y’all.  Who fell asleep with visions of cheesecake dancing in their heads (or, alternatively, things covered in plastic in the microwave…)?  Who cares if it’s a pie or a cake, I just want some. 

One thing to keep in mind as we start our day: reading instructions.  Remember what we talked about yesterday – the need to calm your mind before you begin reading so that you get all of the information you need instead of just quickly jumping on what you think the task is, and then the need to reread the instructions when you think you’re done, so that you can confirm you didn’t miss anything.  Let’s practice that right now : )

Steps:

1.  Find a place where you can focus and where you will not be interrupted. 

2.  Clear off your work space.

3.  Prepare your materials: comp book, pencil, bravery, a calm mind.

4.  Take an extended moment to focus on your breathing.

5.  Draw an index card-sized frame on your page.

6.  Press “Play” below to start the late, great Bill Withers singing “Lean On Me,” and then draw you, Ivan Brunetti-style, telling your The Black Cauldron partner(s), also drawn in Ivan Brunetti-style, something you appreciate about them (for reals). 

Rules:

• full bodies
• faces visible
• keep your pencil in motion for the entire four and a half minutes – consider things like details in clothing or personal objects, setting, thinking bubbles, abstraction to suggest atmosphere, mood, or emotion (not required, but if you need to fill the time)

Go!

When you are done, write today’s date on the outside of your frame.  Take a picture and send it to you partner(s), and send the picture to me as well.

Now that you’re done and you’re in a focused state of mind, consider using that calm energy to get a jumpstart on the school day.  Maybe reread yesterday’s virtual Homework Sheet and create a checklist for yourself.  Perhaps write down your schedule for the day.  Consider practicing your drawing and printing skills for The Black Cauldron.  

See you at 10:00.  Who can get the conversation rolling in the pre-meeting wait-time?  Is it you?

Looking forward to hearing the next exciting instalment of The Microwave Diaries,

Prof. G.B. 

The results (hover over an image to pause the slideshow):

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