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NAVIGATION

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GEIFN | MIXING | Media | May 2022

Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Islamic calendar year 1443–1444.

Sharing a timely aspiration:

“Polish the heart every day. When the heart is polished every day, it’s bound to shine. And when the heart is shining, you’re bound to see your reflection, just as when water is clear you see clearly whatever plants or animals there are in the water.
Once the heart is still, you’ll be able to see whatever poisons or dangers it contains much more easily than when it’s murky and turbulent with defiling preoccupations.”
Attributed to Luangta Maha Boowa (1913-2011 CE)

If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:

Remember, information may contain misunderstandings, deliberate omissions and complete fabrications. Accept nothing blindly. Test for usefulness: if useful keep; adapt for personal circumstances if necessary; or if unuseful discard. Be your own guiding light.

The following monthly curation from publicly available information is offered below for consideration.


Topics

  1. Guest Sings
  2. Street Jives
  3. Wisdom Reconciles
  4. Media Writes
  5. TED Talks
  6. Music Challenges
  7. Acknowledgments

    1. Guest Sings

    Approx 5 min presentation

    4. Media Writes

    Approx 5 min reads

    Intro
    Jane Rocca explores identity, agency, diversity and other reasons why "Shanina Shaik: ‘I had to go overseas to feel accepted’” via The Age

    Carla Jaeger explores identity, ability and diversity when "‘I sort of hate my able-bodied alter ego’: comedian Alistair Baldwin on the misconception of ability” via The Sydney Morning Herald

    Genevieve Quigley explores identity, representation and visibility going "From refugee camp to television star - the inspiring life of Barons’ Jillian Nguyen” via The Age


    Intra
    Damien Woolnough explores place, other and emerging with "Atong Atem: I grew up knowing my features are something ‘other’ in white Australia” via The Sydney Morning Herald

    Susan Horsburgh explores migration, building character and familial experience, recounting the time their Mother said "‘You want sex? I’ll kill you’: the capers that bonded these 90-year-old twins” via The Brisbane Times

    Elli Jacobs explores reconciling divisive pasts with sincerity and fraternity, revealing "What happened when these Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot mates took a long walk” via The Age


    Inter
    Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Politics, Bodies and Death with "Comedian Dilruk Jayasinha: from childhood obesity to running 42km” via The Sydney Morning Herald

    Millie Muroi explores fleeing violence and disadvantage for brighter futures, revealing "The ‘heartbreaking’ photos that won an Australian the World Photography Award” via WA Today

    Sue Williams explores facing reality, improving worker conditions and growing a sustainable workforce for modern times with "Agriculture workers: Taking steps to solve a labour shortage” via commercialrealestate.com.au


    Multi
    Megan Backhouse explores gardening, personality and flourishing when meeting "The duo redefining what it means to be a ‘modern gardener’” via The Age

    Billie Eder explores historical gender biases, increasing visibility and creating pathways to enter, reasons how "Just 3% of tradies are women. Hacia is doing something about it” via The Age

    Katina Curtis explores origin stories, ideals and reality and other reasons "How does your vote work, and why are some worth more than others?” via The Brisbane Times


    All
    Carla Jaeger explores activity, legacy and accounting for "Colonisation and environmental loss the focus of winning World Press Photos” via The Brisbane Times

    Amanda Hooton explores a scientific method, personal dedication and mind-changing fiction, citing "Why the world’s greatest mind mapper wrote a novel” via The Age

    Sophie Aubrey explores time proven anxiety hacks that work for different individuals, citing "Breathe, talk, run: 5 peoples’ tips for managing your anxiety” via The Sydney Morning Herald


    Togather
    Tim Elliott explores personal identity, nationalism and rationalism describing why "‘I feel I have blood on my hands’: the Russian locals protesting the Ukraine war” via WA Today

    Nick Miller explores identity, diagnosis and management, playing for laughs when "‘It’s about hope’: comedians turn mental health woes into comedy gold” via The Age

    Megan Backhouse explores valuing planting interest, sharing and belonging – all beneficial reasons why "The best way to get to know plants? Join the club” via The Age


    Nobly
    Wendy Tuohy explores fleeing violence, overcoming obstacles and being received with open arms, citing how "Yana and her family fled Ukraine into the arms of loving strangers in Parkdale” via The Sydney Morning Herald

    Debi Enker explores catastrophe, collaboration and cooperation are key to overcoming adversity how "Devastated by bushfires, one town let the cameras in as they rebuilt” via The Sydney Morning Herald

    Miki Perkins explores the ongoing results of collaborations between scientists, volunteers and allied organisations citing "The parrot clawing its way back from the brink, one nest at a time” via The Age

    6. Music Challenges

    Approx 30 min presentation + reflection times

    If desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection. 

    For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.

    Get ready to Reflect!
    Choose your playing level:
    Be introduced at 1.
    Be soothed at 2-4.
    Be shocked at 5.
    Be inspired at 6.
    Fuller illumination 1-6.
    You be the judge. Or not.

    Cryptic Clue:
    How to deal with unwanted change in the every day?
    1. Inspire
    2. Perspire
    3. Collaborate
    4. Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
    5. Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
    6. Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
    This challenge reflects on attributes of practice – water, significance, muddiness and constituents.

    water
    [wore’ter]
    From Old English wæter (noun), wæterian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch water, German Wasser, from an Indo-European root shared by Russian voda; also by Latin unda = wave; and Greek hudōr = water.
    1. a colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. Ie, sodium chloride dissolves in water. Ie, can I have a drink of water? 
    2. a supply delivered to houses or commercial establishments through pipes and taps. Ie, each bedroom has a washbasin with hot and cold water. Ie, water pipes. 
    3. tides, waves, and other flowing water as a source of energy from which power for domestic or industrial use may be generated. Ie, this involves the exploration of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and water. 
    4. one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to the nature of the signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces). Ie, (as modifier) a water sign. 
    5. (usually the waters) the water of a mineral spring as used medicinally for bathing in or drinking. Ie, you can take the waters at the Pump Room. 
    6. (with modifier) a solution of a specified substance in water. Ie, ammonia water. 
    7. (Scientifcally) Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen (chemical formula: H2O) with highly distinctive physical and chemical properties: it is able to dissolve many other substances; its solid form (ice) is less dense than the liquid form; its boiling point, viscosity, and surface tension are unusually high for its molecular weight, and it is partially dissociated into hydrogen and hydroxyl ions.
    8. (the water) a stretch or area of water, such as a river, sea, or lake. Ie, the lawns ran down to the water's edge. 
    9. the surface of an area of water. Ie, the swimmer ducked under the water. 
    10. (as a modifier) found in, on, or near areas of water. Ie, a water plant like the Lotus.
    11. (waters) the water of a particular sea, river, or lake. Ie, the waters of Port Phillip Bay. Ie, the government are taking us into unknown waters with these changes in the legislation. 
    12. (waters) an area of sea regarded as under the jurisdiction of a particular country. Ie, Australian coastal waters. 
    13. (Biology) urine. Ie drinking alcohol will make you need to pass water more often. 
    14. (Midwifery) the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged in a flow shortly before birth. Ie, I think my waters have broken. 
    15. (Gemmology) the quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem. 
    16. (Finance) capital stock that represents a book value greater than the true assets of a company. 
    17. pour or sprinkle water over (a plant or area) in order to encourage plant growth. Ie, I went out to water the geraniums. 
    18. give a drink of water to (an animal), Ie, they stopped to water the horses. 
    19. (of a river) flow through (an area of land). Ie, the valley is watered by the River Murray. 
    20. take a fresh supply of water on board (a ship or steam train). Ie, the ship was watered and fresh livestock taken aboard. 
    21. (of a person's eyes) fill with tears. Ie, the witness blinked, with eyes watering. 
    22. (of a person's mouth) produce saliva, typically in response to the sight or smell of appetizing food. Ie, the smell of frying bacon made the child's mouth water. 
    23. (with object) dilute or adulterate (a drink, typically an alcoholic one) with water. Ie, staff at the club had been watering down the drinks. 
    24. (water something down) make a statement or proposal less forceful or controversial by changing or leaving out certain details. Ie, the army's report of its investigation was considerably watered down. 
    25. (Finance) increase (a company's debt, or nominal capital) by the issue of new shares without a corresponding addition to assets.

    significance
    [sihg’nihf’ih’kence]
    From late Middle English (denoting unstated meaning): from Old French, or from Latin significantia, from significare = indicate, portend.
    1. the quality of being worthy of attention; importance. Ie, adolescent education was felt to be a social issue of some significance. 
    2. the meaning to be found in words or events. Ie, the significance of what was happening was clearer to some than to others. 
    3. (Statistics) the extent to which a result deviates from that expected to arise simply from random variation or errors in sampling.

    muddiness
    [mud’ee’ness]
    From late Middle English: probably from Middle Low German mudde =  soft, sticky matter resulting from the mixing of earth and water + -ness = denoting a state or condition.
    1. state of being covered in or full of mud. Ie, they wore the muddiness of their uniforms as testament to their prowess on the field. 
    2. not bright or clear; dirty-looking. Ie, the original colours were blurred into muddiness of pink and yellow. 
    3. (of a sound, especially in music) not clearly defined. Ie, an awful muddiness in sound production rendered the singer's vocals incoherent. 
    4. confused, vague, or illogical. Ie, some sentences have such muddiness that the author’s meaning can only be guessed. 
    5. (some thing) covered or filled with mud. Ie, the linoleum flooring was damaged from the muddiness left behind by the receding flood waters. 
    6. (some thing) made hard or harder to understand. Ie, the previous year's results’ muddiness are the exception rather than the rule so are best to be ignored.

    constituents
    [con’stih’chew’ents]
    From late 15th century (as a noun denoting a person who appoints another as agent): from Latin constituent- (partly via French constituant = establishing, appointing, from the verb constituere from con- = together + statuere = set up.
    1. being a part of a whole. Ie, the constituent minerals of the rock. Ie, the essential constituents of the human diet.
    2. being a voting member of an organization and having the power to appoint or elect. Ie, the constituent body has a right of veto. 
    3. able to make or change a political constitution. Ie, a constituent assembly. 
    4. a member of an area which elects a representative to a legislative body. Ie, the MP is playing on the constituents' sense of regional identity to win votes.
    [Practice]

    Optional
    -- Chant Mantrastyle

    Throughout life, we must navigate one of the essential elements of living that is water, whether it be present or absent, fresh rain or salted oceans, drinkable or polluted, rising flood water or trailing tears. Its significance, muddiness and constituents are subjective and in the mind of the beholder. Growing understanding of context, changing conditions and individual responsibility is a key to unlocking any circumstances.
    Why? Why not?
    Start today. 
    As the case may be.
    Or not.
    Same Difference Equals


    7. Acknowledgments

    Reconciliation
    Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.

    Invitation to Support Content Creators
    The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.

    Caretaker Disclosure
    Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.

    This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. As each case may be. Or not.

    It is not personal, it just the way things are.

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