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The Transparent Grail
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 4:59 pm
by witty_owl
The Transparent Grail.
I drain my glass and ponder the blood-red stain adhering to the rim.
This stain on the transparent grail mirrors the unholy stain on my soul- on our soul, the corruption of a wound that denies healing.
A dark moon that denies a-feeling.
A bright boon denied the seeing.
A paradigm revolution denied the being.
And so the infantile ape clings to the comfort zone of shadow and myth; suckled by the promise of ethereal reward.
Suckered by professors, priests and plunderers.
Divide and rule; the same old school; the alienated fool.
But, the frontal cortex- always growing is a two edged sword.
As integration arises from the compassionate word;
The inner voice of feathered and furred.
Identity shift from self to herd.
A synthesis to a new kind of world---
When corruption is cleansed by the searing light of a new Sun.
J.W. 2004.
Regards, Witty Owl.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:09 pm
by George.Wright
Nice observations, witt. Seems to have been over a few glasses of Oz's best!!!
The transparent grail would pehaps mirror your soul?
Georges
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 4:18 am
by witty_owl
George, I am trying (probably unsuccessfully) to say something indirectly.
The reference is to our soul. I am trying to come to grips with a problem that confronts us all by bringing it back to myself.
Cheers, Witty.
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 9:48 am
by LaurieAK
Witty~ If i am reading this correctly, I have trouble with the overall cynical pose applied to our souls in this piece. Maybe it is not how i am interpreting it?
Poetically i like your metaphors and condensed ideas to get the message across...but i think we are as perfect as we can be till we take another breath. You know that expression, "Think globally, act locally"? It applies to our inner dialogue too.
Thanks for sharing. I like the poem...just have a bit of trouble with the message (i think!?!) regards, L
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:59 am
by George.Wright
Rebound and reflection, Witt. As we all view life through our senses, we must relate to higher experiences OURSELVES. To listen to others in this regard is hearsay.
Nice poem, reminds me of the crimson regret expressed by evanescence (a new Goth Band).
The Grail being transparent allows us to see through it but it also reflects.
Best Regards......Georges
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 1:08 am
by witty_owl
Laurie, I like your notion that we are as perfect as we can be till the next breath.
Certainly my intention is not to apply a cynical pose to our souls. I am being matter of fact. If we consider that our soul is the collective memory we have as a species of the time when we lived selflessly, harmoniously, lovingly and relatively free of conflict. When we were not burdened with the psychological stain of guilt, sin, regret, loss, lies etc. When we were functioning in a denial free state. Not alienated as a race. A time before the human condition corrupted our ability to see truth.
Regards, Witty Owl.
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 1:59 am
by LaurieAK
Hi Witty~ Thanks for your response and explanation. You seem to have a pointed, well thought out philosophy(?) in regards to mankind's existence.
In my philosphy, there is no stain or crime of sin. We cannot be unattached to that which we ultimately came. Simply, we would have to have been invented as sinful from a sinful source to be 'guilty' of the corruption you speak of. The difference btwn flesh and the existence we encounter without flesh...is not a case of better or worse...enlightened or unenlighted...each state provides a 'gift' the other cannot.
Very differing points of view we have. As a matter of faith, it is 'whatever gets ya through the night' far as i'm concerned.
Peace, Laurie
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 4:25 am
by Kush
The reference is to our soul. I am trying to come to grips with a problem that confronts us all by bringing it back to myself.
Speak for yourself man !! I have no problem with my soul.

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 3:43 am
by witty_owl
Kush, I am glad that you feel you have no problem with your "soul". However, "no man is an island".
Laurie, in many repects I agree entirely with what you say. Personally I do not accept the notion of "guilt" and "sin" that plagues our species and is so heavily asserted by traditional churches that needs redemption.
A writer does not neccessarily always express their own personal viewpoint through song poetry etc. but sometimes observations on the perspective of others. In this case I am attempting to express the viewpoint of an author I am reading and thus condense into a few lines what has taken someone else many pages to write in prose.
Griffith is saying that we have a nerve based behaviour controller (consiousness, memory) and a gene based behaviour controller (instinct).
He is saying (I think) that the corruption of our soul (collective memory of the ideal state) occurs (sin exists) due to the inner conflict of these two differing behaviour controllers. This problem is unique to humans because we have such a sophisticated consciousness. Animals generally do not experience this conflict for they happily, unconsciously respond to instinct when they act.
Over the past 2 million years since our consciousness first became significant in determining our behaviour many red herrings have emerged, particularly in the realm of belief but we wont go into that for it would take far too much time to discuss on a website. Sufficient to say; there is a problem, as the 6 o'clock news on any day demonstrates. Where humans really differ is why and how to fix it. Griffith asserts there is a biological explanation for this bane (human condition, alienation) and when it is clearly understood then most of our appalling behaviour will simply fall away. This seems a long bow to draw but he may be right.
Regards, Witty Owl