The happiness quotient
“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the object it loves.” Carl Jung
The most interesting things happen at the edges of things here at headquarters, where (rumor has it) I’ve uttered ‘You had me at ‘permaculture’’ to potential suitors. One of the hardcore maxims here at HQ says ‘if you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.’ It takes guts to play at the edge, and lucky for me, I’m not short on ballsyness (as noted by the legendary chemistry lab reports I wrote back in the day).
Based on the premise that life is a big art project and fearless creative play is the dynamic operating model of the universe – an artist-warrior needs the resilience of patience, practice, preparation and play to dance with uncertainty and spontaneity as it co-arises at the ever-expansive edges of experience.
The only map is an interactive space of feeling, perception and the keen attunement to the rhythm of one’s heart. (Or, as Robert Burns wrote: “…in unison or harmony with the cogitations of my fancy and the workings in my bosom.”)
The path is original and bold, blazing new routes and spilling over boundaries in an aliveness that happens to things in the co-creatively in the infinite magic of life. Art happens at these edges of chaos and order, brought to life by the spirit of play engaged with the beloved things of the sensuous body electric.
