SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THINKING, AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CINEMA

Reflections from our London blogger, Martin Huxter. We welcome "a little Brit musing" as was welcomed by all, Mozart's Eine klein nacht muzik ( from this editor, a little play on words; a little night music. . . . . . . )

Just reflecting on the better moments of my life so far, it would be a fair evaluation to say that many of those moments involved very little thought; "going with the flow" as people often say. Don't get me wrong, a feeling of connection with the world often comes from a certain degree of thinking about our situations we find ourselves in, but is there anything to be said for the argument that too much thinking can lead to insanity. There is a thin line between insanity and genius but are these conscequences of two very different schools of thought? From reading some of Anthony Peake's work alone it can be argued that individuals suffering from Schizophrenia for example, are experiencing an overload of influence from the Daemon, but could it also be argued that too much thought from the Eidolon will little Daemon guidence results in mental sickness? A wanderer with little guidence is much more likely to get lost perhaps?



Over analytical characters are the most interesting characters throughout all forms of entertainment, indeed, my favourite film HurlyBurly provides much insight to this. The main character learning that his hedonistic ways will lead to nothing but trying to find answers in the wrong place. So could it be said that it's not the amount of thinking that we commit ourselves to, but indeed, the value of the thought we give things? Then there's good ol' Holden Caulfield, perhaps one of the most popular "over-thinkers" in literary history. Why is it we adore sweet Holden so much? Holden clearly has an unhealthy mind, but there is something admirable and enjoyable about the way he thinks that millions have related to over the years. It's much more than just simple adolesance, it's coming to terms with the world and finding a way to cope with all the things that repulse us so much. In the Legend of Baggar Vance, a struggling alcoholic and golfer is trying to find his form again. Matt Damon's character learns how there is one perfect shot for every hole, allowing himself to become one with everything he is able to find this "perfect shot" This has been applied to all sorts of sports, throughout film in particular. As i've mentioned several times before, Basketball players descibe being "In the zone" as when they hit a certain rhythm that allows them to excell to standards above and beyond their competitors by just being in the moment and letting things happen. If you still believe thinking too much can be such a bad thing, then you need look no further than the performance of the England Football squad during those wonderful moments of penalties over the years! Even things as simple as planning a New Years eve celebration, too much thought, expectation and planning seems to put people off this holiday now, where as a spontanious evening that cathches us off guard seems to spark a great deal of pleasure in our often conditioned and routined lives.

This is clearly just a very superficial thing to point out but how do you all feel about this? Think about some of the best times on your life, did they come from feeling one with the elements, did they come from acheiving something through application of thought? Clearly there are times we experience both, but is there any link between these two very different ways of behaving and the Eidolon/Daemon roles we have observed?

Much like with the double-slit experiment where the act of observing effects the outcome, too much thought has blocked our ability to feel a oneness with the elements and just be. "Clear your mind" - At the same time, it's trite cliche that gets over used in movies! But also, it is practiced in Yoga and many forms of meditation that prove to be very beneficial.

Just a thought.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend. - Bruce Lee