Oddly, here I was sitting in my reading chair, avoiding going out in the rain to feed the livestock, when I thought, it is about time PK sent out some kind of update. After a few minutes I wandered into the room where my computer sits, fired it up to see if the weather app confirmed what my eyes told me, that it was raining. While doing that I checked my email. Thanks for that, PK. Now I have more things to read while avoiding my duties. Cheers,
Thanks Paul! To "For all the horrors of the Internet..." I'd add "for all the anonymity of the internet.." even though there is more feedback/interaction on substack than on say releasing audio podcasts (where there is none), you only see the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Am writing purely to emphasise that your words, your smorgasbord of ideas spreads far and wide and not just the ideas for the fellow-traveller-ness of sharing your journey through the civilisational ruins. This heart connection and sense that us fellow, if atomised, travelers are not alone existentially. Historically of course society based in space rather than cyberspace meant one was physically close to others - now the people we are "close" to we will most likely never see.
Long story short just to emphasise what I am sure you know but it never hurts to send gratitude and praise - thank you for making us less existentially lonely in a time of division, decline and fall. Live long and prosper.
At the very end you mention Freedom to Care circles. I have been to two, looking forward to the 3rd one this Saturday. For anyone who is pushed to the brink- by the gaslighting, by the lies, by the uncertainty, by fear-- come! For anyone who has discovered that the only thing we know for sure, is the wisdom of our heart, come!
Thank you, Paul. As one who routinely expands my (Orthodox) parish's website with "festal resource pages" filled with loads of embedded links for further reading, I appreciate the occasional gift of these collections from you. Imbued as they are with hope and purpose, they are always welcomed!
Thank you Paul! I would be very interested to see any recommendations you have for children’s literature, and education in general. Like many parents, I am newly embarked on a homeschool adventure. It is wonderful, but can be stressful now that you’ve convinced me to turn such a critical eye on the stories we tell!
"For all the horrors of the Internet, this little e-cosystem is throwing up some interesting writers and thinkers who are challenging the assumptions of the Machine."
This is true, and something I hoped would happen. To that end, I thought I'd give your friend Martin Shaw a go. St. Brendan the Navigator is an excellent place to start. I keep telling myself, "at some point, I'm going to have to leave the faux-adventure of the virtual world completely and take all the good things I've learned with me, and see what, if anything, can help restore wildness, connection and sanity."
What is our equivalent of St. Brendan's voyage in the hypermediated, atomized postmodern metamachine world? It can't simply be that of leaving comments on the internet? But does it have to be so literally a physical voyage? That's probably the least of it. I say this, alas, as I am not so young. But what is it?
I think about the book I've mentioned, The Inner Restoration of Christianity. I think that is a good candidate. But a lonely one for many of us. How to share the inner path with others? Where are the guides? Are we on our own?
Hi Paul, I’ll be very interested in what you write about Deneen’s “Why Liberalism Failed.” I finished it a couple of weeks ago and have suffered many sleepless nights since wondering if I harbor the wrong analysis of virtually everything. I find his premises and his critiques hard to argue against. However, I also fear where his take-down leads: are we flirting with a kind of Christian authoritarianism/fascism to replace liberalism? I’ve watched a lot of Deneen’s talks recently, and while I don’t hear evidence from him directly that he’s pursuing such ends, a lot of his fellow post-liberal writers are much more explicit that they are. Deneen is writing a new book that visits Aristotle’s political philosophies, so that ought to be an interesting addition that may fill in more of the blanks he left with his scathing critique. But, I’m very interested in what you make of the possibilities that could replace, or strongly amend, liberalism. Like you, I’ve been a longtime fan of Wendell Berry, and I know there’s much in that worldview to recommend returning to localism. I am, however, unclear how such a move would also impact people who have been at least politically and socially freed by liberalism (such as myself, having a serious disability). Please consider taking that head-on!
Thanks! I look forward to some great reading. A new Sub that is, I think, challenging the assumptions of the Machine is HumbleKnowledge.substack.com It is exploring how we do and should think about what we can know. This matters when we are faced by a Machine that assumes its own omniscience.
Thanks for your writing once more. Regarding the course where you will be teaching, a general remark: entry to the US is not allowed to non-Americans or non- residents who are unvaccinated… this is very is that expected to change before the course?
Paul, first of all thank you - I have just recently subscribed to the Abbey of Misrule and have read all of your articles. Inspiring stuff.
I'd just take issue with your apparent concern at "the birds ... singing mating songs" in February. Autumn and winter song is normal in our resident bird species, especially after the winter solstice. For some historical perspective see H.G. Alexander's "A Chart of Bird Song" from the 1930s: https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V29/V29_N07/V29_N07_P190_198_A037.pdf
The only species I've ever noted singing outside the months recorded by H.G. Alexander is Blackbird (Turdus merula) which I've heard in full song on November nights under artificial light in Belfast and Newry (Northern Ireland). Birdsong always cheers my soul whatever time of year I hear it - there is no need to be concerned about hearing it in February - that's quite normal. Apparently the old belief was that most resident birds were paired up by St Valentine's Day. This year I've already seen Collared Doves copulating and a Woodpigeon nest-building - again totally normal for those species. Writing from currently snowy Fermanagh.
Oddly, here I was sitting in my reading chair, avoiding going out in the rain to feed the livestock, when I thought, it is about time PK sent out some kind of update. After a few minutes I wandered into the room where my computer sits, fired it up to see if the weather app confirmed what my eyes told me, that it was raining. While doing that I checked my email. Thanks for that, PK. Now I have more things to read while avoiding my duties. Cheers,
Thanks Paul! To "For all the horrors of the Internet..." I'd add "for all the anonymity of the internet.." even though there is more feedback/interaction on substack than on say releasing audio podcasts (where there is none), you only see the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Am writing purely to emphasise that your words, your smorgasbord of ideas spreads far and wide and not just the ideas for the fellow-traveller-ness of sharing your journey through the civilisational ruins. This heart connection and sense that us fellow, if atomised, travelers are not alone existentially. Historically of course society based in space rather than cyberspace meant one was physically close to others - now the people we are "close" to we will most likely never see.
Long story short just to emphasise what I am sure you know but it never hurts to send gratitude and praise - thank you for making us less existentially lonely in a time of division, decline and fall. Live long and prosper.
At the very end you mention Freedom to Care circles. I have been to two, looking forward to the 3rd one this Saturday. For anyone who is pushed to the brink- by the gaslighting, by the lies, by the uncertainty, by fear-- come! For anyone who has discovered that the only thing we know for sure, is the wisdom of our heart, come!
Thank you, Paul. As one who routinely expands my (Orthodox) parish's website with "festal resource pages" filled with loads of embedded links for further reading, I appreciate the occasional gift of these collections from you. Imbued as they are with hope and purpose, they are always welcomed!
Thank you Paul! I would be very interested to see any recommendations you have for children’s literature, and education in general. Like many parents, I am newly embarked on a homeschool adventure. It is wonderful, but can be stressful now that you’ve convinced me to turn such a critical eye on the stories we tell!
Paul, thank you for recommending my writing, what an honor!!
Hi Paul -- You know that Candlemas is the traditional beginning of spring?
"For all the horrors of the Internet, this little e-cosystem is throwing up some interesting writers and thinkers who are challenging the assumptions of the Machine."
This is true, and something I hoped would happen. To that end, I thought I'd give your friend Martin Shaw a go. St. Brendan the Navigator is an excellent place to start. I keep telling myself, "at some point, I'm going to have to leave the faux-adventure of the virtual world completely and take all the good things I've learned with me, and see what, if anything, can help restore wildness, connection and sanity."
What is our equivalent of St. Brendan's voyage in the hypermediated, atomized postmodern metamachine world? It can't simply be that of leaving comments on the internet? But does it have to be so literally a physical voyage? That's probably the least of it. I say this, alas, as I am not so young. But what is it?
I think about the book I've mentioned, The Inner Restoration of Christianity. I think that is a good candidate. But a lonely one for many of us. How to share the inner path with others? Where are the guides? Are we on our own?
Hi Paul, I’ll be very interested in what you write about Deneen’s “Why Liberalism Failed.” I finished it a couple of weeks ago and have suffered many sleepless nights since wondering if I harbor the wrong analysis of virtually everything. I find his premises and his critiques hard to argue against. However, I also fear where his take-down leads: are we flirting with a kind of Christian authoritarianism/fascism to replace liberalism? I’ve watched a lot of Deneen’s talks recently, and while I don’t hear evidence from him directly that he’s pursuing such ends, a lot of his fellow post-liberal writers are much more explicit that they are. Deneen is writing a new book that visits Aristotle’s political philosophies, so that ought to be an interesting addition that may fill in more of the blanks he left with his scathing critique. But, I’m very interested in what you make of the possibilities that could replace, or strongly amend, liberalism. Like you, I’ve been a longtime fan of Wendell Berry, and I know there’s much in that worldview to recommend returning to localism. I am, however, unclear how such a move would also impact people who have been at least politically and socially freed by liberalism (such as myself, having a serious disability). Please consider taking that head-on!
I look forward to exploring your suggestions. Another writer I enjoy these days is John Waters "unchained" on substack. cheers
Thanks! I look forward to some great reading. A new Sub that is, I think, challenging the assumptions of the Machine is HumbleKnowledge.substack.com It is exploring how we do and should think about what we can know. This matters when we are faced by a Machine that assumes its own omniscience.
Thanks Paul! I signed up for Rhyd’s sub stack as a paid subscriber. Great and deep insights on individuals whom the political is the personal.
Thanks for your writing once more. Regarding the course where you will be teaching, a general remark: entry to the US is not allowed to non-Americans or non- residents who are unvaccinated… this is very is that expected to change before the course?
Paul, first of all thank you - I have just recently subscribed to the Abbey of Misrule and have read all of your articles. Inspiring stuff.
I'd just take issue with your apparent concern at "the birds ... singing mating songs" in February. Autumn and winter song is normal in our resident bird species, especially after the winter solstice. For some historical perspective see H.G. Alexander's "A Chart of Bird Song" from the 1930s: https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V29/V29_N07/V29_N07_P190_198_A037.pdf
The only species I've ever noted singing outside the months recorded by H.G. Alexander is Blackbird (Turdus merula) which I've heard in full song on November nights under artificial light in Belfast and Newry (Northern Ireland). Birdsong always cheers my soul whatever time of year I hear it - there is no need to be concerned about hearing it in February - that's quite normal. Apparently the old belief was that most resident birds were paired up by St Valentine's Day. This year I've already seen Collared Doves copulating and a Woodpigeon nest-building - again totally normal for those species. Writing from currently snowy Fermanagh.