More

"Spirit Space"

Welcome! These pages are but one part of a big, sprawling--and otherwise pretty "normal"--website. I've questioned the wisdom of including such a section here--making my personal philosophies and experiences open to the scrutiny and judgement of anyone who chooses to read them--but for some reason I feel it's time to do so.

I am an eclectically spiritual "traveler," and since early childhood my intensity and curiosity have led me down many diverse roads. I invite you to explore my virtual bookshelf and to read about some of the experiences that have shaped my life.

The following poem may help to explain why I've always sought sparks of truth in many, many different belief systems, philosophies, and scientific disciplines. As it is referenced in many of the writings, you may want to read it before clicking through to the other pages.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined
Who went to see the elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the elephant,
And, happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the elephant
Is nothing but a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp!
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And, happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee:
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'Tis clear enough the elephant
Is very like a tree."

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an elephant
Not one of them has seen!

John Godfrey Saxe

ART-RAGEOUS WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE

CURRENT MOON

moon phase