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August 20 ’24
The Ashwan cemetery is bordered on its north and west sides by almond orchards; a long, dark field of corn runs along its southern edge — and to the east, a rough two lane highway — just beyond which is a forest typified by cottonwoods and sycamores. There are no structures to speak of except a modest grey brick caretaker’s shack, and across the highway a slowly decomposing shop with a sign that faintly reads, “Stained Glass Junction.”
The Ashwan cemetery is neither particularly old nor particularly popular; the oldest grave being from around 1840. People are still being buried here — though maybe only one or so a month. A lot of families prefer to bury their dead in the Guénon cemetery, about 10 miles south; it sits on a bluff overlooking the Guénon wash, a vast angled plain of manzanita and chamise, dotted with black oaks.
Besides Guénon being more typically picturesque, we’ve always assumed that it was the darkness at Ashwan that turned people away — and the sheep.
For just under a century and a half Ashwan shepherds have had an easement to the cemetery and any unplanted grass fields in the township. Since there isn’t much of the latter, the cemetery is one of the sheep’s main places for grazing.
The cemetery’s dimness is caused by the flourishing of about forty ponderosa pines; their presence makes it feel like it’s always dusk (except of course at night). Nothing grows in their shadows except fine fescue-type grass.
The white and gray marble headstones are blotched significantly with pale green blooms of xanthoparmelia lichen and are mostly askew due to the ponderosa’s many surface roots.
* * *
We are seated on a large, flat ledger stone. It is August so everything is bursting green. We are sipping some water from a little blue plastic cup kindly given to us by the caretaker. We are absently looking east through the choppy white stones and broad trunks into the gently swaying darkness of the forest beyond. The only sounds besides the recent blast of a distant freight’s airhorn and the periodic raspy thuds of a shovel hitting dirt, is a light breeze rustling the corn and swishing the pines, and the little, incessant tearing sounds of teeth pulling and chewing small blades of grass.
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Goings-On(line)
An offering of pieces and projects
from around the web
from around the web
Amy Clampitt, Nothing Stays Put (1997)
Hella Jongerius, Coupelle Bowl with Rabbit (2004)
Jorgos Loukakos, Scrambling (2004)
Joan Brown at Carnegie Museum of Art (2023)
Yoshiki Hishinuma, Fall/ Winter (2013-14)
Oracle
Each week we consult both the Tarot and the I Ching.
44. Coming to Meet
These first few lines are the general aphoristic returns for the week. They are raw and uninterpreted; there to use how you’d like. (The specific readings follow.)
- Nothing is an isolated phenomenon.
- Shared group reverence for an ideal (not necessarily religious) is necessary for societal thriving.
- If modest and collaborative in spirit, be careful working with pushy/aggressive people, they can lead you astray from your goal. Be vigilant as regards your aim(s) — at all times.
- There must be no forcing, coercing or impatience when trying to reach a goal — only persistence.
- Do not be taken in by appearances when collaborating with other people — they may be lying to you — so do your due diligence beforehand.
* * *
From “R.G.”: In a period of tumult, political/economical/cultural, what is the best way for a shy shut-in freelancer to seek/secure work?
* * *
It is obviously fine to be reclusive, especially today, as the logistics of making a living in such a way are fairly straightforward — the appearance of the Four of Wands nicely underscores this. But it is important to think about interconnectivity when trying (or preferring) to be alone, that is, understanding that nothing is an isolated phenomena. Shelter, food, employment, companionship (of every stripe) is a deeply interconnected affair — no one is ever truly alone — areas of overlap should be deeply respected and considered.
As for “tumult” you must try everyday not to be selfish and fearful. It is certainly true that in our individual capacities we have very little effect on major, worldwide events, but locally and personally one can change lives for the better, everyday. There is a clear difference between deceptive and covertly narcissistic collaboration and collaboration involving a mutuality of self-care, self-respect, self-expression and self-preservation. Stay with the latter and discourage the former — this will address tumult in the best way.
Regarding this last note the oracle had specific advice — be patient, use vigilance not force. This might be phrased as building a reputation — if you are intelligent, have self respect, are sensitive, and hard working, over time it is likely that you will be a wanted asset and be held in high regard — whether you work in an office or whether you work from your bedroom.
* * *
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Four of Wands. This is a card of removal, specifically of withdrawal to the countryside (or to a smaller non-city community). More generally it points to a tendency to retreat into one’s own space — not necessarily unhealthily or completely alone. A card perhaps pointing to an online community.
Our first hexagram this week is #50, The Caldron. Nothing is an isolated phenomenon... The image here is of a caldron — a container for cooking that can feed a large group of people. However the emphasis of the metaphor is not focused on ingredients or even the iron of which the caldron is made — but of the far reaching elements and aspects that make the nourishment of the caldron possible: the sun, the rain, the wood, the fire. The sentiment is thus: many things need to be in accord in order for a society to be sustained... In the past it was religion, or the worship of a god that imparted this accord — but in 2024 things are quite a bit different; though we personally don’t think that the organized religions of the past are the way, we do feel that shared group reverence for an ideal — that is, awe and respect/reverence for the world, its inhabitants and the cosmos, is fundamental for societal blossoming. (Perhaps call this Love.)
There was one change this week of which the specific note is: it is good to be modest and self effacing in a working environment — but there is a danger of being led astray, when working with more aggressive types — therefore constant, vigilant allegiance to an overarching goal is paramount.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #44, Coming to Meet. The I Ching is consistent in saying that there must be no forcing, coercing or impatience when trying to reach a goal — the time must be right. This hexagram continues the council, talking specifically about people coming together: “coming together must be free of dishonest ulterior motives, otherwise harm will result.” That is, when it comes to mergers; nothing can be left to chance a cleansing of personal bias and a conscientious analysis of the particulars is wanted at every step. As well, there is a particular admonishment mentioned here: do not be taken in by appearances when collaborating with other people — they may be lying to you — so do your due diligence beforehand.