Author Archives for Ellen

It’s Only Natural

I bought cd’s from Crowded House in the 90s from this book and music membership thing i had for a short time. It seemed to me the best i could buy there. It wasn’t my favourite music, but it has grown on me. A couple of Crowded House’s songs have stuck. This one for instance, It’s Only Natural. I love the melody and the lyrics. I hope you will enjoy my performance.

It’s Only Natural
Ice will melt, water will boil
You and I can shake off this mortal coil
It’s bigger than us
You don’t have to worry about it

Ready or not, here comes the drop
You feel lucky when you know where you are
Y’know, it’s gonna come true
Here in your arms, I remember

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s easy when you don’t try going on first impressions
Man in a cage has made his confession
Now, you’ve seen me at my worst
And it won’t be the last time I’m down there

I want you to know I feel completely at ease
Read me like a book
That’s fallen down between your knees
Please, let me have my way with you

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s circumstantial
It’s nothing written in the sky
And we don’t even have to try

But we’ll be shaking like mud
Buildings of glass
Sink into the bay
They’ll be under the rocks again
You don’t have to say
I know you’re afraid

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s circumstantial
It’s something I was born to
It’s only natural
Can I help it if I want to?

Published on December 19, 2017 at 6:00 by

Waiting

44. Kou / Coming to Meet

above CH’IEN THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN
below SUN THE GENTLE, WIND

This hexagram indicates a situation in which the principle of darkness, after having been eliminated, furtively and unexpectedly obtrudes again from within and below. Of its own accord the female principle comes to meet the male. It is an unfavorable and dangerous situation, and we must understand and promptly prevent the possible consequences.
The hexagram is linked with the fifth month [June-July], because at the summer solstice the principle of darkness gradually becomes ascendant again.

THE JUDGMENT

COMING TO MEET. The maiden is powerful.
One should not marry such a maiden.

The rise of the inferior element is pictured here in the image of a bold girl who lightly surrenders herself and thus seizes power. This would not be possible if the strong and light-giving element had not in turn come halfway. The inferior thing seems so harmless and inviting that a man delights in it; it looks so small and weak that he imagines he may dally with it and come to no harm.
The inferior man rises only because the superior man does not regard him as dangerous and so lends him power. If he were resisted from the fist, he could never gain influence.
The time of COMING TO MEET is important in still another way. Although as a general rule the weak should not come to meet the strong, there are times when this has great significance. When heaven and earth come to meet each other, all creatures prosper; when a prince and his official come to meet each other, the world is put in order. It is necessary for elements predestined to be joined and mutually dependent to come to meet one another halfway. But the coming together must be free of dishonest ulterior motives, otherwise harm will result.

THE IMAGE

Under heaven, wind:
The image of COMING TO MEET.
Thus does the prince act when disseminating his commands
And proclaiming them to the four quarters of heaven.

The situation here resembles that in hexagram 20, Kuan, CONTEMPLATION ( VIEW). In the latter the wind blows over the earth, here it blows under heaven; in both cases it goes everywhere. There the wind is on the earth and symbolizes the ruler taking note of the conditions in his kingdom; here the wind blows from above and symbolizes the influence exercised by the ruler through his commands. Heaven is far from the things of earth, but it sets them in motion by means of the wind. The ruler is far form his people, but he sets them in motion by means of his commands and decrees.

Six at the beginning means:
It must be checked with a brake of bronze.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune.
Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around.

If an inferior element has wormed its way in, it must be energetically checked at once. By consistently checking it, bad effects can be avoided. If it is allowed to take its course, misfortune is bound to result; the insignificance of that which creeps in should not be a temptation to underrate it. A pig that is still young and lean cannot rage around much, but after it has eaten its fill and become strong, its true nature comes out if it has not previously been curbed.

Nine in the fourth place means:
No fish in the tank.
This leads to misfortune.

Insignificant people must be tolerated in order to keep them well disposed. Then we can make use of them if we should need them. If we become alienated from them and do not meet them halfway, they turn their backs on us and are not at our disposal when we need them. But this is our own fault.

Nine at the top means:
He comes to meet with his horns.
Humiliation. No blame.

When a man has withdrawn from the world, its tumult often becomes unbearable to him. There are many people who in a noble pride hold themselves aloof from all that is low and rebuff it brusquely wherever it comes to meet them. Such persons are reproached for being proud and distant, but since active duties no longer hold them to the world, this does not greatly matter. They know how to bear the dislike of the masses with composure.

5. Hsü / Waiting (Nourishment)

above K’AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER
below CH’IEN THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

All beings have need of nourishment from above. But the gift of food comes in its own time, and for this one must wait. This hexagram shows the clouds in the heavens, giving rain to refresh all that grows and to provide mankind with food and drink. The rain will come in its own time. We cannot make it come; we have to wait for it. The idea of waiting is further suggested by the attributes of the two trigrams–strength within, danger in from. Strength in the face of danger does not plunge ahead but bides its time, whereas weakness in the face of danger grows agitated and has not the patience to wait.

THE JUDGMENT

WAITING. If you are sincere,
You have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to the perseverance that brings good fortune and bestows power to cross the great water. One is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate, for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in uncompromising truthfulness [with himself]. It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any sort of self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events, by which the path to success may be recognized. This recognition must be followed by resolute and persevering action. For only the man who goes to meet his fate resolutely is equipped to deal with it adequately. Then he will be able to cross the great water–that is to say, he will be capable of making the necessary decision and of surmounting the danger.

THE IMAGE

Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of WAITING.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.

When clouds rise in the sky, it is a sign that it will rain. There is nothing to do but to wait until after the rain falls. It is the same in life when destiny is at work. We should not worry and seek to shape the future by interfering in things before the time is ripe. We should quietly fortify the body with food and drink and the mind with gladness and good cheer. Fate comes when it will, and thus we are ready.

Published on December 12, 2017 at 6:00 by

Christmas shopping

This year’s special Albert Heijn‘s special Christmas shopping booklet with all the Christmas dishes you can buy. Some things do appeal, especially the vegetables and vegetable mixes for soups. Most things though i don’t like at all. The ready made dishes. The chocolate milks. The puddings. I’m not saying i won’t buy anything in the Albert Heijn. But not that much. These dishes are of course meant for the largest crowd in the Netherlands. The people with not that much time, simply wanting to celebrate Christmas together. Nothing wrong with that.

I won’t be spending Christmas with my family this year. I will ask around if other people are spending Christmas alone, maybe there is something we can organize. A dinner. With sauerkraut and mashed potatoes perhaps. A self made cake for dessert. And whipped cream. Pumpkin soup. Or parsnip soup. Simple dishes. But i’ll see what comes around. Still plenty of time to organize something.

Aah, and today i donated five euros to the Kraut Fund Fest Rotterdam. On 16 December i will go to the Rotterdamse Oogst Markt and make my own sauerkraut. With a special bucket and a water seal. My own experiment a year ago failed horribly. Or was it two years ago? Anyway, looking forward to that!

Published on December 8, 2017 at 6:00 by

Traveling

Traveling today. With the train. Listening to music. Moving quietly with it. Happy. As someone said, while i waited for the bus in Amersfoort.

I did check if the music i listened to today was recorded in last.fm or spotify, but no. I don’t have internet access on my phone, so nothing there. Too bad, i would have loved to post a playlist of the music listened to today.

I visited my mum. Talked with her about my house and the events in my life the past few months. It was alright. A bit scary, but i felt really really happy. Like, over the moon. I love my mum.

That is it for today. I will try to quiet down. Watch some Buffy. Try to get a bit more sleep tonight. Hopefully.

Salute!

Published on December 7, 2017 at 6:00 by