Saturday, February 04, 2012

The end of Reflecting Light

Maybe.

Regular readers will have noticed a falling production rate recently and, your blogger fears, quality control lapses.

Most writers sooner or later reach a state when they feel that they no longer have anything worth saying. Verbal semi-paralysis ensues. It used to be called "writer's block," although the term became something of a joke and is no longer used much. But the phenomenon remains.

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For my part, I tend to think that I've been recycling ideas here. It is perhaps inevitable after more than six years of blogging.

At least on social and political issues, what more can I tell you that might add value to the discussion, barring an unexpected turn of events? Everything I've been railing about all this time is still with us: out of control immigration, cultural Marxism, the growth of the federal Superstate, Europe's gradual surrender to Muslim domination, and for the past three years an affirmative action president who understands nothing and looks on the U.S. as an "unfair" and "unequal" nation that must be leveled through redistribution of poverty. Even writing that list bores me, which likely means anything further I write on those subjects will bore you. 

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This was not originally meant to be a largely political blog. That it evolved into one is down to the many dangers pressing on us. It would have been morally wrong to have ignored them, even though in truth I am not much politically inclined and certainly ignorant compared with some other bloggers.

Nevertheless, there is so much more to talk about, much of it good, even in dark times.

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So, before treating Reflecting Light to assisted suicide, I am going to experiment with a different format, stepping back from commenting on day-to-day events, even though those are the easiest postings to write in a time-pressured life. The banner says Reflecting Light is about spirituality, psychical research, and the way we live now. I want to concentrate on those; but also arts and entertainment.

This will probably mean fewer postings, since the newly emphasized topics require more research and, possibly, more thought. Some readers may fall away, but aggrandizing readership has never been my goal. If you happen to be among those who visit this blog for the political content and are uninterested in the rest, I don't blame you if you strike Reflecting Light from your list. Thank you for your readership.

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To alleviate the problem of relatively sparse serious postings, I will also probably do some very short entries that may be no more than observations, perhaps humorous. Also I may link to other bloggers' or writers' comments if I think they're important or eloquent and likely to pass little-noticed.

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8 comments:

butterfly said...

Hi Rick,
I'm looking forward to the return to posts about psychical research and experiences. Sometimes I wonder if the key to getting past the mess the world is in has a lot to do with understanding our own spiritual nature. So maybe you've just gotten tired of stating what the problems are and need to start exploring the important issue of who we truly are because understanding that is what will hopefully save us.

Rick Darby said...

Sandy,

You're right. I am tired of writing negative posts about national and world problems, most of which I have no solutions for (other than theoretical ones unlikely to be adopted).

It is time to rewind and re-start, with subjects both deeper and lighter, which may give this blog a new life. Thank you for the encouragement.

zazie said...

Rick,

I'll be delighted to read posts both lighter and deeper ; I am sure I'll enjoy everything about art and music.
something light now : a few days ago, I was lucky to attend Verdi's Requiem conducted by Riccardo Muti ; while waiting for the opening of the doors, I heard a young girl asking her boyfiend :"A quelle heure crois-tu qu'on aura un entracte?".
I could not help imagining a priest addressing the congregation with a lively "and now a five minutes break...."

Stogie said...

Rick, we have a lot of common interests, including psychical research and the paranormal. Do get back to your original blog goals, but I truly hope you remain online and active. I would miss you if you go.

Marcus said...

As someone who has left a few negative comments about disagreements over Israel, a foreign country, I will not strike this blog from my list unless you stop writing altogether because I so enjoy your CD reviews, essays on music, spiritual commentary and the general vibe of the blog. I also think you're a much better writer than most "bloggers" - a term I hate. You write, not "blog."

Personally, I went through a very dark period when The Critique consumed me: the social disintegration, the police state and TSA (that's what I find worst), the general folly or evil around us; the sleep of reason. I then turned my mind and efforts to positive reconstruction; to trying to build a new, better civilization instead of endlessly micro-analyzing everything that is wrong. One good novel and two good paintings that stand the test of time do more for us than all the hand-wringing and analysis. And you know what, I'm much happier, creative and in control. The Critique makes one feel helpless - how can it not: it's like taking on Stalin or the full weight of the US state. It's insurmountable. But the individual can save himself, and then his family, friends, so on. That's how it starts. I now spend most of time planning for personal freedom and prosperity, not saving a world and country that don't want to be saved and which I am powerless to change.

The people's desires are in control. This is what Americans want at a collective unconscious level. They chose equality over freedom long ago.

Best of luck whatever you do!

Sebastian

Rick Darby said...

Zazie,

Wow, I'll bet that was quite an experience.

For non-French-speaking readers: the woman's question to her boyfriend was, "What time do you think they'll have an intermission?"

I don't know how seriously Verdi took the Christian service, but a requiem is a mass for someone who has recently departed this life. Not the kind of event where you stop in the middle and say, "That's the end of the first set, thank you, thank you. We'll take a break, the bar is open, start up again in 15 minutes with the Sanctus."

Stogie,

I'm glad you'll be sticking around. Thanks!

Dennis Mangan said...

Rick, I understand the feeling of being repetitious, having been there a few times myself. Take a little time off, and I'm sure the divine afflatus will make itself known again.

dan g. said...

Yours is such a fine and unique blog, it's a pity you don't have more readers and commenters. But those who do come here value your point of view and the forceful elegance with which you express it a great deal.

I think focusing more on psychical and aesthetic matters, rather than agonizing about politics, is a good direction to take.