I loved this conversation. My ears perked up at many points--y'all touched on a lot that's percolating in my brain these days. At one point where Rue was talking about being in the middle of the 2020s, it brought to mind some reflections I've had recently on AI--and the imminence of wearable AI glasses...VR experiences. We seem to be entering a time where technocrats are claiming a monopoly on public imagination and we're quite literally met with a philosophical quandary about imagination. Who's imagination are we going to live in? Will we continue to let technology atrophy our own?
I want to be so transparent in my writing on these things because I also once felt like my imagination was lesser than as well. Especially when you have tastes and influences that feel far beyond your own capability, creativity does feel out of reach to most people. Not to mention when creativity itself is commodified.
Also, with my work in adult ed I've been reflecting a lot on the act of reading itself as an imaginative process...so much to say! But as you both touched on, imagination is involved in many every day processes that are overlooked.
I think this view of creativity and imagination as an innate human experience is so important. I'd love to hear y'all talk more about this!
Thank you Jeremy! Yes, there are so many ways that are imaginations can and do get hijacked in contemporary culture. It's also interesting and important to consider this idea of the 'public imagination' and to perceive it as our shared cultural imagination--I do think we, as a society, are seriously floundering there right now. And it's interesting to consider where and how our political polarization reflects--I often think the right is trying to reclaim an imagined simplified story from the past that was never really true--and yet, we do still need a shared sense of ourselves so we can imagine our way forward. Maybe we have to try to help people see that we can have a great diversity of perception and experience if our shared beginning point is prioritizing our collective well-being and the well-being of the planet? I feel like late stage capitalism has really captured the public imagination in ways that make imagining our collective well-being feel almost foreign. I feel like in many ways, we're at a turning point, but who knows how big or long that is!
Wonderful discussion. Loved this mediation Rue guided us through at the end. What gift during such a tumultuous time. I'll revisit it again and again I hope. I'm one of these people that have felt I have a lackluster imagination and I appreciate the invitation to pick up befriending my imagination again as a practice in new ways. Thank you Sarah!
Yay! I'm so glad you loved the meditation Claudia--I always love them and was excited to include it in the video! And yay for befriending your imagination in new ways--I know it's in there, waiting for you! <3
Great conversation! Thank you for getting me to think about my own imagination, and all the ways I can do that. I really enjoyed the imagination exercise that Rue led. I particularly liked the aspects of imagining one's interface with the surrounding world -- at the level of roots that are indistinguishable from the soil, and where leaf surfaces meets the air, and about the "exchange" of light. So beautiful.
I'm so glad. I loved that part of the meditation too. I love how her different versions of this tree visualization really anchor me in my connection with nature.
Also, this idea of imagination being tied to our childhoods...yes! I get very tied to being task oriented and play and imagination as adults can be so small and varied I appreciate this reminder.
Yes, our culture really does make it hard to let adults play--outside of a sports context. So it's up to us to consciously find ways to do that, which often isn't easy. I like being extremely silly, so that helps me a lot--and I used to do improv in Manhattan and that was one of the best, most creative ways I have played as an adult--and so much laughing.
Hello everyone, I am appreciating that some of you took the time to respond to our exploration of imagination the other day! I love this topic - it is so central to everything we do and think and are as Humans, and at the same time it is such a mystery that we are ony really beginning to learn about. I hope some of you will consider checking out the class I'm offering that Sarah is helping with. I think she has posted the registration link here somewhere.
I wanted to share a short bit on imagination that comes from one of the "inner teachers" in Incarnational Spirituality. I come back to this passage in MY imagination a lot, and it lights me up every time!
"Every day through your thinking and feeling, you are shaping your inner world. If your private world were to become a collective world—if your imagination became the imagination of the world, and the world reflected the quality and direction of your thoughts and feelings—what kind of world would you be living in?"
This is such an evocative question! Especially at this time in our world, and the changes we are experiencing. All these changes, and the drama, and the darkness and the beauty - all change! - has its roots in imagination.
Just to say it again - "If your imagination became the imagination of the world, and the world reflected the quality and direction of your thoughts and feelings—what kind of world would you be living in?" And then to realize that the world we live in, individually and collectively, IS the result of our imagination. Amazing and powerful.
Again, it is so nice to connect with you all. I think Sarah is a brilliant and creative imagin-er and guide! The world is lucky to have her inspiring us.
I love this quote Rue! And I love thinking about how the imagination is both completely central to our lives and simultaneously a mystery to us as well!
I loved this conversation. My ears perked up at many points--y'all touched on a lot that's percolating in my brain these days. At one point where Rue was talking about being in the middle of the 2020s, it brought to mind some reflections I've had recently on AI--and the imminence of wearable AI glasses...VR experiences. We seem to be entering a time where technocrats are claiming a monopoly on public imagination and we're quite literally met with a philosophical quandary about imagination. Who's imagination are we going to live in? Will we continue to let technology atrophy our own?
I want to be so transparent in my writing on these things because I also once felt like my imagination was lesser than as well. Especially when you have tastes and influences that feel far beyond your own capability, creativity does feel out of reach to most people. Not to mention when creativity itself is commodified.
Also, with my work in adult ed I've been reflecting a lot on the act of reading itself as an imaginative process...so much to say! But as you both touched on, imagination is involved in many every day processes that are overlooked.
I think this view of creativity and imagination as an innate human experience is so important. I'd love to hear y'all talk more about this!
Thank you Jeremy! Yes, there are so many ways that are imaginations can and do get hijacked in contemporary culture. It's also interesting and important to consider this idea of the 'public imagination' and to perceive it as our shared cultural imagination--I do think we, as a society, are seriously floundering there right now. And it's interesting to consider where and how our political polarization reflects--I often think the right is trying to reclaim an imagined simplified story from the past that was never really true--and yet, we do still need a shared sense of ourselves so we can imagine our way forward. Maybe we have to try to help people see that we can have a great diversity of perception and experience if our shared beginning point is prioritizing our collective well-being and the well-being of the planet? I feel like late stage capitalism has really captured the public imagination in ways that make imagining our collective well-being feel almost foreign. I feel like in many ways, we're at a turning point, but who knows how big or long that is!
Such an enjoyable discussion about imagination and creativity. It’s fun hearing about your different perspectives. This class sounds delightful!
Thank you Barbara--maybe we'll see you there?
Wonderful discussion. Loved this mediation Rue guided us through at the end. What gift during such a tumultuous time. I'll revisit it again and again I hope. I'm one of these people that have felt I have a lackluster imagination and I appreciate the invitation to pick up befriending my imagination again as a practice in new ways. Thank you Sarah!
Yay! I'm so glad you loved the meditation Claudia--I always love them and was excited to include it in the video! And yay for befriending your imagination in new ways--I know it's in there, waiting for you! <3
Great conversation! Thank you for getting me to think about my own imagination, and all the ways I can do that. I really enjoyed the imagination exercise that Rue led. I particularly liked the aspects of imagining one's interface with the surrounding world -- at the level of roots that are indistinguishable from the soil, and where leaf surfaces meets the air, and about the "exchange" of light. So beautiful.
I'm so glad. I loved that part of the meditation too. I love how her different versions of this tree visualization really anchor me in my connection with nature.
Also, this idea of imagination being tied to our childhoods...yes! I get very tied to being task oriented and play and imagination as adults can be so small and varied I appreciate this reminder.
Yes, our culture really does make it hard to let adults play--outside of a sports context. So it's up to us to consciously find ways to do that, which often isn't easy. I like being extremely silly, so that helps me a lot--and I used to do improv in Manhattan and that was one of the best, most creative ways I have played as an adult--and so much laughing.
Hello everyone, I am appreciating that some of you took the time to respond to our exploration of imagination the other day! I love this topic - it is so central to everything we do and think and are as Humans, and at the same time it is such a mystery that we are ony really beginning to learn about. I hope some of you will consider checking out the class I'm offering that Sarah is helping with. I think she has posted the registration link here somewhere.
I wanted to share a short bit on imagination that comes from one of the "inner teachers" in Incarnational Spirituality. I come back to this passage in MY imagination a lot, and it lights me up every time!
"Every day through your thinking and feeling, you are shaping your inner world. If your private world were to become a collective world—if your imagination became the imagination of the world, and the world reflected the quality and direction of your thoughts and feelings—what kind of world would you be living in?"
This is such an evocative question! Especially at this time in our world, and the changes we are experiencing. All these changes, and the drama, and the darkness and the beauty - all change! - has its roots in imagination.
Just to say it again - "If your imagination became the imagination of the world, and the world reflected the quality and direction of your thoughts and feelings—what kind of world would you be living in?" And then to realize that the world we live in, individually and collectively, IS the result of our imagination. Amazing and powerful.
Again, it is so nice to connect with you all. I think Sarah is a brilliant and creative imagin-er and guide! The world is lucky to have her inspiring us.
I love this quote Rue! And I love thinking about how the imagination is both completely central to our lives and simultaneously a mystery to us as well!