Yes. I’ve been thinking about this so much, too—just had a fabulous international trip without international cell, and even hotel WiFi didn’t really work because I had a (merciful) phone error that my son only corrected two days before we left. Point being: I had an interruption in the pattern of feeling like every experience had to connect back to the larger meaning-making apparatus in some way, like the connection between minor irritations and privilege. Sometimes things (and people) are just annoying, and underneath that annoyingness is a longing that is much more painful (for all parties, actually, even if they don’t match up—hence, annoying).
I am also moving, and also conflicted and sometimes (now, 5am jet lag, coffee), opened the door to the deck and said to myself “if there is something magical out there it will really mean something” (in addition to the moon over the mountain, a given) and, lo, three huge elk standing right in front of me, two with enormous antlers, not moving. Just looking. The entire town silent. Their visits always feel like a royal emissary has arrived; what to make of that moment I have no clue, but know that I want to cry. In fact, it’s only because of this post that I didn’t blow by those feelings and land back into some information quicksand that totally separated me once again from myself and this experience. Thank you.
Also: kept that Jung quote for future reference. Amazing.
Yes, good honesty. I struggle with this too. The mind searches for dissonance but the soul seeks sanctuary.
My working solution involves attempting to imbue a grounded sincerity into my writing. Practice what I preach, so to speak.
And at least you acknowledge the contradictions and point to solution vectors. For all the ups and downs of modern media, at least this is *our* problem to wrestle with.
Yeah, lots of whining amidst the "Just letting y'all know" articles. I basically ignore that and am having a great time writing about musicians, artists, books, spirit, Castaneda, magic and creativity. 2.5 years and counting.
I'm afraid I'll die young like my grandpa, dad, and brother and not get to enjoy the retirement for which I've worked myself into the tiresome, pitiful creature I've become. There, Gordon. Whining about substack averted, and my existential crisis is exposed.
🤣 OMG yes. (1) I rather miss LJ in a "get off my lawn" sort of way, mostly for the long form brain dump. (2) If you're going to whine, go big or go home.
I always love your posts (oh I wish to see you more in the comment section!) and I was thinking about various things about Substack that irritated me (how Notes isn't an efficient social media; just bare bones, or how Substack is obsessed with cosmetic changes and not actual ones to improve our experience on the platform).
At the same time, I was thinking a lot about how all the bitching about AI art hasn't stopped anyone from actually using it. I see it all the time in Notes for people's newsletters; and even though I dislike it, my complaining about it would have no meaningful impact on other people.
Substack and even Facebook still work for me, perhaps because I have no more dreams; I am living my dream, although too many Californians (I am a former CA native 😜) are moving here and clogging our highways. I remain on FB because I love the writers, musicians, and artists I have known (including Rune Soup) there for years. My only whine is too many people on this planet, too much hatred, greed, illusions and conflict. Ignorance is not lack of intelligence but the ability to ignore how screwed up our chaotic world has become. May your move back home be smooth and painless.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm feeling sad about leaving London and my trip isn't even over. It might be whine o'clock where you are, but it's beer thirty here. I'm told the trick is to plan the next trip to look forward to.
——-“….It must be from the whine region of France. Hiyooo. “ ————-
Sounds expensive, we’ll take 2x!
Oh my! Thank you for this piece of honesty. Hit my inbox perfectly, as im sitting in my father’s car after helping my Aunt finish her move. I’m not sure if it was a culmination of nostalgia & your words but it put a smile on my face while also giving that little buzzer a sound off that keeps getting louder. My ‘what’s-next,’ alarm. — Suddenly Paraguay looks cozy yet attractively sticky, which isn’t always a bad thing. Maybe I’m just looking for something to stick, for me, in the all to clear vastness that is my current.
— as one might say, ‘one man’s whine is another man’s— no…no, no! Thats his whine, put that down!’ — KEEP WHINING! I’m here for it! - Safe travels!
Moving again? What fun (not!). Thinking back to when you were having all those difficulties getting moved in, I wondered how long you would stay. My Spirit Posse and I had a hunch. Sadly, we were right. I sincerely hope that things will go better for you in Tasmania.
My own life has made being online more a chore than a pleasure. All the AI slop, the constant noise of ads and the general deterioration of discourse has made the internet into a nightmare rot-nozzle. Substack is one of the few remaining places where there’s some sort of real conversation written by actual people. The whining is a feature, not a bug and signals that the author is probably an Actual Human, not a bot. There’s more signal here than noise (true for the RSPM, too). But for how much longer?
I was around for the rise and fall of the venues you mentioned, including your original blog. I still miss the elegant simplicity of LiveJournal. Maybe we’re witnessing the digital version of the tragedy of the commons, where every bit of bandwidth has to be monetized to death.
Rune Soup is one of the few remaining things that keeps me from ditching the internet altogether. Watching it- and you- grow and evolve maintains a sense of connection with genuine reality. It reinforces the experiential nature of magic and community. That magical connection punches through the noise and keeps my mind engaged and focused on what is truly important.
I may not be online and participating in RSPM activities as often as I should, but I’m still here- even on the periphery. My Posse (and my email) pings me to pop in, sample the zeitgeist, and comment if needed.
Yes. I’ve been thinking about this so much, too—just had a fabulous international trip without international cell, and even hotel WiFi didn’t really work because I had a (merciful) phone error that my son only corrected two days before we left. Point being: I had an interruption in the pattern of feeling like every experience had to connect back to the larger meaning-making apparatus in some way, like the connection between minor irritations and privilege. Sometimes things (and people) are just annoying, and underneath that annoyingness is a longing that is much more painful (for all parties, actually, even if they don’t match up—hence, annoying).
I am also moving, and also conflicted and sometimes (now, 5am jet lag, coffee), opened the door to the deck and said to myself “if there is something magical out there it will really mean something” (in addition to the moon over the mountain, a given) and, lo, three huge elk standing right in front of me, two with enormous antlers, not moving. Just looking. The entire town silent. Their visits always feel like a royal emissary has arrived; what to make of that moment I have no clue, but know that I want to cry. In fact, it’s only because of this post that I didn’t blow by those feelings and land back into some information quicksand that totally separated me once again from myself and this experience. Thank you.
Also: kept that Jung quote for future reference. Amazing.
I love you Gordon.
I'm spending all of my social media time on Substack - and you have hit the nail on the head.
Love it.
Yes, good honesty. I struggle with this too. The mind searches for dissonance but the soul seeks sanctuary.
My working solution involves attempting to imbue a grounded sincerity into my writing. Practice what I preach, so to speak.
And at least you acknowledge the contradictions and point to solution vectors. For all the ups and downs of modern media, at least this is *our* problem to wrestle with.
Sincerely, ¡¿RUCRES?!
Gordon, I appreciate feels of frustration and nostalgia, bits of un-redacted thoughts way, way more than anything else.
Those are the true reflections of your authentic self. 🌿🐾
I welcome a Gordon trauma dump Substack reel.
Yeah, lots of whining amidst the "Just letting y'all know" articles. I basically ignore that and am having a great time writing about musicians, artists, books, spirit, Castaneda, magic and creativity. 2.5 years and counting.
I'm afraid I'll die young like my grandpa, dad, and brother and not get to enjoy the retirement for which I've worked myself into the tiresome, pitiful creature I've become. There, Gordon. Whining about substack averted, and my existential crisis is exposed.
Funny, I always thought you'd be a Dead Journal kinda guy?
🤣 OMG yes. (1) I rather miss LJ in a "get off my lawn" sort of way, mostly for the long form brain dump. (2) If you're going to whine, go big or go home.
I always love your posts (oh I wish to see you more in the comment section!) and I was thinking about various things about Substack that irritated me (how Notes isn't an efficient social media; just bare bones, or how Substack is obsessed with cosmetic changes and not actual ones to improve our experience on the platform).
At the same time, I was thinking a lot about how all the bitching about AI art hasn't stopped anyone from actually using it. I see it all the time in Notes for people's newsletters; and even though I dislike it, my complaining about it would have no meaningful impact on other people.
Substack and even Facebook still work for me, perhaps because I have no more dreams; I am living my dream, although too many Californians (I am a former CA native 😜) are moving here and clogging our highways. I remain on FB because I love the writers, musicians, and artists I have known (including Rune Soup) there for years. My only whine is too many people on this planet, too much hatred, greed, illusions and conflict. Ignorance is not lack of intelligence but the ability to ignore how screwed up our chaotic world has become. May your move back home be smooth and painless.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm feeling sad about leaving London and my trip isn't even over. It might be whine o'clock where you are, but it's beer thirty here. I'm told the trick is to plan the next trip to look forward to.
I wish I would have started my Substack sooner.
——-“….It must be from the whine region of France. Hiyooo. “ ————-
Sounds expensive, we’ll take 2x!
Oh my! Thank you for this piece of honesty. Hit my inbox perfectly, as im sitting in my father’s car after helping my Aunt finish her move. I’m not sure if it was a culmination of nostalgia & your words but it put a smile on my face while also giving that little buzzer a sound off that keeps getting louder. My ‘what’s-next,’ alarm. — Suddenly Paraguay looks cozy yet attractively sticky, which isn’t always a bad thing. Maybe I’m just looking for something to stick, for me, in the all to clear vastness that is my current.
— as one might say, ‘one man’s whine is another man’s— no…no, no! Thats his whine, put that down!’ — KEEP WHINING! I’m here for it! - Safe travels!
Feeling is the magic, no?
Moving again? What fun (not!). Thinking back to when you were having all those difficulties getting moved in, I wondered how long you would stay. My Spirit Posse and I had a hunch. Sadly, we were right. I sincerely hope that things will go better for you in Tasmania.
My own life has made being online more a chore than a pleasure. All the AI slop, the constant noise of ads and the general deterioration of discourse has made the internet into a nightmare rot-nozzle. Substack is one of the few remaining places where there’s some sort of real conversation written by actual people. The whining is a feature, not a bug and signals that the author is probably an Actual Human, not a bot. There’s more signal here than noise (true for the RSPM, too). But for how much longer?
I was around for the rise and fall of the venues you mentioned, including your original blog. I still miss the elegant simplicity of LiveJournal. Maybe we’re witnessing the digital version of the tragedy of the commons, where every bit of bandwidth has to be monetized to death.
Rune Soup is one of the few remaining things that keeps me from ditching the internet altogether. Watching it- and you- grow and evolve maintains a sense of connection with genuine reality. It reinforces the experiential nature of magic and community. That magical connection punches through the noise and keeps my mind engaged and focused on what is truly important.
I may not be online and participating in RSPM activities as often as I should, but I’m still here- even on the periphery. My Posse (and my email) pings me to pop in, sample the zeitgeist, and comment if needed.
All the best…