I just saw this quote from fellow Aries Thomas Jefferson advising his daughter in 1787. It's great advice, since I also have absolutely found it true. It's the only way I get as much done as I do. From one of the greatest Spirits of history: "Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much can be done if we are always doing." I'll only add that "Doing" is just as important as "Being."
I once had a therapist tell me to stop being a human doing, and start being a human being. The truth is somewhere in between that if one is bored, it must be that one is boring one's self and doing something about the issue heals the irritation. Time or lack of time is a concept such as I am so blessed with money I can not count it all. God grant me the time to be bored, the time to live, the time to create, and the time to appreciate all of it.
Posted by: Mary | January 10, 2008 at 10:35 AM
doing nothing leaves nothing undone- a taoist thought
but as astrologers we know its all about timing. for the yin and the yang ;to rest and to act.
Often, its a lot better to do nothing than to wrongly act.
Posted by: Ron | January 10, 2008 at 04:06 PM
We can only lose something we have, and we don't HAVE time. It HAS us- and by the throat, I would say. By far the majority of people in this country are so addicted to doing that any sort of stopping, waiting or silence is immediately equated with boredom. "Just" BEING - meditation, simple present moment awareness, etc. -tends be to very scary for most people( initially )because we can actually begin to hear all the crazed static in our heads that directs all of our self-important DOING.
I am a terrific admirer of much of Jefferson's legacy to us, but if what he was espousing is an early version of our beloved American protestant work ethic which has resulted in such a perversely inflated esteem for busyness and business, I say "No thanks " !
magenta
Posted by: magenta | January 10, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Like the others commenting here I can see the negatives in over doing the doing side of life. There is something to be said for doing when all seems lost though. When I'm going through deep personal stuff I sometimes find great solace in doing. During those times I recall a card from a Tarot deck I once had called the Mother Peace Deck. In the card a woman is pictured making tortillas. The commentary reads something to the effect of 'the hands keep busy will the mind works out what to do". I found it to be one of the most profound teachings I've yet learnt.
Also Robert, if this blog is an example of your doings you are doing good! Peace - Sue
Posted by: Sue | January 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Whoops sorry - typo - should read - "the hands keep busy while the mind works out what do."
Posted by: Sue | January 10, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Magenta: I will have to chime in on the AMEN section to your post. I have just gone through a reevaluation of my opinions about everything in life and have decided to downplay my opinions. Therefore, I was not willing to venture the opinion that you gave. I wholeheartedly agree that the robotic spin that everyone is in, influences everything from birth to death and definitely takes the fun out of everything.
Posted by: Mary | January 11, 2008 at 06:04 AM
As an earnest Virgo I appreciate your perspective on this;-) Another great quote from one of The Great Ones: "Be calmly active and actively calm" (Paramahansa Yogananda). A simple phrase- but to embody it requires that your activities be anchored in your spiritual practice, whatever that may be.
Posted by: Nancy | January 11, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Yes, truly ... Doing:) Moving forward and always
doing something purposeful while you learn to be ... and not just breathing AIR but to be ALIVE.
I love your column alot Robert and all that you do for others. As a fellow Aries married to a wonderful Capricorn of 23 years I anticipate wonderful things this year.
Recently I wrote a book about this very idea of Doing or maybe even purposeful living with capricornian intention of understanding, learning and drawing in
the light, life and love. And of course the challenges therein for there are many. But there is a purpose also in the negatives. Capricorns teach us to use the negatives as stepping stones to always reach the peak, the goal by ( if you look closely at the symbol for Capricorn ) also understanding in a wierd watery way from past experience how to ' Navigate ' to reach the goal AND for the great good for all.
But as you say ...
'Capricorn puts the focus on our claim to power in the public realm and our ability to assert our personal authority within a social structure. This self-starting practical sign represents the power of organizing energies into forms of personal fulfillment, and the ability to use time productively to achieve our intention. Capricorn is the ultimate plodder, patiently persevering with an eye to the long-term payoff. Wherever it falls in a chart is where you may find and claim your power, authorship, mature experience and responsibility.'
Capricorn is about the structure of things. The framework, sustained effort towards a useful purposeful goal for the benefit of EVERYONE and the
greater good.
My book soon to be published by the way it's called ' Living a life of Love '.
May 2008 be the best for everyone
Melody
Posted by: Melody | January 11, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Hi all - This was a simple, spur of the moment post, and I am delighted at the responses. I realize there is entirely too much wheel-spinning in our world, with people doing what may not need to be done, and not doing what does need to be done, usually without any sense of "being" while they're getting lost in the usual white noise of our existence. Of course, "doing our Being" is the only way to live, and this world still doesn't seem to value taking the time to still the outer world stimuli so we can deeply experience who we ARE all the time we're preoccupied with the doings.
That said, our world is constipated with realizations that are not being applied. Application involves doing. Sometimes it involves "doing" nothing, but non-action is still a form of "doing" when it is a useful way to respond and consciously chosen. We will always BE while we are applying ourselves (whether we recognize it or not), but any form of application of realization must involve some conscious form of "doing."
I agree with the comment about being bored is in fact being bored with one's own responses, or lack thereof. And I've known a lot of people with waaaay too much time on their hands, but this also is a symptom of unconsciously "being" while wasting time doing or not doing. This is not the same as consciously choosing to do a "modified, limited hangout" waiting for the right time to do whatever needs to be done. "To every thing there is a season..." and all that. No point in planting lettuce when snow is on the ground, unless it's in a flowerbox inside a warm house.
I agree many are driven to work, work, work and never take time to BE with their Eternal Self. But I don't really see that most who get lost in "doing" are living the "Protestant work ethic," but just lobster slaves trapped in a tank of an inadequate wage trying to keep their heads above water while the fires are slowly turned up. For many, it seems there's no payoff except barely surviving our competitive rigged game of bare knuckle capitalism where the rich are favored and everyone else can pound salt. That's what makes getting off the merry-go-round so scary. You know you don't want to get back on, but then what? A failure of cultivating imagination haunts many who try, so they get back on and wait for exhaustion, living with little or no clarity of purpose.
I also have found that when one is sitting, waiting for Godot who may never show, then often doing something leads to other possibilities we never imagined before just doing whatever was in front of us to do. It is also true that we lose our sense of sorrow, boredom, separateness in forms of true service for others who are in dire straits. That's why "action speaks louder than suffering." Love the tortilla reference. True wisdom in that one. Also love the robotic reference, since that's the nature of doing without being consciously aware of our Being, or whether there are other options of "doing" that won't leave us robotic. Doing without joy is truly filling in moments while we are waiting to die.
Yogananda, great Capricorn that He was, taught forms of combining devotion with service, Bhakti Yoga blended with Karma Yoga. This seems to me to be a great recipe for fulfilling Dharma while staying centered in Being. Then even peeling potatoes or baking bread becomes a Spiritual practice. It helps me experience being "fully alive" whether I'm in the kitchen, the garden, or at the keyboard. Even difficulties become grist for the mill of Soul, and each "setback" offers knowledge to be used in the future. Thanks to everyone who has joined in this great conversation, since these concerns are shared by millions outside this forum.
Posted by: Robert | January 11, 2008 at 09:09 AM
To 'bee' or not to be, zat is the question...
Shall you just be or will you be as busy as a bee...
I love the quote by Thomas Jefferson.
Welcome to 2008, it's gonna be great!
The Good Sourceress
Posted by: The Good Sourceress | January 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM
"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves“
Thomas Edison
Attitude
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important that the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.
The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I'm convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. - Charles Swindoll
Press On
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and Determination alone are Omnipotent.
Posted by: 0 Degrees S-S Cusp Number 11 Soul | January 12, 2008 at 04:49 AM
Your work in life must be your religion, whatever your occupation may be. Hazrat Inayat Khan beautiful quote! so much in it dear friends! i dont know where this topic heading for but i can say for sure whatever we r doing in the moment in life be yourself and search for you (real YOU) :)
thanks Robert :)
good luck
Posted by: AceStar | January 12, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Hi all again - Still great comments, wisdom for everyone to live by. Thanks for making this discussion fantastic!
Posted by: Robert | January 14, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Lost in the clouds with Jupiter transcendent
Lost in the clouds with Mars ascendant.
Love Luck and the music of the Spheres.
Azure in the arms of Cerulean
Cast adrift in the Indigo isles
May Angel love and Moon glow light your path.
---klqtzzzz
Posted by: poetryman69 | April 07, 2008 at 04:30 AM