Monkey See, Monkey Do

Greetings and Salutations,

How are all you beautiful people. Its been a few weeks since I've posted an update so I'd like to first take a minute to reconnect. In order to do so, I ask you to take your fingers off your keyboard for a second, close your eyes, and sink into your body. Pay attention to how your body feels this precise moment in space and time. This sensation, or collection of sensations, is the origin of all things great and small.

In the last update we discussed the tiger's tendency to watch closely those things deemed most important. This week we move on to the archetype of the monkey. The monkey is a playful creature that tends to favor movement and commotion over stillness and serenity. But just how does the monkey know where to swing and how to behave? Much of the monkey's inspiration comes from immitation, or watching and following those around it, a process shared between the sub-conscious and conscious faculties. As a result, it is able to process information and plan its route without the influence of emotions, desires, etc. Instead, it thinks without thinking, moves without thinking about moving. (That said, I must admit that I have learned elsewhere that monkeys do indeed show great attachment to their emotions. This attachment is what prevents them from working together toward a common goal.)

As humans, relatives of the monkey, we gather much of our knowledge from immitation as well. For that matter, immitation is the first means of learning available to us. As babies, nearly everything we learn to do is learned by watching others. As we grow older and become subject to formal education and the like, we tend to place less value on learning through immitation and more value on learning through comprehension. But why? Why should we turn away from such a powerful tool for development? The good news is that its not too late. Simply by surrounding yourself by examples of what you would like to learn and how you would like to develop, you can ensure that those lessons will reach you in some way, shape, or form. All you have to do is remain open. And aware.

In Unleash the Beast news, much has happened since the last update. I taught workshops at several festivals and was more than pleased with the way they were recieved. More so, some new elements were introduced into the workshop. What are they? Well...you'll just have to experience them for yourself. But I will tell you that one of them involves a drum. Coming up in the next few weeks, the beast will be unleashed at block parties, street fairs, kids camps, and KindTree Autisum Camp. All this in addition to the regular Friday gig at the LILA peer support club. So come one and come all.

-Ben