23 Comments

"Slow down. See people. Then, follow your deepest inclinations."

To truly "see people" is a frame we should abide by throughout our days on this earth.

Thank you for this Taylor.

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Thank you for your help with this, Anthony. And for reading it.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by James Taylor Foreman

I'm often left feeling stumped by how to respond to writing like yours that is hinting and inviting for connection in that other (right brain) dimension, through a medium like this which is a left-brain product. When you put wine in a dirty paper cup the wine just doesn't taste the same anymore, so I hesitate to try and share it sometimes. Maybe I'll send you a Zoom invite and we can talk.

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I think we need to talk about this, Rick.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by James Taylor Foreman

“boundaries of “me” exploded outward into infinity”

what a lovely way to describe that state of grace

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Thanks for reading, Tess

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Oct 26, 2023Liked by James Taylor Foreman

Incredible to see the mercurial right brain in action through yours and Merry's experience. McGilchrist’s work immediately came to mind as I read through. Great piece!

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It was really amazing to even reflect on and write about

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Did you read The Master and the Emissary? Should I give it a read?

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I’m halfway through it and really enjoying it. McGilchrist is just as much into literature as science so it’s not too dry. Long though

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Great piece. The battle against the left brain and it's Autumn People has been a constant part of my life.

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Thanks man. Appreciate your reading

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Oct 26, 2023Liked by James Taylor Foreman

That last line really resonated with me 👏🏼👏🏼 Thanks for sharing about yourself & Merry!

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All praise to Merry, please!

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Oct 26, 2023Liked by James Taylor Foreman

You're writing is so engaging, smooth, and insightful. Can't wait to read what you post next.

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Hey thanks for reading and for the compliments. The smoothness is likely from the help I received.

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So much of this piece felt like a crescendo to the Kierkegaard quote like a piece of music that's tapping in to the timeless truths and melodies. So satisfying.

And what a sign off line. Bravo man!

"the emissary is a great servant, but a terrible master. "

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This is a fantastic compliment, Steven. “All art aspires to the condition of music.”

Thanks for your help in this.

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Merry sounds amazing 💕

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He was a pretty cool dude

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The Master and the Emissary changed my brain, and my daily life and relationships, ever since I read it over 10 years ago.

Thank you for your clear and vivid writing. I could "see" (rather "feel") Merry without needing to think more than a mini-second about what his face might have looked like. And I could feel and have empathy for your mother's fear and be curious about your experience of doing your best to comfort her.

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I recently came to this conclusion after reading a book called Generative Trance by Stephen Gilligan who was a student of Milton Erickson. As a young man I was fascinated by Julian Jayne's theories in The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Then someone on these pages of Substack pointed me to McGilchrist. I've requested his latest book from the library and am eagerly awaiting all 1500 pages of it... This morning I stumbled across your essay and am glad I did!

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I've always been a frequent flyer of right-brain shenanigans and left-brain schemes. However more recently I've been interested in the full capacity of ones capabilities when unlocking them completely. Have you experimented with creating pockets of organized spaces in the right-brain? Integrating both during meditation has been wildly rewarding, personally.

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