Armchair Metaphysics

theories, practices and experiences of the mystical, elusively resonant, practical and unknowable.
a fixation on Suchness, the Invisible and Deep Paradox: sometimes for seemingly goalless diversion, and sometimes as an essential ingredient in the continuous attempt at sustained, good mental health.

The Zen of Danzig

By |2015-04-15T16:27:34+00:00October 22nd, 2014|Categories: Armchair Metaphysics, Respirational Arts, Sabbath Sutras|

I consider my Zen shakuhachi playing to be part Tony Iommi and part Watazumi. This is the inward self, or a concept of a part of it. The outward shakuhachi self is turning into part Danzig and part Zamfir. A similar combo, but more Z's are involved.  Z is for Zen. Sometimes. Maybe.  Our Primary One [...]

12 Days of Christmas 2013

By |2016-01-05T17:40:11+00:00December 14th, 2013|Categories: Armchair Metaphysics, Respirational Arts|Tags: , , , , , , |

John Denver and the Muppets sing the 12 Days of Christmas     Highly entertaining holiday music.  2nd only to Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of this song.     Last year I released a Christmas album and wrote an entry about Christmas music. So what's the deal with this time of year? I feel [...]

12+ years of Zen bamboo flute training and my shakuhachi Shihan ranking

By |2013-11-12T20:21:22+00:00November 12th, 2013|Categories: Armchair Metaphysics, Respirational Arts|Tags: , , , , , |

Greetings fellows humans.  It has been a long time since a blog post here.  It has been an incredible year of cultivation and contemplation as I moved out to the woods in Marin County and have been making lots of Pu-Erh post-fermented dark, earthy tea and playing lots of shakuhachi and Taimu. Today it is also a [...]

preview of Blood Vapour for flute quartet

By |2014-05-02T17:23:43+00:00October 11th, 2013|Categories: Armchair Metaphysics, Respirational Arts|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Blood Vapour for flute quartet The fourth part of the Chthonic Flute Suite commissioned by Areon Flutes in 2012.  This suite has two main inspirations: ideologically it draws guidance from the book The Dream and the Underworld (1979) by James Hillman (1926-2011) and musically it explores the textural possibilities of a flute ensemble within [...]

Sincere Christmas Music

By |2012-12-08T20:56:37+00:00December 8th, 2012|Categories: Armchair Metaphysics|

For those of us still susceptible to warm fuzzy feelings (perhaps even hints of...Joy? shall we say) Christmas music can stir those at this time of year, take it or leave it.  I finally released a Christmas album this year and briefly describe that project and share thoughts and examples of  "sincere" Christmas songs. The idea [...]

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