“…… you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions.
To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do.
But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you.
Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.
This question is one that only a very old man asks. Does this path have a heart?
All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush.
In my own life I could say I have traversed long long paths, but I am not anywhere.
Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.
Before you embark on any path ask the question: Does this path have a heart? If the answer is no, you will know it, and then you must choose another path.
The trouble is nobody asks the question; and when a man finally realizes that he has taken a path without a heart, the path is ready to kill him. At that point very few men can stop to deliberate, and leave the path.
A path without a heart is never enjoyable. You have to work hard even to take it. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy; it does not make you work at liking it.
From The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda
“What matters is never letting people tell you what to think. Don’t let them convince you that one way is right and another way is wrong. Gather as much knowledge as you can, because information is power. And choosing how to use it is freedom. The more you know, the freer you will be.”
From Lula Deans’ Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic and she said yes I asked her if it was okay to be short and she said it sure is I asked her if I could wear nail polish or not wear nail polish and she said honey she calls me that sometimes she said you can do just exactly what you want to Thanks God I said And is it even okay if I don’t paragraph my letters Sweetcakes God said who knows where she picked that up what I’m telling you is Yes Yes Yes
Lipstick and eye shadow on linen by Small Circle Big Circle
“Those who ignore the existence of the universe, also ignore where they themselves exist. Those who ignore the purpose of the universe, also ignore who they are and what the world is. Those who neglect even only one of these issues, wouldn’t even be able to say for what purpose they themselves were born.
What do you think, then, of those who flee and seek the praise of those who applaud without knowing where they themselves are or who they are?”
Transl. by Small Circle Big Circle
“Chi ignora l’esistenza dell’universo, ignora anche dove sia egli stesso. Chi ignora per quale fine esista l’universo, ignora anche chi egli stesso sia, come pure che cosa il mondo sia. Chi trascura uno solo di questi problemi, non saprebbe neppure dire per quale fine egli stesso sia nato.
Che te ne pare, quindi, di chi fugge o ricerca la lode di coloro che applaudono senza sapere né dove siano né chi siano?”
Da Meditazioni di Marco Aurelio, Libro VIII.52, a cura di Maristella Ceva
“There are two ways of looking at things. One is simply looking at them, whereas the other involves considering them attentively. Merely to see is nothing else than receiving into the eye the form or likeness of the object that is looked at; but to consider a thing is more like this: it is to seek with special diligence after the means of knowing this object thoroughly.”
“Non devi capire! Guai a capire! Che faresti dopo? Tu devi solo ascoltare: solo sentirle, quelle voci e augurarti che non si stanchino mai di chiamarti.”
Dal film di Federico Fellini “La Voce della luna”
Drawing by Small Circle Big Circle
“ You must not understand! Woe to anyone who tries to understand! What would you do after? You must only listen: only listen to them, to those voices, and hope that they will never get tired to call on you.”
“Do not follow rules and principles, but paint what you see and feel. Paint boldly and without hesitation, because it is important to get your first impressions down. And do not be shy of nature! You must be bold , even at the risk of going wrong and making mistakes. There is only one teacher: nature ….”
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