1.
The Ride — music video by Mighty One Man Band
From the Community
Like many of the creative people whose work I love and share on this newsletter, I came across Bruce (aka
) on Substack Notes.1 This was the first song I encountered on his YouTube channel, and my initial experience was that of... paralysis 😅.On the surface, I experienced chaos - the genre of music itself, the endless limbs moving over all those instruments, and the overlaid visuals on the video. BUT... there was also something deeply compelling about it that had me stay and watch the whole video - again, and again. This was curious for me because I'm usually really quick to block out anything I experience as chaotic or overstimulating.
Underneath what looked like chaos, there was an order that was kind of... peaceful. It's not just Bruce's impressive ability to play a bazillion instruments and sing all at once. The beat, the rhythm, and the melody had their resonance with each other... but Bruce himself is inseparable from all the things happening - all in its own intense harmony. It reminded me of how much I love sitting inside with windows wide open, listening to a thunderstorm. The crashing sound of a trillion raindrops falling on roofs, graveled paths, tree tops, metal cars... overlaid with thunder and howling winds. It's a cacophony, but somehow concordant.
After some acclimation, I began to pay attention to the lyrics. Perhaps it's a space metaphor for Bruce's experience of his life. Perhaps it's a space metaphor for how anyone experiences human life.
Perhaps it's not really a metaphor at all, and we really are sailing through cosmic holes encountering each other's souls. Perhaps we are hurtling towards infinity (our death - at a rapidly compounding speed and time really does go faster the closer we get).
Maybe being in space, being in the universe, being in life... isn't chaotic at all. When I listen just a little longer through the cacophony of life's thunderstorm... there is harmony, there is peace. There is an inherent order of things, of which I am a part.
It’s a ride, and I am supposed to be here.
2.
Chaoticism — music by Daniel Ciurlizza
From Spotify
Thank you to Spotify for giving me the perfect title for this post. On Saturday morning, I got in the car and drove about 35 miles to Bristol. I put on Spotify and this was the first song that came up. I was initially irritated for about 3 seconds because the car screen changed from my Waze navigation to Spotify (and my navigational skills are… not part of the inherent order of things), but then I noticed the title. And I thought 'Ah - this is this week's newsletter!'
And I thoroughly enjoyed this crescendoing piece as I hurled myself (safely) on the M5. Enjoy :)
3.
On the cosmos — a quote from Carl Jung
From the Library
In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.
— Carl Jung
I'm not inclined, nor do I have the necessary expertise, to convince you of any 'secret order of the universe'. But I have found myself, since childhood, in deep affinity and attraction to ancient systems of knowledge. Things like the I-Ching, the Tarot Cards, the 52 Cards, the Enneagram, the Zodiac... even fictional instruments like the alethiometer from Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials'.
Maybe it's a desperate need to make sense of life? Maybe it's a whisper from lost ancient wisdom calling us all. Maybe it's both...
👋🏽 SAY HELLO TO OTHERSHIP 👋🏽
I've been part of Othership for about 5 years, and we are a very cool, global community of founders, freelancers, and remote workers who are interested in new and collaborative ways of working. 😎 🌎
Othership has recently launched a new platform that allows you to find others and share where you're working remotely. It also has various groups you can join that are focused on certain topics, and a space to share and organise in-person and online events.
I'd love to invite you to join my creativity and well-being group. It's free, and it gives you access to others in the community who share the same interests. I also curate a monthly newsletter for members, sharing:
💃🏼 Something good for your body
🍜 Something tasty for your kitchen
🎨 Something inspiring for your creativity
🧠 Something curious for your mind.
See you on Othership 🖤
If you're receiving this email and you don't know what Substack is, AND you're uninspired by the usual fodder on Instagram and Facebook, I highly recommend checking out the community of writers and content creators on this platform.
Thank you so much for featuring me and one of my songs in your beautiful article! Keep doing what you do. May 2024 be an amazing and successful year for you!