seanessay.com At the east edge of Banff National Park is the town of Canmore, at the east edge of which stands the Alpine Club lodge. We were “getting away from it all,” and a high school group was there too, with the smell of green nettles drifting in the open windows, the feel of earthy […]
Why Journals are Jolly
seanessay.com In my shared house, one evening, there were two identical blond heads, plus my own, bent over at our kitchen table, journalling. A male housemate came in, made a remark, and I quipped, “It’s journal night in Canada.” One of the blonds, one night, got into a sexual activity with me and later told […]
Enlightenment in Old Age
seanessay.com They say Buddhists get their enlightenment very abruptly. I’d like that too, but for me things take a while. I’m now over Greenland thinking lofty thoughts. This morning in London I was in the Bloomsbury district, of bookstores and writers, enjoying the More Delish cafe, chatting with the owner. In my American midwest accent—where […]
Moving Ideals and Ayn Rand
seanessay.com Datelined September 22: “The Chinese government, under his leadership, has started putting the Communist back in the Communist Party, at least to some extent.” (BBC) “Well I really liked this movie when I first saw it as an idealistic, hopeful, spiritual teenager. I watched it again recently and realized what a cynical, skeptical, pessimistic, […]
A Cluttered Cave, with Onion
seanessay.com Like you, I live in a cave. With more than one room, a stuccoed ceiling and with walls painted eggshell white: All the better to mount my paintings. But still, a cave. A container. A bowl holding my memories and hopes while offering a place to relax. But like you, maybe, I have something […]
Self Improvement, Other Improvement
seanessay.com Prologue “God bless the wounded healer.” A visiting pastor, at Friday Free Fall writing, who asked me if I was a pastor too. As we were leaving, two churchgoers told me I have the demeanour of a pastor. Introduction A European writer, Alice Miller, noted that in WWII each of the European fascist and […]