Douglas, I appreciate the shout out to Cliffside. But more importantly, I love your good v. evil emphasis. Hope you’re doing good this week? Cheers, -Thalia
Really interesting to explore the themes of fire - both creative and destructive - and memory. I think we in the hyper-rational west might be spiritually a lot wealthier if we also embraced more ritual and drama of the kind you describe as a way of preserving and sharing memories, and awakening our sense of the heroic. The ritual you describe must have been quite the experience, and I think some rituals need to be high stakes, all-in, cathartic, and somewhat sacrificial (in the sense of some skin in the game). Your piece makes me think of how our experiences and memories risk becoming as privatised and individual as modernity can be, and it's these ritualistic group experiences that suspend our obsession with ownership and give us something of primal value to share. We do have religious rituals of course, but there's always a risk of those seeming somewhat domesticated at times, even when spiritual realities accompany them. I mean, what if a Christian receiving Confirmation (i.e. a baptism of fire) encountered some actual symbolic fire...? OK, just a thought. And about tranferrance of memory, I think we need to share those memories with others to sort of remind us they actually happened; have someone bear witness to them, and so preserve them. So, thank you for a deep piece, and let's hope and pray that fire be a creative force, and no longer a destructive one for its victims everywhere.
Peter- This might just be one of the most essential take-away of this thought-piece: “our experiences and memories risk becoming as privatised and individual as modernity can be, and it's these ritualistic group experiences that suspend our obsession with ownership and give us something of primal value to share.” I like the way you show the contrast between the two experiences. The catharsis you mentioned, to your great point, has been shown throughout the history of Christianity for sure—in my observation through ceremonies like candle-lighting. Perhaps also interestingly: if baptism by water carries such a direct representative meaning of what the faith stands for, baptism by fire—or at least by candlelight—can do the same should a fire-based event can be incorporated into such rituals? Fire seems to play a bigger part in the Old Testament—burning bush, Moses conviction, pillar of fire, etc. While water seems to be a lot more front and center in the New Testament. Perhaps the two can play more symbiotic parts in the rituals to form a fuller alpha-omega picture of the texts?
Interesting, now you mention it, I see that pattern in the Bible now. And in the new testament, fire seems to make a more sublime re-entry at Pentecost, when tongues of fire descend on the apostles to empower them for their mission. I agree, it would be good to see more use of fire and water - at least the imagery, if not the actual elements - in rituals like these. I guess because in any real spiritual or personal transformation, something has to die in order for something to have life. And fire and water can both lead to death or give life in their own way, so we need both properties in a way. Sacrifice, then glory. See what you've begun here, Thalia!
No sweat. If the community isn’t familiar with you and this is your first time here, it can come across as spammy, which is a disservice to your good intent I’m sure.
Fascinating Thalia and beautiful photos helped me picture both the ceremony and its significance. I also enjoyed seeing the modest statues. Sometimes that kind of tradition can be made to seem silly or funny and you gave it a sincere tenderness of care. I'm looking forward the coming pieces.
Leslie, so good of you to recognize nuances of being ridiculed and I'm glad the care came across. The place bears great significance in my early childhood memory. And it's lovely to see it's resonated. I hope you're doing OK in CA? Warmly, -Thalia
Sending you the warmest wishes to send along to your friends, Leslie. I can only imagine the roller coaster they must be experiencing. Is the cleanup efforts underway and insurance companies being cooperative moving forward?
The cleanup is underway, but it is by nature slow, and there are over 10,000 homeowners impacted. First toxic waste—things we all have in our homes that are toxic when burned, batteries, electronics, furniture, automobiles—have to be removed and then the lot clearing can begin. And during it all the ash is toxic and disturbed with the processes. Estimates are 1.5-2 years before the lots are cleared for construction to begin. I think the hard insurance news is still coming with rates going way up. The scale is what is overwhelming. One burned house is a mess, blocks of burned houses is truly disaster.
The people I know have worked something out. It has been moving how many employers have reached out to help people —so have places of worship, service groups and the rest of us too. Pasadena-Altadena is a close knit area, I don’t know if the same is true of Pacific Palisades.
You have brought something wonderful. I hope you like how I presented Cliffside... in Crown Valley Quarterly. You are so good.
https://liveyosemite.wordpress.com/2024/02/23/science-and-technology/
Douglas, I appreciate the shout out to Cliffside. But more importantly, I love your good v. evil emphasis. Hope you’re doing good this week? Cheers, -Thalia
Really interesting to explore the themes of fire - both creative and destructive - and memory. I think we in the hyper-rational west might be spiritually a lot wealthier if we also embraced more ritual and drama of the kind you describe as a way of preserving and sharing memories, and awakening our sense of the heroic. The ritual you describe must have been quite the experience, and I think some rituals need to be high stakes, all-in, cathartic, and somewhat sacrificial (in the sense of some skin in the game). Your piece makes me think of how our experiences and memories risk becoming as privatised and individual as modernity can be, and it's these ritualistic group experiences that suspend our obsession with ownership and give us something of primal value to share. We do have religious rituals of course, but there's always a risk of those seeming somewhat domesticated at times, even when spiritual realities accompany them. I mean, what if a Christian receiving Confirmation (i.e. a baptism of fire) encountered some actual symbolic fire...? OK, just a thought. And about tranferrance of memory, I think we need to share those memories with others to sort of remind us they actually happened; have someone bear witness to them, and so preserve them. So, thank you for a deep piece, and let's hope and pray that fire be a creative force, and no longer a destructive one for its victims everywhere.
Peter- This might just be one of the most essential take-away of this thought-piece: “our experiences and memories risk becoming as privatised and individual as modernity can be, and it's these ritualistic group experiences that suspend our obsession with ownership and give us something of primal value to share.” I like the way you show the contrast between the two experiences. The catharsis you mentioned, to your great point, has been shown throughout the history of Christianity for sure—in my observation through ceremonies like candle-lighting. Perhaps also interestingly: if baptism by water carries such a direct representative meaning of what the faith stands for, baptism by fire—or at least by candlelight—can do the same should a fire-based event can be incorporated into such rituals? Fire seems to play a bigger part in the Old Testament—burning bush, Moses conviction, pillar of fire, etc. While water seems to be a lot more front and center in the New Testament. Perhaps the two can play more symbiotic parts in the rituals to form a fuller alpha-omega picture of the texts?
Interesting, now you mention it, I see that pattern in the Bible now. And in the new testament, fire seems to make a more sublime re-entry at Pentecost, when tongues of fire descend on the apostles to empower them for their mission. I agree, it would be good to see more use of fire and water - at least the imagery, if not the actual elements - in rituals like these. I guess because in any real spiritual or personal transformation, something has to die in order for something to have life. And fire and water can both lead to death or give life in their own way, so we need both properties in a way. Sacrifice, then glory. See what you've begun here, Thalia!
I bet if we dig some more, Peter, we’ll find many more. Haha, yes, I see what I’ve begun here!
Hello. I I have an article on the subject of LA fires, which might be of interest to you. https://quannguyen128.substack.com/p/paradox-of-wealth. Thanks
Might be worthwhile if you share with everyone here what’s it about before directing them to your link, Quan. More collaborative.
Sure, sorry. It is kind of long.
No sweat. If the community isn’t familiar with you and this is your first time here, it can come across as spammy, which is a disservice to your good intent I’m sure.
Fascinating Thalia and beautiful photos helped me picture both the ceremony and its significance. I also enjoyed seeing the modest statues. Sometimes that kind of tradition can be made to seem silly or funny and you gave it a sincere tenderness of care. I'm looking forward the coming pieces.
Leslie, so good of you to recognize nuances of being ridiculed and I'm glad the care came across. The place bears great significance in my early childhood memory. And it's lovely to see it's resonated. I hope you're doing OK in CA? Warmly, -Thalia
My family and I are doing fine, but still hurting for friends who aren't. thanks for asking.
Sending you the warmest wishes to send along to your friends, Leslie. I can only imagine the roller coaster they must be experiencing. Is the cleanup efforts underway and insurance companies being cooperative moving forward?
The cleanup is underway, but it is by nature slow, and there are over 10,000 homeowners impacted. First toxic waste—things we all have in our homes that are toxic when burned, batteries, electronics, furniture, automobiles—have to be removed and then the lot clearing can begin. And during it all the ash is toxic and disturbed with the processes. Estimates are 1.5-2 years before the lots are cleared for construction to begin. I think the hard insurance news is still coming with rates going way up. The scale is what is overwhelming. One burned house is a mess, blocks of burned houses is truly disaster.
Ugh. I’m so sorry to hear. Are your friends/family able to find temporary housing? I understand it can be quite competitive?
The people I know have worked something out. It has been moving how many employers have reached out to help people —so have places of worship, service groups and the rest of us too. Pasadena-Altadena is a close knit area, I don’t know if the same is true of Pacific Palisades.