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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsConsulting the Oracle, the I Ching and absorbing darkness.
In 1970 I had a cheap rental house in Springfield, Oregon. I lived about
two miles down the road from Ken Kesey. I saw him here and there about town
and in next door Eugene. I went to hear him speak at the U of O. He threw the
coins, and consulted the corresponding verse in the I Ching. I was captivated,
I had my own copy at home.
Then he began to explain his idea of absorbing darkness. He related a tale of he and a pal who entered a country bar near Eugene where a fight was about to break out.
His pal walked between the two guys and pulled out a pack of gum.
In a mock tough tone he said to the guys "You wanna piece of gum? How about you You wanna piece of gum?"
Ken said the vibe was instantly broken, the fight was off, the potential combatants
were amused. Everything changed. The darkness had been absorbed.
Ken said that this was not always an easy thing to do, that humor and wit were key.
For those of us strong enough to absorb darkness, it's a good thing.
fierywoman
(7,700 posts)cilla4progress
(24,790 posts)Hell, I always got a pack on me.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I like that. Very cool.
hermetic
(8,330 posts)favorite people. I have films of him and essays he wrote, beyond his famous novels.
panader0
(25,816 posts)to the same place in Salem that Kesey wrote about in "One Flew Over the
Cookoo's Nest." A grim looking facility. I went to Willamette U in Salem.
Until I was expelled and moved to Springfield to attend Lane Community
College. Kesey was great as a speaker. I once saw the Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi. Kesey had the same command.