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Newgrange, Ireland

This structure was built 5,200 years ago. Three-ton stones were moved from all around the country to create this thing. Once completed, this structure,  on the light of Winter Solstice, a single ray would shines into the center. Humanities nameless ancestors built three of these, and each with complete precision and magnificence.

Each was a sign of the challenges and bounty for the next season. And, in those circumstances, their lives revolved around these structures. 5,200 years ago, the average lifespan was around 30 to 40 years. Archeologists estimate it took hundreds of years to build Newgrange. From generation to generation, each built on the successes and failures of the last.

There is so much more to this than I can understand, or any of us will ever know, but I believe every generation — every being that touched these structure had a decision: create, preserve or destroy. What do these three words mean? What do we create (or, build upon)? What do we destroy (or, burn away)? What do we preserve (or, strengthen)?

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On Beingness and Technology

I think about the potential of technology often. Whether it be artificial intelligence or blockchain, we are facing new found possibilities.

The efficiency is stunning, and the certainty is reassuring — and we have the possibility to try to think with the logic of technology — in a way — we can become reductionists: a belief that each piece serves a specific utility and no more — that the sum of parts is not greater than the whole.

Logical algorithms must assume a complete logical breakdown of systems, while humans can account for the subtle. If a mechanic takes a part a car to each of its pieces, and puts it back together, then it will likely drive again. If the best surgeon takes an animal and tries to dissect it, and put it back together, then obviously it will not live. There is a difference.

Human beings that break problems into their individual pieces and logically pieces them together — this is what computers do, not humans.

To not lose ourselves to technology, we must practice and honor that which is human: wisdom, love and compassion.