Author: ldlddowning

There is no denying that human beings are emotional creatures. Whether it be nervousness for an important upcoming interview, heartbreak over the ending of a relationship, or virtually anything else, what occupies our mental space are the things with emotional significance to us. It is much easier to call an emotional-based argument to memory than … Continue reading The Effectiveness of Climate Art: How Emotions Find Their Way Into the Universe

The majority of the art we examined this quarter touches on religion or mysticism in some capacity, whether that be directly or indirectly. The narratives of most religions are centered on invoking a higher state of consciousness in oneself. However, what underlies this foundation is the perpetual human drama, i.e. every person walking on earth … Continue reading Decisions, Decisions: The Intersection of Climate Art, Religious Narratives, and Mysticism

Mindfulness meditation is premised on exercising the muscle of one’s attention. Human attention wanders naturally, and it is virtually impossible to direct one’s attention, without distraction, on one thing for a sustained period of time. The ability to actively concentrate solely on the sensation of breathing (the typical meditative point of focus) requires a tremendous … Continue reading Becoming Ocean: An Atypical Meditative Experience

I view role playing games as a potentially effective media for inspiring new, deeper, or different understandings for a given topic. However, meaningfully inspiring a new perspective on a complex issue such as climate change, through gameplay experience, is a daunting proposition. Nevertheless, difficult does not mean impossible. Heartwood was able to substantially deepen my … Continue reading We See Things Not as They Are, But As We Are