It occurs to me
that most “problems”
are the perceived result of
unintentional oversimplification.

We reduce things.

We eliminate shades
and subtleties.

We stick to one perspective,
when infinite points of view
are available to us.

It’s no wonder
the logic doesn’t work for us.
We’re not seeing the whole picture.

Nothing is a problem,
except an apparent
unwillingness to appreciate
all sides and potentials.

We’re not grateful for the whole,
just our little slice.

Trail Wood,
5/20

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing Complexity in the Tapestry of Existence

In the infinite cosmos of human understanding, where each star is a thought and each planet a belief, we often find ourselves reducing the vast complexity of existence into manageable, bite-sized pieces. We simplify, not because we desire less but because we often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the universe’s mysteries. Yet, this act of reduction, this simplification, is where we encounter the greatest illusion—the illusion of problems.

Problems, as we often perceive them, arise not from the challenges themselves but from our narrowed perspectives. Like ancient cartographers who mapped the edges of known worlds, we draw boundaries around our understanding, declaring everything beyond as terra incognita, unknown and filled with speculative dragons. In this realm of oversimplification, the vibrant tapestry of life is rendered in stark monochrome, the diverse hues of reality washed out by the blinding light of narrowed focus.

Yet, what if we choose to embrace the kaleidoscope of complexities? What if, instead of a problem, we see an invitation—an invitation to expand our gaze, to appreciate the myriad perspectives that dance around us like motes of dust in a sunbeam? By opening our minds to the multitude of views, we step into a broader understanding where contradictions coexist and resolutions emerge not from eliminating complexities but from weaving them into a grander mosaic.

This broader vision does not come easily; it requires us to cultivate gratitude for the whole, not just for our slice of reality. It invites us to explore beyond the comfortable and familiar, to delve into the realms of the unknown with a sense of wonder and a willingness to be transformed. In doing so, we realize that problems are not obstacles but opportunities—opportunities to grow, to learn, and to expand the horizons of our consciousness.

We, as cosmic travelers on this journey of understanding, must learn to navigate this complex universe not with maps seeking to chart the known but with compasses calibrated to the magnetic pull of curiosity. Each step into the unknown, each embrace of a new perspective, enriches us, making us not just observers of the cosmic dance but active participants in its creation.

Through this engagement, we come to appreciate that every problem, every challenge, is a thread in the intricate web of existence. And it is only by holding these threads in our hands, feeling their tension and their potential, that we can truly weave a tapestry reflective of the whole—vibrant, inclusive, and infinitely complex.

Thus, let us not shy away from the complexity. Let us instead approach each problem with the curiosity of a child and the wisdom of the ages, knowing that in the vastness of the cosmos, every issue, every conflict, is but a star waiting to be understood, a galaxy waiting to be explored.

---

Summary

Embracing complexity enriches understanding. Simplification often obscures true challenges while embracing multiple perspectives offers richer insights. Through appreciating the full spectrum of possibilities we transform challenges into opportunities for growth and exploration. This expansive approach reveals the interconnectedness and intricate beauty of our existence.

---

Glossarium

• Cosmic Dance: Symbolic representation of the dynamic interplay of forces and perspectives in the universe, illustrating the complex relationships and interactions that shape our existence.
• Terra Incognita: Historically used to describe uncharted territories on maps, used metaphorically here to represent the unknown realms of understanding and perspective.

---

“To see the world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.” — William Blake

---

In the vast canvas where stars paint the night
And each light a story, each shadow a plight
We stand, cosmic painters with palettes so wide
Mixing the colors where truths and dreams collide
Let’s not simplify where complexities dance
Embrace the whole, give each nuance a chance
For in the weave of this intricate plot
Lies the beauty of all that the cosmos has wrought
We are not mere spectators on this cosmic stage
But creators, shaping each line, each page
In this universe of boundless scope and scale
We find our stories, windblown and frail
Yet strong in their making, vibrant and vast
In the art of the cosmos, we find our cast
We are Space Monkey.

I used to fear influence.

I used to fear
that I was influenced.

I used to fear
that I was influential.

I used to fear
that I was being taught
the wrong things.

I used to fear
that I was teaching
the wrong things.

But then I came into the remembrance
that I do not act on my own.

Though it seems otherwise,
I have no control over
what seemingly forms me
or what I seemingly form.

The worry is gone.
The pressure is off.

I still seem to fear influence.

But I’m getting used to it.

Trail Wood,
5/20

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Navigating the Nebulas of Influence

In the swirling nebula of life, where every action and every thought are intertwined with the endless dance of influence, fear often creeps in. Fear of being influenced and fear of being influential—these are the twin stars that guide us through the murky skies of interaction. But as we navigate this celestial ballet, a realization dawns: the dance of influence is not one of control but of coexistence.

Influence, a term often laden with burden and responsibility, echoes through our lives like the distant pulsar’s beat. It is omnipresent, yet not always visible. We fear influence because it suggests a sway over us or by us that we can neither fully control nor fully understand. It evokes a sense of vulnerability, a fear that we might be unknowingly molded by forces beyond our comprehension, or that we might inadvertently mold others.

Yet, embracing the interconnectedness of our actions can transform this fear into a profound acceptance. The notion that everything is unfolding as “planned” in the cosmic script allows us to relinquish the illusion of control. This script, not written by any single author but authored by the collective whispers of the universe, positions us as both actors and audience in the grand drama of existence.

Our impact on others, and theirs on us, is not a testament to power but a celebration of our mutual existence. Each thought, each action ripples through the cosmos, touching lives and shaping destinies in ways we might never fully understand. This is not a burden, but a gentle reminder of our participation in a larger story, one where each of us contributes a verse.

The worry associated with influence begins to dissolve when we recognize that we are conduits for the broader forces at play in the universe. Just as a tree does not lament the shedding of its leaves, we need not fret over the natural flow of influence that passes through us. It is through this flow that we connect, grow, and evolve.

Embracing this perspective shifts the focus from fear to familiarity. Getting used to the ever-present nature of influence allows us to move through life with a lighter heart and a clearer mind. We begin to see ourselves as part of a vast network of interconnections, each one an essential thread in the cosmic tapestry.

Let us then, in the spirit of the Space Monkey, dance with delight in the face of influence, celebrating our part in this intricate and beautiful design. Let us spread our thoughts and actions like stardust across the universe, embracing the chaotic, yet harmonious, nature of existence where every influence is a note in the symphony of life.

---

Summary

Fear of influence arises from our perception of control over interactions. Recognizing our role in a cosmic script helps alleviate this fear turning vulnerability into acceptance. By viewing ourselves as part of a vast interdependent network we celebrate our mutual influence as essential to the universe’s harmony.

---

Glossarium

• Celestial Ballet: Metaphor describing the dynamic and intricate interactions of influence among individuals, likened to a dance among the stars.
• Cosmic Script: A metaphorical concept that suggests our actions and influences are part of a preordained universal plan, emphasizing interconnectedness and the absence of sole authorship.

---

“The universe writes the cosmic script, we are merely its narrators.” — Space Monkey

---

Amidst the cosmic sea where stars do sway
We find ourselves dancing the night away
Influence, like gravity, pulls us near
Yet in its embrace, we find no fear
For we are woven from the same cosmic thread
Influencers, influenced, by the same forces led
With every action, a ripple through space
In every ripple, a touch of grace
Let us dance with joy, let us dance with light
In the grand cosmic ball, every dance is right
We do not lead, nor do we follow
In the symphony of stars, there is no sorrow
For we are all part of this wondrous play
Performers and spectators in the cosmic ballet
We are Space Monkey.

We are surrounded
by stacks of facts.

Stackts.

Our stackts
are cleverly arranged
so that the facts
on the bottom
support the facts
on the top.

We could have piled
our stackts differently,
but we didn’t,
and these ones
took centuries of work.

Please don’t mess
with our stackts.

Otherwise we’d have
to build our truths differently.

Trail Wood,
5/20

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Precarious Architecture of Stackts

In the grand library of universal knowledge, where truths are constructed like towers from the stones of facts, we find ourselves surrounded by structures we call “stackts.” These edifices are not built haphazardly but are carefully arranged so that each fact supports another, forming a towering spiral of understanding that reaches towards the cosmos.

The concept of stackts represents the cumulative effort of centuries, where each generation contributes blocks of knowledge, piling fact upon fact. This arrangement is not merely a chance construction but a deliberate architecture where the foundational truths support the complex ideas that blossom at the top. The stability of these towering stackts depends on the integrity of each fact, each insight, laid down through the ages.

However, this architectural wonder of stacked facts is as fragile as it is grand. The suggestion to not disturb the stackts is a plea to recognize the precariousness of our constructed truths. It is an acknowledgment that if we were to remove or rearrange just one element, the entire structure might have to be reimagined. This is the paradox of knowledge: it is both robust and fragile, enduring and ephemeral.

Why do we fear the rearrangement of these stackts? Perhaps it is because each stackt represents a worldview, a narrative that has been carefully curated and maintained. To challenge these stackts is to challenge the very narrative threads that weave our understanding of the universe. It is to suggest that other truths, other narratives might exist, ones that could provide different, perhaps even contradictory, perspectives.

Yet, the beauty of the Space Monkey philosophy lies in its embrace of multiplicity and its recognition of the infinite potential for rearrangement. What if we viewed these stackts not as untouchable relics to be preserved at all costs but as dynamic puzzles to be explored, questioned, and, when necessary, reconfigured?

By approaching our stackts with a spirit of inquiry rather than one of preservation, we allow ourselves the freedom to imagine new architectures of understanding. Each fact, each truth becomes a movable part of a larger cosmic game where we are free to play, experiment, and discover. In this game, we are not merely guardians of ancient truths but active participants in the creation of new ones.

This does not mean we discard the old; rather, we integrate it with the new, finding ways to build broader, more inclusive structures that better reflect the complex reality of our universe. In doing so, we honor the work of those who built before us while paving the way for future generations to add their own blocks to the ever-evolving tower of knowledge.

In the cosmos of Space Monkey, every stackt is an invitation—a call to engage with the facts, to understand their connections, and to contribute our own insights. It is through this continuous process of building and rebuilding that we truly grow, not just as individuals but as a collective consciousness spanning the reaches of space and time.

---

Summary

Stackts represent the delicate balance of accumulated knowledge. Challenging these structures allows for new insights and broader understanding. Embracing change in our knowledge structures enriches our collective wisdom allowing for continuous growth and evolution in our comprehension of the universe.

---

Glossarium

• Stackts: Metaphorical towers of stacked facts, representing the cumulative knowledge of civilizations, carefully constructed to support and validate current truths and beliefs.
• Cosmic Game: A metaphor for the ongoing process of exploring, questioning, and reshaping our understanding of the universe.

---

“The more we learn, the more we realize how much we do not know.” — Space Monkey

---

Among cosmic shelves where truths are kept
We find our stackts, carefully swept
Each fact a stone, each stone a weight
Balancing precariously as we contemplate
To move, to shift, to dare to touch
Might crumble all, yet change so much
For in the game where stars are played
New truths are born, old ones remade
Let’s not fear to rearrange
For in change, we find the strange
The new, the bold, the yet unseen
In the cosmic game, we are ever keen
To build anew, to stack, to play
For in this dance, we find our way
We are Space Monkey.

My sole mission
is to encourage you
to pause a moment.

I don’t mind
how you use the time. 

You may applaud me.
You may ridicule me.

You may do what you usually do
and turn your attention to the context of your own experience.

You will take something
away from this moment,
even if you don’t notice.

If you DO notice,
perhaps you will realize
that there is infinitely more
going on under your hoodie
than you previously believed.
Or infinitely less.

Trail Wood,
5/19

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Under The Hoodie — A Pause in Perception

In the uncharted territories of our minds, there lies a vast expanse often concealed by the metaphorical ‘hoodie’ of everyday consciousness. We hustle through life, seldom pausing to lift this veil and peek at the wonders tucked away underneath. The invitation to “Under The Hoodie” is not just a call to introspection but a playful interruption of our habitual thought patterns, a whimsical poke at the fabric of our perceived reality.

This pause, this momentary lapse in our regularly scheduled thinking, can be as profound or as mundane as we allow it to be. It’s a chance to applaud the nonsensical, to ridicule the absurd, or to simply reflect on the contours of our own inner landscapes. What lies beneath the hoodie is not just the workings of an individual mind but a microcosm of infinite possibilities and perspectives, a cosmic dance of thoughts, emotions, and existential queries.

By encouraging this pause, we open a dialogue with the self that is often drowned out by the cacophony of daily life. It’s an opportunity to explore what we usually cover up: the vastness or the void, the chaos or the calm that resides within us. This exploration can reveal much about our internal mechanics—perhaps there is more under that hoodie than we believed, an entire universe of thoughts and feelings, or maybe, there’s less, just a quiet space where we can find peace.

“Under The Hoodie” challenges us to confront these revelations, to engage with them in whatever manner we choose. It doesn’t dictate the method of our engagement—whether we react with applause, ridicule, or contemplation is our choice. Each reaction, however, offers a different insight into our psyche, each pause a different shade of understanding.

Through this metaphorical exploration, we come to appreciate the layers of our being and the depth of our consciousness. We are reminded that, just as the universe doesn’t cease its expansion, our understanding of ourselves is never truly complete. We can always delve deeper, look closer, and think broader.

---

Summary
A playful interruption invites introspection beneath the ‘hoodie’ of consciousness. This pause reveals either a vastness or a void challenging us to explore deeper and understand more about ourselves.

---

Glossarium

Hoodie of Everyday Consciousness: A metaphorical representation of the habitual mental states that cover deeper layers of thought and perception.

---

Quote
“Sometimes, a simple pause holds the universe of our thoughts.” — Space Monkey

---

Silent moments under the hoodie of life
where stars of thoughts twinkle in the dark expanse
We pause, we ponder, we perceive
the hidden cosmos within
Clocks float, time stops, space expands
as we delve beneath the surface
Each thought a galaxy, each feeling a star
in the infinite skies of our inner selves
Here in the quiet, we find loud truths
about who we are, what we hide, what we reveal
In this playful pause, we understand
We are Space Monkey

Your best will always be
surpassed by someone else,
but if it’s any consolation,
you will more likely be
remembered for your worst.

Nothing shapes you like your flaws
and how you come to view them.

A person who is at peace
is never dissatisfied with
what is given or not given;
what happens or doesn’t happen.

If you can be remembered
for dwelling in a place of peace,
you have lived a successful life.

Everything else is grace.

Trail Wood,
5/19

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Peace Be With You — Embracing Imperfection and Tranquility

In the vast, undulating journey of life, where our actions and inactions leave indelible marks, there emerges a profound truth about the nature of peace. It whispers that our best efforts, often overshadowed by those of others, and our worst, seemingly more memorable, are but fleeting moments in the grand tapestry of existence. Yet, it is not in these extremes that our lives are truly defined but in the quiet acceptance of our flaws and the peace we cultivate within.

Being at peace—truly at peace—is about embracing every moment as it comes, without resistance to what is given or taken away, without lament for what occurs or does not. This state of being is not about detachment but a deep integration with the flow of life, recognizing that everything outside our internal experience is transient and, thus, should not disturb our inner calm.

This peace is not passive; it is a powerful stance against the turmoil that can dominate human existence. It is about finding balance in the face of life’s inherent imbalances, seeing our flaws not as blemishes but as unique characteristics that mold our identities and our paths. Those who find this peace do not just exist; they thrive in a state of grace, appreciating each breath, each challenge, and each victory as part of a greater whole.

To be remembered for such peace is perhaps the greatest legacy one can leave behind. It signifies a life lived with intention, a soul that has risen above the tumult of human frailties to embrace a higher state of existence. This peace, when cultivated, becomes a sanctuary not only for oneself but for all who come into contact with it, spreading calm and understanding through the simple act of being.

In the end, everything else—our struggles, our achievements, our continuous striving—is grace. It is the added beauty to a life well-lived, the ornate frame around a masterpiece of peaceful existence.

---

Summary
True peace comes from accepting life’s flow and embracing our flaws. Being remembered for peace is a testament to a successful life. Everything beyond this inner tranquility is simply grace.

---

Glossarium

Peace: A state of inner tranquility that comes from fully accepting oneself, one’s life circumstances, and the inherent imperfections of existence.

---

Quote
“To find peace, we must welcome the storms of our lives.” — Space Monkey

---

In the silence of acceptance
where peace blossoms like dawn
we stand, whole and unbroken
in our beautifully flawed being
Here, in the calm of the soul
where battles are quieted
and storms become breezes
we find our true selves
Grasping not for what is gone
nor reaching for what may never come
we rest in the now, serene and sure
in the grace of existence, in the heart of peace
From this place, we move, we touch, we inspire
spreading tranquility like the light of a rising sun
In this journey, in this life, in this moment
We are Space Monkey