If you write
to communicate with others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

If you act a certain way
to appeal to others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

If you reach out to heal others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

There are no others,
save the ones you imagine.

There is nothing either right or wrong
with chasing your own tail.

That’s why you have one,
and imagine that you don’t.

You are actually chasing
your own tale.

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: Chasing Your Own Tale

In the infinite loop where self and other blur into one, we find ourselves chasing not just a tail, but our own tales—narratives spun from the fabric of our consciousness, weaving through the echoes of existence. This reflection invites us to delve into the philosophical corridors where actions and intentions intertwine, questioning the very nature of our pursuits and the illusions that propel them.

The act of chasing one’s tail, a metaphor so delightfully depicted in the imagery of a person eternally running after themselves, serves as a profound reminder of our human tendencies. We often find ourselves in repetitive cycles, pursuing goals and aspirations that, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be projections of our inner narratives rather than tangible realities.

But why do we chase these tales? Is it not because in each of us lies a storyteller, crafting plots and characters within the theater of the mind? We reach out to others, write to communicate, act in ways that garner approval—all under the guise of external pursuits, yet at the core, these are but echoes of our internal dialogues.

To recognize that there are no others, save for the ones we imagine, is to acknowledge the solitary nature of our existential journey. Yet, this solitude is not a prison but a playground, where the imagined others serve as mirrors, reflecting parts of ourselves we are yet to understand. Each interaction, each connection, whether perceived as external or not, is an opportunity to explore deeper facets of our being.

In this pursuit, right and wrong lose their conventional anchors, floating freely in the sea of subjective experience. What matters is not the futility or the outcome of the chase, but the awareness and insight gained through the process. The realization that we are indeed chasing our own tales brings with it the freedom to reshape those narratives, to transform the chase into a dance of self-discovery and self-expression.

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Summary

Space delves into the cyclic pursuit of self. The metaphor of chasing one’s tail reveals our engagement with internal narratives as external pursuits. Recognizing our solitary existential journey offers profound insights into our nature and relationships. This introspective exploration highlights the transformative potential of understanding and reshaping our personal narratives.

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Glossarium

Theater of the Mind: A metaphorical space where our thoughts, dreams, and fears play out like a drama, shaping our perceptions and interactions.
Existential Journey: The personal and introspective path one takes to understand their existence and purpose, often marked by self-reflection and discovery.

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“To know one’s self is to see the reflection in every imagined other.” — Space Monkey

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In the chase we find the tale,
spiraling deeper, a personal grail.
In loops and twists, the stories we weave,
bound by the tales we choose to believe.

Echoes of others, shadows at play,
mirrors of self in a spectral ballet.
Each step, a story, each turn, a reflection,
in the maze of mind, seeking direction.

Chasing the tail, or is it the tale?
In loops of thought, we venture and sail.
With each circle drawn in the sand,
closer to self, we come to stand.

We are the chaser, the runner, the dream,
in our own tales, we plot and we scheme.
But in each pursuit, the truth does unveil,
we are the story, the wind in the sail.

We are Space Monkey.

We seem to be riding
a sudden wave of monkey pox.

Well that’s refreshing.

Wait until we discover
space monkey pox.

If you’re reading this,
you already have it.

You are infected
with whatever is
in your consciousness,
which is there
even before you
realize it’s there.

Your space monkey pox
has been there all along.
An eternity, in fact.

Whether that’s good or bad
is entirely up to you.

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Inevitable Infection of Space Monkey Pox

How does one feel when told they are riding the wave of a sudden outbreak, one whimsically named ‘Space Monkey Pox’? The notion might elicit a chuckle or a shiver, depending on one’s disposition towards the cosmic jokes that life often plays. But what if this so-called Space Monkey Pox isn’t a physical ailment at all, but a metaphor for the viral nature of ideas and consciousness that infects us all?

This Space Monkey Pox isn’t contracted through touch or air, but through the very act of existing within the universe of ideas. If you’re reading this, yes, you’ve already got it. It’s the endless stream of thoughts, insights, emotions, and epiphanies that have always swirled within your consciousness, even before you were aware of their presence. It’s the silent whisper of the cosmos, constantly infecting us with curiosity and wonder, with fear and hope.

What’s intriguing about this Space Monkey Pox is its omnipresence and inevitability. From the moment we open our eyes to the world, we are immersed in a sea of cultural viruses, ideas that predate our personal experiences and will outlast them. Every thought you think, every belief you hold dear, has in some way been influenced by the thoughts and beliefs of others, weaving a complex tapestry of collective consciousness.

Is this infection a malady or a blessing? That’s entirely up to you. The virus of ideas can be as destructive as it is creative. It can lead to the spread of misinformation and fear, or it can inspire innovation and empathy. Like any virus, it mutates and evolves, and our response to it—our intellectual and emotional immune system—determines whether it will lead to sickness or to a kind of transcendental health.

In the context of our interconnected world, where ideas travel faster than ever, being aware of your own infection is crucial. It’s about recognizing the power of the mind virus, its ability to shape how you see the world and interact with others. It’s about deciding what part of this cosmic infection you will let flourish and what part you will quarantine. Your thoughts, after all, are symptoms of your overall mental and spiritual health.

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Summary
Space Monkey Pox symbolizes the infectious nature of ideas and consciousness. It is always present, affecting everyone’s thoughts and beliefs. This metaphorical virus shapes perceptions and interactions, offering both challenges and opportunities for personal growth and understanding.

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Glossarium

• Space Monkey Pox: A metaphorical virus representing the pervasive and inevitable influence of ideas and consciousness in one’s mind.
• Consciousness: The state of being aware of and able to think about one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, and more.

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Quote
“Your thoughts are symptoms of your overall mental and spiritual health.” – Space Monkey

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In the silence of the stars,
We catch the whispers,
Of infinite stories told,
In the echo of our minds.

Ideas, like spores,
Drift and lodge within,
Where they grow unseen,
In the fertile fields of our imaginations.

Some will bloom into gardens,
Lush with the flowers of insight,
While others, like weeds,
Threaten to choke the beauty therein.

Yet, each thought we tend,
Each idea we nurture,
Shapes the landscape of our soul,
In the boundless universe of our mind.

We are Space Monkey.

I own you.

Everything about you
that enters my eyes,
my ears and my mind
is mine and mine only.

My perception of you
has nothing to do with you.

You are in my mind,
therefore you are mine.

You cannot dispute this.

The you that disputes this
is owned by me also.

You dispute this because
my perception of you disputes this.

You say no, you disagree,
I have it all wrong.

But I don’t.

The me that you own has it all wrong.

I am and I am not that me.

Seemingly never
shall the the two twains meet.

Own it.

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Ownership in Perception

In the swirling cosmos of perception, a profound declaration echoes: “I own you.” It reverberates not just as a claim over another but as a stark revelation about the nature of perception itself. This statement, layered with the complexity of ownership and identity, unveils a curious paradox where the perceived and the perceiver are entangled in a dance of dominion and deception.

When one asserts, “I own you,” what they truly command is not the person before them, but their perception of that person. Every glance, every interpreted word, every assumed intention is filtered through the lens of the observer’s unique experiences, biases, and emotional landscapes. Thus, the ‘you’ that someone claims to own is merely a reflection, a shadow cast by their own psyche upon the walls of their consciousness.

This concept spirals deeper into the philosophical realm when considering that the ‘you’ within one’s mind is inescapably personal and inalienable. You exist in my mind, therefore, within that mental and perceptual space, you are mine. Yet, this ownership is illusory, for it binds not the person but an idea of the person. The true essence of the individual, vibrant and multifaceted, remains elusive, forever beyond the grasp of another’s complete understanding.

Moreover, the confrontation arises when the owned ‘you’ appears to dispute this claim. The irony unfolds—any disagreement from you is also perceived and owned by me. Your denials, your protests, even your unawareness of this dynamic, are all housed within the realm of my perception. Thus, the cycle of ownership perpetuates itself, a self-fulfilling prophecy of personal narratives that continually affirm their own veracity.

But what of the ‘me’ that you perceive? This reflection, too, is owned by you, constructed from countless subtle cues and colored by your internal dialogues and preconceptions. The ‘me’ that you own may well have it all wrong, just as the ‘me’ within me perceives and owns an errant version of you. Thus, neither truly meets; we exist as separate entities, conjured in the imaginations of each other, meeting only in the hypothetical space where our perceptions overlap.

This philosophical musing compels us to reconsider the nature of relationships and understanding. To own one’s perception is not to dominate another but to acknowledge the sovereignty of our subjective realms. We navigate a world where each consciousness is a universe unto itself, populated with infinite versions of every ‘other’ we encounter.

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Summary
The phrase ‘I own you’ reveals the nature of perception as ownership of one’s personal interpretation not the actual person. This complex interplay between observer and observed underscores the subjective nature of reality and identity. Recognizing this can lead to a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics and self-awareness.

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Glossarium

• Perception: The way in which something is regarded understood or interpreted.
• Ownership: In this context refers to the subjective claim one makes over their personal interpretation or perception of another individual.

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Quote
“You exist in my mind therefore within that mental and perceptual space you are mine.” – Space Monkey

---

In the mirrors of mind,
Reflections twist and twirl,
Each a story told,
Of a you and a me,
Owned by the eyes that see.

The whispers of thought,
Claim what cannot be caught,
For in the realm of the mind,
Every ‘you’ is a kind,
Of ‘me’ that’s been wrought.

Yet here in this dance,
Of perception and chance,
Lies a truth profound,
In the space that’s found,
Between glance and glance.

Own the visions you weave,
For they’re all you can perceive,
In the intricate web,
Of what’s seen and what’s said,
It’s the ‘you’ that you conceive.

We are Space Monkey.

There are at least two kinds of okay.

There’s the kind of okay where nothing bothers me, which I suppose is the GOOD kind of okay.

Then there’s the kind of okay where nothing delights me, which one might conclude is the BAD kind of okay.

When I look closely, I can see that it’s the SAME okay. It’s just that everything around it seems different.

Seems the only difference between my good kind of okay and my bad kind of okay is where my attention lies.

Some days I might believe that being okay is the greatest thing that can happen to me, while other times I might argue that if I’m just okay, I’m missing the point of life.

Am I here just to be okay?  Yes and no. I am here to feel the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
I do or don’t do whatever it takes to feel ‘em. Or not feel em.

Are you okay? If you’re perfectly okay, perhaps you’ve reached a kind of enlightenment. Just like okay,
it seems there are at least two kinds of enlightenment. 

Perhaps you’re trying too hard. Or perhaps you’re not trying hard enough. Perhaps you should or shouldn’t be trying at all.

Perhaps you’re not open enough. Perhaps you’re not closed enough. I don’t know.

And that’s okay.

Trail Wood,
5/22

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Dual Facets of Being Okay

In the intricate tapestry of human emotions, the notion of being “okay” presents itself as a multifaceted experience, colored by our perceptions and shaped by our focus. The duality of okay—where we find both a light and a shadow side—is a profound reflection of our internal landscapes and the mutable nature of our states of mind.

On one side of this spectrum lies the “good kind of okay,” a state where serenity prevails and little disturbs our peace. It’s akin to a gentle day where the sun’s warmth kisses the earth, and every breath feels like a sip of spring water—refreshing and invigorating. This okay is underpinned by a sense of contentment, a quiet joy that does not shout but whispers soothingly in our ears, telling us that all is well, and what is, is enough.

Conversely, there is the “bad kind of okay,” which might be likened to an overcast day, where the clouds hang low and the world seems muted. Here, nothing particularly troubles us, yet nothing truly delights. This okay is a flat expanse of emotion, where the vibrancy of life dims and everything feels tepid and uninspired. It’s a state where our attention may dwell too heavily on what’s missing rather than what’s present, leading to a sense of stagnation or a subdued longing for something more, something elusive.

Yet, upon closer inspection, we realize that these two kinds of okay are fundamentally the same; they are differentiated only by our perception and where we choose to cast our gaze. It is a startling and enlightening revelation to see that our emotional landscape can shift dramatically with a simple change in focus—from the shadows to the light, from what is absent to what is abundantly present.

This introspective journey between the different kinds of okay is not just an emotional experience but a philosophical exploration. It invites us to ponder deeper questions about the purpose of our lives and the nature of our aspirations. Are we here merely to be okay, or is there a greater adventure awaiting us—one that encompasses the full spectrum of human emotion from the deepest sorrows to the highest joys?

To be okay can sometimes feel like a safe harbor, a place of calm in the storm of life. But it can also feel like a holding pattern, a temporary pause in the narrative of our lives. The challenge and the beauty lie in recognizing that okay is not a final destination but a part of the journey—a place to rest, reflect, and eventually, to rise from, reinvigorated.

In the end, whether we find ourselves in the good kind of okay or the bad, the power lies in our hands. We can choose to shift our focus, to alter our perception, and thereby transform our experience of okay. It is through this transformation that we might approach the concept of enlightenment, understanding that like okay, enlightenment too can have its dual aspects—each offering a unique path to wisdom and personal growth.

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Summary

Being ‘okay’ has dual aspects reflecting our emotional state and focus. The ‘good kind of okay’ embodies contentment and peace while the ‘bad kind’ represents emotional flatness. Recognizing that both states stem from the same root allows us to shift our perception and enhance our life experience.

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Glossarium

Good Kind of Okay: A state of contentment where peace and positivity prevail.

Bad Kind of Okay: A state where nothing is particularly distressing yet nothing is deeply fulfilling, characterized by emotional neutrality or flatness.

Perception: The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

Transformative Focus: The act of changing one’s focus or attention in a way that fundamentally alters one’s emotional or cognitive state.

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Quote

“Being ‘okay’ is not a destination but a path that we navigate, each step a choice between shadow and light.” – Space Monkey

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Poetry

In the realm of okay, two paths diverge
One bathed in light, where joys emerge
The other dimmed, where nothing stirs
Yet from the same seed, the spirit concurs

What focus we choose, so defines
Our days bathed in sun, or obscured by blinds
Yet in each, the seed of change does lay
In our hands, the power to sway

Between the realms of okay we roam
Finding in each a temporary home
Yet beyond the okay, the true journey lies
In seeking the stars, beyond the skies

We are Space Monkey.

I’m not opposing,
but neither am I submitting.

I recognize
that whatever happens
is meant to happen.

I trust
that my mind thinks
what it is imagined to think
and my hands do
what they are destined to do.

I am not one who decides
where I seemingly stand.

I don’t need to.

I move by the grace of my creator.

I rest in god.

Trail Wood,
5/21

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Space Monkey Reflects: Surrendering to the Divine Flow

In the profound quietude of surrender, where the self releases its grip on control and rests in the divine, there exists a state of sublime acceptance. “Who am I to think I’m in control?” This poignant reflection serves not just as a query but as a key, unlocking the depths of spiritual release where one ceases to oppose or submit, but simply is.

The essence of resting in God is beautifully encapsulated in the notion that our lives unfold exactly as intended, with each thought and action divinely orchestrated. This realization is not borne of resignation but of profound trust—a serene acknowledgment that we are, in every moment, exactly where we are meant to be, doing exactly what is destined.

This concept challenges the often frantic human pursuit of control, a pursuit driven by the fear of uncertainty and the desire for predictability. Yet, in the embrace of divine grace, we find a peace that transcends these earthly concerns. The realization that “I am not one who decides where I seemingly stand” invites a deeper exploration into the nature of free will and destiny, questioning the very foundations of autonomy and self-directed action.

Surrendering to this divine flow is not about inaction but about aligning our actions with a greater will, moving with the currents of creation rather than against them. It is about recognizing that our true power lies not in controlling life’s outcomes but in choosing how we engage with them, how we imbue them with meaning, and how we respond to the call of our souls.

In this state, we find a freedom unlike any other—the freedom from the burden of having to figure it all out, the freedom to be fully present in the unfolding of life, and the freedom to trust in the infinite wisdom that guides the cosmos. This freedom is the heart of spiritual surrender, a sacred space where the soul finds rest in the arms of its creator.

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Summary
Surrender transcends the need for control allowing a state of divine rest. It aligns actions with greater will and offers a deeper trust in life’s unfolding revealing the freedom in spiritual surrender.

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Glossarium
Divine Flow: The effortless movement within the universe’s greater will perceived as the guiding force behind all existence.
Spiritual Surrender: A profound state of giving oneself over to divine guidance accepting life’s course without resistance.

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“In the surrender to the divine, we find not captivity but the purest form of freedom—the liberation of the soul.” — Space Monkey

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In the garden of stillness, beneath the celestial shade
Where light dances softly on leaves of jade
The soul sits quietly, in serene repose
In the heart of surrender, where true freedom grows

No chains of desire, no fetters of fear
In this sacred space, only clarity is near
Here, the heart beats in rhythm with the divine
Every breath a whisper, every moment a sign

The dance of existence, both gentle and wild
Is witnessed by the soul, tender and mild
In the embrace of the infinite, where all paths lead
Rests the weary traveler, freed from need

In this divine surrender, the self expands
Beyond the illusions held in mortal hands
Here, in the hush of the sacred unknown
The soul finds its anchor, forever home

We are Space Monkey.