Dust

This is from the chapter from, Bohemian Manifesto: a Field Guide to Living on the Edge.written by Laren Stover. I am somewhat shocked that Laren has so adamantly stated that no part of her book be represented in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including storage and retrieval system.  So, I hope you would buy her book or check it out from your local library - better yet! That would be more bohemian. I wanted to share with you parts of the Bohemian Manifesto on this site, but feel that would be in violation to Laren. Although, I thought that Manifestos were supposed to be read, and shared and discussed and made notes upon and argued against. Not kept locked in a book. But, maybe I'll contact Ms. Stover and see if she'll let me share this Manifesto with my, oh, so many readers.

But, for now, I wanted to just - from memory - tell you of the remarkable manifesto, or enlightenment I found, when reading the chapter on Dust. The  Bohemian, Ms. Laren states, sees adversary to dust as an analogy to the inability to accept aging, and death. To want to have the household always "dust free" is to try to keep aging, death at bay. The Bohemian, on the other hand, readily accepts death, aging and DUST. Dust in the corners, under the couch , on the shelves, and between the pages of books! It is not necessary to pick up item after item to dust under, over or between. There are other more important things to do with that space of time. Allow the dust to settle, like  - may I please say it Laren - "cosmic confectioners' sugar."

Ashes to ashes. Dust to Dust.

“We say we are earthlings, not waterlings. Our blood is closer to seawater than our bones to soil, but that’s no matter. The sea is the cradle we all rocked out of, but it’s to dust that we go. From the time that water invented us, we began to seek out dirt. The further we separate ourselves from the dirt, the further we separate ourselves from ourselves. Alienation is a disease of the unsoiled.” Tom Robbins

So the next time when you enter a home that has dust upon the shelves or on the nick-knacks, think that this person may have a strength that our society may not have. That the dust that lies there may be a statement that says, " I am OK with aging and my inevitable death. Today, I am going to do something for joy. I am not afraid or horrified of dust, it is of the Earth as I."

Peace.
Brianne