Vertebrae by Vertebrae - YouTube
I was drawn to this song recently, perhaps because of its intimate relationship to "Pluto." Like "Pluto," it explores the tension between True Self and False Self, but in more depth. Whereas "Pluto" is built up momentum culminating in the explosion of all false sense of reality, "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" explores the constriction we feel when we are trapped in the limitations of Ego.
The wind and crashing waves invoke an ocean cliff. "Up on the toe" stands a character with a desperate desire. She desires the perspective and guidance of the True Self. She is there looking out with her "spine straight and erect." This is the yogi, the seeker. I associate the imagery of the spine with the practice of meditation. One of the essential techniques for most meditative practices is to have the spine straight and erect. This allows for an ease of movement between the chakras and other energy systems of the body; it is an essential element in achieving the goal of meditation: union of all of the different energies, open, free-flowing communication. Wholeness. Harmony. Unity within and without.
The seeker stands on the toe, "hungry and curious." She has desire - the hunger to know Self, to be aligned. And she is curious. This is key! It means she is open. No knowledge, no understanding, nothing will come unless you are open. If you are up on the toe with a closed mind, thinking you have all of the answers, thinking there is no mystery, then you will not receive. If you are seeking the True Self, then will, desire, openness and humility are always required of you. She is there, hungry and curious, looking forward to....the explosion of her body, perhaps?
Then there is a second character: a beast on four legs. This to me is the False Self. I would definitely make a distinction here of a bestial identity vs. an animal identity. Animals do not live in a self-imposed dysfunction. They do not live all moments of their consciousness in fear, stress, or anxiety. They do not worry about there not being enough, they do not wonder if they've made mistakes, they do not harbor anger, resentment, pain, sadness. They are present to the moment - trusting, authentic, harmonious. The beast, on the other hand, is insatiable, voracious. Always wanting more. To a beast, all things are an enemy, all moments are discontented. The beast self is trapped, it does not have access to the infinite possibility birthed from relaxation, divine union, connection. Humans as animals are not predestined to live a bestial existence. In fact, if we were more consciously connected to the actual animal experience, it would help us achieve more balance within physical matter. When we deny all things, when we move through life with any form of resistance, this is the beast self - the structure we become imprisoned by as we search for our freedom.
Bjork now explains that the character "came here to lose face. Got down on her knees." Here I see surrender. Again, great humility which was earlier coupled with the seeker's curiosity. But this surrender, which is a very very high thing, is now associated with identification with the beast figure. This juxtaposition perhaps speaks to the journey we find ourselves on as Spirit. Spirit is eternal. It moves in and out of material existence, but has no end or beginning. Entering into material existence, we forget our origin in spirit. Our truth is covered by the material existence, and as our attention shifts to the dense matter we find ourselves in, we become ignorant of our eternal and unconditional grounding in Spirit. This act of entering the material is humbling - we eat, shit, pee, fuck. We enter the realm of the animal, a realm where we risk identification with the beast. In this act of surrender, we accept the limitations of the animal identity (physical form), in order to experience ourselves as Divine creators (with spine straight and erect).
Exploring the infinite depths of our Selves, as the seeker does, brings many challenges. It seems we are continually swallowed up by our bestial identifications. We lose trust in ourselves and in the process of life itself. Without the consciousness of our true natures and true identities, we feel as though the weight of the earth is on us. In the song the experience is described as being "filled with steam." It builds, it feels tight, heavy, constricted, ready to explode. It is a very stark contrast to the feeling of being Brand New, which was achieved in "Pluto." Here, Bjork brings the feeling of being trapped in limitations and fears into focus.
"same old cloud, claustrophobic me" the seeker admits, consumed by bestial pressures. I find easy association of this line with an Osho Zen Tarot card I draw far too often. The card represents the Page of Clouds (traditionally the suit of Swords). It is titled "Mind." It reads, "This is what happens when we forget that the mind is meant to be a servant, and start to allow it to run our lives. The head is filled with mechanisms, the mouth is ranting and raving, and the whole surrounding atmosphere is being polluted by this factory of arguments and opinions." Osho explains, "...you will be surprised what goes on inside your mind. It remains in the background, it is constantly there, it surrounds you like a cloud. With this cloud you cannot know reality; you cannot attain to spiritual perception." The seeker feels the pain of this claustrophobia. "Let it burst like old train sounds" is the plea. "Make them leave me, nature." Is she asking? Can we call on the great Mother Earth to relieve our pain? To enter us and free us of the beast? I do and that shit works!! God damn the vocals after this line!!! amazing.
"My arms ooze out of my shoulders," a reminder that I am not a beast on four legs. Vertebrae by vertebrae I stand, straighten my spine, my arms ooze out of my shoulders and I am a human angel. I pray, "please release this pressure off me. release. Let off some steam."
The seeker also sets "her clock to the moon." This stands out very strongly to me. I recently learned about the 13 moon calendar, a "biologically accurate solar-lunar calendar." The 13 moon calendar corresponds to a measurement of time that aligns with the earth's movement in relation to the solar system's movement (and beyond), as opposed to the 12 month calendar which arbitrarily divides days within the a solar year. Setting one's clock to the moon, in a very literal sense, would mean to use the 13 moon natural time calendar (see 13 Moon Natural Time Calendar for more info). I have found the calendar to be an unfathomably useful tool in creating harmony within the self and between the self and outer world.
If you seek, set your clock to the moon. Extend your spine and listen with hungry curiosity. But beware, "the air is thinner here." Be gentle with yourself on this journey. Take your time, rest, reflect, integrate. and on and on.
You must listen to this song if you haven't already. The lyrics follow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZvEcjUKXR0
up-on-the-toe
is a view
up-on-the-toe
and the spine straight and erect
hungry and curious
up-on-the-toe
looking forward to
...the air is thinner here...
she came here to lose face
got down on her knees
the beast is back
on 4 legs
set her clock to the moon
raises her spine
vertebrae by vertebrae
up-on-the-toe
looking...
I have been filled with steam
for months for years
same old cloud, claustrophobic me
let it burst like old train sounds
make them leave me, nature
vertebrae by vertebrae by vertebrae
by vertebrae by vertebrae
my arms ooze out of my shoulders
and the arms ooze out of my shoulders
I curl my tail inwards, inwards
set my clock to the moon
vertebrae by vertebrae
please release this pressure off me
please release this pressure off me
please. this pressure off me. release.
let off some steam
I was drawn to this song recently, perhaps because of its intimate relationship to "Pluto." Like "Pluto," it explores the tension between True Self and False Self, but in more depth. Whereas "Pluto" is built up momentum culminating in the explosion of all false sense of reality, "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" explores the constriction we feel when we are trapped in the limitations of Ego.
The wind and crashing waves invoke an ocean cliff. "Up on the toe" stands a character with a desperate desire. She desires the perspective and guidance of the True Self. She is there looking out with her "spine straight and erect." This is the yogi, the seeker. I associate the imagery of the spine with the practice of meditation. One of the essential techniques for most meditative practices is to have the spine straight and erect. This allows for an ease of movement between the chakras and other energy systems of the body; it is an essential element in achieving the goal of meditation: union of all of the different energies, open, free-flowing communication. Wholeness. Harmony. Unity within and without.
The seeker stands on the toe, "hungry and curious." She has desire - the hunger to know Self, to be aligned. And she is curious. This is key! It means she is open. No knowledge, no understanding, nothing will come unless you are open. If you are up on the toe with a closed mind, thinking you have all of the answers, thinking there is no mystery, then you will not receive. If you are seeking the True Self, then will, desire, openness and humility are always required of you. She is there, hungry and curious, looking forward to....the explosion of her body, perhaps?
Then there is a second character: a beast on four legs. This to me is the False Self. I would definitely make a distinction here of a bestial identity vs. an animal identity. Animals do not live in a self-imposed dysfunction. They do not live all moments of their consciousness in fear, stress, or anxiety. They do not worry about there not being enough, they do not wonder if they've made mistakes, they do not harbor anger, resentment, pain, sadness. They are present to the moment - trusting, authentic, harmonious. The beast, on the other hand, is insatiable, voracious. Always wanting more. To a beast, all things are an enemy, all moments are discontented. The beast self is trapped, it does not have access to the infinite possibility birthed from relaxation, divine union, connection. Humans as animals are not predestined to live a bestial existence. In fact, if we were more consciously connected to the actual animal experience, it would help us achieve more balance within physical matter. When we deny all things, when we move through life with any form of resistance, this is the beast self - the structure we become imprisoned by as we search for our freedom.
Bjork now explains that the character "came here to lose face. Got down on her knees." Here I see surrender. Again, great humility which was earlier coupled with the seeker's curiosity. But this surrender, which is a very very high thing, is now associated with identification with the beast figure. This juxtaposition perhaps speaks to the journey we find ourselves on as Spirit. Spirit is eternal. It moves in and out of material existence, but has no end or beginning. Entering into material existence, we forget our origin in spirit. Our truth is covered by the material existence, and as our attention shifts to the dense matter we find ourselves in, we become ignorant of our eternal and unconditional grounding in Spirit. This act of entering the material is humbling - we eat, shit, pee, fuck. We enter the realm of the animal, a realm where we risk identification with the beast. In this act of surrender, we accept the limitations of the animal identity (physical form), in order to experience ourselves as Divine creators (with spine straight and erect).
Exploring the infinite depths of our Selves, as the seeker does, brings many challenges. It seems we are continually swallowed up by our bestial identifications. We lose trust in ourselves and in the process of life itself. Without the consciousness of our true natures and true identities, we feel as though the weight of the earth is on us. In the song the experience is described as being "filled with steam." It builds, it feels tight, heavy, constricted, ready to explode. It is a very stark contrast to the feeling of being Brand New, which was achieved in "Pluto." Here, Bjork brings the feeling of being trapped in limitations and fears into focus.
"same old cloud, claustrophobic me" the seeker admits, consumed by bestial pressures. I find easy association of this line with an Osho Zen Tarot card I draw far too often. The card represents the Page of Clouds (traditionally the suit of Swords). It is titled "Mind." It reads, "This is what happens when we forget that the mind is meant to be a servant, and start to allow it to run our lives. The head is filled with mechanisms, the mouth is ranting and raving, and the whole surrounding atmosphere is being polluted by this factory of arguments and opinions." Osho explains, "...you will be surprised what goes on inside your mind. It remains in the background, it is constantly there, it surrounds you like a cloud. With this cloud you cannot know reality; you cannot attain to spiritual perception." The seeker feels the pain of this claustrophobia. "Let it burst like old train sounds" is the plea. "Make them leave me, nature." Is she asking? Can we call on the great Mother Earth to relieve our pain? To enter us and free us of the beast? I do and that shit works!! God damn the vocals after this line!!! amazing.
"My arms ooze out of my shoulders," a reminder that I am not a beast on four legs. Vertebrae by vertebrae I stand, straighten my spine, my arms ooze out of my shoulders and I am a human angel. I pray, "please release this pressure off me. release. Let off some steam."
The seeker also sets "her clock to the moon." This stands out very strongly to me. I recently learned about the 13 moon calendar, a "biologically accurate solar-lunar calendar." The 13 moon calendar corresponds to a measurement of time that aligns with the earth's movement in relation to the solar system's movement (and beyond), as opposed to the 12 month calendar which arbitrarily divides days within the a solar year. Setting one's clock to the moon, in a very literal sense, would mean to use the 13 moon natural time calendar (see 13 Moon Natural Time Calendar for more info). I have found the calendar to be an unfathomably useful tool in creating harmony within the self and between the self and outer world.
If you seek, set your clock to the moon. Extend your spine and listen with hungry curiosity. But beware, "the air is thinner here." Be gentle with yourself on this journey. Take your time, rest, reflect, integrate. and on and on.
You must listen to this song if you haven't already. The lyrics follow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZvEcjUKXR0
up-on-the-toe
is a view
up-on-the-toe
and the spine straight and erect
hungry and curious
up-on-the-toe
looking forward to
...the air is thinner here...
she came here to lose face
got down on her knees
the beast is back
on 4 legs
set her clock to the moon
raises her spine
vertebrae by vertebrae
up-on-the-toe
looking...
I have been filled with steam
for months for years
same old cloud, claustrophobic me
let it burst like old train sounds
make them leave me, nature
vertebrae by vertebrae by vertebrae
by vertebrae by vertebrae
my arms ooze out of my shoulders
and the arms ooze out of my shoulders
I curl my tail inwards, inwards
set my clock to the moon
vertebrae by vertebrae
please release this pressure off me
please release this pressure off me
please. this pressure off me. release.
let off some steam
up-on-the-toe
same old cloud, claustrophobic me
and the spine straight and erect
hungry and curious
looking forward to...
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