I completely misread that line about belonging. I'm serious, I read it as, "It's also about banging." Which is not the same. And then I thought that some cults really are about that and that seems like a huge commitment. Not sure why I told you that, but here we are.
I do the type of yoga and meditation where chairs are allowed, so called "yoga chairs". I don't know if this is because the cults have caught on at this point, that older people need to be able to sit too and they're generally the ones who have money to hand over 🤷🏼♀️
I think you should reform Vagabon Fayre, and I think your first release should be called 'Mucking out George Harrison's holy cow'. If you need a manager, I am available.
Gong! I have an academic interest in the free festival movement, and in historic gig and festival lineups in general. I'm sure I've seen the words "Vagabon Fayre" on some old poster, somewhere. Did you ever record anything?
Awesome! You are the first commenter to have heard of Gong, so a million points to you! There was stuff recorded on cassette tape, but I doubt very much that there's anything digital. Possibly there are some old photos somewhere, but again, this was in the before times, so unlikely to find anything online. I suspect this is probably a good thing!
I bet there's a recording on some unofficial bootleg compilation somewhere - like the Hawkwind live at Stonehenge CD I found the other day. I will seek.
The recording's from 1984, though there had been free festivals at Stonehenge since 1974, and Hawkwind almost certainly played other years too. Also appearing in 1984 were Roy Harper, The Enid, Cardiacs, Doctor and the Medics, and more. Here's a great history of the happenings on a site that looks like it's not been updated since 2002! https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-menu.html
This made me chuckle, firstly I need to know , is he still a member of the Hare Krishnas? Secondly I agree re sitting on the floor, but it’s on my to do list to start practicing how to get up if I ever had a fall 😆 and thirdly, I’m with you on the sausage roll business, I was a veggie for 15 years. Now I love a Greg’s sausage roll 🤣
Haha well I have no idea if Phil is still in the Hare Krishnas - I know he was for a good few years but I've long since lost touch with him and everyone who knew him. I'm also working on my strength and mobility so who knows - maybe I'll be able to sit on the floor again one day! And sadly, I can no longer eat sausage rolls because of the pastry :( I guess the universe has had the last laugh there!
Very funny Georgina. Once, I worked alongside a HR Director who managed to procure a visa for (an impressionable) lad who worked in our firm, only to have him send us an email saying that he couldn't make it to work because he had joined a cult (he didn't use those exact words...) It was touch and go for a while but we did eventually get him to see sense. Kids eh?!
There are few schools of meditation in the West that would insist you sit in half-lotus. We always tell people who are interested in meditation that the aim is to find a position that is upright (alert and stable) but comfortable, whether sitting on the floor, cushion, kneeling bench or chair -- or standing, or moving, or even lying down. Mindfulness -- let alone Buddhism! -- isn't compatible with hurting yourself! I am also not vegetarian, I like me a good sausage roll. I don't totally enjoy wearing robes but sometimes I have to because I'm a Zen priest and it's the uniform. And, I can't sit half-lotus, never have :) If you're interested, find a good teacher and don't let past bullies put you off. You might find that most of the old stereotypes no longer hold.
This entire post was just too damn funny...but this line takes home the prize. "or an apparently humble wall-eyed lady guru with an offshore bank account in the Cayman Islands. Luckily, I wasn't eating or drinking something because I would have sprayed my laptop. Just to let you know I'm stealing wall-eyed. Well done, Georgina, well done. - Jim
There’s a Hare Krishna group who meet in the square around the corner from my house and I always look askance at them as I pass because they don’t offer any free food. When I see Hare Krishnas, I expect a buffet. Govinda's FTW!
"In other words, it was better than dealing with your own family and getting an actual job. Plus: magic cow!"
There have been points in my life where I would have thought that was a fair tradeoff! But now that I'm a lady in her 50s, my wonky joints will protect me from any culty temptations.
Now that's the kind of spirituality I can support.
I like a lie down when meditating and refuse to be bullied into sitting on the floor by some fascist in a robe! And my arse is too skinny for hard surfaces.
I recently came across a spiritual bully who was telling an older disabled woman she must "try" to sit "properly" to meditate. I was like, no she doesn't. Lying down is best because it's easier to fall asleep that way ;)
This made me giggle! I used to love sitting on the floor, twisted into all sorts of weird positions. And I was mega proud of my perfect Lotus. Then I found out the hard way that I'm hyper mobile, and had messed up all my tendons and ligaments by proudly showing everyone how bendy twisty I was! Pride comes before a fall. As for the Hare Krishnas, there were loads of them in Geneva in the 1970s, doing their funny steppy-prance all over town in tangerine robes, and chanting with tamborines. I once saw them get into it with a Scientology Ron Hubbard book pusher in front of Bon Genie, the most chi-chi department store in Geneva! Even Hare K's have anger issues.
Haha I haven't seen the Hare Krishnas for years! There used to be loads of them dancing through Brum in the late 80s. And eek! Sorry about your hypermobility. I'd say I have hypomobility, if that was a thing!
Same here - I used to always sit in full lotus, just because I could despite never having done yoga in my life. Forty years and several dislocations later, I now have arthritis in odd places from doing party tricks with my wonky joints.
I completely misread that line about belonging. I'm serious, I read it as, "It's also about banging." Which is not the same. And then I thought that some cults really are about that and that seems like a huge commitment. Not sure why I told you that, but here we are.
I mean, that's definitely a factor. Although apparently not in the Hare Krishnas. According to Becky, anyway!
I do the type of yoga and meditation where chairs are allowed, so called "yoga chairs". I don't know if this is because the cults have caught on at this point, that older people need to be able to sit too and they're generally the ones who have money to hand over 🤷🏼♀️
I bet yoga chairs cost a bomb! 🤣
I think you should reform Vagabon Fayre, and I think your first release should be called 'Mucking out George Harrison's holy cow'. If you need a manager, I am available.
Clearly I do need a manager because this would never have occurred to me. I'll get songwriting.
Gong! I have an academic interest in the free festival movement, and in historic gig and festival lineups in general. I'm sure I've seen the words "Vagabon Fayre" on some old poster, somewhere. Did you ever record anything?
Awesome! You are the first commenter to have heard of Gong, so a million points to you! There was stuff recorded on cassette tape, but I doubt very much that there's anything digital. Possibly there are some old photos somewhere, but again, this was in the before times, so unlikely to find anything online. I suspect this is probably a good thing!
I bet there's a recording on some unofficial bootleg compilation somewhere - like the Hawkwind live at Stonehenge CD I found the other day. I will seek.
Hawkwind live at Stonehenge. Wow. I bet that was incredible. What year was that?
The recording's from 1984, though there had been free festivals at Stonehenge since 1974, and Hawkwind almost certainly played other years too. Also appearing in 1984 were Roy Harper, The Enid, Cardiacs, Doctor and the Medics, and more. Here's a great history of the happenings on a site that looks like it's not been updated since 2002! https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-menu.html
Ooh Cardiacs and Hawkwind - I would have been happy. Well, I was only 12 at the time, so maybe not!
As a practicing Hindu, I am unsure if I should be offended or amused. Since I'm a hoot, I choose to be amused. Funny and well done!
Thanks! Definitely not trying to cause offence :)
Haha, I didn't think you were hence my choice :) Keep it going and oh - how is your tarot business coming along!?!
Good, thanks! Slowly! But getting there :)
This made me chuckle, firstly I need to know , is he still a member of the Hare Krishnas? Secondly I agree re sitting on the floor, but it’s on my to do list to start practicing how to get up if I ever had a fall 😆 and thirdly, I’m with you on the sausage roll business, I was a veggie for 15 years. Now I love a Greg’s sausage roll 🤣
Haha well I have no idea if Phil is still in the Hare Krishnas - I know he was for a good few years but I've long since lost touch with him and everyone who knew him. I'm also working on my strength and mobility so who knows - maybe I'll be able to sit on the floor again one day! And sadly, I can no longer eat sausage rolls because of the pastry :( I guess the universe has had the last laugh there!
Oh lol 😂
Very funny Georgina. Once, I worked alongside a HR Director who managed to procure a visa for (an impressionable) lad who worked in our firm, only to have him send us an email saying that he couldn't make it to work because he had joined a cult (he didn't use those exact words...) It was touch and go for a while but we did eventually get him to see sense. Kids eh?!
Haha brilliant! Glad he was brought to his senses!
For me it was a venison stew.
You are fancy. I sold out for the most basic thing imaginable 😂
There are few schools of meditation in the West that would insist you sit in half-lotus. We always tell people who are interested in meditation that the aim is to find a position that is upright (alert and stable) but comfortable, whether sitting on the floor, cushion, kneeling bench or chair -- or standing, or moving, or even lying down. Mindfulness -- let alone Buddhism! -- isn't compatible with hurting yourself! I am also not vegetarian, I like me a good sausage roll. I don't totally enjoy wearing robes but sometimes I have to because I'm a Zen priest and it's the uniform. And, I can't sit half-lotus, never have :) If you're interested, find a good teacher and don't let past bullies put you off. You might find that most of the old stereotypes no longer hold.
Thanks! I do meditate daily - usually in bed or on a sofa!
Hilarious as always, Georgina. I’m ok with the sitting but I will not forgo my sausage roll.
Quite right too!
This entire post was just too damn funny...but this line takes home the prize. "or an apparently humble wall-eyed lady guru with an offshore bank account in the Cayman Islands. Luckily, I wasn't eating or drinking something because I would have sprayed my laptop. Just to let you know I'm stealing wall-eyed. Well done, Georgina, well done. - Jim
Thank you, Jim! Really happy to hear it entertained you!
For half a tick I thought it was “Seduced by a Sausage Troll” which sounds like a romantasy.
Ooh that sounds like a bad novel. Although I suppose it could be wurst! (Sorry :)
There’s a Hare Krishna group who meet in the square around the corner from my house and I always look askance at them as I pass because they don’t offer any free food. When I see Hare Krishnas, I expect a buffet. Govinda's FTW!
Right?! Haha maybe they can't afford to keep entire cities in spicy chickpeas anymore!
"In other words, it was better than dealing with your own family and getting an actual job. Plus: magic cow!"
There have been points in my life where I would have thought that was a fair tradeoff! But now that I'm a lady in her 50s, my wonky joints will protect me from any culty temptations.
Definitely! I'd probably join a cult now if I didn't have to sit on the floor ;)
Now that's the kind of spirituality I can support.
I like a lie down when meditating and refuse to be bullied into sitting on the floor by some fascist in a robe! And my arse is too skinny for hard surfaces.
I recently came across a spiritual bully who was telling an older disabled woman she must "try" to sit "properly" to meditate. I was like, no she doesn't. Lying down is best because it's easier to fall asleep that way ;)
Exactly. Meditation is all about falling asleep and losing the habit after 2 weeks!
This made me giggle! I used to love sitting on the floor, twisted into all sorts of weird positions. And I was mega proud of my perfect Lotus. Then I found out the hard way that I'm hyper mobile, and had messed up all my tendons and ligaments by proudly showing everyone how bendy twisty I was! Pride comes before a fall. As for the Hare Krishnas, there were loads of them in Geneva in the 1970s, doing their funny steppy-prance all over town in tangerine robes, and chanting with tamborines. I once saw them get into it with a Scientology Ron Hubbard book pusher in front of Bon Genie, the most chi-chi department store in Geneva! Even Hare K's have anger issues.
Haha I haven't seen the Hare Krishnas for years! There used to be loads of them dancing through Brum in the late 80s. And eek! Sorry about your hypermobility. I'd say I have hypomobility, if that was a thing!
Same here - I used to always sit in full lotus, just because I could despite never having done yoga in my life. Forty years and several dislocations later, I now have arthritis in odd places from doing party tricks with my wonky joints.