Back when the musical “Hair” came out, some astrologers grumbled that it wasn’t really the Age of Aquarius yet. But what did we care? We were tired of the world as it was, ready for Peace Love and Understanding.
Well…maybe not.
chaotic stillness
watching from the whorled center
for new beginnings
During 2020 there were rumblings once again online about the REAL Age of Aquarius finally showing up. I was skeptical to say the least.
all those lost patterns–
I collect them in my mind,
in new rotations
It seems we had the Age of Aquarius skewed, not only in time. Yes, it’s a total tearing down and rebuilding. But it’s going to require hard work. Taking a lot of drugs and wearing tie-dye and listening to songs about love won’t do it.
all impermanence—
no matter which way you turn
the path continues
Can we change our entire approach to living together, not only with each other, but with the earth, its creatures, its landscape, its elements? We need to if we want to survive.
giving myself hope
inside my dark wanderings–
a world of wonder
When Phil asked me to choose this week’s Kick-About prompt, I thought immediately of The Age of Aquarius, because I’ve been turning over in my mind the hope that it might be real, that humanity can change. I always loved the music posters of the “Hair” era, and used them as inspiration for my neon colored paintings.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the other responses next week.
K. 
I love your brightly coloured paintings Kerfe. I’ve also been thinking a lot about whether we can change and learn to live a different way. ‘We need to if we want to survive’ is right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do. I always feel like local is one way to start. We can’t give up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, there is no room for apathy right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous paintings, and I deeply enjoyed how you integrated poetry, art, and prose into one seamless piece. Your message is powerful and necessary, Kerfe.
❤
David
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks David. We have to keep these ideas alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps each iteration is a collective dream. It would be nice if more got on board, but it seems like divisions widen and we’re forced to wake up to reality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree about the divisions Ken. I’m not sure how we get out of it. I do think our children are less divided than we are, especially on issues like climate change and the environment. Whether they can do any better than we did to bring about actual change remains to be seen.
LikeLike
I don’t know anything about Hair or Hippies or what they wanted. I know we have to find an alternative to global capitalism though, and I’m not sure the west is ready for that yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not ready at all. But it’s a failing system. And we can’t consume our way out of it. Change or die.
LikeLike
Consume does seem to be the answer to most questions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a strange way to interact with life. But we are all guilty.
LikeLike
I know. The path of least resistance. I wish the superfluous was simply banned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the kind of law we need, yes.
LikeLike
Beautiful, lively paintings! And these lines ring true: “no matter which way you turn
the path continues.”💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does. It’s up to us to make the best of it. Thanks Romana.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“all impermanence” but hope remains. Hair and Age of Aquarius seems so idealistic, but maybe that’s not always so bad either. I like your art and the integration of words here.
When I was in high school family–both my parents (who were divorced), at least one sister, my boyfriend (now husband), and I all went to see Hair at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. At the time, that nude scene seemed so shocking, and I thought it was funny and cool that I saw the show with my parents and boyfriend. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great memory! I remembered Hair as totally idealistic, but that final scene from the film really grounds it in reality. Things won’t change until we work together to make it different. Even then, I think we knew that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I suppose so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, I watched this film at just the right time. For a while I was certain that I was really living in the 60’s and what I’ve got here (in the 80’s and 90’s) was just a shell. This is how it felt. The Doors and Janis were my main outlets. Your art is glorious and the age is ripe for the taking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Manja. Yes, ripe for the taking and we must figure out how to seize the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh that takes me back and shows my age. Going to see Hair when it opened in Sydney Australia was a high point of my youth. Bring back those feelings of excitment, those deep anti racist sentiments and the liberation from repressive social conditions. And of course the colour and the vibrancy. Your art transmits those feelings well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne. We had the right ideas, but our follow through was poor. I hope we can do better this time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We, meaning our generation, created a lot of social though. Changes in education, changes in how babies are birthed, gay pride, 2nd wave feminism, ecological awareness to mention a few. All are incomplete projects but we have sown a lot of seeds. I’m over all this baby boomer bashing that people go on about these days. The pre-1960s world was stifling and socially rigid. We baby boomers began the process of change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s true in some respects. Education here has gone backwards though–its all about test scores and prestigious degrees. There are more C-sections than ever, and the US has one of the highest child mortality rates in the developed world. Women have more opportunities, but also twice the work. And they are still treated as objects, second class citizens, and paid less. The gay pride movement was way past the 60s, at least here. Its the millennials who have really fueled it. We started earth day, but then moved backwards also, with gas guzzling cars and oversized houses and laws that favor industry. Its the boomer politicians who have ruined the world, and we elected them. Are there some people who never abandoned their ideals? Not that many, or we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in. It may be different where you live, bu not in the USA.
LikeLike
Ok. You win.
LikeLike