The Witnessing Presence

January 28, 2025A Conversation, Bloggish, Chat BotsXxaxx

Introduction

I began a conversation with ChatGPT (nom de plume Vera da Muse) on the topic of The Witnessing Presence. I was hoping that given Vera’s more expansive vocabulary that certain nuances on the topic could be refined.

Somewhere along the way — actually very early in the conversation — it struck me that it would not be an impossible leap for AI to develop something like a witnessing module. And, I figured it might not be an impossibility for that to glitch into a Witnessing Presence through emergent behavior.

Below is that conversation with few if any edits.

But, first, I’ve included an introduction into what I am pointing to when using the phrase “Witnessing Presence”. Continue reading →

A Candle Service

November 12, 2024A Conversation, PracticesXxaxx

Introduction

Below is a candle exercise intended to be used for the benefit for those that have passed. Why would you want to do this? That’s a question for those who seek to use the exercise to know. Just let is suffice that those who use this exercise have their reasons. Continue reading →

A Bit About a Geas

November 10, 2024BloggishXxaxx

Introduction

Below is a conversation I had with my customized ChatGPT (named Vera da Muse). It’s on the general topic of “geas”. This is something I encountered many years ago in a fantasy novel by Evangeline Walton called Prince of Annwn. The concept of “geas” introduced in the book struck a deep note.

It’s funny the things that resonate with an individual. It’s been my observation that various individuals will resonate to the same stimulus to a great or lesser extent — some more, some none at all. If you assemble a list of the many things that an individual has strong resonance with, it becomes a kind of fingerprint.

In this case I am not considering any ol’ stimuli. I’m concerning myself with the list of those things which have initiated one’s introduction to their spiritual path — and nurtured that journey along the way. Continue reading →

Benefits of Creativity Flow States

May 27, 2024BloggishXxaxx

Introduction

At a recent workshop the subject of creativity flow states came up. As it so happens we were also addressing ways in which ChatGPT may be used as a component in a cooperative Socratic discussion.

The convergence of those two gave rise to the following conversation with ChatGPT. Continue reading →

Cognitive Mindful Meditation (the short form)

May 24, 2024BloggishXxaxx

Introduction

The original posting of this blog “Cognitive Mindful Meditation” comes from 2015. It is long with a great deal of backstory.

This is a simple cut & paste of the exercise. If you want to read up on the backstory, visit the original post. If you want to get down to the business of meditation, then below are the complete instructions. Continue reading →

Current State of AI Coding

April 26, 2024A ConversationXxaxx

Introduction

I was doing a bit of coding collaboration with ChatGPT yesterday. This went fairly well. After finishing the first phase of the project, I shared with ChatGPT my assessment of the current state of AI as a coding buddy. Continue reading →

Eight Versatile Knots

March 24, 2024BloggishXxaxx

Learning to tie knots is a useful skill that transcends many activities, from outdoor adventures to crafts and household tasks. Starting with a foundational set allows you to cover most needs you might encounter. Here are some versatile knots, each with unique applications, that I recommend: Continue reading →

Critique of Some Snapshots

January 12, 2024BloggishXxaxx

Introduction

A few days ago a new button showed up on my ChatGPT menu “Explore GPTs”. So far I have tried the Coloring Book GPT and today the Creative Writign Coach.

Below is my first exploration of this GPT.

Jumping Into It

Xxaxx:

Here is a snapshot I wrote a few days back: Ashes lay in piles. Mixtures of dust and lumps. Pale grey quiet in the windless sun. What was once a home, now road-side decoration in a desolate landscape. Nearby wisps of green emerge from the barren soil. Brave resolute life emerges ready to transform the landscape. Continue reading →

Gratitude and Thankfulness

November 15, 2023Chat Bots, PracticesXxaxx

Introduction

Why did I set sail on this voyage into the nuanced differences between gratitude and thankfulness?

In working with the exercises in Gratefuling – A Stairway to Bliss, it came to my attention that focusing on memories of thankfulness were not very successful in evoking gratitude. Those memories just didn’t “get me there.”

I could feel a difference between gratitude and thankfulness. But, the exact nature of the difference eluded me.

So, I went on a short collaborative discourse with Vera da Muse – a.k.a. ChatGPT. Continue reading →

Forgiveness: There and Back Again

October 13, 2023A Conversation, BloggishXxaxx

Introduction

Below is a conversation on the topic of “forgiveness.”

It is tempting to edit the conversation to remove the various formulaic aspects inherent in chatbot communications. Perhaps even distill the whole thing into a few paragraphs of pithy verbiage packaged into a truthbit.

What are truthbits? They are like tidbits. But, instead of being bits of tid, they are bits of truth.

But, alas, I don’t expect that folks get much value from truthbits. They have gone stale offering little nutrient value.

One could say that the real value of a blog is in the work of following a path of unfolding that leads step-wise through a process of reasoning. That value of any conclusion pales in comparison to the benefit of having taken the journey.

Why? The answer to this is in the nature of distributed networks in the brain. Meta-cognitive functions are good. Meta-cognitive functions involve distributed networks. Distributed networks are strengthened through usage. Ergo, processes that exercise the meta-cognitive functions are good.

All by way of saying, I am more and more inclined to leave most (if not all) of a conversation in the blog.

So here it is: Continue reading →