Section 276 from “The Gay Science” by Friedrich Nietzsche

For the new year.— I still live. I still think: I still have to live, for I still have to think. Sum, ergo cogito: cogito, ergo sum. Today everybody permits himself the expression of his wish and his dearest thought; hence I, too, shall say what it is that I wish for myself today, and what was the first thought to run across my heart this year — what thought shall be for me the reason, warranty, and sweetness of my life henceforth. I want to learn more and more to see as beautiful what is necessary in things; then I shall be one of those who make things beautiful. Amor fati: let that be my love henceforth! I do not want to wage war against what is ugly. I do not want to accuse; I do not even want to accuse those who accuse. Looking away shall be my only negation. And all in all and on the whole: some day I wish to be only a *Yes-sayer.

*Yes-sayer, not in a political or social sense, but to the uncompromising acceptance of reality per se.

Amor fati: “Love of fate”

This concept of “Amor fati” goes straight to core of my stone balance practice. The ability to accept nature, however uncertain. including all of the harshest conditions, such as snow, rain, even wind. This has been the most rewarding approach for my senses thus far. embracing everything out of my control as a single process with my own flow. And the result often turns into something magically beautiful, or else (and) some kind of lesson in patience, problem solving, persistence, letting go, or any of the multitude of traits developed through practice.

I’ve come to love every season for its necessary conditions. When I embrace this allowance, then it seems synchronicity appears everywhere as if by grand design. This does not negate free will like many think, it is simply synergy of free will and surrounding environment without expectation. The more open I am in the moment, the more daring the rocks become.

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a videographer from the denver post is taking a fairly in-depth look at my activities!

23 Responses
  1. Lillian

    You are such a talented individual…it always amazes me what one can do when they search within. I love your art. Every time I see a stone I think of your work and the beauty of it all. I now have a small rock garden in which I have balanced several stones. It’s fallen once which gave me the opportunity to create a new scene. Thank you for sharing your talent.

  2. Hari

    HI, Amazing work!

    One question out of curiosity though. Why do you pour a handful of water on the rock you just balanced?

  3. Hi Michael. I discovered your site after a friend shared one of your videos on Facebook. Been having a look through some of your posts & your skill to do this is amazing

  4. Donna

    Your work is so beautiful – whimsical, graceful, cherishable. The poise of the universe. Thank you for showing it to us

  5. Julian

    I used to be a huge skeptic (of Michael’s work, included) , but then I talked to the sun, and he told me that anything is possible.

  6. sabrina

    STONE



    Go inside a stone 

    That would be my way.
    
Let somebody else become a dove 

    Or gnash with a tiger’s tooth.
    
I am happy to be a stone. 


    From the outside the stone is a riddle:
    
No one knows how to answer it. 

    Yet within, it must be cool and quiet 

    Even though a cow steps on it full weight, 

    Even though a child throws it in a river; 

    The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed 

    To the river bottom 

    Where the fishes come to knock on it 

    And listen. 


    I have seen sparks fly out 

    When two stones are rubbed, 

    So perhaps it is not dark inside after all; 

    Perhaps there is a moon shining 

    From somewhere, as though behind a hill— 

    Just enough light to make out 

    The strange writings, the star-charts 

    On the inner walls.

    Charles Simic, What the grass says, 1967

    Thank you, Mr Grab. I live in Italy and I simply love stones.
    There is a secret language in the world.
    You understand it and, more, you are able to show it.
    And I can only stop, look at your work and say: “Oh”.
    Grazie.

  7. read “Frederic The Great” is simple. Delving into his thinking is exhausting, little transparency, boring … continuing luminescence was seized by sudden, the thought becomes light, shiny, easy, intuitive, shareable, revolutionary. It has a large fault (by his own admission) that of being born posthumously!

  8. While walking through our woods the other day I kneeled by the water flowing and found a couple of rocks and thought of you. I put a bigger one on top of a smaller one and it stayed, amazing what one can do while in the moment, it’s all we ever have like Eckhart Tolle would say.

    Thank you for sharing

    1. Pennsylvania = The Keystone state. All the stones in a balance sculpture are “key” stones. A little play on words. Heading out to enjoy the snow. Happy balancing.

  9. Linda

    This is lovely to read and I feel your feelings. I feel these feelings, too. To not fight, but to avoid war, and make beauty and peace is my intent, too. Thank you for your beautiful posts and beautiful art. It is unbelievable to see, and yet you do it.
    Linda

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