I’m working through some headier topics today. One of the recurrent themes I come back to is just where our consciousness comes from. We all know we have a brain, but what we don’t know is where our our consciousness resides. Science tells us that our firing neurons and synapses generate our thoughts and consciousness, but there are now many studies that show people who have thoughts and experiences even when their brains are damaged or shut down. If that’s true then our consciousness must be somehow outside our brain. Most spiritual religions believe this. Religion and science have mostly disagreed. This often was a result of the persecution that science endured from the church early on. But science has come back towards more spiritual thinking with quantum physics and the understanding that there are more curious properties in our universe than we previously thought possible. Maybe there is an interaction in our world and universe that is a force outside our current understanding of physicality that is where our consciousness lives independently. I have a conviction that there is great truth in this. I’ve been reading more books along these lines, and I think we are in the infancy of understanding how it all works together. Eventually I think we will find out that science and religion or spirituality are two sides of the same coin. The things that we think are woo-woo spirituality will be explicable through science, and the things that we think are purely scientific will be likewise understandable through spiritual principles. Buddhist monks seem to think this. They give recognition to scientists for discovering what they’ve known for millennia about interaction and forces of the universe. So maybe our consciousness does reside outside of our brain in the quantum realm in a way that is completely understandable by science. I can’t wait to find out more!
——
What have I been up to?
My senior facilities last week went great. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do all of them because of the lack of gas at gas stations with the truck driver shortage, but I was able to get gas and get around to all of them.
My Tuesday online show doing ‘70s songs was great fun! I didn’t do as much rock and roll as I had thought I would do, but the flow went more towards folk rock again. It was all good. I had so many good friends along for the ride.
Thursday at the Yellow Pine was a little different than the previous week. They’re all different with a variety of folks and a variety of songs, and it was so good to see many old friends and meet some new ones. It’s wonderful to be part of that community in the summer.
My Sunday online show was a special one because it was online and also in-person with several folks because we filmed it from Deann and Matt Pujol’s house. We had lively conversation along with good food and memories. The online audience was a blast too!
——
What am I up to this week?
I have 6 senior facilities this week, and it seems that we are slowly returning to some sort of normalcy. Most of them are still wanting mask-wearing which I am very used to at this point. It’s just wonderful to be able to provide this encouragement to the community again.
My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing country music this week. I will probably do some of the songs from my “Back to the Old Country” album, but I’ll also do some newer ones including a couple brand-new songs I’m performing at my niece’s wedding this Saturday. I don’t do country music very often at my online shows which is not very representative of what I usually play out and about. I didn’t really grow up with country music, but I really love it and am looking forward to playing some for you on Tuesday.
Thursday 6:30-8 is the Yellow Pine Barbecue once again. It will be crazy fun since it’s Fourth of July week. They’re pretty much booked for every Thursday this summer, but I think they can squeeze in a couple people if you’d like to go. It’s good barbecue in a great location in the old barn with my music that you can listen and dance to. Call by Tuesday morning at the latest to book. 719-742-3528
Saturday is Jen’s brother’s daughter’s wedding, and I’m looking forward to seeing her family and playing the songs I learned for her and her guy!
My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing the favorites we always do on Sundays with a twist because it’ll be Independence Day. If you want a less explosive evening listening to music with good friends then come on out! This is always important to Jen and me because we have pets that are very fearful of the sound of fireworks.
——
That’s it once again for this week. I will be pondering what I wrote about up-top all day as I weigh the headier aspects of life. I hope your summer is going okay, and I hope COVID is not still touching you in a significant way. Be safe, and I hope to see you soon.
Best always,
Tom
——
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of Country songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Tuesday, June 29, 7-8:30 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing & singing at the barbeque
Where: Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528
When: Thursday, July 1, 6:30-8:00 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, July 4, 7-8:30 pm mountain time