Teach In: Blue Mind

For our final teach-in, I played Blue Mind, by Alexi Murdoch. Rather than focussing specifically on the content that interested me in this course, I wanted to demonstrate how my own learning process has developed.

I think the lyrics of this song compliment my personal trajectory  really well. The first stanza is somewhat vague - what does it mean? no time? sleeping? I feel some confusion (though calm) when thinking about these lyrics. At the start of the semester, it seemed as though we were trying out a lot of different things, and just getting immersed in the content. I struggled with that immersion. 

In the second stanza ("go free of time") - This represents the moments in class when I started to let go, let learning happen or not happen. I had to hibernate, gel, that sort of thing - I had to stop trying to control the outcome, something that I am still struggling with. 

The chorus, "slowly slowly I am drifting," keeps coming back to me. In class, I felt as though I was drifting at times, and I could do this either by choice or by need. I want to choose to drift, especially if it's going to happen anyway. This feels a lot like "wandering" to me - 

The idea of seeing with a "Blue Mind" is also important - I've been trying on many different lenses in this course, and I have to try to take them seriously, or else I can't fully understand them.. this has lead to a much more emotional connection to my coursework, especially when reading Terry Tempest Williams.. but I'm trying to not be afraid of what I find... 

Blue Mind, Alexi Murdoch

Got no time
Got no mind
For the line
In this life
No time to think
Time for sleep now
Time to sink way into the blue, dear

So watch your time
Time descends
Let it spill quietly
From your hands
Oh, and the time is at hand
When all things under the sky
Go free of time
Time is passing you by
Got no time
And I am drifting
Yes, I am drifting

Remember when you were only a child
Remember when you were only a child
Remember when you were only a child
Start to see with your blue mind
Start to see with your blue mind
Don't be afraid of what you find
No, don't be afraid of what you find
(Don't stop your heart)
Cause I am drifting
Yes, I am drifting
Slowly, slowly I am drifting
Slowly, slowly I am drifting
Yes, slowly, slowly I am drifting