Who are your kindred spirits? Why is it that some people help us understand ourselves better? What can we learn by recognizing our commonality with others?

You’ve probably had one of those moments along the way where you sort of perk up and think “Gosh, that person sure sounds, or thinks, or writes, or talks the way I do.”

Or you see someone taking action of some sort and you think “That’s exactly the way I would’ve handled it!” In other words, you’ve identified with them.

These are valuable reflections. Sometimes inspiring, sometimes sobering, always informative. It’s like getting a glimpse of yourself in the magic mirror of the universe.

José Arguelles, the famous Mayan calendar guy, had this theory that there are only 144,000 different “types“ of people in the world. Perhaps there are only so many archetypes of the human mold.

Maybe you have a doppelgänger somewhere. Possibly an alter ego. And no doubt you have your personal collection of role models and heroes.

Kindred spirits are slightly different. You might find them in books you read, films you watch, or music you appreciate.

For me that would be the great journalist and novelist Tom Wolfe. The vibe that Jack Nicholson brought to the characters he played on screen almost always struck a chord with me.

And when it comes to music, well, this week, we find ourselves mourning the passing of Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead.

I was never what you would call a tie-dyed-in-the-wool Deadhead, but I was definitely a fan and went to a dozen or so shows in their heyday of the 70s and 80s.

I noticed early on that Bob and I shared the same birthday, we’re both Libras born on October 16. From a distance, and up on stage, he always seemed to be a fun guy with a great attitude. Loved his music and his vibe, but I didn’t know all that much about him.

Until this week. NPR was replaying an interview with him from about 10 years ago. My jaw dropped as I learned how much more we had in common than I had ever known.

From the time he was a little kid up through his late teens Bob spent his summers on the family ranch of John Perry Barlow in Wyoming . He rode horses, herded cows, and tried to master the lasso.

Suddenly, it all made sense to me. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Colorado doing much the same things. That big-hearted, Old West, welcoming sort of Boy-Howdy energy that he was famous for is also very much a part of my DNA. From now on, when I hear his music I’ll be seeing him in an entirely new light. Rest in peace Bob.

When you think about life in terms of these sort of connections, you start to see that we all inhabit a unique constellation of energies. No two sets of kindred spirits are alike. Far removed from the tethers of technology they speak to your essence of humanity, that which makes you truly you.

Maybe one of yours will rear their head this week. May it be a good encounter!

All the best and happy dancing till next Monday

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #663

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar