The Anglicans ended the concept of Monasteries in England, and, as time pased, in all the anglo-american world these special people have nowhere to go and live and do their thing. Some have great fortune. Some are steamrolled by the public health system or the prison system.
Normalcy used to be: special people go to a sacred place or create their own sacred place, and everyone respects it. It was so until the Reformation. It was an error, as we see.
I wonder if Christenson Bailey ever heard of Christopher Knight, a true hermit who camped in the woods of Maine for almost three decades. "The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit" by Michael Finkel is a NY Times bestseller (2017) about a man who lived in nature for about as long as the Vancouver woods dweller, but who virtually never spoke or interacted with anyone the entire time. Recommended reading. Utterly unique story.
Amazon overview:
Many people dream of escaping modern life, but most will never act on it. This is the remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality; not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own.
In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries.
Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life - why did he leave? what did he learn? - as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.
Yayoi Kusama has been called one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan, the world's top-selling female artist, and the world's most successful living artist. When Kusama was ten years old, she began to experience vivid hallucinations which she has described as "flashes of light, auras, or dense fields of dots". These hallucinations included flowers that spoke to Kusama, and patterns in fabric that she stared at coming to life, multiplying, and engulfing or expunging her, a process which she has carried into her artistic career and which she calls "self-obliteration". Kusama's art became her escape from her family and her own mind when she began to have hallucinations. In the 1960s, while living in Manhatten, Kusama organized outlandish happenings in conspicuous spots like Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge, often involving nudity and designed to protest the Vietnam War. In one, she wrote an open letter to Richard Nixon offering to have sex with him if he would stop the Vietnam war. She became so depressed she was unable to work and made one of many suicide attempts, then in 1977, found a doctor who was using art therapy to treat mental illness in a hospital setting. She checked herself in and eventually took up permanent residence in the hospital. She has been living at the hospital ever since, by choice. Her studio, where she has continued to produce work since the mid-1970s, is a short distance from the hospital in Tokyo. Kusama is often quoted as saying: "If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago." - from the biography in Wikipedia
I like stories like this .. they show how we are able to adapt and become frugal with what the natural world provides. If you are interested .. there is another one that I follow .. Aaron Fletcher .. 123homefree on Youtube .. has a FB page too. He lives in a small wagon which has a wood stove .. and makes clothing from the wool his sheep provide.
Stanley Park holds allot of great memories for me but Vancouver has changed and not for the better. I now tell people to get out of there before its too late.
In six minutes, I make out that Christopher Bailey after 30 years of park camping, is supposed to leave and find alternative housing if he can. He made friends with mounted police patrols and managed to keep body and mind together through a hurricane in '06, living by natural sunlight in the day, close to nature and birds, and being comfortable. But now the city has to cut down trees, I suppose for carbon sequestration, and he's an eyesore. I guess I'd leave it at that, too, since we all want to find out how to live approximately like that, and I wonder if he'd leave it to anybody's own gumption to figure it out?
Depends on the circumstances. I've imagined one or another person knowing me over the years, and was unhoused for a relatively short period about the time of the 2003 NYC electrical blackout, and found myself less desparate than a lot of the time before or after. You could get a free bus or subway ride for a day or two.
This man is amazing. This was so good for me to see Celia. THANKS. In his 70ies, look how he moves, he's young in body, agile, not aching in appearance regardless of how cold it is. What about catching a cold, the sniffles, covid haha , Im truly amazed! He's powered by a beautiful spirit and the grace of god.
Thank you for this inspirational story, Saludos, I'm still enjoying your book trying to read as slow as possible to enjoy it more as you have a very nice way of writing, it's soothing although the topic is not, kind regards!
His spirit is inspiring! It is obvious he is clear minded, nimble and fit. The chickadees and forest have served him well. A beautiful story. Thank you for sharing, Celia.
The Anglicans ended the concept of Monasteries in England, and, as time pased, in all the anglo-american world these special people have nowhere to go and live and do their thing. Some have great fortune. Some are steamrolled by the public health system or the prison system.
Normalcy used to be: special people go to a sacred place or create their own sacred place, and everyone respects it. It was so until the Reformation. It was an error, as we see.
he does look like a monk!
I wonder if Christenson Bailey ever heard of Christopher Knight, a true hermit who camped in the woods of Maine for almost three decades. "The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit" by Michael Finkel is a NY Times bestseller (2017) about a man who lived in nature for about as long as the Vancouver woods dweller, but who virtually never spoke or interacted with anyone the entire time. Recommended reading. Utterly unique story.
Amazon overview:
Many people dream of escaping modern life, but most will never act on it. This is the remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality; not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own.
In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries.
Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life - why did he leave? what did he learn? - as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.
I read that book many years ago. Quite fascinating. I never followed up on his story since his return to mainstream life.
Why did he return? And did he really succeed if he ended up returning?
This made my day. I understand him. I love him. Absolutely beautiful and perfect, Celia. Thank you!
Yayoi Kusama has been called one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan, the world's top-selling female artist, and the world's most successful living artist. When Kusama was ten years old, she began to experience vivid hallucinations which she has described as "flashes of light, auras, or dense fields of dots". These hallucinations included flowers that spoke to Kusama, and patterns in fabric that she stared at coming to life, multiplying, and engulfing or expunging her, a process which she has carried into her artistic career and which she calls "self-obliteration". Kusama's art became her escape from her family and her own mind when she began to have hallucinations. In the 1960s, while living in Manhatten, Kusama organized outlandish happenings in conspicuous spots like Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge, often involving nudity and designed to protest the Vietnam War. In one, she wrote an open letter to Richard Nixon offering to have sex with him if he would stop the Vietnam war. She became so depressed she was unable to work and made one of many suicide attempts, then in 1977, found a doctor who was using art therapy to treat mental illness in a hospital setting. She checked herself in and eventually took up permanent residence in the hospital. She has been living at the hospital ever since, by choice. Her studio, where she has continued to produce work since the mid-1970s, is a short distance from the hospital in Tokyo. Kusama is often quoted as saying: "If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago." - from the biography in Wikipedia
Going out on a limb here, but I'm betting that Chris doesn't have a covid19 vaxx card.
Beautiful ❤️
It's more than that.
IMO
I like stories like this .. they show how we are able to adapt and become frugal with what the natural world provides. If you are interested .. there is another one that I follow .. Aaron Fletcher .. 123homefree on Youtube .. has a FB page too. He lives in a small wagon which has a wood stove .. and makes clothing from the wool his sheep provide.
https://www.youtube.com/@123homefree
https://www.facebook.com/aaronfletchernomadicshepherd?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Stanley Park holds allot of great memories for me but Vancouver has changed and not for the better. I now tell people to get out of there before its too late.
So many questions. Where would he get art supplies? cell phone service? Money?
Youtube comment provides a link to part 2. He got some assistance from the gov't but his future is still unsure.
"Watch part 2 for more details on how Bailey survived 'off the grid': "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U-9D9rmKxA
Thank you for this. I'll have a look.
Excellent point
Remarkable that he did that for 30 years! Great Free Soul!! Beautiful story sorry to see it end. Where does he go now?
In six minutes, I make out that Christopher Bailey after 30 years of park camping, is supposed to leave and find alternative housing if he can. He made friends with mounted police patrols and managed to keep body and mind together through a hurricane in '06, living by natural sunlight in the day, close to nature and birds, and being comfortable. But now the city has to cut down trees, I suppose for carbon sequestration, and he's an eyesore. I guess I'd leave it at that, too, since we all want to find out how to live approximately like that, and I wonder if he'd leave it to anybody's own gumption to figure it out?
I’m sad we have to know about him.
May there be others that were—and will never be—known.
Depends on the circumstances. I've imagined one or another person knowing me over the years, and was unhoused for a relatively short period about the time of the 2003 NYC electrical blackout, and found myself less desparate than a lot of the time before or after. You could get a free bus or subway ride for a day or two.
LOL, I’m not talking about a day or two.
This man is amazing. This was so good for me to see Celia. THANKS. In his 70ies, look how he moves, he's young in body, agile, not aching in appearance regardless of how cold it is. What about catching a cold, the sniffles, covid haha , Im truly amazed! He's powered by a beautiful spirit and the grace of god.
Thank you for this inspirational story, Saludos, I'm still enjoying your book trying to read as slow as possible to enjoy it more as you have a very nice way of writing, it's soothing although the topic is not, kind regards!
His spirit is inspiring! It is obvious he is clear minded, nimble and fit. The chickadees and forest have served him well. A beautiful story. Thank you for sharing, Celia.
Wow an amazing fella.
Thanks. This made my day.