Top 1000 Songs of the 1960s

 Below is my compilation of the top songs of the 1960s, based on popularity, cultural significance, landmark albums, play counts, and personal affections. Play counts derived from my profile at last.fm: skydude13579’s Music Profile | Last.fm

Jews and Cartography

  I've just read that the Jews were the pioneers of modern cartography. In the 15th century, as explorers and navigators expanded knowledge of the seas and faraway lands, cartography became in high demand, especially after the printing press made the distribution of maps more prolific. The diaspora shaped this cultural landscape, as Jews became wedged between Christian and Muslim spheres, particularly in Spain. "Driven from place to place, they [Jews] helped make cartography... into an international science, offering facts equally valid in lands of all the faiths" (Boorstin, 150). Thus, the Jews served as a bridge between the dominant religions of the time, translating what medieval Arab scientists had discovered for Christian Europe. 

 I can feel this effect in my DNA. The strong Jewish genes in my family that shape our geographic talent and interest was passed down from centuries of cartographic practice. My own grandfather was a cartographer. And while I studied it in college, the field seems to have become diluted by IT guys because of the importance of GIS, making the ancient art of mapmaking less appealing for those preferring to design them conceptually.

Boorstin, Daniel J. The Discoverers. 1st Vintage book ed. Vintage Books, 1985.

Meditation Techniques

 Meditation has become one of my biggest hobbies, if you can call it that. It always helps bring clarity to my fast-paced mind. There are different techniques I use, depending on the issue. To calm myself down, I do a simple breathing exercise where I focus on my breath and imagine myself as Aang the Airbender sitting on top of a mountain. Deep breaths are most critical to success. I'm usually able to calm down within minutes.

 Another is chakra meditation, for when I notice an imbalance in energy centers. This can manifest as a headache, pain in a certain area, or anxiety from doing an activity too long. The idea is to imagine other chakras as receiving excess energy from overactive ones by projecting the breath towards them. This takes longer, anywhere from 5-10 minutes. Typically, this happens when I need to redirect excess energy from my navel chakra (action) to my third eye (vision) chakra.

 The one I've developed the most this year is spirit guide meditation, where the intent is to ask a spirit/guardian angel for advice or understanding on a difficult matter. This is an advanced technique that doesn't always work. I can't always tell if it's a spirit I'm talking to or just my higher self, but the better I get at it, the more I believe it's a little of both. The answers to most problems are already known subconsciously; the guide simply helps me find it. What's wild is that you can even encounter other spirits and make resolutions with them. I have had some very strange and vivid experiences doing this, but they all gave me closure on difficult times in the past.

 A technique I've done since being a teenager that I never realized as music meditation. This is one of the best for finding artistic inspiration. Play your favorite music, meditate on the visions, feelings or ideas they invoke. If there are words, let them describe a poetic device you can use in your art. Often, I will listen to favorite songs while writing poetry- a way for the meditation to manifest on the page. Usually, it reveals things about me or life in general that I hadn't been conscious about.

 Mastering meditation takes time and effort like anything else. My life is so much richer because of it. I don't know who I'd be without it, probably more like my mom. It's the best way to shut out the noise and simplify your life. It can even help you sleep. 10% of the time I accidentally doze off. There are guided meditations on YouTube to help you sleep. I don't really meditate on them; those soothing voices are sometimes enough to conk me out. They just relax my busy brain.