About

Welcome to Parallax. I’m Paul, I live in Augusta on the south coast of Western Australia.

I am married to Lyn (39yrs), and we have two wonderful sons in Jon and Hayden, and Jon has brought the lovely Anna into our lives, while Hayden has brought the lovely Jo into our lives.

My formal studies have involved me in philosophy, theology, politics, spirituality among many things. My interests are broad and I have a number of hobbies. But here at Parallax I am focussing more on poetry these days. My title Parallax is an admission that there are different views from where we stand.

I tend to work, try to work with metaphor. An example of this is my recent poem ‘When The Wind Howls’ which is about how wind disturbs the inner life. Sometimes I like to focus on an object, something concrete or obvious.

I am particularly interested in how silence and contemplation enable compassion and engagement. Other interests are social justice, inter-faith dialogue, environmentalism, and community development, all, of course, intertwined.

92 responses to “About”

  1. Tarella Spirituality
    October 1, 2015 at 6:45 am

    Hi Paul,
    Thank you for subscribing to Tarella Spirituality and for the mentions on Parallax. For once I didn’t feel like I was throwing words into cyber space
    where they were lost forever. But you probably are familiar with that feeling.

    No Thomas Merton on your major influences? That surprised me. I would have thought you had a lot in common.

    A lot of my current reading is feminist theology as I endeavour to understand the path of my spirituality – making sense of the choices I have made over the years as i prepare to write about it. .
    A book I have found valuable in reflecting on the Australian landscape is The Solace of Fierce Landscapes : Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality by Belden Lane.

    Paul, I’m delighted to make your acquaintance and thank you for the opportunity.
    Blessings to you and yours,

    Judith Lynch

    Liked by 10 people

    Reply
    • pvcann
      January 2, 2016 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Judith, sorry this took so long, but I was in a frenetic work phase. I have read Merton but haven’t adjusted my reading list. I have just finished reading Lane’s latest book – and as you may well be aware he’s coming to Australia this year. I haven’t read the one you mention, but will look it up as I am doing a Grad Dip in Spiritual Direction and my project is spirituality and the bush.

      glad to make your acquaintance too,

      blessings,
      paul

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  2. Anna Seize the World
    February 29, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    You are not in Bridgetown anymore 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. dmf
    March 18, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    thanks for your interest in syn-zero, afraid we tend towards the atheist/materialist end of the spectrum but perhaps we can be a bit of via negativa for you, have you checked out the work of John Caputo?

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  4. Melva
    July 17, 2017 at 7:30 am

    Great information. Blessed me I reach on your website
    by accident, I bookmarked it.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  5. Pingback: Liebster Award – By Sarah

  6. GP Cox
    August 29, 2017 at 5:56 pm

    Pleased to meet you.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  7. Pat
    December 5, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Reverend Paul…thank you for following my blog, Life is ON. I look forward to rambling around yours. It’s so handsomely set up and the content is intriguing. Looking forward to getting to know you and your site better. Again, gratitude for the follow.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  8. rothpoetry
    February 10, 2018 at 1:00 am

    Very interesting Bio. You might enjoy Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, if you have not already read it. It is one of my all time favorites.
    Good to connect with you.
    Dwight

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
  9. da-AL
    February 26, 2018 at 5:25 am

    thanks for visiting my blog – am much enjoying your site 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  10. jmankowsky
    April 25, 2018 at 9:48 pm

    Very interesting bio information. and I enjoy your blog posts! I am interested in feminist theology, and noticed Sallie McFague on your list. (Yay!) Have you read Karen L. King’s The Gospel of Mary of Magdala? You might be interested…
    Julie

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. gohealthy
    May 17, 2018 at 11:05 pm

    Hi Rev. Paul,
    Thanks for visiting and the follow. Your posts share great thoughts and they are soothing to the heart. Lovely words straight from the heart!! Glad to know you! 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. geno
    June 25, 2018 at 10:23 am

    interesting, you’re welcome:

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. philosophy through photography
    July 4, 2018 at 7:20 am

    Thank you so much for the follow.Started going through your blog articles.Thank you once again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Paul Sunstone
    August 26, 2018 at 1:01 pm

    Goodness, Paul! We have some similarities in our backgrounds.

    I majored in philosophy with a double minor in anthropology and comparative religious studies. Bit different focuses though. I was more concerned with the Asian religious traditions. But we seem to share an interest in mysticism.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. Pingback: Mystery Blogger’s Award – Philosophy through Photography

  16. Pingback: Day 1 Lyric Challenge – Philosophy through Photography

  17. Pingback: Day 2 Lyric Challengej – Philosophy through Photography

  18. Pingback: Day 3 Lyric Challenge – Philosophy through Photography

  19. positivesideofcoin
    November 8, 2018 at 6:17 am

    May the year ahead grant you all that you wish for and more here’s to a healthy and wonderful year ahead. May the good lord bless you and yours always. Happy Birthday 🙏💕

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  20. ForgivingConnects
    November 9, 2018 at 12:25 am

    Hi Paul,
    It is lovely to meet you. You have a fascinating background! I am inspired by your list of people who have influenced you, and also by your focus on how silence and contemplation enable compassion and engagement. I’d love to hear more about that!

    Sending you blessings. Thank you for following my blog, I’ll follow yours as well. ~Debbie

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • pvcann
      November 9, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      Thank you very much Debbie, I followed yours as I was so interested in the content and found a really engaging blog and yes, also a very interesting person. So I too looking forward to hearing more. Thank you.

      Like

      Reply

  21. Pingback: 3.2.1 Quote me! Nomination – Positive Side Of The Coin

  22. Whatyoublogabout
    December 15, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    Good day. Just wanted to let you know that I like your blog.
    Would you like to share your story on “What You Blog About”
    what motivated you to start this blog ?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  23. Jules
    January 29, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Another friend from Australia 🙂
    Glad to meet up at What Do You See? Willow Poetry.
    I’m from the lovely state of Pennsylvania in the US.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • pvcann
      January 29, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      Glad to have a friend from Pennsylvania, at the moment we’re in summer I take you are in winter? I’m enjoying Hélène’s prompts.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Jules
        January 29, 2019 at 11:46 pm

        I’m not sure when they started naming snow storms… but I’m smack in the middle of Jayden now. Last year was wet. This winter is below average cold… yep, winter 🙂

        I had met Hélène a while back (several years ago), but we lost touch when the writing community we belonged to folded. I just found her again toward the end of last year 🙂
        I’ve got a few favorite prompt sites. I see new ones popping up. But there is only so much time in a day, which is why sometimes I smash prompts. My latest for Hélène also includes two others. It fun when the prompts co-operate 😉

        Like

  24. thereluctantpoet
    April 15, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    No contact page or email, My Friend! This reminded me of something I wrote I was hoping to share!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. leydabien
    April 27, 2019 at 6:37 am

    Paul, thank you for your concern re “Ennle”…although “dire” sounds melodramatic, when things feel profoundly unsettled/unstable in our lives, they’re ‘dire’ to us, I suspect you’d agree. I needed to make an abrupt blog change, and am not following all the same people as before–you made the ‘cut’ 🙂 So I’ll now be posting as Leyda Bien–and will catch up with your posts soon. If you wouldn’t mind, please delete this comment after reading…lest I be discovered. Yes, cloak and dagger…an intrigante, I remain 🙂 Thank you, blessings to you and family. Leyda

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  26. equinoxio21
    May 1, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Social justice is a programme in its own right… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. Paul Sunstone
    May 21, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    Hi Paul,

    I have information that might (or might not) be of extraordinary interest to you. Perhaps you would be willing to email me at paul_sunstone @ q , com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. Penny Wilson Writes
    June 30, 2019 at 11:55 am

    Paul, I’m so glad that I found your blog. Your poetry is beautiful! Thank you for following my blog. I look forward to seeing more of your work! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  29. Zest4Food
    July 13, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    Hi, I came across your blog. Great work! Interesting content and nice pictures. I enjoy to read blogs from people around the world and different places. I am a food blogger from Canada, and I invite you to visit/follow my blog at: https://zest4foodblog.wordpress.com Cheers, Angelika

    Like

    Reply
  30. David & Laura Speer
    January 5, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Hello Rev Paul, Read some of your poems, and really enjoy them. Looking forward to reading more soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  31. Nathaniel R. "Nat" Helms
    February 12, 2020 at 1:45 am

    Just read your “about” section… very interesting. I simply assumed you were talking about Trump because his existence overwhelms most of the things I should be thinking about. We have something in common. I am an Episcopalian by birth. It made me think how my mother would have particularly appreciated your poetry. She often said us Anglicans have by and large either have keen intellects or were dumb as rocks. I never had the pleasure of Australia… too late now…. but a long time ago I knew a bunch of Aussies. Always said I would come visit. What a bunch… they know how to rock and roll.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • pvcann
      February 12, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      We do have a way of having fun that is fast and loose 🙂 nice connect the Episcopal beginnings. I like your mother’s humour. I wonder about Trump, I was listening to a refreshing take by Ezra Klein (one of your bright political analysts) on On Being, he posits that Trump is that natural yin to Obama’s yang, and so we have a cyclical polarity. Damn I wished it weren’t so, I have extremely unsavoury visions of what I’d like for Trump. The poem includes him, but also our very own dimwit Morrison, and that fool Johnson … how did we end up here? Thank you so much for sharing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. Nathaniel R. "Nat" Helms
    February 13, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    Wasn’t sure who Ezra Klein was until I looked him up. I am a fan of Vox however, did not make the connection. Read his comments about polarization. I don’t think the reasons are as complicated as he does. My humble take is some people who have not realized their expectations feel a need to blame their personal failures on those around them, particularly those from places in society they feel are inferior to them for whatever reason and don’t deserve the recognition they have received. Trump and Johnson certainly know how to capitalize on that ene of inadequacy… not so sure about your Morrison… not much in the news about Australian politics except viv-a-vis the terrible fires you had or when Trump insulted your PM some years ago. Will keep looking at your posts so please keeping writing your poetry. I know very little about it but for whatever reason yours grabs me. Maybe age – I am old.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • pvcann
      February 13, 2020 at 11:26 pm

      Thank you Nathaniel, interesting to have your insight into the goings on over there. Our PM is an evangelical Christian who has suddenly appeared incapable of leading, and is wedded to 1950s thinking and carbon, it has, I think, doomed his leadership long term. The fires were his undoing. Thank you so much for the encouragement.

      Like

      Reply
  34. Ai Weikai
    May 13, 2020 at 1:15 am

    It’s cool! I have some same interests! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  35. Patrick jennings
    October 25, 2020 at 7:51 am

    How strange. I have been seeing the name “pvcann” for so long but never clicked on it. Now I find this cornucopia of delights! Hello!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  37. Pandemedium
    March 25, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Hey Paul,

    It’s Joe from Pandemedium. We had to put down my dog this week. I’m a big fan of your poetry. Do you have any poems you wrote that may help me with the nature of love, loss, grief, and healing? Just wondering. If any thoughts come to mind I would really enjoy any of your recommendations.

    Thanks,

    Joe
    Pandemedium@gmail.com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  38. thereluctantpoet
    May 7, 2021 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Paul,

    Just an FYI to help keep your poems and writings from falling into the Public Domain where anyone can use them as they see fit – the required and proper copyright notice is – Copyright (c) 2021 Your Name – it is also advisable to add – All Rights Reserved. Don’t want to see your words falling into the Public Domain, My Friend!!
    Chuck

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  39. Tim McGee
    September 7, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    Wonderful! Thank you to Ana Daksina (troubadour of verse) for sending me your way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  40. lillian
    February 18, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    Hi Paul,
    We did indeed miss you at OLN LIVE today. We had a good crowd: UK, Sweden, Kenya, US, Tinidad Tobago, Pakistan, India. A fun group. As I did in January, I hosted both sessions this month. It was suggested that folks who would like to get an “invitation” to the OLN LIVE session, provide their email to me and I would share it with Bjorn and Sanaa (our other two dVerse OLN LIVE hosts). That way, an email invitation is sent out for both the Thursday and Saturday session. The person simply keeps that email at hand and when the time comes, there’s a spot in the email that says “Join the Meeting” or somesuch wording. The person clicks on that and they’re immediately in the LIVE session…no need for the host to “admit” them. Saves time and is easier for all involved. A number of the folks who attend quite often are doing just that. If you’d like to receive an email invitation each month, rather than relying on going to the dVerse Home Page, simply send me an email to let me know.
    landghallberg@gmail.com
    And I promise you, that’s the only thing we use the email for! 🙂

    Hope to see you in March!
    Lillian

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.