Creative non-fiction genius and nature writer extraordinaire Annie Dillard has won a Pulitzer Prize for her essay writing. She has a unique, warm and intensely spiritual, even transcendental way of writing that elevates her above most other writers. That’s big praise I know, but this is really great writing. She has the ability to probe…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Abundance by Annie Dillard
Here are a collection of things that uplifted me and made me feel happy this week. Feel free to share anything in the comments below that made your week in quarantine a bit easier too. Namaste Your next travel destination is indeed just around the corner... Beautiful and meaningful Maori proverbs for the current world…
Continue reading ➞ 10 uplifting things I found on the internet this week #2
In Greek mythology, the nymphs were tiny and minor goddesses that each presided over a type of landscape feature. Normally something glimmering, glittering and bewitching in nature like waterfalls, streams, mountains, lakes or trees. The name nymphe means bride in Greek and so the tiny and bewitching nymphs represented the brides or maidens of the…
*Contains no plot spoilers. Pachinko is a family saga about Korean migrants living in Japan against the backdrop of the unheaval of the 20th Century. The novel traces struggles, triumphs and colourful personalities of several generations of one family. It rockets along at an amazing pace and doesn’t let up. This is a book to…
Around ten years ago, I had the best trip of my life when I went to the Isle of Skye, Scotland with the Polish bear. We cozied up in the most comfortable little croft in all of the Scottish isles. Located in Borreraig, the farthest point of the Isle of Skye and as far away…
Kate Holden is the Australian author of the amazing memoir In This Skin. The Romantic is a follow-up to this memoir. A bit about Kate Holden, she’s a woman from Melbourne who grew up in a respectable middle-class family. She then broke away from her stable family life and became a heroin addict and a…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Romantic Italian Nights and Days by Kate Holden
The world has become rather scary lately. So with this in mind I have found some odd but tasty memes and strange oddities to get you through the next week... 1. The map of procrastination https://twitter.com/GroundImpressi1/status/1245230267167584256 2. A serenade to Director General of Health in NZ Dr Ashley Bloomfield Dr Ashley has become a much-loved…
Continue reading ➞ 10 uplifting things I found on the internet this week #1
Have you ever wondered where the original ideas in mathematics, astronomy, science, medicine, philosophy ever came from? The answers to these questions are in this remarkable history book that takes us on a tiki-tour through the highways and back alleys of some of the most vibrant and buzzing cities of the ancient world, where knowledge…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller
Featured
Here are the classical rules of rhetoric, illustrated and made simple. Based on Mark Forsyth's Elements of Eloquence. I hope that you enjoy them and that this handy cheat sheet helps you to improve your writing.
Philoxenia comes from Ancient Greek. This literally translates to be "friends with a stranger". Philo - Friend, Xenia - Stranger. In Ancient Greece, hospitality was ranked highly as a personal virtue. Great honour was bestowed upon a guest by a host. If a stranger was to appear on your doorstep in Ancient Greece, you were…
This crisis that everyone is in right now poses a range of unique opportunities for us as the dominant species on earth. This is the first time in human history that we as a sentient and conscious species have a three opportunities for growth as a collective: Limitless capabilities for (virtual) communication across time and…
Continue reading ➞ Within crisis is opportunity for growth, compassion and love
Mark Forsyth is the witty and effervescent writer of several books on the history of language, etymology and linguistics. The Elements of Eloquence explains the timeless art of crafting memorable one liners. In other words, the rules of classical rhetoric. This is a great guide for writers who want to master the subtle art…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth – Part 1
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it." — Marcus Aurelius (The Emperor's Handbook)
This is quite possibly the most incredible non-fiction memoir that I have ever read in my life. I know that sounds big, but this book was a real knock-out. It has won countless awards including the Victorian Prize for Literature. Originally a fantastic long-form essay on Narrative.ly, author Sarah Krasnostein then developed the story of…
We do a lot of looking; we look through lenses, telescopes and TVs. Our looking is perfected every day - but we see less and less. Never has it been more urgent to speak of seeing...we are onlookers, spectators. 'Subjects' we are, that look at 'objects'. Quickly, we stick labels on all that is, labels…
Briana Saussy writer and founder of the Sacred Arts Academy in San Antonio, Texas has written an intimate, enjoyable and joyful guide to the art of creating spiritual rituals and ceremonies in your home. Making Magic is organised by technique and material. It makes the everyday rituals in our lives sacred and adds pleasure and…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: Making Magic by Briana Saussy
In the age of omnipresent news and digital devices dominating our every waking moment, this poem by 18th century Japanese hermit poet Ryokan seems very relevant. No news of the affairs of men. How lovely to be without the news of the world. Whatever the news of the day, Ryokan sure as hell didn't give…
The word Borbhan comes from Gaelic. It's the gentle murmuring or purling sound made by a stream; also the sound of small stones falling.
According to ancient Greek myth, the first spider to ever live was a once human girl named Arachne. She lived in the ancient city of Lydia in Turkey and was famous for her ability to weave beautiful clothing. Arachne gained fame for her weaving and became boastful of her ability, telling people that her weaving…
“Imagine a speck of dust next to a planet a billion times the size of the earth. The speck of dust represents the odds in favor of your being born; the huge planet would be the odds against it. So stop sweating the small stuff."
