Tag Archives: Philosophy

Ancient Word of the Day: Rema

Rema (Shetland Scots) The mirror-calm surface of the sea on a calm day. A body of water with a surface as smooth as cream. Comes from the Scots word “reyme”, meaning “cream”). Rjómalogn (Icelandic) Cream-calm, used to denote  profoundly tranquil weather or sea. Arafin (Welsh) Calm or slow weather in Welsh. blikkstille./ blekkstille (Norwegian) AContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Rema”

Book Review: Into the Silent Land by Paul Broks

Genre: Non-fiction, Neuropsychology, psychology. Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Publisher: Allen and Unwin *No spoilers. Into the Silent Land is a non-fiction book about neuropsychology that explores the vast and unknowable terrain of people’s minds. Paul Broks is an English neuropsychologist and writer. This book was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book award. InContinue reading “Book Review: Into the Silent Land by Paul Broks”

Comforting Thought: Disruptive Creators Versus Custodians & Curators

“If we were all disruptive artists all the time – nothing in society would be coherent. No one would be obliged to do anything other than follow whatever short term whims took their fancy. Fortunately- many people are instead curators. Those who set up permanent exhibitions based on unifying themes and help to rein inContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Disruptive Creators Versus Custodians & Curators”

Ancient Word of the Day: Philoxenia

Philoxenia is a word that comes from Ancient Greek. This literally translates to be “friends with a stranger”. Philo – Friend, Xenia – Stranger. In Ancient Greece, hospitality in the same was held as a great virtue. Great honour was bestowed upon guests by the host. If a stranger was to appear on your doorstepContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Philoxenia”

Comforting thought: The World of Terrifying Beauty By Karl Ove Knausgård

“I remained where I was, standing with one hand in my pocket and the other around the handle of the pram. The triviality of the ketchup and mustard bottles, the blackened hotdogs. The camping table where the soft drinks were lined up, was almost inconceivable there beneath the stars, the dancing light of the bonfire.Continue reading “Comforting thought: The World of Terrifying Beauty By Karl Ove Knausgård”

Words and Music: A Homage to Tangaroa

I speak forward to the spirit of the great sea To the waves to the sea foam to the sea’s many children The children are singing the drifting songs of the ocean They are the children of Tangaroa and the ocean of Kiwa! Kōrero atu ana ahau ki te ia o te moana Te Hukatai,Continue reading “Words and Music: A Homage to Tangaroa”

Kaumātua wisdom: I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific

Kua rongo ake au… Kia tau te whakaaro pai Aroha tētahi ki tētahi, āhurutia ā tātau tamariki Ki te aroha, nā, he aroha pai ano hoki mōu ake I have learned that… It makes good sense to say We are here to learn to love one another And for the sake of our children, acceptContinue reading “Kaumātua wisdom: I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific”

Comforting Thought: Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin

Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin (from Greek) Things that are under our control and things that are not under our control. Of things that exist, some are in our power and some are not in our power. Those that are in our power are conception, choice, desire, aversion, and in a word, those things that areContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin”

History: You are what you do – olden times  tradespeople and their tools

Hieroglyphics, circa 1800 This delightful print entitled Hieroglyphics dates from circa 1800 and was created by the London-based publisher Samuel William Fores in the aquatint style. We can see the composite portraits of four professions: a florist, writer, musician, and barber — their features made up entirely from the tools of their trades. Such compositeContinue reading “History: You are what you do – olden times  tradespeople and their tools”

Emotional First Aid Kit #1

Sometimes the world just wants to break you with all of its chaos. Right now my family is in the eye of the storm, with one of our own absolutely determined to destroy himself with alcohol. Nobody knows what to do and so we are just paddling water at the moment, trying to stay afloat.Continue reading “Emotional First Aid Kit #1”