A word coined in 1965 by American Zoologist Wilbur W. Mayhew. Brumation denotes a state of torpor and sluggishness brought on by winter. Mayhew used the word to describe the cold-weather dormancy of reptiles. Brumation is also a term commonly used in Biology to describe the dormant period for reptiles. As with hibernation in mammals,Continue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Brumation”
Tag Archives: writing
Book Review: The Lonely City by Olivia Laing
The Lonely City by Olivia Laing is a mixture of reportage, biography and creative non-fiction. Weaving together strands of history, philosophy and art, Laing explores one of the last taboos of humanity which is loneliness. This is an alarming and at times uncomfortable book to read if you have been or are now lonely. Yet loneliness is common to all of us at some point in our lives. It’s what we seek at all costs to avoid and hide under the rug.
WordPress no longer autoposts to Twitter because of Musk…is this annoying to you?
Personally I have found this to be annoying because I share out my posts from here only to Twitter nowhere else. Since Musk took over Twitter it is incredibly buggy, seedy and full of all sorts of unsavoury characters. Sort of like dropping into a party too late into the night (or towards sunrise) turningContinue reading “WordPress no longer autoposts to Twitter because of Musk…is this annoying to you?”
Book Review: The Book of Symbols by the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS)
The Book of Symbols is a masterpiece of art history, philosophy, mysticism, psychology, anthropology, biology and spirituality. It brings together the history of various symbols, concepts and objects from many cultures and civilisations.
Book Review: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
Robert Greene has written best-selling books on seduction, power, war, self-mastery and now knowledge. Although the sum and total of his output of books gives the wrong impression about the man. He’s not an evil and Machiavellian type jockeying for power – rather his books are about understanding the lesser-known shadowy parts of ourselves toContinue reading “Book Review: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene”
Book Review: All that Remains: A Life in Death by Sue Black
* No Spoilers Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Scottish Forensic Anthropologist and Professor Sue Black’s memoir about her life confronting death won the Saltire Book of the Year in 2018. Forensic anthropology (in case you are wondering) is the study of human remains in order to solve criminal cases. I was very excited to read this book. YetContinue reading “Book Review: All that Remains: A Life in Death by Sue Black”
Book Review: Lost Wisdom by Una McGovern and Paul Jenner
* No Spoilers Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Lost Wisdom and its two other companion books Lost Crafts and Lost Lore are beautifully typeset and laid out. Their contents are a cabinet of curiosities – a wunderkammer of the same sort as the Book of Barely Imagined Beings, which I have mentioned in the past. Although in thisContinue reading “Book Review: Lost Wisdom by Una McGovern and Paul Jenner”
He Waiata Pepeha
Tere mai taku waka Tākitimu e Tū ana te maunga Haumia e Rere ana taku awa Waipaoa e Tau ana te whenua Rāwhiti e Tere mai taku waka Tākitimu e Tū ana te maunga Haumia e Rere ana taku awa Waipaoa e Tau ana te whenua Tūranganui a Kiwa e Tākitimu Haumia Waipaoa e MāhakiContinue reading “He Waiata Pepeha”
The Sensual World of Polish Poet Anna Świrszczyńska
Anna Świrszczyńska, also known as Anna Swir wrote poems in direct, evocative language that spoke passionately and directly to the heart. She wrote affectionately about the female body, love, pain, loneliness, terror, war, childbirth, child-rearing and the passing of time. She focused a lot on the flesh – its elasticity and potential while young, alongContinue reading “The Sensual World of Polish Poet Anna Świrszczyńska”
Book Review: The Book of Life by Alesha Sivratha
Alesha Sivartha’s enigmatic 1898 book The Book of Life: The Spiritual and Physical Constitution of Man, combines mysticism, sociology, theosophy, art and culture into a unique philosophy. Other than the obscure and bewildering ideas in this book, the illustrations and diagrams of the human body, mind and spirit are otherworldly and amazing. Sivartha was a manContinue reading “Book Review: The Book of Life by Alesha Sivratha”
Content Catnip 