Kwanzaa's Kawaida: For all year round

Kwanzaa Kinara
Drawing by Nesnad

Most cultural holidays are also ethical ones, in that they embrace a code to live by.  Kwanzaa, the African-American and Pan-American holiday, embraces the ethical code of Kawaida. 

Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa's founder, describes Kawaida as a philosophy that reflects Afrocentric tradition.  However, philosophy for philosophy's sake is not what Karenga has been about.  Kawaida is therefore a very active philosophy that focuses upon self-reflective and self-corrective practices.

That is why a Day of Assessment (aka "Day of Meditation") has been a culminating part of the Kwanzaa celebration.  On this day, three core questions are grappled with:  Who am I?  Am I really who I say I am?  Am I all I ought to be?

This is also a day for concentrating upon the wisdom of The Odu Ifa meditation, which reads as follows:  Let us not engage the world hurriedly.  Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.  That which should be treated with mature judgment, let us not deal with in a state of anger.  When we arrive at a cool place, let us rest fully.  Let us give continuous attention to the future, and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.  And this because of our (eventual) passing.

Such wisdom can then be nurtured throughout the entire year.

Resources

https://celebrationjoy.com/kwanzaa-odu-ifa-meditation

Why Jews are named Alexander

From the Alexander Mosaic

Some say that Alexander was great because of the length and width of his empire.  Jews say he was great because of its depth.

Alexander III of Macedon was a profound thinker.  It didn't hurt him any to have Aristotle (Maimonides' hero) as his personal tutor.

When Alexander conquered Tyre and Egypt via the Holy Land, he made it a point to visit with the High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple.  This visit is recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus, as well as in the Talmud.

Upon meeting the High Priest, Alexander is said to have immediately dismounted and bowed to him.  This induced General Parmenio to (boldly) ask Alexander for an explanation.  Alexander then answered: "I did not bow before him, but before that God who has honored him with the High Priesthood - for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very apparel."

Nevertheless, Alexander had the habit of putting effigies of himself within his conquered people's temples.  This did not sit well with the Jews.  They therefore offered a clever alternative - that of naming their children Alexander.  The idea stuck.  Thousands of years later, Jews are still being named Alexander.  

Resources

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ajs-review/article/abs/alexander-the-great-and-jaddus-the-high-priest-according-to-josephus/8ED923F6BCA859439FDF063D2C4CD12B

Frosty the Snowman: One cool fool

Fair Use

Whether he's thumbing his button nose at cops, or thumpety-thumping all over town, Frosty the Snowman is one cool fool.  We say that, of course, with the utmost respect.  "The Fool" has been around for ages, and plays essential roles in the drama we call life.

This archetype has three major functions: to make people laugh, to reflect wisdom, and to shake things up.  Frosty outwardly "was a jolly happy soul" who "could laugh and play just the same as you and me."  He tapped into the universal inner child.

But Frosty was not just about fun and games.  He was also quite capable of tear-jerking farewells.  Let's just say he did not go gentle into that good night.  Yet the grief concerning his impending doom was masked by megawatts of merriment.

"The Fool" has traditionally symbolized a creativity that is unencumbered by society's rules.  An historical example of this would be King Henry VIII's court jester, William Sommers.  Mr. Sommers was privy to all the inner working of Henry's court, and was allowed to comment upon them in ways that others were beheaded for.

Frosty's own version was to announce: "I'll be back again some day."  Now there's a theological show-stopper!  Some (with much too much time on their hands) are wondering whether he was hinting at reincarnation.  Or perhaps suffering from a Messiah complex?  The debate rages on, yet most can agree that this particular snowman was one cool fool.    

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Long Shot

Fair Use

If reindeer roamed the Holy Land, Rudolph would have been prime parable material.

Rudolph was the proverbial "meek" and "last" - not by nature, but by comparison.  It's not that his neon nose wasn't worthy, it's simply that it was different from all the other reindeer noses.  This was enough to brand him as a perennial outcast among peers.

Rudolph therefore needed saving - not because he was bad, but because he was good in a way that others couldn't understand or appreciate.  It took a saint (Nick) to really see the (glowing red) light.

As the original song goes, Santa moved Rudolph to the head of the class and suddenly the reindeer were proclaiming his place in history.  The story quickly ends on a high note.  Rudolph's happy, Santa's happy, even the reindeer are happy.  Yet that type of happiness hinges upon fame and success, both of which seem far more precarious than joyful.

If God were tweaking this story, it might have evolved differently.  Santa would have seen Rudolph's innate charisma and moved him up front.  The other reindeer might then have trampled Rudolph while trying to outpace him.  They might never have accepted the illumination that he offered so freely.

Which begs the question: When the last really do become first, will we simply go on singing Rudolph's martyred praises, or will we collectively follow his lead to create an eternally happier ending?

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer

O Tannenbaum: Pleas for trees

Silver Fir   
Photo by Alburi di Corsica

This German carol, the melody of which dates back to the 16th century, can be translated to essentially mean: "Oh fir tree, you please me very much because you're loyally green" - thus providing hope, durability, comfort and strength at any time.

How ironic that we currently address this song to freshly-cut (killed) trees that we nevertheless call "live" and/or "evergreen."

There are kinder, gentler ways...

Some folks have taken to decorating outdoor trees.  There is no standard technique, but here's one: work with a tree that's reasonably close to an electric outlet, then toss strands of lights up into the branches.  For a less random approach, use a long pole with a hooked end.  A broom handle with a makeshift wire-hanger hook might suffice.  For an over-the-top solution, try renting a bucket truck, along with a driver who knows exactly how to operate it safely!

Other folks have taken to purchasing living "Tannenbaums."  These trees are specially grown with their roots either potted, or balled and burlapped.  They are brought into the home during the Christmas season, and afterwards planted outdoors.  Specific instructions are given for transitioning them from home to yard.

If enough people begin dreaming of an evergreen Christmas, then the joy that Tannenbaum brings will not be kicked to the curb come January.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Tannenbaum   

Here's the church, here's the steeple: Where's all the people?

Sermon on the Mount   
1877 Painting by Carl Bloch

This question is often asked by those who see "church" and "people" as two different entities.  These are often the very same folks who track membership stats and empty pews.

A good place to start when addressing such concerns is the following question: What is the church?

Merriam-Webster lists a number of definitions, the first of which is this: "a building for public and especially Christian worship."  Next one down is not much broader in scope: "the clergy or officialdom of a religious body."  It isn't until the third definition that we get at the heart of the matter: "a body or organization of religious believers, such as the whole body of Christians."

The latter definition is more in keeping with the Greek word ekklesia.  This term was widely used by secular Greeks to indicate "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place."  In the Septuagint (Ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), ekklesia more specifically referred to the gathering of Israelites for either a specific purpose or as representatives of the nation.

The early Christian community then reframed this concept of ekklesia into "an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting," as well as "the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth," and even "the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven."  Such definitions include individual and congregate believers who are located pretty much anywhere (on or beyond Planet Earth).

When "church" is synonymous with believers rather than buildings, the emphasis then shifts from capital to communal.  At that point, doors can open wide to receive additional Light.  

Resources

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/church

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/ekklesia.html

If you celebrate Hanukkah, thank a Greek

Hanukkah in Berlin
December 2019

Slowly assimilating people into a different way of life can be far more effective than using brute force.  The Ancient Greeks knew this.  That is why they often welcomed Jews into their midst.  A mutual admiration then developed.

The two cultures certainly had their discrepancies.  It is said that the Greeks worshipped the holiness of beauty, whereas the Jews worshipped the beauty of holiness.

Yet some Jews became quite Hellenistic in their preferences.  They readily embraced Greek fashion, philosophy, art and language.  In return, the Greeks were said to have ordered 70 rabbinic scholars to translate the Hebrew Bible into Greek (resulting in the Septuagint, aka "Translation of the Seventy").

Not all Jews were on board with this.  Some became quite alarmed, fearing the ultimate disappearance of a distinct Jewish identity.  Pressure began to mount between Jews who favored assimilation and those who didn't.

By this time, Alexander the Great had died and his empire was breaking up.  The Jews ended up with a king who became less and less patient with their internal tension.  Antiochus Epiphanes finally decided that tolerance was no longer the way to proceed.  He instead began to brutally force all Jews into a Hellenistic lifestyle.

History tells us (over and over again) that coercion is not a lasting solution.  In this case, it led to the Maccabean Revolt that we honor as Hanukkah.  Yet historical tensions remain strong.  Some still thank the Greeks for their wisdom and tolerance, while others still thank Antiochus Epiphanes for instigating a rebellion against assimilation.  Whether one applauds or condemns it, the Hellenistic influence on Judaism has endured throughout the ages.

Resources

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

What do you mean they're all Jewish?

Elvis Presley's Parents

Elvis Presley, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Christopher Columbus - all Jewish?  Well, I'll be the Queen of England!

Maybe she's Jewish too, according to some esteemed sources.  On account of the "fact" that King David was her great, Great, GREAT ancestor...

At least Elvis flaunted it (along with much else).  He was known to have worn the Jewish chai symbol, and to have put a Jewish Star of David on his mother's headstone.  Columbus, on the other hand, went around bragging that he was Christ's gift to the "heathen" world.  And Ahmadinejad...  Need I say more?

So how is it that they're all being called Jewish?

Perhaps it has something to do with the "once a Jew, always a Jew" rule book, which is especially studied by Jews with a sense of humor (see Adam Sandler), and non-Jews with a sense of genocide.

Catholics who vacation in the Galapagos Islands and come back confirmed Darwinians are no longer necessarily called "Catholics."  Hindus who are struck blind by visions of Jesus on the road to New Delhi are no longer necessarily called "Hindus."  But people whose families converted (willingly or Inquisition style) to markedly different religions generations ago are still being deemed "Jews" today.  And people who may have had one Jewish ancestor among dozens are also being given the "Aha! So that's who (what) you really are" treatment.

Yet according to the Torah of Moses, Judaism involves a whole lot more than genetics.  Try reviewing the Ten Commandments, and if still not convinced, scroll through the other 600 or so mitzvot.

Resources

https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/all/uh-huh-elvis-was-a-nice-jewish-boy-6jfiuqs8VLSD32PZ5Ti8xn

https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/opinion/garcia-columbus-jewish/index.html

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244013508960#:~:text=The%20inescapable%20conclusion%20is%20that,not%20have%20her%20sons%20circumcised.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/06/does-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-have-jewish-roots/

The Amish: Christmas in three-part harmony

Amish Schoolchildren
Photo by Gadjoboy2

While some just dream of Christmas past, the Amish are still purposefully there.  You probably won't see them at the mall - and if you do, they won't be clamoring for Santa's attention.

Santa is not the main focus of an Amish Christmas.  God is.

That is why December 25th is often reserved for prayer and Bible reading.  Once God has been prioritized in these ways, the Amish are ready for Second Christmas.

December 26th is a time for home-cooked family meals, handmade gifts and cards, outdoor games, and visits with friends.  Such activities often continue well into January and February.

Epiphany, or what the Amish call "Old Christmas," is celebrated on January 6th.  This marks the traditional time that the Wise Men visited with Baby Jesus.  Many will fast until noon, then later gather for a communal meal.  Amish-staffed businesses are often closed for the day.

Resources

https://blog.peacefulvalleyfurniture.com/2015/12/lancaster-roots-amish-second-christmas/

https://www.bestofamishcountry.com/post/old-christmas

White Christmas: Ghosts and dreams

Irving Berlin, circa 1911

Back in the late 1800s, when Irving Berlin was tiny Isidore Baline, the ghosts of Christmas past bore down upon him and his Jewish family.  Christmas in Russia meant possible death for Jews since the Tsar's pogroms were particularly intense on that day.  The Balines eventually fled to America because their home had been deliberately set on fire.

That is why writing a nostalgic Christmas song was a challenging task for Berlin.  It's hard to dream when the reality had been such a nightmare.

Nevertheless, one bright morning in 1940, an already-famous Berlin burst in upon his secretary and announced, "Grab your pen and take down this song.  I just wrote the best song I've ever written... the best song that anybody's ever written!"

This was not just a hunch.  Berlin's "White Christmas" (as sung by Bing Crosby) became the best-selling single of all time.

How was Berlin able to dream his way beyond haunting Christmas memories?  For one thing, he was by then a consummate professional.  His assignment was to write a song about every major American holiday (for the movie "Holiday Inn"), and he was determined to do just that.

Berlin was also the man who wrote "God Bless America."  He was fervently patriotic, and regarded America as his family's promised land.  If Christmas was a cherished American holiday (which it especially was during World War II), then that was incentive enough for him.

Berlin's second wife (his first wife died young), Ellin Mackay, was Catholic.  Their family celebrated all the major holidays together.  Berlin seemed to have no personal conflict regarding such interfaith activities.

"White Christmas" is therefore so much more than just a cultural icon.  It remains a testament of the spirit's ability to rise on the wings of dreams above a ghastly past.

Resources

http://www.ktsullivan.com/pages/rev_berlin.html

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/white_christmas.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas_(song)

 

Holiday blues: More dreary than cheery

Photo by Thomas Bjorkan

There's a great big elephant at most holiday gatherings, and it's more blue than pink.  Most people would rather pretend that it doesn't exist than tend to its needs.

Karl Jung wasn't most people.

He talked about the shadow personality, and said that everybody has one.  The shadow includes feelings such as anger, sadness and fear.  Not exactly a recipe for happy, merry and jolly.

Ignoring this blue bunch of feelings won't make them go away.  They will fester all the more if they're not, at the very least, acknowledged.

That is why many churches have started to hold Blue Christmas services.  Some are held on the winter solstice (when what seems like the longest night of the year literally is).  Some are equated with Saint Thomas' feast day (which coincides with the winter solstice) in order to help process those Doubting Thomas feelings that we all sometimes experience.

In contrast to the hullabaloo that is normally experienced at holiday time, these services range from mellow to melancholy.  They often include muted colors, hushed music, and a meditative atmosphere.  Sacred space is intentionally created for grieving, comforting, and trusting that the truth shall set us free.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Christmas_(holiday)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)

 

Ophiuchus: Is 13 the new zodiac 12?

Public Domain

What's your sign?  That old pick-up line may have gotten a tad more complicated.

Whereas there used to be only 12 zodiac signs to choose from, now there's a thirteenth one on the horizon.  And if that weren't confusing enough, the inclusion of this extra sign might shift the calculations of all others.  Therefore, a Pisces may no longer swim, nor a Leo roar.

Blame Ophiuchus - Greek for "Snakeholder" and known as "Serpentarius" in Latin.  This constellation is northwest to the center of the Milky Way - its southern part located between Scorpio to the west and Sagittarius to the east.  Although Ptolemy was fully aware of its existence, he nevertheless persisted with a fixed and abstract description of a zodiac with 12 segments of 30 degrees each.  This neatly-packaged, yet inexact interpretation ignores not only Ophiuchus, but also the changing positions of all other constellations with respect to Planet Earth.

What is it about Ophiuchus that Ptolemy and many other astrologers seem to find so compellingly taboo?  Is it that Ophiuchus is the only constellation that seems linked to an actual person?  Is it that this actual person, called Imhotep in Egyptian and Asclepius in Greek, supposedly learned human medicine by watching snakes share healing herbs with one another?  Is it long-term superstition regarding the number 13?

Or was it just so much easier to work with 12 tidy "boxes" than with 13 less standard ones?  After all, the addition of Ophiuchus could shake up our familiar astrological personas faster than one can spell Ptolemy.  Aires would now be from April 19th to May 13th, etc.

But all is not lost!  The alleged gifts of those born within the period of November 30 through December 17 can add zest to the overall zodiac.  These include vivid premonitions, dream interpretations, lofty ideals, the quest for peace and harmony, a pursuit of higher education and wisdom, and the attraction of good luck and fruitful blessings.  Who could ask for more?

Resources

http://the-red-thread.net/ophiuchus2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiuchus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_zodiac

http://professorastrology.com/The%20Professor.htm  

The Quantum Turkey

Photo by Feezo

According to Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, all things inter-are.  By this he means that not only are all things interconnected, but also that they are part and parcel of one another.  

Another way of saying this is "I am he as you are he as you are me as we are all together."  In other words, "I am the walrus" (or the turkey, as the case may be).

Still another explanation is that the subatomic particles of the turkey are literally mixing and matching with those of you and me.  On a quantum-physics level, it seems impossible to delineate where one entity ends and another begins. 

This is a way of being that embraces paradox.  Thich Nhat Hanh writes: "I am the frog swimming happily in the clear water of a pond.  And I am the grass-snake that silently feeds itself on the frog.  I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones, my legs as thin as bamboo sticks.  And I am the arms merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda."

We are the turkeys roaming freely through the fields, and we are the hunters pursuing with their guns.  We are the corn silk rustling in the breeze, and we are the johnnycake sizzling in the pan.  This is why the Haudenosaunee (Mohawks) give thanks directly to the sources of their sustenance.  Here is an excerpt from their Thanksgiving Address:  

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden.  Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive.  Many other living things draw strength from them, too.  We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

Resources

https://plumvillage.org/articles/please-call-me-by-my-true-names-song-poem/

https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/i-am-the-walrus/

https://americanindian.si.edu/environment/pdf/01_02_Thanksgiving_Address.pdf

Three Sisters, One Family

Photo by Garlan Miles

The three sisters (corn, beans and squash) have become well-known for their harmonious example.  Thus, the inevitable questions: Where did they come from?  Do they really get along as well as they appear to?  What is the secret of their legendary success?  Native American stories provide deep-rooted answers to these questions.

The "genealogy" of the three sisters is explained within an Iroquois creation story.  Sky Woman fell from a hole in the sky into an endless sea.  Animals rescued her by helping her to land safely on the back of a giant turtle.  "Turtle Island" is now known as North America.  Sky Woman, who was already pregnant when she fell, then gave birth to a daughter.  This daughter later died in childbirth.  The three sisters then grew from her grave to ensure the survival of twin sons: the Iroquois, and all of humanity.

Most tribes tell of sisters with strong individual traits that sometimes clashed.  An Eastern Canadian story states that one sister had a way of running off by herself, and another downright disappeared for awhile.  It took the help of a Mohawk boy to get them all back together again.  The sisters have also been described as quite different in size and style.  One Onondaga story even describes "sister" corn as a lonely young man who eventually marries the clinging bean in favor of the roaming squash.

What most stories agree upon is that the three sisters eventually learned to unite by using their differences in complementary ways for the greater good.  And that - more than anything - is the secret of their success.

Resources

http://www.eso-garden.com

http://www.birdclan.org/threesisters.htm

http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/h-corn.html

http://www.iroquois.net/

Thanksgiving and the Apes

Photo by Alain Houle

If gratitude is not your middle name, you might want to try "going ape" for Thanksgiving.  Apes are known to regularly practice the gratitude of reciprocity.

Dr. Frans de Waal, Director of Living Links at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, is one of the world's foremost scientists.  He has dared to emphasize the empathetic attributes of animals to those who believe that only humans are graced with such qualities.

De Waal did intensive study on the simian equivalent of Thanksgiving dinner.  He wanted to see whether a previous service (grooming) by Chimpanzee A to Chimpanzee B would result in a later show of gratitude (the sharing of food) on Chimpanzee B's part.  What he found was that, even after up to two hours had elapsed, Chimpanzee B appeared to remember the favor and was therefore "more likely than usual" to share food with Chimpanzee A.  De Waal concluded that Chimpanzee B's response was "a psychological mechanism known as 'gratitude' in humans."

Is this proof positive that humans have therefore evolved from the apes?  Not necessarily.  If anything, it may be proof positive that humans are a whole other species when it comes to tableside manners...

Resources

http://cultureofempathy.com/References/Experts/Frans-de-Waal.htm#:~:text=%22Empathy%20has%20long%20been%20considered,long%20evolutionary%20history%20in%20humans.

 

Beyond the Mayflower: America's Jewish pilgrims

1759 Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI
Photo by dbking 

Although there were no known Jews on the Mayflower, Jews far from missed the boat when it came to profoundly influencing the very roots of American society.

There was a Jew who sailed with Columbus in 1492, Jews who were part of the "Lost Colony" of Virginia in 1597, and Jews who arrived on the boat following the Mayflower in 1607.  Jews were part of the 1620s Jamestown settlement, part of the 1650s New Amsterdam community, and part of the Newport, Rhode Island community in 1658.

Nevertheless, Jews were considered the perpetual "new kids on the block" who had to prove themselves over and over again.  Some Massachusetts Bay Puritans not only shunned them, but also banished Roger Williams because he dared to propose that "a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish, or anti-Christian consciences and worship be granted to all men in all nations and countries."

Ironically, these same Puritans helped to found American law, government and tradition upon key principles of the Hebrew Bible.  In fact, their main purpose for coming to this new "promised land" was to do exactly that.

For example, the New Haven Code of 1655 "contained some 79 statutes, half of which included biblical references, virtually all from the Hebrew Bible."  In 1641 the Massachusetts assembly had "adopted the so-called Capital Laws of New England based almost entirely on Mosaic law."

The Hebrew Bible also profoundly influenced the development of American universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Yale.  Hebrew names are prominent in some of their official emblems, and the Hebrew language was a required part of their curricula.  Some of America's key founding fathers (Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton) attended such universities and incorporated their Hebrew Bible education into groundbreaking politics.

Thanksgiving itself has been compared to the ancient Hebrew Sukkot harvest holiday.  Many thanks are certainly in order for the essential contributions of the Jewish pilgrims to a land that they too viewed as ripe with promise.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_the_United_States

Plymouth Rocks On

The Landing of the Pilgrims
(Henry A. Bacon, 1877)

Legend (or history - take your pick) has it that our "Forefathers" (what, no mothers?) first set foot upon North America by stepping on a rock they nicknamed "Plymouth."  The only trouble is, they didn't begin to tell this story until decades later.

At that point, "they" consisted of one 94-year-old man who conveyed this second-hand information to a group of people who lived in - you guessed it - Plymouth.  (Some suspect they might have had something promotional to gain from this tale; others think that this suspicion is a tad too cynical.)

Nevertheless, there are many "Afterfathers" (descendants of "Forefathers") who continue to embellish this story with all the glory and drama of a biblical saga.  This is no accident.  The Puritan legacy has long been associated with talk of Massachusetts being the Promised Land - complete with a Holy City upon a Hill.

There are many others, who are decidedly not biological descendants of the Mayflower set, that tell a different version of it all.  They say that the Pilgrims actually first arrived at Provincetown (way out on the far end of Cape Cod) and then raised havoc with sacred Native land and possessions.  Forefathers Day, as it is now called each December, would therefore be a day of mourning for some.

And yet there is something to be said for the image of America being founded upon a rock.  This image, which often connotes blessed roots, could serve America well about now.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forefathers%27_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock

 

Apples: The good, the bad, and the generic

The Old Adam and Eve
(E. J. Sullivan, 1898)

According to biblical lore, one bad apple did spoil the whole bunch  (of us, that is).  But was it really the apple that did it?  And... was it really an apple, anyway?

The last in a series of things or events is the one that tends to get scapegoated.  First, God commands that every fruit in the Garden of Eden may be freely eaten except that of the Tree of Knowledge.  Hmmm...  Which fruit do you think humans would therefore crave?  

The serpent then sweet talks Eve.  Eve partakes of the "forbidden fruit."  She offers some to Adam, who also eats it.  Mankind falls.  Scapegoat conclusion: It's obviously the rotten apple's fault.

Notice that even God uses the word "fruit," but we humans tend to say "apple" instead.  Throughout history, the word "apple" has been generically used for many types of fruit.  Hence, "a rose by any other name is still..."  an apple (which sort of makes sense since the apple is technically part of the Rosaceae family).

The apple species is termed "Malus," which is strikingly similar to the Latin word for evil: malum.  The association between apples and evil goes back a long way.  Even among the Ancient Greeks, apples had a bad rap.  The Greek goddess of discord, Eris, angrily tossed an apple into a wedding party, just to stir things up a bit.  The Trojan War ensued.

Nevertheless, this fruit does have some biblical merit.  Once past Genesis, apples begin to come into their own.  Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Zechariah and the Psalms refer to a greatly valued person or object as "the apple of your eye."  Proverbs 25:11 compares "a word fitly spoken" to "apples of god in settings of silver."  The Song of Solomon uses apples (and most things) in a sensual context.  Joel 1:12 equates the withering of an apple tree "with a sense of profound loss."

Even today, we still carry quite an ambivalence concerning apples.  Although we fear the possibility of a razor-ridden specimen, we avidly bob for them at Halloween parties.  We use them to keep our teachers close by, but our doctors far away.  So when somebody asks, "How do you like them apples?" - we need to scratch our heads and think for a good long while...

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_(symbolism)

Blood Moon on the Horizon

Prophet Joel
Painting by James Tissot

According to the Book of Joel, a bloody-looking moon is no joke.  The prophet warned that "the sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes."  When the sixth seal is opened in Revelation 6:12, the following occurs: "...there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood."

The October moon (even when ghostly white) has long been called the "Blood Moon" because its eerie light would point so-called "Wild Hunters" straight to their prey.  These were not your average dudes.  They were lost souls, hounds from hell, shining wolves, trolls, demons, and anything else that centuries of embellishment could add.  A motley crew, for sure.

This "Wild Hunt" is so far embedded in the human psyche that it has appeared in classical music, country music, opera, poetry, fiction and folklore.  Across space and time - from the Norse god Odin to the Germanic god Woden - from King Arthur's England to Ghost Riders' America - it has jabbed the minds and hearts of countless individuals.

So next time the heavens rumble, take heed!  It might just be some thunder - but then again, it might not.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_moon_prophecy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Hunt

Nasrudin: The Sufi Seinfeld

Nasreddin Hodja in Ankara
Photo by Nevit Dilmen

Nasrudin is to the Sufis what Seinfeld is to the Jews.  Both serve as reflections - not only of cultural idiosyncrasies, but also of the complex human condition.

Mulla (aka Mollah, Mullah, Molla, Hoca, Hodja...) Nasrudin (aka Nasreddin, Nasreddine, Nasrettin, Nasr Ed Dine...) is said to have originated with an actual person who lived somewhere (Afghanistan? Iran? Turkey?) around the 1300s (perhaps the 1200s).

Nasrudin's many names and stories pop up routinely in today's Near East, Middle East, and Central Asia.  Because Idries Shah popularized Nasrudin and the Sufis all in the same book, Nasrudin is now widely associated with the Sufi tradition.

There are some (in every crowd) who directly equate piousness with solemnity.  These are the same folks who might condemn dancing with God in public (see King David).  Others, however, cherish the smiling Buddha and the laughing Jesus.  These are the folks who might love this quintessential Nasrudin story:

Judge Nasrudin was listening to a case.  After hearing the plaintiff present his side, Nasrudin remarked, "You are right."

Then the defendant presented his side, and Nasrudin remarked, "Yes, you are right."

Nasrudin's wife had been listening to the case, and incredulously remarked, "Nasrudin, that doesn't make any sense - how could you say that the plaintiff is right, and then also say that the defendant is right?"

Nasrudin responded, "You know what - you are right, too!"

It is said that the power of the Wise Fool is that s/he disarms the intellect (often with its own devices) in order to zap us into the essence of each moment.  That is why - when intellect asks, "How do I get to the other side?" - Nasrudin replies (with one story or another), "You're already there."

Resources

https://www.nasruddin.org/

Reformation Day: Does the Reformation need reforming?

Wittenberg Castle Church 

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther put forth his "Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" (otherwise known as "The 95 Theses").  This was done in protest to the Roman Catholic Church's push to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica via the sale of indulgences to the poor.

Johann Tetzel had been sent by the Pope to persuade indigent Germans to contribute to this cause.  His "sales technique" was to assure participants, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory into heaven springs."  As catchy a jingle as this may be, it was horrifically false.

Luther's greatest objection to this was theological, but he was also a practical man.  He openly questioned why the Pope needed poor people's money for this endeavor when the Pope himself had more than enough of his own money to give.  This declaration was as brave as it was radical.

Another brave and radical theologian is now insisting that the Reformation itself needs reforming.  That theologian is Matthew Fox.  Fox, like Luther, was a Catholic priest who became so dissatisfied with official policies and procedures that he went his separate way.  Fox then authored a book called A New Reformation which lists 95 new theses, ones which he feels are vital for the creation of a more authentic Christianity.  One of his fundamental points is this: Religion isn't necessary, but spirituality is.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Fox_(priest)

American Idol: How would Abraham vote?

Painting of Abraham by Guercina 

Although Abraham is not being considered as a replacement for Ryan Seacrest, it is nevertheless informative to consider the patriarch's "track record" when it comes to judging idols.

The Bible does not offer as many lively details about this as either the Midrash (Oral Torah) or the Koran.  These latter sources more than make up for whatever might be left to a Bible reader's imagination.

As some stories go...

Abraham's father, Terach, was an idol-maker, as well as an idol-worshipper.  Nimrod, the then most powerful man in the world, was the idol Terach worshipped the most.

Abraham was motivated by power of a different sort.  It didn't take him long to figure out that worldly power is fleeting.  As a little boy, he had been mesmerized by the stars and sun, but felt abandoned each time they disappeared from view.  He therefore put his lasting faith in the One who created these wonders, rather than in the wonders themselves.

One day Terach had a camel to catch, so he asked Abraham to mind the idol-making store for a while.  When someone came in to purchase an idol, Abraham asked, "How old are you?"  The person said, "Fifty."  Abraham responded, "Isn't it pathetic that a man of fifty wants to bow down to a one-day-old idol?"  (Not an award-winning sales technique...)

Another time, Abraham grabbed a hammer and smashed all but one of these store idols to pieces.  Abraham then placed the hammer in the hand of the one remaining idol.  When Terach returned, he shouted, "Who did this?"  Abraham concocted some story about the idols quarreling over a basket of bread, then sadly explained how this very last idol had bludgeoned his comrades to bits.  "And you expect me to believe that!" Terach exclaimed.  "How could they possibly do that when they don't even have minds to think with?"  "Exactly my point," Abraham replied.  "They have no power at all - so why worship them?"

Now nobody is saying that American celebrities are mindless and powerless...  But the question still remains: Why worship them when the source of their minds and power lies elsewhere?

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_and_the_Idol_Shop

 

Decoding Diwali: What is the sight of one eye seeing?

There are many Diwali stories that are worth celebrating, but none so great as the inner light that sustains them all.

The Hindu deity, Shiva, is said to possess a "third eye" which gives light to the world.  It sits vertically between the other two eyes, and is honored by many Hindus who place a mark (bindi) in the middle of their own foreheads.

Humans actually do possess a rudimentary "third eye" quite near that same spot.  Known as the pineal gland, it is similar to the cellular structure of the retina and had the capacity to develop into a full-fledged eye during the early stages of embryonic growth.

Yogic teachings equate the "third eye" with a major energy center called the Ajna (sixth) chakra.  This center is believed to be "the seat of the soul."  Meditation techniques that awaken it are said to enhance spiritual strength.  One of the key signs of this awakening is the ability to perceive inner light.  This type of "seeing" is not at all dependent upon the other two eyes.

The inner light, which is honored by traditions the world over, is said to be a manifestation of Spirit, consciousness, and/or quantum energy that permeates the Universe.  It is said to sustain everything and everyone.  Matthew 6:22 states, "If thine eye be single, thy whole body will be filled with light."  This is a Light that never flickers or fades. 

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_eye

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland

Felix: One lucky cat

Drawing by Raoul Barre

If a black cat crosses your path, and it's Felix, then no need to worry.  Why the very name "Felix" means "lucky" in Latin.

It wasn't always that way.  Back in not-so-merry old England, starving cats stalked the major cities.  Some were fed by homeless women (suffering leads to compassion).  This, when coupled with the prevalent witch hysteria of the time, led many to believe that these women were practicing black magic.  Black cats were especially deemed guilty by association.

No one's ever accused the human race of an overabundance of logic or empathy.

Yet Felix came along and changed all that.  Some say it was magic. After all, "Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks."  Others say it was his "child's sense of wonder, creating the fantastic when it's not there, and taking it in stride when it is."  Still others say it was his penchant for deep thought (while pacing with head down and hands behind his back).

In any case, Felix is certainly a one-cat wonder, and his popularity has spanned decades since he first materialized in 1919.  With movie and TV offers, a reality show can't be too far behind.  So if he comes a knocking at your door this Halloween, smile - you may be on Candid Camera! 

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_the_Cat

http://www.kinrossfolds.com/cattery/superstition.html

UFOs: Does the U stand for urgent?

CIA Annotated Drawing

NASA recently announced the beginning of a 9-month study that aims to explore the U in UFO sightings, an undertaking which Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently called "urgent."

Although United Airlines might beg to differ, perhaps the skies are not all that friendly.  Perhaps Stephen Hawking was correct when he warned, "If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans."

As a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, Gillibrand has heard many a military report of such sightings.  She feels that "oversight" and "accountability" is therefore in order.  Perhaps Hawking was way off base.  Yet if he were the least bit right, then things on Earth could go very wrong.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-10-24-nasa-makes-groundbreaking-announcement-about-ufos/?mid=966360&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline3_readmore

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/apr/30/stephen-hawking-right-aliens

Twilight's moral dilemma: Can glory be gory?

Stephenie Meyer in 2009
Photo by Tara Rebeka 

Some view the Twilight series as sheer entertainment.  Others see it as a moral, even religious, allegory.  Still others see it as the devil's influence.

Those who see it as sheer entertainment feel that sometimes a movie is just a movie.  Those who see it as a moral/religious allegory analyze author Stephenie Meyer's Mormon religion and seek hints of it throughout the saga.  Those who see it as the devil's influence view focusing upon vampires as intrinsically evil.

One person uniquely suited to shed light (and/or darkness?) on this subject is Anne Rice.  Rice began life as a Catholic and later began to explore different philosophical, literary and spiritual traditions.  While doing so, she wrote quite a few well-known books - some of which feature vampires (i.e. Interview with the Vampire), as well as witches and other supernatural manifestations.

In 1998 Rice returned to the Catholic church.  In 2002 she "consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him."  However, she did not renounce her previous writings, stating, "Let me begin by saying that I see my earlier novels as part of a long tradition of 'dark fiction' which includes some of the most highly prized religious works read in Western culture."  Rice went on to reference such works as Shakespeare's MacBeth, Dante's Inferno, Dickens' Christmas Carol and Goethe's Faust. 

Rice then declared that her vampire novels are meant to be "transformative," explaining, "All these novels involve a strong moral compass.  Evil is never glorified in these books; on the contrary, the continuing battle against evil is the subject of the work."  She concluded, "Individual readers, and history, will determine whether or not I succeeded in my intention...."

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(novel_series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenie_Meyer

http://annerice.com/Chamber-Biography.html

http://annerice.com/Bookshelf-EarlierWorks.html

Sunny Side Down

Photo by jefras

Let’s face it: restaurants are run with humans, and humans aren’t perfect.  Sometimes the food isn’t exactly as the menu indicates.  Sometimes the wait staff isn’t right there at the snap of a finger.  Especially when the establishment is short-handed.

Enter James Corden.  He allegedly acted abusively to a server because of imperfections within his wife’s omelette.  This then became national news.  Right up there with war, inflation and climate change.

Corden had previously discovered a hair in his dish, a glitch which the manager called “diabolical.”  Right up there with venial sin.

Perhaps there are better uses of time, emotions and media.  Corden says he now feels “so Zen about the whole thing.” Right up there with Buddha.

Resources

https://people.com/food/james-corden-breaks-silence-on-restaurant-drama-says-its-so-silly-as-he-did-nothing-wrong/

Hear Ye

2013 Yeezus Tour
Photo by Peter Hutchins 

“Hear ye, hear ye’ has often been a cry for attention.  And Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, has rarely been one to avoid the spotlight.

His latest cry has sounded anti-Semitic to many an ear.  Using a military term that calls for an "increase in force readiness," Ye sounded off "on Jewish people."  On all Jewish people, allegedly because some had done him wrong.

This recently occurred during a long winded interview with Piers Morgan, who had the patience and ratings to hear Ye out.  As the talk progressed, it seemed that Ye finally felt a bit contrite.  He even somewhat apologized for “Defcon” comments that had “caused hurt and confusion… for the families of the people that had nothing to do with the trauma that I have been through.”

Compassionate listening to someone who’s feeling traumatized can certainly help to rechannel energies. Since hurt people often hurt people, hearing someone out may even help to mitigate prejudice.

Resources

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/piers-morgan-kanye-west-antisemitic-remarks-apology-1234614875/

 

Martin Luther's All Hallows' Eve

                                                                        

Painting by Julius Hubner

Many celebrate All Hallows' Eve with costumes and candy.  Martin Luther was not of this ilk.  Making merry was not his foremost priority.  Making waves often was.

Back in the day, making waves against the Catholic Church could spell a whole lot of trouble.  Luther was willing to risk that.  So willing that he allegedly nailed a list of 95 alternatives to the Wittenberg Church door.

Briefly put, these theses railed against buying your way out of sin.  Turns out that Luther more than nailed it.  The Protestant Reformation has been traced to this very act of soulful grit.

So if you're seeking some goodies come All Hallows' Eve, consider this: More may be found in the Spirit than in any bagful of sweets.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses

    

Harry Houdini: Was Jonah his hero?

 

One Happy Humpback
Photo by Whit Welles

Harry Houdini - aka Erik Weisz, the rabbi's son - surely must have  known about the Hebrew prophet Jonah.  Could this have been why one of his feats was to escape from the belly of a whale that had washed ashore in Boston?

Escaping from watery entities was a highlight of Houdini's career.  Perhaps the most famous of all was his Chinese Water Torture Cell trick.  A challenge to even the least claustrophobic of souls, this act involved hanging upside down in a locked and filled aquatic tank.  Houdini later revealed that he was able to repeatedly escape this watery grave by holding his breath for more than three minutes while accessing concealed picks or keys, and applying just the right amount of force to locks.

Jonah called people to task for displays of false spirituality.  That's part of the "job description" of a prophet.  However, Jonah was shown by a merciful God that even (especially?) prophets can focus too much upon the sins, and not enough upon the potential miracles.

Houdini was also known to go after those who claimed to be spiritualists.  Because he himself was so good at fooling the public, Houdini was able to detect even the subtlest of scams.  He would make it his business to attend seances in disguise, along with a police officer and journalist.  Using this method, Houdini was able to expose famed so-called spiritualists such as Mina "Margery" Crandon.

Although Jonah had his rebellious moments (toward God, as well as toward people), he never fully lost his faith.  Apparently, neither did Houdini.

In spite of skepticism, Houdini had made a death pact with his wife.  If he were able to make contact with her after his demise, he would then utter coded words, the crux of which were "Rosabelle believe." Someone who had truly lost all faith would not have made such a deathbed promise.  A vital part of Houdini must have never stopped believing in miracles.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah 

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/rosabelle-believe/

Casper: The friendliest ghost for real?

Character Art by Adrian Ropp

Many details about Casper are shrouded in mystery.  "Natch!" you say. "He's a ghost!"

But it's far shadier than that...

For example, there's a lot of controversy concerning the veracity of Casper's "ghosthood."  Many insist that death has got to be the very first step for ghosts-in-the-making.  If so, then Casper would have to have died.  This poses a huge problem for cartoon producers who like to eat.  If cute little Casper had died, then he would have to have been a dead little boy.  Dead little boys do not make for lighthearted story lines that sell a lot of ads.

For a very long time, folks were therefore insisting that Casper had never actually died.  They said that Casper had always been a ghost because his mommy and daddy were ghosts when they got married (the intricate mechanics from that point on were never really explained).

Then one day, lo and behold, the truth came out!  It turns out that Casper was a little boy, and he did die (of pneumonia) - while sledding, no less.  And he even had a last name - McFadden!

Paranormal theorists now have something engaging to work with.  It's possible that Casper was a very friendly little boy who now continues on as a very friendly little ghost.  Or it's possible that Casper was a very unfriendly little boy who now has to balance those karmic scales by being the friendliest little ghost you ever did know.

Who knows what really lurks within?

Perhaps only The Shadow does.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casper_the_Friendly_Ghost

 

Tea for You

 

Oolong Leaves   (Photo by lateasquirrel)

Tea for two can be nice, but drink up even when nobody else is around.

Scientists are hailing the health benefits of “green, black, white and oolong” teas, all of which contain flavonoids.  These antioxidants can boost the immune system, and might even help to protect against cancer and heart disease.

It’s best not to load up your tea with cream and sugar.  Health is far sweeter than such additives.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/drinking-beverage-may-cut-risk-171439359.html

Eggs Aboard

(Photo by Sciencia58)

Rotterdam is up in eggs over Jeff Bezos’ yacht.  The powers that be within this Dutch port are planning to dismantle a historic bridge so that this super-tall boat can pass through.

When people get too big for their britches, they’re normally brought down a peg or two.  But when you’re “the third-richest person in the world,” the bridge takes a hit instead.

This does not sit well with the locals, and they’re scrambling to let Bezos know.  Word has it that when the superyacht passes by, eggs will be whizzing in its direction.

Resources

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079568745/jeff-bezos-yacht-de-hef-bridge-rotterdam-eggs

Copyright April 30, 2022 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Wilbur: Friend or Food?

(Fair Use)

E. B. White never quite lost his childhood wonder.  His opus, Charlotte’s Web, tells of a life-saving friendship between Charlotte the Spider and Wilbur the Pig.

When Wilbur was in danger of being turned into ham, Charlotte went to bat for him.  Today’s spiders don’t seem to have much compassion.  It’s now up to humans to save the pigs.

British researchers recently found that children are more likely to do so than adults.  When young, humans feel cozy with farm animals.  Sometime during adolescence, “speciesism” (the tendency to regard some animals as pets and others as food) sets in.  During adulthood, bacon seems outright yummy.

Yet adults don’t lose all compassion.  Many still feel that animal by-products such as milk and cheese are far more acceptable than meat itself.

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2022/04/15/children-farm-animal-same-as-pets/8071650031160/

Copyright April 29, 2022 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved