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Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF

A Year of Contemplation

Peace is in Staying the Course (Day 15)

1/15/2019

 
According to Seneca, a peace-filled mind cannot be achieved unless one has “an unwavering and firm power of judgement.” Otherwise, we’re stuck in a cycle of acceptance and rejection based in, “... the most uncertain guide - common opinion.” (Moral Letters, 95.57b-58a)

He calls this state of mind needed to achieve tranquility,
euthymia, and defines it as “... believing in yourself and trusting that you are on the right path, and not being in doubt by following the myriad footpaths of those wandering in every direction.” (De Tranquillitate Animi - On the Tranquility of the Mind)


(mindful pause)


I sat with this today, and wondered how this self-generated trust and confidence stays safe from arrogance and ego. I’m not sure it’s about that… I believe it’s more about not constantly comparing ourselves to others.


Staying the course, in this case, is more akin to resting in one’s own path. Of course there will be deviations and course corrections (it’s a live show, after all)...


… just not the kind of course corrections that see us lured toward the rocks by sirens.


I wonder, how does “staying the course” look when new data comes in? Are we obligated to change? Are we missing out on an opportunity to keep a flexible mind?


Well, yes… and no. As with most things, it’s complex.


Like a willow, the tree-example that folx use when referencing flexibility, we must bend so we don’t break, etc, etc… but, even with all the bending, the willow retains its shape and identity as a willow. It exemplifies flexibility AND a firm identity.


That is what staying the course looks like for us, the willows’ non-arboreal, Earthling cousins.


(See y’all tomorrow)


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    About the Blog

    Awakening the desire to explore Stoicism, and how it relates to his existing beliefs, Rev. William committed to working through the text, The Daily Stoic, a year-long journey to awaken the Stoic mind. 
    How things are structured can be found in the first post. 

    About the Author

    Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rev. William attended Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where in 2007 he graduated with a degree in Religious Studies, minoring in Psychology. Currently residing in Longmont, CO, he is one of the Priests and founder of Mountain Ancestors Grove.  He spends his time playing mandolin (and some guitar), writing, engaging in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and education, community service, and sharing a larger vision of how a polytheist perspective can lead to greater human understanding, acceptance, and gods be good, peace. 

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