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Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF

A Year of Contemplation

Where, Who, What, and Why (Day 6)

1/6/2019

 
To paraphrase Marcus Aurelius, if one does not understand the Cosmos, one cannot know where they are. Additionally, one cannot understand the Cosmos unless one knows their purpose in life or who they are… and, if one knows NONE of these things, then one cannot possibly know WHY they are here. (Meditations, 8.52)

Above the entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, a maxim is inscribed. It's translation:.

Know Thyself
Picture
​A memento mori mosaic from excavations in the convent of San Gregorio in Rome, featuring the Greek motto.
The artist is unknown - Lessing Photo Archive


​Around 600 years before Marcus Aurelius, it was Socrates who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”, and it was the ancient Greeks who called self-examination & self-knowledge a “looking glass for the Soul".

Ultimately, the questions that will provide the clearest, most honest vision in that "looking glass" are:

WHERE are we, not simply in the "World”, but in the Cosmos?
WHO are we becoming in each moment, and who are we NOW? 
WHAT can we do to fully engage with the myriad opportunities before us?
... and finally, WHY does all of this matter?

... because in any moment, life can be over, and we'll only be carrying into the After-world the “Virtue-currency” we've got on us at the time (more on Memento Mori later in the year, I'm sure). ​

Sit with those questions for a moment. I did. A good, long moment.
Sit with those questions often. I have, and I will continue to do so. 

Finally, the ability (or inability) to honestly answer these questions is directly proportional to the sense of agency and perspective one experiences in their world. Therefore, we must…

Look within.
Seek answers.
Gain perspective. 
Defeat Ego.
Be ever-vigilant. 

(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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