“I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do. In this trifling particular, then, I appear to be wiser than he, because I do not fancy I know what I do not know.”
~ Plato, from the “Apology”
#FavoriteQuotes #Plato #Wisdom
THROUGH A WINDOW
There are many windows through
which we can look out into the
world, searching for meaning …
… Most of us, when we ponder on the
meaning of our existence,
peer through but one of these
windows onto the world.
And even that one is often misted over
by the breath of our finite humanity.
We clear a tiny peephole and stare through.
No wonder we are confused by the
tiny fraction of a whole that we see.
It is, after all, like trying to
comprehend the panorama of the
desert or the sea through
a rolled-up newspaper.
~ Dr. Jane Goodall
Globe Theater Fun Facts –> Opened in 1599, the Globe played host to Shakespeare for 14 years, during which time he wrote many of his greatest works. The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1613 after its thatch was accidentally set alight by a cannon during a performance of Henry VIII.
A new theatre was built in 1614, but was demolished in 1644 when all plays were banned by the Puritan parliament.
It was on this day in 1831 that Charles Darwin, only 22, set out on HMS Beagle as the captain’s companion, returning five years later with a head full of facts and some half-formed ideas.
statistics from the cdc:
There are on average 41,149 deaths by suicide in the United States each year. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death; homicide ranks 16th. It is the second leading cause of death for 15 – 24 year olds. Suicide results in an estimated $51 billion in combined medical and work loss costs. An estimated 9.3 million adults reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year. An estimated 1.3 million adults aged 18 or older attempted suicide in the past year. Of the most at risk population: Patients diagnosed with a serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than other Americans.
Take a moment to think about it. We have a little over 112 suicide deaths everyday. If 112 people were dying in a terrorist attack everyday the spending would be astronomical to prevent it. Will we ever reduce the suicide rate to zero? Of course not, but a large percentage of these deaths are preventable through proper funding, therapy, and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
#EndStigma #IncreaseMentalHealthFunding #MentalHealth #MentalIllness
It was abandoned in favor of Christianity in the year 1000
While Ásatrú was the religion of the vast majority of the settlers of Iceland, some had been converted to Christianity while travelling in Europe. During the first centuries of Icelandic history Christianity made further inroads, and by the end of the 10th century it was clear Ásatrú was on the retreat.
It was re-recognized in 1973
Ásatrú was only re-recognized as a religion by the state in 1973. A group of people who were either practitioners of the ancient religion or its students had been meeting for some time. This group, led by Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson who later became the first high-priest of the association, decided to establish a formal congregation and request recognition from the state. This meeting was held on the First Day of Summer, a unique Icelandic holiday which marks the end of winter and beginning of summer. At the time the number of members was just 12.
It is Iceland’s fastest growing religion
According to figures from Statistics Iceland 3,583 people belonged to Ásatrúarfélagið on January 1 2017, up from 1,040 members 10 years ago. The membership has grown by 244% since 2007, making paganism the fastest growing religion in Iceland over the past decade.
No proselytizing or missionary work
This growth has come in spite of the fact that unlike other religious organizations Ásatrúarfélagið has never engaged in any form of missionary work or proselytizing.
One high priest, 10 Goðar in Iceland (Goðar = Congregation)
The organization of Ásatrúarfélagið is based on the historic organization of Ásatrú during the Viking age. Priests in Ásatrú are called Goði, with each Goði responsible for a congregation “goðorð”. While the goðorð were associated with certain geographic areas during the Viking age, people were free to choose their Goði.
All the ceremonies of Ásatrúarfélagið are open to the general public
The weekly meetings of Ásatrúarfélagið are open to the public, as are all its official ceremonies, the blót. Ásatrúarfélagið has four main blót each year: Jólablót (Yule-blót) at winter solstice in honor of the goddess Freyja, Sigurblót (Victory-blót) held on Sumardagurinn Fyrsti in the spring in honor of the god Freyr, Þingblót (Þing/assembly-blót) on Summer solstice held in honor of the laws, the Þing and human society, and Veturnáttablót (Winter-nights-blót) held on the first day of winter. Veturnáttablót is in honor of Óðinn, the god of the gods.
First pagan temple since 1000 was opened in 2018
Ásatrúarfélagið moveed into a new temple just outside downtown Reykjavík. The temple was the first heathen central temple built in the Nordic countries for more than a thousand years.
There is no prescribed dogma or scripture
Ásatrú has no prescribed dogma or scripture. However, You are however encouraged to read the Poetic and Prose Eddas written by the 13th-century chieftain and scholar, Snorri Sturluson. No one actually prays to the gods and how you might ask their intercession is entirely up to you. The gods are imperfect and not divine.
It is a religion of peace and tolerance
Ásatrú, as it has been practiced in Iceland, is a religion of nature and life, stressing the harmony of the natural world and the search for harmony in the life of individuals. It’s openness and philosophical character has led some to compare it to Unitarian Universalism.
It rejects militarism and the glorification of heroism, battles and blood
Many neo-pagan groups in Europe and the US who consider themselves observers of the religion of the Vikings, practice a religion which glorifies battles, militarism, masculine heroism and in some cases chauvinism, violence, intolerance and racism. Unfortunately some white-power groups and members of Aryan Nation gangs practice these forms of paganism. Ásatrúarfélagið rejects this as a misreading of Ásatrú.
Ásatrúarfélagið has received hate mail from reactionary heathens abroad
Ásatrúarfélagið has cut all ties with foreign associations of pagans after receiving harassment and hate mail from people who are angry with emphasis the association has placed upon equality and respect for human rights, especially LGBTQ rights.
Anyone can practice the religion, But only Icelandic residents can join Ásatrúarfélagið
Only Icelandic citizens or people who have a domicile in Iceland can become members of the Ásatrúarfélag, but anyone can practice Ásatrú, regardless of their nationality or residence. It costs nothing to join and is open to all, irrespective of race, cultural background, gender or sexual orientation.
1 standard 5-ounce bottle Tabasco or favorite hot sauce
¼ cup simple syrup
1 cup water
Simple Syrup
Pour 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved completely. Cool.
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into a wide and shallow container and freeze. When thoroughly frozen, scrape with a fork to create a shaved ice.
1¼ cups prepared horseradish
½ cup vinegar, preferably champagne
⅓ cup simple syrup
1¼ cups water
Simple Syrup
Pour 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved completely. Cool.
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly. Strain onto a wide and shallow container and freeze. When thoroughly frozen, scrape with a fork to create a shaved ice. Serve on oysters immediately.
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1½ teaspoons wasabi powder
1¼ cups tomato juice
¼ cup minced celery stalks
minced celery leaves
salt (Kosher)
12 shucked extra-small to small oysters with their liquor
Chill 12 shot glasses in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
In a bowl, mix together the lemon juice and wasabi powder until blended. Add the tomato juice, celery stalks, celery leaves, and a pinch of salt. Stir to evenly blend and allow the juice mixture marinate for about 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and wasabi if needed to your preferred taste.
Spoon a bit of the mixture into the bottom of each shot glass. Add an oyster to each and top with the rest of the juice mixture. Serve right away.
Enjoy!
A classic Southern salad you won’t soon forget.
½ cup pecan halves
½ medium onion, sliced
About 6 cups fresh spinach
2 cups strawberries
¼ cup fresh goat cheese, crumbled
1 medium orange
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Spread the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast, stirring often, until fragrant. Cool and chop coarsely.
Wash the spinach well and dry. Remove the thick stems and tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large salad bowl.
Remove the hulls, the leafy stem, from the strawberries with a paring knife. Slice the strawberries and add to the spinach with the pecans. Add the onion to the salad with the goat cheese. Toss well. Grate the orange zest and sprinkle over the salad.
Squeeze the juice from the orange into a small bowl (this should yield about ½ cup). Whisk in the salt, dry mustard, and vinegar. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the oil. Stir in the poppy seeds.
Add just enough dressing to the salad to moisten and toss well. Serve immediately.
Mark Bere Peterson’s Counterculture, Urban Legends, Paganism & Witchcraft 