Subject : Scheduling and priorities Concluding paragraph of email dated December 1, 2023
“The question is always : What are we [The Prosperos] doing together ? In our case, being together is working within a certain system – and we must always remember that a system that is not open to changes is a closed, dead, system. Our system necessarily involves certain lines of authority, and it’s vital not to get distracted into fantasies of authoritarianism. That is the Zonta flaw.”
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from enthusiasm, from Latin enthusiasmus (inspiration), from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein (to be inspired by God or a god), from theos (god). Earliest documented use: 1827.
New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove • Dec 1, 2023 This video is a special release from the original Thinking Allowed series that ran on public television from 1986 until 2002. It was recorded in about 1988. It will remain public for only one week. “Evaluation phobia” is Dr. Michael Scriven’s term for the fear that individuals and organizations have about carefully examining the logic of their own decisions. Dr. Scriven was a philosopher and multi-disciplinary scholar who has made significant contributions to mathematics, logic, philosophy of science, ethics, education, psychology and parapsychology. He is the author of many books, including Primary Philosophy, Reasoning, and The Logic of Evaluation. His specialty was the very process of thinking itself. (He also served as Jeffrey Mishlove’s doctoral dissertation advisor.) Now you can watch all of the programs from the original Thinking Allowed Video Collection, hosted by Jeffrey Mishlove. Subscribe to the new Streaming Channel (https://thinkingallowed.vhx.tv/) and watch more than 350 programs now, with more, previously unreleased titles added weekly. Free month of the classic Thinking Allowed streaming channel for New Thinking Allowed subscribers only. Use code THINKFREELY.
Phillip Dimitrius is a middle-aged New York Cityarchitect who is going through a difficult mid-life crisis.
After learning that his wife Antonia has been having an affair with his boss, Alonzo, Phillip leaves New York and travels to Greece with his teenage daughter, Miranda. In Athens, he meets Aretha Tomalin, a singer, and they become lovers. To escape Alonzo and his wife, who also come to Greece, they move to a remote Greek island. Phillip takes a vow of celibacy after they move to the island.
On the island, they encounter Kalibanos, an eccentric hermit, who was previously its only resident.
Phillip finally seems happy, until one day Alonzo, Antonia and others are spotted in a boat approaching the island. A storm, apparently called up by Phillip, shipwrecks the boat and the passengers land on the island. Phillip and Antonia reconcile, and they leave the island together with Miranda.
The film contains multiple scenes in which the World Trade Center is visible, including a flyover of New York City near the end of the film when Philip, Antonia and Miranda travel back to New York. The aerial footage is accompanied by the song Manhattan, sung by Dinah Washington.
In December 2023, we have a record number of planets changing direction: Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter go direct, and Mercury turns retrograde!
December is that time of the year when we have the Capricorn solstice – the Sun is changing direction too.
December 2023 also features a beautiful Chirstmassy Full Moon in Cancer on December 26th sextile Jupiter and trine Saturn! This supportive Full Moon is really the feature of the month.
But let’s take a look at the most important transits of December:
December 1st, 2023 – Mercury Enters Capricorn
On December 1st, 2023, Mercury enters Capricorn. After we’ve been philosophizing and coming up with all these ideas while Mercury was in Sagittarius, now it’s time to get real. What do we want to focus on?
The energy shifts from exploration to strategic thinking. Mercury in Capricorn asks us to prioritize, organize, and come up with a practical plan of action.
December 4th, 2023 – Venus Enters Scorpio
On December 4th, 2023, Venus enters Scorpio and things get more intense out of a sudden.
Venus starts off her journey in Scorpio with a trine to Saturn in Pisces and a sextile to Mercury in Capricorn. Later this month, things spice up a bit when Venus opposes Uranus, and it all culminates well with a sextile to Pluto, Scorpio’s ruler.
Venus in Scorpio will bring a mix of depth, stability, unexpected twists, and transformative energies, encouraging us to explore the complexities of our relationships and values.
December 6th, 2023 – Neptune Goes Direct
On December 6th, 2023, Neptune goes Direct at 24° Pisces. There are several angles to interpret planetary changes in direction.
First, when a planet changes direction, its energy is intensified. Everything becomes a little bit more Neptunian – this is a generic influence, we are all affected, regardless of our natal charts.
Another angle of interpretation is more personal. Neptune governs a particular area of your life (represented by the house where you have Pisces on the cusp).
When Neptune changes direction, the affairs of that particular house come into sharper focus. There is a shift. Something can get unstuck, or change its focus, offering an opportunity for greater clarity, understanding, or spiritual growth in the related areas of life.
December 12th, 2023 – New Moon In Sagittarius
On December 12th, 2023, we have a New Moon at 20° Sagittarius. The New Moon is conjunct to Mars, square Neptune and quincunx Uranus.
The conjunction to Mars is encouraging us to pursue our goals with Sagittarius’ proverbial optimism and enthusiasm. However, the square to Neptune is asking us to be mindful of unrealistic expectations.
The quincunx to Uranus adds an element of unpredictability; at the New Moon in Sagittarius. it’s crucial you keep your options open and don’t try to ‘force’ something into existence.
December 13th, 2023 – Mercury Goes Retrograde
On December 13th, 2023, Mercury goes Retrograde at 8° Capricorn. On December 23rd, 2023 Mercury re-enters Sagittarius, and Mercury goes direct again on January 2nd, at 22° Sagittarius.
Mercury retrograde is one of those ‘dreaded’ times of the year. We all have a Mercury retrograde story to tell (or 2, or more). But as you may have noticed, not all Mercury Retrogrades are the same. Some of them seem to influence us more intensely than others.
What makes the difference? If you have a Gemini or Virgo ascendant, you are by default sensitive to Mercury retrogrades because Mercury is your chart ruler. Also, if you have planets or angles between 22° Sagittarius and 8° Capricorn, then this particular Mercury retrograde is going to be more significant.
Then we also have the general flavor of Mercury retrograde. This particular Mercury retrograde will be squaring Neptune, adding an element of confusion and potential miscommunication to the mix.
It’s a time to be extra cautious with our communications, double-check details, and be mindful of the potential for misunderstandings.
However, this alignment also comes with opportunities to refine our Sagittarian-Piscean goals and dreams. Maybe we’ve been dreaming too big. Maybe we’ve been dreaming too small. Maybe we’ve been misdirecting our energy to false goals and dreams.
Time to reassess, realign, and focus on the aspirations that truly resonate with our authentic selves.
December 21st, 2023 – Sun Enters Capricorn
On December 21st, 2023, the Sun enters Capricorn.
Sun in Capricorn marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, a pivotal moment when the Sun changes direction and the day is at its shortest (or longest).
The solstice is a shift in the balance of light and darkness, connecting us to the cyclical rhythms of nature. This is a time to shift your perspective, start something new, or simply reflect on your journey ahead.
December 26th, 2023 – Full Moon In Cancer
On December 26th, 2023, we have a beautiful Full Moon at 4° Cancer. This is one of the best Full Moons of the year and it’s just perfect for an after-Christmas gathering or reflection.
The Full Moon is sextile Jupiter and trine Saturn, creating an atmosphere where we feel safe and relaxed in our small – or large – social circle.
Whether you spend time with your family, with friends, or by yourself – you will likely find a sense of community and belonging.
Your community is everywhere! Reach out to a friend or to someone you care about. Friendship and belonging are highlighted during this time of connection and celebration.
December 27th, 2023 – Chiron Goes Direct
On December 27th, 2023 – Chiron goes direct at 15° Aries. Chiron changes direction soon after the emotional Full Moon in Cancer.
Within the safe container created by the Full Moon in Cancer, we might find it easier to explore our vulnerabilities and become more intimate with others. It’s when we are vulnerable that intimacy is created.
December 27th, 2023 – Mercury Conjunct Mars
But wait, there’s more! On December 27th, 2023, Mercury is conjunct Mars at 24° Sagittarius. This is a little bit of a tricky aspect, since it’s squaring Neptune AND Mercury is retrograde.
I personally like Neptune-Mercury aspects – even the hard aspects – because they come with an opportunity to tap into heightened intuition and explore things from different angles.
However, a Neptune square is a Neptune square, and with Mercury retrograde playing trickster, it’s crucial we distinguish the profound insights from potential illusions, and make sure that our actions (Mars) are grounded in a clear understanding of reality.
December 29th, 2023 – Venus Enters Sagittarius
On December 29th, 2023, Venus enters Sagittarius. Venus in Sagittarius’ buoyant vibes are a blessing after a period of sometimes-too-intense Venus in Scorpio exploration of the deeper realms of relationships and personal values.
Venus in Sagittarius brings a refreshing energy that encourages a more open-minded approach. We are now more open to exploring different values and approaches to love and relationships.
December 30th, 2023 – Jupiter Goes Direct
More good news! On December 30th, 2023, Jupiter goes direct at 5° Taurus.
Jupiter is now officially applying a sign-based conjunction to Uranus. The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction is one of the most anticipated astrological events of 2024, and for good reasons.
There is so much to look forward to in 2024! More about this in an email dedicated to the astrology of 2024 – coming soon.
Stained glass window in the chapel of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Depicted as an early Benedictine monk, holding his book De Divisione Naturae. Behind him, seen against the night-sky, are an Irish Round Tower and a Celtic cross. (1884)
He wrote a number of works, but is best known today for having written De Divisione Naturae (“The Division of Nature”), or Periphyseon, which has been called the “final achievement” of ancient philosophy, a work which “synthesizes the philosophical accomplishments of fifteen centuries”.[8] The principal concern of De Divisione Naturae is to unfold from φύσις (physis), which John defines as “all things which are and which are not”[9] the entire integrated structure of reality. Eriugena achieves this through a dialectical method elaborated through exitus and reditus, that interweaves the structure of the human mind and reality as produced by the λόγος (logos) of God.[10]
Eriugena is generally classified as a Neoplatonist, though he was not influenced directly by such pagan philosophers as Plotinus or Iamblichus. Jean Trouillard stated that, although he was almost exclusively dependent on Christian theological texts and the Christian Canon, Eriugena “reinvented the greater part of the theses of Neoplatonism”.[11]
He succeeded Alcuin of York (c. 735–804) as head of the Palace School at Aachen. He also translated and made commentaries upon the work of Pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite and was one of the few Western European philosophers of his day who knew Greek, having studied it in Ireland.[12][13] A later medieval tradition recounts that Eriugena was stabbed to death by his students at Malmesbury with their pens, although this may rather be allegorical.[14]
Name
The form “Eriugena” is used by John Scotus to describe himself in one manuscript.[15] It means “Ireland (Ériu)-born”. “Scottus” in the Middle Ages was the Latin term for “Irish or Gaelic“, so his full name translates as “John, the Irish-born Gael”. “Scotti” was the late Latin term for the Irish people, with Ireland itself being Scotia (or in the Medieval period “Scotia Major”, to distinguish it from Scotia Minor, i.e. modern Scotland).[16] The spelling “Scottus” has the authority of the early manuscripts until perhaps the 11th century. Occasionally he is also named “Scottigena” (“Irish-born”) in the manuscripts.
According to Jorge Luis Borges, John’s byname may therefore be construed as the repetitious “Irish Irish”.[17]
He is not to be confused with the later, Scottish philosopher John Duns Scotus.
Life
Johannes Scotus Eriugena was educated in Ireland. He moved to France (about 845) at the invitation of Carolingian King Charles the Bald. He succeeded Alcuin of York (735–804), the leading scholar of the Carolingian Renaissance, as head of the Palace School.[12] The reputation of this school increased greatly under Eriugena’s leadership, and he was treated with indulgence by the king.[18] Whereas Alcuin was a schoolmaster rather than a philosopher, Eriugena was a noted Greek scholar, a skill which, though rare at that time in Western Europe, was used in the learning tradition of Early and Medieval Ireland, as evidenced by the use of Greek script in medieval Irish manuscripts.[12] He remained in France for at least thirty years, and it was almost certainly during this period that he wrote his various works.
Whilst eating with King Charles the Bald John broke wind. This was acceptable in Irish society but not in Frankish. The King is then said to have said “John tell me what separates a Scottus (Irishman) from a situs (a fool)?”. John replied “Oh just a table” and the king laughed.[4]
The latter part of his life is unclear. There is a story that in 882 he was invited to Oxford by Alfred the Great, labored there for many years, became abbot at Malmesbury, and was stabbed to death by his pupils with their styli.[18] Whether this is to be taken literally or figuratively is not clear,[19] and some scholars think it may refer to some other Johannes.[20]William Turner says the tradition has no support in contemporary documents and may well have arisen from some confusion of names on the part of later historians.[21]
He probably never left France, and the date of his death is generally given as 877.[22] From the evidence available, it is impossible to determine whether he was a cleric or a layman; the general conditions of the time make it likely that he was a cleric and perhaps a monk.[21]
Theology
Eriugena’s work is largely based upon Origen, St. Augustine of Hippo, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Maximus the Confessor, and the Cappadocian Fathers. Eriugena’s overall view of reality, both human and divine, was strongly influenced by Neoplatonism. He viewed the totality of reality as a “graded hierarchy” cosmology of gradual declensions from the Godhead, similar to Proclus,[23] and likewise saw in all things a dual movement of procession and reversion: that every effect remains in its cause or constitutive principle, proceeds from it, and returns to it. According to Deirdre Carabine, both “ways” must be understood as intrinsically entwined and are not separate movements or processes.[24]
“For the procession of the creatures and the return of the same are so intimately associated in the reason which considers them that they appear to be inseparable the one from the other, and it is impossible for anyone to give any worthy and valid account of either by itself without introducing the other, that is to say, of the procession without the return and collection and vice versa.”[25]
John Scotus Eriugena was also a devout Catholic. Pittenger argues that, too often, those who have written about him seem to have pictured John as one who spent his life in the endeavor to dress up his own personal Neoplatonism in a thin Christian garb, but who never quite succeeded in disguising his real tendency. “This is untrue and unfair. Anyone who has taken the trouble to read Erigena, and not merely to read about him, and more particularly one who has studied the De Divisione Naturae sympathetically, cannot question the profound Christian faith and devotion of this Irish thinker nor doubt his deep love for Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. In the middle of long and some what arid metaphysical discussions, one comes across occasional passages such as the following, surely the cry of a passionately Christian soul: O Domine Jesu, nullum aliud praemium, nullam aliam beatitudinem, nullum aliud gaudium a te postulo, nisi ut ad purum absque ullo errore fallacis theoriae verba tua, quae per tuum sanctum Spiritum inspirata sunt, intelligam (Migne ed., ioioB).”[26] The Greek Fathers were Eriugena’s favourites, especially Gregory the Theologian, and Basil the Great. Of the Latins he prized Augustine most highly. The influence of these was towards freedom and not towards restraint in theological speculation. This freedom he reconciled with his respect for the teaching authority of the Church as he understood it.[21]
Vladimir Putin, Just like his buddy Donald Trump, has trashed his country, albeit in a different way. Russia has become a very sad nation. Hundreds of thousands have immigrated or been killed in the war Putin started in Ukraine that has made Russia’s economy a disaster. The only thing they have to sell is oil and gas — do you know anyone with a Russian refrigerator or smart phone — and only to the few countries willing to buy their oil and gas. Young families aren’t having children, or only one or two. A large skew in gender distribution has formed in Russian society. It has gotten so bad that Putin is demanding that women have at least eight children. The absurdity of his demand says it all.
Putin called on Russian women to have more children. Credit: Getty
Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that women in his country have “seven, eight or more” children to boost the population.
He warned that this is needed to prevent “catastrophic demographic problems” that could impact the country’s economy.
Speaking via video link at the World Russian People’s Council on Tuesday, he said: “Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raised. Recall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both 7 and 8 children. Let us preserve and revive these traditions.
“Having many children, a large family, should become a norm, a way of life for all the people of Russia. A family is not just the foundation for state and society, it is a spiritual phenomenon, the source of morality.”
Putin himself reportedly has six children with three partners, but only publicly acknowledges his two daughters.
His comments come as Russia‘s population fell by 550,000 during first year of the […]
Aloha,Sara Walker, H.W., will teach a Translation® workshop this Saturday, December 2, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
Take this opportunity to review the Five Steps of Translation® and polish your translating skills in a group setting.
Sara Walker is a dedicated student and experienced translator. She will provide guidance and facilitate an engaging conversation about why we translate and what we can expect to experience.
Translation is a 5-step process of “straight thinking in the abstract.” The first step is an ontological statement of being beginning with the syllogism: “Truth is that which is so. That which is not truth is not so. Therefore Truth is all there is.” The second step is the sense testimony (what the senses tell us about anything). The third step is the argument between the absolute abstract nature of truth from the first step and the relative specific truth of experience from the second step. The fourth step is filtering out the conclusions you have arrived at in the third step. The fifth step is your overall conclusion.
The claims in a Translation may seem outrageous, but they are always (or should always) be based on self-evident syllogistic reasoning. Here is one Translation from this week.
1) Truth is that which is so. That which is not truth is not so. Therefore Truth is all that is. Truth being all is therefore total, therefore whole, therefore complete, therefore otherless, therefore one, therefore united, therefore harmonious, therefore orderly. I think, therefore I am. Since I am and since Truth is all that is, therefore I am Truth. I being Truth am therefore all the qualities of Truth. Therefore I, being, am all, total, whole, complete, otherless, one, united, harmonious, orderly. Since I am Truth and I am Mind, therefore Truth is Mind (Consciousness).
2) Humiliation is not being taken seriously and not being listened to.
Word-tracking: serious: matter, mother listen: pay attention, respect, look at humiliate: loss of dignity dignity: fitting, appropriate, decent
3) Truth being right, is therefore proper, therefore appropriate, is therefore fitting, therefore decent, therefore dignified. Therefore Truth is dignified. Truth being one and Truth being Mind, therefore Truth is One Mind. Truth being one mind and Truth being all-inclusive, therefore Truth is one all-inclusive mind. Therefore Truth knows all, Truth hears all, Truth is all-listening, all-respecting. Truth being otherless, there can be nothing over or under or beneath Truth, therefore Truth is on an equal playing field with all that is.
4) Truth is dignified. Truth is One Mind. Truth is one all-inclusive Mind. Truth knows all, Truth hears all, Truth is all-listening, all-respecting. Truth is on an equal playing field with all that is.
5) Truth is one all-respecting Mind on an equal playing field with all that is.
