Nov 302015
 

forgotten-muses-1226788

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill.  Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.  Last week we were in the wake of Paris; this week we follow two violent events on American soil (covered in other threads) in Minneapolis and in Colorado Springs yet do not hear near the cacophony of voices loudly urging actions to keep Americans safe.  We also follow the holiday most associated with gratitude in the U.S.: Thanksgiving.  One Thanksgiving email I received began with this quote: “I saw…that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of light and love…flowed over the ocean of darkness.” — Journal of George Fox (1647)

Then continued withIt can be hard to look into the darkness we find all too easily today: in the suffering and fear of so many, in the cycles of violence. Yet, when we come together with compassion, understanding, and openness, we find the Light in dark places.” It was from the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Calliope is considered the strongest of the nine and imposes serenity.  Researchers have been exploring this area and one finding that goes with post-Thanksgiving is:

 

Gratitude can be transformative:gratitude

“The Thanksgiving holiday began, as the name implies, when the colonists gave thanks for their survival and for a good harvest. So perhaps November is a good time to review the mental health benefits of gratitude — and to consider some advice about how to cultivate this state of mind.”

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/in-praise-of-gratitude

“Recently scientists have begun to chart a course of research aimed at understanding gratitude and the circumstances in which it flourishes or diminishes. They’re finding that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:

  • Stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure;
  • Higher levels of positive emotions;
  • More joy, optimism, and happiness;
  • Acting with more generosity and compassion;
  • Feeling less lonely and isolated.”

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude/

Anyone want to join me in giving thanks (just in case)?  Has it become harder to connect with gratitude when people have a lower standard of living than their parents did or they themselves did 10 years ago (e.g., stagnant wages, retirement accounts wiped out, foreclosure and/or the hidden housing bubble: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/09/1447788/-The-massive-real-estate-bubble-that-no-one-is-talking-about )?

Sometimes children see things more clearly:

http://www.upworthy.com/what-are-you-thankful-for-the-simplicity-in-these-kids-answers-is-heartwarming?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

Staying with science, let us hear from Ourania (astronomy) via :“In a 2-minute elevator speech, a NASA scientist shares his greatest hope for the future of earth.”

http://www.upworthy.com/in-a-2-minute-elevator-speech-a-nasa-scientist-shares-his-greatest-hope-for-the-future-of-earth?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

Didn’t he make it crystal clear and easy to understand—did he also communicate hope?*

One thing events in Paris affected was people’s plans with COP 21 Nov. 30th-Dec. 11th…I’ve seen one group that is collecting photos of people holding empty shoes to represent people who would’ve been marching in Paris to address climate change.  Greenpeace is matching individuals who would’ve marched in France with someone marching in another country…the resilience to this purpose in this one (check out the video) is it an example of what Dr. Rignot said was our hope?  Is it a love Erato might claim?

https://climateribbon.squarespace.com/english#participate

Does it inspire faith and hope as people persist despite changed circumstances?

 

Clio (guitar) helps us think out of the box with this one and expand our vision of possibility (video):

https://youtu.be/AnjgeVZL2-M

And Thalia (architecture) might help us get creative (picture gallery):

http://architecture.about.com/od/weirdarchitecture/ig/Funny-Pictures/The-Amazing-Smith-Mansion-in-Wyoming.htm

Erato might claim this kind of love, too:

http://www.upworthy.com/these-13-men-believe-nothing-is-manlier-than-being-a-good-dad?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

 

Can’t the world always use more love?  Is it always the answer?

 

And thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery!

 

*Note: Physics is the one field where research questions with answers using statistics often have no error rate so results are not a probability of truth/fact on the subject but are actually the truth or fact of the matter.

If you missed the first installment of this series and would like more information about the muses by reading it:

https://www.7thstep.org/blog/2015/11/23/monday-morning-musings-november-23-2015-2/

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  9 Responses to “Monday Morning Musings November 30, 2015”

  1. Calliope: We need more visits from Calliope, imho. Gratitude, counting one's blessings, and happiness is important in everyone's lives.

    DK: I see this in the little town here where I live. The houses are expensive,the mortgages are higher, as opposed to when we bought our house years ago, and the property taxes are high(er) each year. My neighbor's house burned down in the 2011 fires, he re-built a new one, and his taxes have doubled from then to now. Rent…same thing, high. But…looking through the financial misery, one should be thankful that one has a roof over one's head, and family to lean on when things get hard.

    SheKnows: Awesome video, passing this on.

    Upworthy: I do believe that our next generation is more sensitive and more ecologically aware than say…my generation. Science is big here, and it's amazing to see the projects the students are working on in collaboration with the local hospitals, vet clinics, and the colleges here.

    The 4 hands guitar playing was wonderful !

    Upworthy 2: Aww….Fathers and babies. The best !

    H/T to you, Judi. Well done!!!
    Thanks for this!

  2. Very nicely done!!  Hugs!!

  3. Thanks for posting these musings (too serious to be called amuses ;-)), Judi. I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, so this Monday I'm not tuned to gratitude as many of my American friends, and that may make me a little more detached. "Practice gratitude" has too many religious overtones for me too, so I'll stick to the more philosophical side for a while.

    My first reaction to the topic was: in this day and age of Entitlement, Gratitude is out the door. They are diametrical opposites, I think, and it is a quality that has completely disappeared in the 1%. The Harvard Positive Psychology findings easily explain why the 1% or perhaps even the 10%  lack generosity and compassion. Perhaps GreaterGood should reconsider the way their $ 3 million is spread and focus more on the 10%. Tech them how to be grateful and the 90% will have much more reason to be grateful too. And as Upworthy shows, if they start with the kids when they're really young, there may be a change they turn into normal, healthy and grateful people who will want a better future for everyone. I'm sure Eric Rignot will agree with me.

    Loved the 13 dads, especially those machos gone soft.

    • Thank you for that slant on the Harvard findings Lona–quite illuminating.  Sound suggestion on GreaterGood, too.

  4. Thanks for your post!

  5. Great posts.  I enjoyed them all.

  6. Hi T.C. great to hear from you. Muse on this. How in hell did that poor mentally damaged man(re. Clinic murders)

    Get a gun license? Perhaps Mr Lapierre could answer this one.Fiorina is no.1 guilty. the NRA Must be the next!

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