Welcome
May this find you well and kindly treated.Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Assyrian calendar 6770 as we prepare to farewell the year that was and proceed into Gregorian New Year 2021.
Forgive the intrusion, another special edition for uncertain times.
Let’s begin by sharing a timely aspiration:
"Wisdom is the bright lamp dispelling the darkness of blind ignorance.
Respecting Life is the wish-granting tree from which comes the happiness of everyone alive.
Compassion is the countless rays of the sun of great kindness."
Adapted from Longchenpa (1308-1364 CE)
Otherwise, the following monthly curation from publicly available information is offered below for consideration.
Topics
Guest Sings
Approx 5 min presentationIHHP & NAAJA - Ripple Effect” Maningrida
Sesame Street’s Bert, Big Bird and Community: Becoming an Upstander
Intro
Nyadol Nyuon explores the value of introspection, heartfelt gratitude and reflection upon "'What is my life?': A question lockdown made Nyadol Nyuon ask herself” via The Age
Dan Palmer explores the long journey of personal acceptance in an elite sport playing under public scrutiny, recounting "'My own death felt preferable to anyone discovering I was gay’” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Kerrie O’Brien explores the importance of self-determination, curiosity towards an impermanent existence and a sustainable understanding of environment, recounting "Wild at heart: Robyn Davidson, 40 years on from Tracks” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Tracey Emerson explores companionship and collaboration in a caring environment are reasons why "I chose my best friend as my 'life partner' over romantic love” via WA Today
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Politics, Money and Death with “Andrew Barr: 'There's so much hate and anger in the world, I don't want to be a part of that'” via The Brisbane Times
Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar explores housing the vulnerable and defenceless as a societal imperative, revealing why "'This will change lives': $5.3 billion social-housing construction blitz” via The Age
Inter
Jennifer Johnston explores parenting, learning obstacles and overcoming disparities, citing Sophie Li’s example how "'I felt stuck in two opposing worlds: the hearing and the deaf world’” via The Brisbane Times
Brigid Blackney explores prior experience, shared vision, and collaborative determination when "An old school bus became this couple’s dream home” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sheriden Rhodes explores some Australian locals capturing the curiosity of many onlookers as "Tourism Australia's ten most popular Instagram posts of 2020” via Traveller.com.au
Multi
Nick Miller explores creating community, connection and comfort, revealing why "When his parents caught coronavirus, Ian Pidd picked up his ukulele” via The Age
Josh Dye explores the value of a national anthem that embodies all its people, revealing reason why "Indigenous leaders back NSW Premier's call for national anthem amendment” via The Age
Tony Moore explores how restorative tourism is helping scientists rehabilitate marine environments, revealing why "Professor shoots for the moon to save Barrier Reef with 'coral IVF’” via The Sydney Morning Herald
All
Martin Boulton explores the importance of recognising those who tread the path of unifying Australia, celebrating the ongoing need to "'Just keep walking': Archie Roach, the voice Australia needed to hear” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Liam Mannix explores how digging into the frozen past deepens our understanding and experience of present humanity, revealing "In a Tibetan cave, Australian archaeologists find evidence of a mysterious ancestor” via WA Today
James Bradley explores saving the human race is in everyone’s interest when the natural environment is "Faced with catastrophe, David Attenborough and Tim Flannery search for a cure” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Susan Horsburgh explores some key ingredients to drug use, rehabilitation and rebuilding a life, citing how "'Marianne taught me everyone matters': the doctor who broke a drug user's 25-year addiction” via WA Today
Konrad Marshall explores reconciling personal identity and religious observance on a public playing field, sharing "'I don't crave the battle': the different goals that keep triple flag-winner Bachar Houli playing” via The Age
Jenny Valentish explores place, people and purpose, overcoming the feeling of being ”Lost at sea? Ex-teenagers offer some advice” via The Age
Nobly
Alice Pung explores a family that stays together, learns, loves, lives and plays together, when "'Dogged, tenacious, enduring': Alice Pung's lockdown lesson in love” via The Age
Adam Carey explores the team effort required of individual, family and community responding to infection, citing "Scholar, carer: How Jolyon got through year 12 when his family got COVID-19” via The Age
Bianca Hall explores different organisations identifying a need and collaborating to sustain vulnerable cohort, revealing "Free supermarket feeds 2000 international students a week” via The Age
Street Jives
Approx 2 min presentationSesame Street’s Bert, Big Bird and Community: Becoming an Upstander
Wisdom Reconciles
- NativLang: CAPS Unlock - the history behind uppercase & lowercase letters (5 mins)
- Colin Jones: Why are animals camouflaged in art? (2 mins)
- Wong Fu Productions: How I Became An Adult (9 mins)
- ImFromDriftwood: Rosa Manriquez On Overcoming Homophobia & Fighting For A Brighter Future. (20 mins)
- Psych2Go: 7 Signs of an Incompatible Relationship (8 mins)
- ImFromDriftwood: “I’m Black, Jewish, But Guess What? I’m Also Gay.” (6 mins)
Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Nyadol Nyuon explores the value of introspection, heartfelt gratitude and reflection upon "'What is my life?': A question lockdown made Nyadol Nyuon ask herself” via The Age
Dan Palmer explores the long journey of personal acceptance in an elite sport playing under public scrutiny, recounting "'My own death felt preferable to anyone discovering I was gay’” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Kerrie O’Brien explores the importance of self-determination, curiosity towards an impermanent existence and a sustainable understanding of environment, recounting "Wild at heart: Robyn Davidson, 40 years on from Tracks” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Tracey Emerson explores companionship and collaboration in a caring environment are reasons why "I chose my best friend as my 'life partner' over romantic love” via WA Today
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Politics, Money and Death with “Andrew Barr: 'There's so much hate and anger in the world, I don't want to be a part of that'” via The Brisbane Times
Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar explores housing the vulnerable and defenceless as a societal imperative, revealing why "'This will change lives': $5.3 billion social-housing construction blitz” via The Age
Inter
Jennifer Johnston explores parenting, learning obstacles and overcoming disparities, citing Sophie Li’s example how "'I felt stuck in two opposing worlds: the hearing and the deaf world’” via The Brisbane Times
Brigid Blackney explores prior experience, shared vision, and collaborative determination when "An old school bus became this couple’s dream home” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sheriden Rhodes explores some Australian locals capturing the curiosity of many onlookers as "Tourism Australia's ten most popular Instagram posts of 2020” via Traveller.com.au
Multi
Nick Miller explores creating community, connection and comfort, revealing why "When his parents caught coronavirus, Ian Pidd picked up his ukulele” via The Age
Josh Dye explores the value of a national anthem that embodies all its people, revealing reason why "Indigenous leaders back NSW Premier's call for national anthem amendment” via The Age
Tony Moore explores how restorative tourism is helping scientists rehabilitate marine environments, revealing why "Professor shoots for the moon to save Barrier Reef with 'coral IVF’” via The Sydney Morning Herald
All
Martin Boulton explores the importance of recognising those who tread the path of unifying Australia, celebrating the ongoing need to "'Just keep walking': Archie Roach, the voice Australia needed to hear” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Liam Mannix explores how digging into the frozen past deepens our understanding and experience of present humanity, revealing "In a Tibetan cave, Australian archaeologists find evidence of a mysterious ancestor” via WA Today
James Bradley explores saving the human race is in everyone’s interest when the natural environment is "Faced with catastrophe, David Attenborough and Tim Flannery search for a cure” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Susan Horsburgh explores some key ingredients to drug use, rehabilitation and rebuilding a life, citing how "'Marianne taught me everyone matters': the doctor who broke a drug user's 25-year addiction” via WA Today
Konrad Marshall explores reconciling personal identity and religious observance on a public playing field, sharing "'I don't crave the battle': the different goals that keep triple flag-winner Bachar Houli playing” via The Age
Jenny Valentish explores place, people and purpose, overcoming the feeling of being ”Lost at sea? Ex-teenagers offer some advice” via The Age
Nobly
Alice Pung explores a family that stays together, learns, loves, lives and plays together, when "'Dogged, tenacious, enduring': Alice Pung's lockdown lesson in love” via The Age
Adam Carey explores the team effort required of individual, family and community responding to infection, citing "Scholar, carer: How Jolyon got through year 12 when his family got COVID-19” via The Age
Bianca Hall explores different organisations identifying a need and collaborating to sustain vulnerable cohort, revealing "Free supermarket feeds 2000 international students a week” via The Age
Approx 30 min presentation + reflection times
If desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
When faced with big obstacles and difficulties, what may be a useful direction to take?
surviving
[ser’vyv’ing]
From late Middle English; from Old French sourvivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- = in addition + vivere = live.
driving
[dry’ving]
From Old English drīfan = urge (a person or animal) to go forward, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drijven and German treiben.
climb
[clyme]
From Old English climban, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klimmen, (related to gone to clay and cleave.)
living
[lih’ving]
From Old English libban, lifian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leven and German leben, related to life and leave (Old English lǣfan = bequeath, = allow to remain, leave in place; of Germanic origin; related to German bleiben = remain)
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
An old wise saying declares the only constant thing in life is change. No thing changes without pre-existing conditions or causes. A key to surviving is to be in or have a trustworthy one in the driving seat, getting the best view of the climb. Sharing the journey with as many as possible with understanding that the process of living comes with possibility of illness, accident, old age or death at any time. The past has been done and can't be undone. The future hasn't been determined yet, is full of potential and influenced by what we do now. Now is being present: maintaining course, adjusting speed or altering direction as required by the situation. The most important step is the first step, without this, there is no progress. The second and subsequent makes a journey with path for self while clearing the ground for others to follow.
Why? Why not?
Start today.
As the case may be.
Or not.
If desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
When faced with big obstacles and difficulties, what may be a useful direction to take?
- Inspire
- Perspire
- Collaborate
- Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
- Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
- Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
surviving
[ser’vyv’ing]
From late Middle English; from Old French sourvivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- = in addition + vivere = live.
- continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship. Ie, against all odds the child born in the war-torn area survived.
- continue to live or exist in spite of (an accident or ordeal). Ie, the leader has survived several assassination attempts.
- remain alive after the death of (a particular person). Ie, the deceased was survived by spouse and six children. Ie, There were 3 surviving relatives.
- manage to keep going in difficult circumstances. Ie, the worker had to work day and night and survive on two hours' sleep.
driving
[dry’ving]
From Old English drīfan = urge (a person or animal) to go forward, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drijven and German treiben.
- (weather) blown by the wind with great force. Ie, driving rain.
- (leading) having a strong and controlling influence. Ie, the councillor was the driving force behind the plan. Ie, a driving ambition.
- (determining) the control and operation of a motor vehicle. Ie, the driver pulled over to the kerb.
climb
[clyme]
From Old English climban, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klimmen, (related to gone to clay and cleave.)
- go or come up a (slope or staircase); ascend. Ie, we began to climb the hill. Ie, the air became colder as they climbed higher. Ie, they climbed up the steps slowly.
- (of an aircraft or the sun) go upwards. Ie, the pilot decided to climb to 6,000 feet. Ie, the rate of climb can be set by the pilot. Ie, we watched the sun climb in the sky from the beach.
- (of a road or track) slope upwards. Ie, the track climbed steeply up a narrow, twisting valley.
- (of a plant) grow up (a wall, tree, or trellis) by clinging with tendrils or by twining. Ie, when ivy climbs a wall it infiltrates any crack. Ie, there were roses climbing up the walls.
- increase in scale, value, or power. Ie, kangaroo numbers have been climbing steadily. Ie, the stock market climbed 23.9 points.
- move to a higher position in (a chart or table). Ie, the book climbed to number 18 on the bestseller list.
- move with effort, especially into or out of a confined space; clamber. Ie, the dog started to climb into the back seat.
- put on (clothes). Ie, the astronaut climbed into the suit.
- an ascent, especially of a mountain or hill, by climbing. Ie, this walk involves a long moorland climb. Ie, how old will these graduates be before they begin a long climb out of debt?
- a mountain, hill, or slope that is climbed. Ie, the footwear were inappropriate to negotiate the climb safely.
- a recognized route up a mountain or cliff. Ie, this may be the hardest rock climb in the world.
living
[lih’ving]
From Old English libban, lifian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leven and German leben, related to life and leave (Old English lǣfan = bequeath, = allow to remain, leave in place; of Germanic origin; related to German bleiben = remain)
- an income sufficient to live on or the means of earning it. Ie, they were struggling to make a living as dancers. Ie, what does she do for a living?
- (in church use) a position as a vicar or rector with an income or property. Ie, the Minister was offered the living of St Katherine's.
- the pursuit of a lifestyle of a specified type. Ie, the benefits of country living.
- alive: living creatures. Ie, flowers were for the living.
- (of a place) used for living rather than working in. Ie, the living quarters of the facility.
- (of a language) still spoken and used.
- (literary) of water perennially flowing. Ie, streams of living water.
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
An old wise saying declares the only constant thing in life is change. No thing changes without pre-existing conditions or causes. A key to surviving is to be in or have a trustworthy one in the driving seat, getting the best view of the climb. Sharing the journey with as many as possible with understanding that the process of living comes with possibility of illness, accident, old age or death at any time. The past has been done and can't be undone. The future hasn't been determined yet, is full of potential and influenced by what we do now. Now is being present: maintaining course, adjusting speed or altering direction as required by the situation. The most important step is the first step, without this, there is no progress. The second and subsequent makes a journey with path for self while clearing the ground for others to follow.
Why? Why not?
Start today.
As the case may be.
Or not.
TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Gina Martin: They told me to change my clothes. I changed the law instead (20 mins)
- Fox Fisher: My Transgender Experience (14 mins)
- John Biewen: The lie that invented racism (19 mins)
- Mendel Weintraub: The Kosher Complex (or How a Muffin Changed my Life) (19 mins)
- Henry Chen: E-culture - Intimacy through Anonymity (20 mins)
- Nisha Anand: The radical act of choosing common ground (16 mins)
Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.
Invitation to Support Content Creators
The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.
Caretaker Disclosure
Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.
This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.
It is not personal, it just the way things are.
