words for contemplation
I recorded this, this morning at Mass at St. John Berchmans Cathedral. It is one of of five pieces composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in a anthology called “Five Mystical Songs”. This is the fourth of the five movements.
I first encountered the mystic sounds of the piece that is stuck in my head today as a freshmen at St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in Spring of 2006. I was part of the schola cantorum, and this tune was the basis for one of psalm responses that was sung during the Easter Vigil. Ever since then, I’ve been enraptured when I hear its melody. Continue reading “Ralph Vaughan Williams | Thomas Tallis”
This morning I was greeted to the new day by the voice of Etta echoing round my head singing her signature – “At Last.” No more need be said for this great woman of soul. Please enjoy. Continue reading “At Last – Etta James”
Today’s word ‘dynamic syncretism’ is a tendency in Hindu belief. It is not a principle of the religion or even something that happens consciously among its adherents. ‘Syncretism’ is the process by which elements of one religion are assimilated into another. The reason that ‘dynamic’ is added to the term when discussing Hinduism is that unlike other syncretic religions: Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam which have each borrowed from no more than two religions directly, Hinduism has assimilated principles from many different systems of belief. Continue reading “Dynamic Syncretism”
Before He gave any shape to the world, before He produced any form, He was alone, without form and without resemblance to anything else. Who then can comprehend how He was before the Creation? Hence it is forbidden to lend Him any form or similitude, or even to call Him by His sacred name, or to indicate Him by a single letter or a single point. But after He created the form of the Heavenly Man, He used him as a chariot wherein to descend, and He wishes to be called after His form, which is the sacred name “YHWH”. (Zohar, part ii., section “Bo,” 42b)
The Solitude I Am
by Thomas Merton
I’m sure that you’ve already seen this video and heard this awesome group. If you haven’t heard it already, please take a listen. It wa this song that was on repeat when I woke this morning.
Continue reading “Learn to Fly | Rockin’ 1000”
Chemicals are amazing things, especially for a nerd like myself who can watch YouTube videos of this man with wild frizzy hair – who looks like science – Dr. Martin Poliakov of Nottingham University, for hours on end. If you have even the slightest interest in Chemistry, I highly recommend checking out the Periodic Videos channel; it will educate and entertain for hours. Continue reading “Oxytocin”
Not his music or even his lyrics this morning filled my mind. Just his name over and over. So here you have it. Continue reading “Van Morrison”
