“... the devil doesn't come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you've ever wished for ...” ― Tucker Max, Assholes Finish First Every day we experience a bombardment, shelled by a varying degree of absurdity and crazy meant to paralyze and smother us into a state of apathy, a state governed by the
Great post, Theodore. I think everyone feels the temptation to laziness, to waste away dissipating our talents in return for the comfort of television, internet, watching sports, etc. I know I do. It's hard, challenging and scary to follow inspiration, and there is a feeling of both surrender to the process/inner voice and being alone when following it.
When you wrote, "Strangely enough, after all these years, I feel like I’m paying for some forgotten esoteric crime, and I can’t pretend to be perfect and imagine myself as a gleaming angel of light" I can't help but think of Schopenhauer on this topic: "As a reliable compass for orienting yourself in life nothing is more useful than to accustom yourself to regarding this world as a place of atonement, a sort of penal colony. When you have done this you will order your expectations of life according to the nature of things and no longer regard the calamities, sufferings, torments, and miseries of life as something irregular and not to be expected but will find them entirely in order, well knowing that each of us is here being punished for his existence and each in his own particular way."
I hope you accomplish your goals toward self-sufficiency this upcoming year. Keeping your head down and focusing on each step of the process is definitely the right approach, otherwise the big goals can be overwhelming.
..truth is a mighty sword, the handle is filled with hope...and hope dies last. Thank you, Theodore for your inspirational historical writings. They are so appreciated.
"There’s a story I heard long ago, and for the life of me I can’t remember where it’s from, and of course I can’t find it now so if this sounds familiar please let me know"
As someone with a well-stocked root cellar, and a bevy of time-honored skills, as well as something of a Knight, I appreciated this post. I don't worry much about the devil and my deepest desires, but I was feeling a bit of darkness before reading this, looking for a new job, pondering my subscriber numbers. Thanks for the reminder to keep training/writing/learning no matter what.
Really enjoyed this. The noonday demon is a harlot,, staying on routine is critical. I got out of routine and I'm having to habit layer again and it sucks. Great read. The devil is a liar.
I know I read this somewhere, but of course I can't find it, but Eddie Van Halen once made a comment that he spent countless hours sitting on his bed practicing his guitar when he was a teenager, and he wondered if he had the internet, would he ever have picked up the guitar? It does make you think about the amount of human potential that is getting sucked up daily but the phones and useless social media.
Thanks, Theodore -- I was ready to give up on Substack as it had come to seem like little more than an interactive vanity press. And this very medium, which I have referred to as the"Last", or the "Exterminating Icon". Great illustrations!
REALLY well done Theodore. I especially liked how in reading this newsletter, helps in my centering and balance of myself. Reminders and goals.. as well as your public acknowledgments of what we are all guilty of.
" We’re at war with the Devil’s army, and we’re not doing too well."
Great post, Theodore. I think everyone feels the temptation to laziness, to waste away dissipating our talents in return for the comfort of television, internet, watching sports, etc. I know I do. It's hard, challenging and scary to follow inspiration, and there is a feeling of both surrender to the process/inner voice and being alone when following it.
When you wrote, "Strangely enough, after all these years, I feel like I’m paying for some forgotten esoteric crime, and I can’t pretend to be perfect and imagine myself as a gleaming angel of light" I can't help but think of Schopenhauer on this topic: "As a reliable compass for orienting yourself in life nothing is more useful than to accustom yourself to regarding this world as a place of atonement, a sort of penal colony. When you have done this you will order your expectations of life according to the nature of things and no longer regard the calamities, sufferings, torments, and miseries of life as something irregular and not to be expected but will find them entirely in order, well knowing that each of us is here being punished for his existence and each in his own particular way."
I hope you accomplish your goals toward self-sufficiency this upcoming year. Keeping your head down and focusing on each step of the process is definitely the right approach, otherwise the big goals can be overwhelming.
..truth is a mighty sword, the handle is filled with hope...and hope dies last. Thank you, Theodore for your inspirational historical writings. They are so appreciated.
Ted you are a gracious soul. Always enjoy partaking of your wisdom.
"There’s a story I heard long ago, and for the life of me I can’t remember where it’s from, and of course I can’t find it now so if this sounds familiar please let me know"
Is this the original?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4VZ7rxGOw
As someone with a well-stocked root cellar, and a bevy of time-honored skills, as well as something of a Knight, I appreciated this post. I don't worry much about the devil and my deepest desires, but I was feeling a bit of darkness before reading this, looking for a new job, pondering my subscriber numbers. Thanks for the reminder to keep training/writing/learning no matter what.
Really enjoyed this. The noonday demon is a harlot,, staying on routine is critical. I got out of routine and I'm having to habit layer again and it sucks. Great read. The devil is a liar.
I know I read this somewhere, but of course I can't find it, but Eddie Van Halen once made a comment that he spent countless hours sitting on his bed practicing his guitar when he was a teenager, and he wondered if he had the internet, would he ever have picked up the guitar? It does make you think about the amount of human potential that is getting sucked up daily but the phones and useless social media.
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Sebastian, according to the Julian calendar. These are helpful illustrations.
Thanks, Theodore -- I was ready to give up on Substack as it had come to seem like little more than an interactive vanity press. And this very medium, which I have referred to as the"Last", or the "Exterminating Icon". Great illustrations!
REALLY well done Theodore. I especially liked how in reading this newsletter, helps in my centering and balance of myself. Reminders and goals.. as well as your public acknowledgments of what we are all guilty of.
" We’re at war with the Devil’s army, and we’re not doing too well."
Thank you!
scott