Relaxivity - immersive myths, poems, and stories

28/02/2024

‘Live the wonderful life that is in you..’

25/02/2024

A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand.
Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?
Kahlil Gibran

23/02/2024

"Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove house fill’d with doves and pigeons
Shudders Hell thro’ all its regions.
A Dog starv’d at his Master’s Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misus’d upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fiber from the Brain does tear.

He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar.
The Beggar’s Dog and Widow’s Cat,
Feed them and thou wilt grow fat.
The Gnat that sings his Summer song
Poison gets from Slander’s tongue.
The poison of the Snake and Newt
Is the sweat of Envy’s Foot.

A truth that’s told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent.
It is right it should be so;
Man was made for Joy and Woe;
And when this we rightly know
Thro’ the World we safely go.

Every Night and every Morn
Some to Misery are Born.
Every Morn and every Night
Some are Born to sweet delight.
Some are Born to sweet delight,
Some are Born to Endless Night.

Selected poems of William Blake

22/02/2024

“Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers.”- Kahlil Gibran

"Friendship"
Artist: Sergey Efimenko

20/02/2024

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared

“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.

Khalil Gibran

17/02/2024

08/02/2024

For anyone born in the Year of the Dragon, this one’s for you! 🐉

Happy Chinese New Year!

https://www.storynory.com/the-year-of-the-dragon-2024/

04/02/2024

Vincent van Gogh

Fishing Boats on the beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (1888)

03/02/2024

The Prayer of Francis of Assisi 🙏🏼

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Blessings ☺️

The prayer for peace of Francis of Assisi is read in the rich tones of Jana Elizabeth. Sit back and breathe in this timeless meditation and prayer.Lord, ma...

03/02/2024

Leonardo da Vinci - ( 1452 -1519)
Angel ( Detail ) " La vergine delle rocce '' (Virgin of the Rocks ) completed 1491/1492 and 1506/1508, oil on poplar, thinned and cradled
The National Gallery, London

03/02/2024

Mother ❤️

03/02/2024

"London"
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infants cry of fear,
In every voice: in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear

How the Chimney-sweepers cry
Every blackning Church appalls,
And the hapless Soldiers sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls

But most thro' midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlots curse
Blasts the new-born Infants tear
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

02/02/2024

“Alone”
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—

02/02/2024

"My Name Is Vittoria" is a historical fiction novel written by Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story revolves around a courageous and resilient woman named Vittoria.

As she navigates the challenges of war, Vittoria's life becomes intertwined with the larger narrative of resistance, s
sacrifice, and survival.

The novel likely explores themes of love, loss, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.

Through Vittoria's perspective, readers may witness the strength of women during wartime and the impact of their contributions to the broader historical context.

01/02/2024

Oedipus Rex is Considered by many the greatest of the classic Greek tragedies, Oedipus Rex is Sophocles' finest play and a work of extraordinary power and resonance.

Aristotle considered it a masterpiece of dramatic construction and refers to it frequently in the Poetics.

28/01/2024

The famous Magdalen College Tower
~ Oxford, England 🇬🇧

28/01/2024

"How Do I Love Thee?" is one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most famous poems. It was written in 1845 during her unconventional and clandestine courtship with Robert Browning, who was 11 years her junior, and whom she later married.

It is the 43rd sonnet in a collection titled "Sonnets from the Portuguese", and is considered one of the most passionate and enduring love poems in the English language. It expresses her profound and boundless love for him.

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

28/01/2024

"Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone."

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

26/01/2024

"If" is a famous poem written by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1910 as part of his collection called "Rewards and Fairies." The poem offers a set of inspirational guidelines for living a noble and honorable life, emphasizing the virtues of patience, perseverance, self-confidence, and integrity.

The poem is written as a father's advice to his son, imparting wisdom on how to navigate the challenges and complexities of life. Kipling explores various scenarios and situations, presenting the reader with a series of hypothetical conditions and how to respond to them.

The central theme of the poem revolves around maintaining a balanced perspective in the face of adversity, staying determined in the pursuit of one's goals, and displaying moral fortitude. Kipling emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure, taking responsibility for one's actions, and learning from failures.

Throughout the poem, Kipling highlights the qualities that make a person truly virtuous, including the ability to trust oneself while remaining humble, to persevere through hardships without losing hope, to treat success and failure with equanimity, to control one's emotions, and to have the capacity to forgive.

24/01/2024

William Shakespeare ❤️

23/01/2024

This is my wish for you :
Comfort on difficult days,
smiles when sadness intrudes,
rainbows to follow the clouds,
laughter to kiss your lips,
sunsets to warm your heart,
hugs when spirits sag,
beauty for your eyes to see,
friendships to brighten your being,
faith so that you can believe,
confidence for when you doubt,
courage to know yourself,
patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life ..

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Artist Credit : Brandi Hickman

23/01/2024

We celebrate the life and work of Lord Byron (Trinity College 1805), one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement and regarded as one of the greatest English poets. He remains widely read and influential. Among his best-known works are the narrative poems “Don Juan” and “Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.”

Lord Byron was born on January 22, 1788, in London, England, and raised by his mother in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1805 Byron became an undergraduate at Trinity College. He is reported to have kept a bear while he was a student at Trinity College. He is said to have purchased the bear, quite possibly at Stourbridge Fair, in defiance of the rules that banned students from keeping dogs in college.

At Cambridge he formed lifelong friendships with John Cam Hobhouse, who initiated him into the Cambridge Whig Club, a home of liberal politics, and Francis Hodgson, a Fellow at King's College with whom he corresponded on literary matters until the end of his life.

Byron traveled extensively across Europe, especially in Italy, where he lived for seven years in the cities of Venice, Ravenna, and Pisa. During his stay in Italy, he frequently visited his friend and fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Later in life Byron joined the Greek War of Independence fighting the Ottoman Empire and for which Greeks revere him as a folk hero. He died in 1824 at the age of 36 from a fever contracted after the First and Second Siege of Missolonghi. In 1845, a statue of Lord Byron was installed into the Wren Library at Trinity College, where it can be seen today.

“I have got a new friend, the finest in the world, a tame bear. When I brought him here, they asked me what to do with him, and my reply was, ‘he should sit for a fellowship’.” - Lord Byron

23/01/2024

Have a listen to the story of The Birth of Buddha 🙏🏼
Read in melodic calming tones by Jana ☺️

Who was Buddha? What is the story of the Life of Buddha? How did Buddhism begin?The Birth of Buddha is an immersive, spiritual story, that goes to the origi...

22/01/2024

In H.G. Wells' sci-fi masterpiece, "The War of the Worlds," Mars sets its sights on Earth, unleashing an invasion that plunges humanity into chaos and despair. It's not just a tale of alien conquest; it's a chilling reflection on human vulnerability, resilience, and the enduring power of the unknown.

A Fall from the Stars: The story unfolds through the eyes of an unnamed narrator, living a peaceful life in Surrey, England. His world is shattered when strange flashes from Mars are observed by astronomers, hinting at something sinister brewing on the red planet. Soon, those flashes turn into ominous cylindrical objects crashing to Earth, disgorging monstrous tripods – the harbingers of Martian invasion.

Terror and Devastation: The Martians, technologically superior and equipped with heat rays and deadly black smoke, swiftly dismantle human defenses. Cities are razed, armies decimated, and the narrator witnesses firsthand the brutality of the alien onslaught. He flees for the countryside, desperately trying to survive amidst the crumbling world.

Beyond the Battlefield: The focus isn't solely on the physical battles. Wells delves into the psychological impact of the invasion, portraying the panic, despair, and confusion that grip the populace. We see people resorting to barbaric acts in desperation, while others cling to faith and hope in the face of annihilation.

The Quest for Meaning: As the narrator struggles to survive, he grapples with existential questions about humanity's place in the universe. The once-confident Victorian world order is shattered, leaving him questioning the meaning of life and the significance of human existence against a backdrop of cosmic indifference.

Not Just a Monster Story: Beyond the thrilling narrative and terrifying monsters, "The War of the Worlds" offers a commentary on social hierarchy, technological arrogance, and the fragility of civilization. It serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to consider the consequences of unchecked progress and our potential vulnerability in the vastness of space.

Enduring Legacy: Written in 1898, "The War of the Worlds" continues to hold immense power. Its influence on sci-fi is undeniable, inspiring countless adaptations and shaping our perception of alien encounters. While the technology and social context may seem dated, the core themes of fear, survival, and humanity's place in the universe remain as relevant today as ever.

22/01/2024

"The Jew of Malta" is a play written by Christopher Marlowe, believed to have been composed around 1589. The plot revolves around Barabas, a wealthy Jewish merchant living in Malta during the sixteenth century. Here's a brief summary:

Barabas begins as a prosperous and influential figure, but due to political intrigue and manipulation, he loses his wealth. The governor of Malta confiscates his assets to finance the defense of the island against the Turks. Barabas, seeking revenge, involves himself in various schemes.

Barabas feigns conversion to Christianity while secretly plotting against those who wronged him. He employs deceit, poison, and manipulation to achieve his goals. As the play progresses, Barabas becomes increasingly ruthless and villainous.

The political climate intensifies, involving conflicts between Malta and the Ottoman Empire. Barabas, ultimately consumed by his own greed and revenge, orchestrates a complex web of betrayal. However, his plans unravel, leading to a tragic and violent conclusion.

"The Jew of Malta" is known for its depiction of a cunning and Machiavellian protagonist and explores themes of greed, religious conflict, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

20/01/2024

Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" isn't just a novel; it's a soaring kite that lifts you high above the familiar, then plunges you into the heart of a world both beautiful and brutal. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan, it captures the complexities of friendship, betrayal, and redemption with the elegance of a master storyteller.

First and foremost, it's a tale of friendship. The bond between Amir and Hassan, a privileged Pashtun boy and his Hazara servant, transcends social barriers. Their innocence and shared passion for kite flying paint a heartwarming picture of childhood camaraderie, making the story's eventual descent into darkness all the more devastating.

But Hosseini isn't afraid to grapple with the darkness. Amir's cowardice in a pivotal moment casts a long shadow over his life, fueling guilt and self-loathing. The novel delves into the emotional labyrinth of betrayal, forcing readers to confront the consequences of our actions and the scars they leave.

Redemption, however, shimmers on the horizon. Years later, Amir is offered a chance to face his demons and make amends. His perilous journey to rescue Hassan's nephew from war-torn Kabul becomes a symbolic pilgrimage, a physical manifestation of his internal struggle for forgiveness.

Beyond the personal tale, "The Kite Runner" paints a poignant portrait of Afghanistan. The novel vividly depicts the social inequalities and ethnic tensions that simmer beneath the surface, offering a deeper understanding of the country's complexities and the devastating impact of war.

Hosseini's prose is both lyrical and stark. He captures the beauty of the Afghan landscape with poetic precision, while never shying away from the harsh realities of violence and displacement. His characters are nuanced and relatable, their flaws and struggles echoing universal human experiences.

"The Kite Runner" is not a comfortable read. It's a challenging and emotional journey that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the world around us. Yet, it's also a deeply rewarding one. The glimmer of hope offered through Amir's journey towards redemption reminds us that even in the darkest moments, forgiveness and healing are possible.

So, if you're looking for a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, look no further than "The Kite Runner." It's a soaring flight into the depths of human experience, a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners and guide us towards the light.

19/01/2024

Here’s a short rhyme to help you remember how many days there are in each month 😜 🤪

19/01/2024

Here’s a short rhyme to help you remember how many days there are in each month.