RHC Fortnightly Quotemail
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo
on X)
Vol. XXIX, No. 18: Late August 2025
Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate
Editorial Associate: Wendy Applegate
Art Director: Verena Keegan (Designer of the Masthead
Above)
Ah, the memories
of "School Days" come rushing back like a wave of nostalgia! We
picture the first day of school and the excitement of meeting new teachers,
friends, and classmates. We remember the anticipation of school field trips,
the joy of holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, and the countless
adventures and memories shared with friends. We recall the hustle and bustle of
school days and the endless laughs and good times we had. "School
Days" hold a special place in all our hearts.
Athena (the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and
learning, at left) shows the Editor (in 2nd or 3rd grade,
at right) an archetypal book containing the “Western Canon” of classic
literature. It was during the Editor’s years at Zion Lutheran School
(1973-1980) in Bethalto, Illinois, that he acquired his lifelong love of
learning and unquenchable thirst for classic literature. (Digital artwork by
the Editor.)
“The
Editor’s Second Grade Golden Jubilee: 1975-2025”
By Rob
Chappell, M.A. – The Editor
1975 was an eventful
year. The Apollo-Soyuz Test
Project in July was the first cooperative space mission between the United
States and the Soviet Union, and I can remember watching live coverage of it on
TV! The first personal computer – the Altair 8800 – entered production, laying
the groundwork for the Information Age to enter our everyday lives. Spain began
its transition to democracy after the death of its longtime dictator, Francisco
Franco. The Helsinki Accords – an agreement signed by 35 nations, including the
United States and the Soviet Union, aimed at improving relations between the Communist
East and the democratic West. And on Saturday, August
2, I celebrated my eighth birthday with a birthday party that included all
my classmates! 😊
Just
a few weeks later, I began the second grade. Our teacher, Miss N, was an
accomplished musician (voice and piano), and she had a quirky sense of humor
that soon endeared her to her students. What I remember the most about second
grade was our wonderful Open Court reading book. We started to read short
stories, including fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen,
and Charles Perrault. Classic poems were
also on the menu, featuring delightful verses by Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis
Stevenson, Evaleen Stein, and others. The readings that really captured my
imagination, however, were Aesop’s
Fables – those wonderful stories about the human condition that the Greek sage
Aesop presented to his listeners in pithy animal allegories. My fascination
with Aesop was reinforced by the “Aesop and Son” cartoon segments on the Rocky and
Bullwinkle Show! Be that as it may, Aesop’s
Fables opened the door for me to ancient Greek culture, history, and literature
– which still nourished my soul to this very day!
Flash
forward to November 2005, during the University of Illinois’ Fall Break, when I
had the opportunity to revisit Zion Lutheran School, my elementary school in
Bethalto, Illinois. Because of all the fond memories that I have associated
with it, autumn was a wonderful time of year for me to revisit my first Alma
Mater. I had a thoroughly delightful visit because I got to reconnect with a
couple of my veteran teachers again, and also because the school was
flourishing then even more so than when I was enrolled there in the 1970s.
When
I was growing up in suburban southwest Illinois, the autumn season was a time
of great excitement and anticipation. Even though my summer months were filled
with all the freedom and adventure that children longed for during the school
year, returning to ZLS (as we affectionately called our school) in late August
was always a pleasure because my school days were perennially edutaining. As
our class moved up through the ranks from kindergarten through the sixth grade,
we learned about the three R’s (along with the sciences and the arts) from
teachers who sang, played the piano, and strummed their guitars (with plenty of
songs by Peter, Paul, and Mary!).
We
had many activities to look forward to during the fall term. Field trips to the
local apple orchard and pumpkin patch; stories and songs about Johnny
Appleseed; trick-or-treating for UNICEF; classroom parties to celebrate various
autumn holidays; the annual chili supper; and making crafts for the holiday
bazaar all combined to create an atmosphere charged with youthful energy and
enthusiasm. The brisk autumn breezes, the falling multicolored leaves, and
foreshortened daylight hours only added to the numinosity of the season.
Everyone’s
favorite part of the school day was the story time in early afternoon. After we
had finished lunch and played outside in the autumn sunshine during the noon
recess, our teachers would read aloud to us from classic children’s books by L.
Frank Baum, Astrid Lindgren, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and many more. During the
fall term, our teachers also gave us proverbs to memorize and poems to recite.
One such poem that we learned has remained a favorite of mine through the
years:
“October’s
Party”
By George
Cooper (1840-1927)
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.
Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly “hands around.”
To
conclude, here’s a favorite song from my elementary school days, which my
classmates and I enjoyed singing in the fall of the year. It was prominently
featured in several episodes of Little House
in the Prairie, one of the most popular TV series of the 1970s – and a fan favorite at
ZLS!
“Bringing in
the Sheaves”
By Knowles
Shaw (1834-1878)
"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with
him." à Psalm 126:6 (KJV)
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of
reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the
sheaves.
Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the
sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the
sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the
sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the
sheaves.
2. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the
shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's
chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor
ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the
sheaves.
(Refrain)
3. Going forth with weeping, sowing for
the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit
often grieves;
When our weeping's over, He will bid us
welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the
sheaves.
(Refrain)
“An Aesop Haiku”
By the Editor
Stories of human nature
In allegories.
“Book Review: Aesop’s Fables”
By Mallory Jamison, Staff Writer
Ah, the tales of Aesop – those timeless fables that
have entertained and enlightened generations. From the clever wit of the fox to
the industriousness of the ants, the lessons gleaned from his stories continue
to captivate and intrigue readers even today. But what's the story behind the
storyteller himself? What can we learn from the life of the legendary figure
that gave us these enduring tales? Let's dive in and explore the life and
legacy of Aesop, the master storyteller of antiquity!
Born as a slave in ancient Greece – likely in the 7th
or 6th century BCE - Aesop was renowned for his cleverness, wisdom, and the
stories that encapsulated these traits. According to tradition, he gained his
freedom thanks to his intelligence and wit, and went on to travel around Greece
as a storyteller. Aesop's travels took him from Greece to Lydia (located in
what is now western Turkey), where he gained the high esteem and respect of
King Croesus, who appointed him as a counselor to the throne. His words, both
humorous and thought-provoking, were highly regarded by the king and his nobles
– who sought his counsel and advice on all matters, both trivial and serious.
Aesop had an uncanny ability to convey his thoughts
and observations through stories, using animal characters to make his points
with wit and wisdom. His fables, or stories, often made moral, ethical or
philosophical points through the actions of the characters — and even though
today we know them by their animal main characters, most of the stories in this
collection are actually about people and their human vices and virtues!
The fables of Aesop proved incredibly popular, and
their moral teachings found fertile ground all throughout Greek and Roman
culture of late antiquity. In time, they became one of the most famous
collections of animal fables known to humankind! But that's not all, of course.
Aesop remains immortal, even today – with his stories as popular as ever, and
often referenced in popular works and works of fiction!
“Growing up in the Groovy 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane”
By Elanor Pontifex, Staff Writer
The 1970s were a magical time to grow up. The fashion
was funky, the music was groovy, and the carefree spirit of the time seemed to
infect everything we did. From bell-bottom jeans to disco nights, the 70s were
full of style and vibrant culture. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of
the action, and everywhere you looked, there was something new to discover.
And the music of the 70s was unparalleled. The era of
disco, glam rock, and punk inspired some of the most iconic songs of all time.
We loved to sing along to the songs of the Bee Gees, Queen, and Fleetwood Mac.
Whenever one of our favorite songs came on the radio, we'd turn it up and sing
at the top of our lungs. The 70s was the decade of disco, and the energy and
excitement was infectious. Everywhere you went, you could hear the beat of that
funky music.
And we can't talk about the 70s without mentioning
the iconic TV shows and movies that everyone watched. Shows like The
Brady Bunch, Happy Days, and Wonder Woman
were all the rage. The movies from the 70s were amazing too. Who can forget
blockbusters like Jaws, Star Wars, and Grease?
Watching them in the theater on opening night was an experience we'll never
forget. The thrill of the big screen and the camaraderie of a group of friends
made those nights so special.
And let's not forget about our favorite TV toy
commercials! Who would have thought those toys would become collector's items
decades later? We would beg our parents to get us the latest toy crazes, like
Slinky, Speak & Spell, and the Easy-Bake Oven. We were obsessed with
everything from “Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots” to “Lite Brites” to hula hoops. We
spent hours playing with various toys and games in our backyard. And, of
course, we had to have all the latest toys and gadgets. I know some kids who
saved up their allowances every week to buy the Star Wars action
figures.
It was a simpler time in many ways, and the 70s was a
decade that had a sense of adventure and excitement around every corner. We
spent our summers roaming the streets on our bikes, and sometimes we didn't
come home for hours. When the streetlights started coming on, you'd better run
like crazy to get home on time.
The 70s was the decade of outdoor playgrounds, and we
spent countless hours swinging on jungle gyms and climbing monkey bars. We'd
play games like tag and hide-and-seek until twilight set in. Those were some of
my favorite childhood memories.
We spent more time outdoors than indoors, and we had
the scraped knees and mosquito bites to prove it. We'd come home covered in
dirt and with leaves in our hair, but we had the greatest time. Our
imaginations knew no bounds as we ran around like a bunch of wild kids.
Our favorite snacks were also unique to that era.
Remember Tang, Moon Pies, and Fun Dip? Those were a staple of any sleepover or
summer day spent playing tag. And don't forget about the sugary cereal aisle in
the grocery store. There were so many colorful boxes to choose from, and
somehow we always wanted the ones with the most artificial colors.
The 70s was also a time to make memories with family.
We looked forward to every Thanksgiving and Christmas because it meant one
thing — family time. Grandma would spend hours in the kitchen while we waited
in anticipation for our favorite holiday dishes. And when it was time to open
the presents, we'd all sit around the tree and take turns opening our gifts.
And how about those family road trips? They were the
best part of the summer, and the anticipation grew as we packed the station
wagons. We'd spend the whole time in the car singing along to the radio and
eating every snack in sight. Those were the best of times.
And let's not forget about the school supplies! Every
year, we'd get excited as we headed to the store to pick out new school
supplies. New pencils, workboxes, lunchboxes, notebooks, and Trapper Keepers
were a must-have for any school-bound student. We'd compare our new supplies to
our friends and make sure we had the coolest notebooks. We also enjoyed picking
up some of our favorite snacks, like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Fruit Roll Ups.
Oh, and don't even get me started on the slang words
that were all the rage back then. We had a whole bunch of words and phrases
that made us sound cool, like “groovy,” “far out,” “rad,” “cool,” and “killer.”
I still catch myself using some of those words on a regular basis. It's like my
brain is stuck in the 70s.
The 70s was a legendary era filled with incredible
memories. From the fashion craze to the groovy slang words, the coolest toys,
and the iconic TV commercials, it was a time to be remembered. The bell-bottom
jeans, platform shoes, and leisure suits, were all the rage during that decade.
And let's not forget about the iconic hair, with the shag cuts and side ponies,
and the big, voluminous hairdos. The fashion from the 70s made such an impact
that it still influences fashion even today.
“A Dream Voyage to Phaeacia”
By the Editor, Princess Nausicaa, 😊 and Gwyneth Haynes, Staff Writer
When I was in third grade, during the 1976-1977
school year, my class began to read condensed, age-appropriate versions of
classic tales in our Open Court reading textbooks. One story that really caught
my imagination was the Odyssey – the epic adventures of the Greek
hero Odysseus as he made his way home from the Trojan War. His voyage took him
to faraway lands, where he met enchantresses, monsters, and ghosts, but his
most meaningful encounter was with Nausicaa, a princess who dwelt on the island
of Phaeacia, somewhere in the open sea (presumably the Atlantic Ocean).
Classical scholars like Samuel Butler (in the 19th century) and Robert Graves
(in the 20th century) speculated that Nausicaa might have been the
author of the Urtext of the Odyssey, and that the epic
poem was adapted and expanded by Homer centuries later. Be that as it may, I
met Nausicaa in a lucid dream after reading a condensed version of the Odyssey
in third grade, and this is the way of it.
As my dream opened, I was adrift on the open sea in a
small boat with a single sail. The sea was wine-dark in color, as in Homer’s
epic poems. 😊 My little boat came aground on the beach of what appeared to be a
deserted island. Then a princess – Nausicaa herself – emerged from among the
palm trees at the edge of the beach to welcome me with open arms. She told me
that she was glad to see me, and she invited me to stay with her in her castle,
which was on the other side of the palm tree grove. So we set out together,
hand in hand, walking along a path through the palm tree grove. At last we came
to a low hill, where stood Nausicaa’s impressive castle, with fortifications, a
moat, and a drawbridge, too! The drawbridge was already down, as she was
evidently expecting my arrival.
We entered the castle’s courtyard, hand in hand, and
I saw people in period costumes moving around, doing a variety of tasks to keep
the castle in good order. Nausicaa greeted them graciously and announced that I
was her guest of honor. We then entered the spacious dining hall, where a
wooden table for two had been set near the fireplace. Nausicaa invited me to
sit down with her at the table, and she rang a bell to request that dinner be
served. We dined together, and we began to ask each other all sorts of
questions about our lives and our homes. She was gracious and kind in
everything she said and did. Then, when dinner was over and the table had been
cleared, Nausicaa asked a servant to bring her hand-held harp. When the harp
was delivered to her, she showed it to me and then began to gently pluck the
strings, testing to see if it had been tuned properly. Then she sang a
welcoming song to me:
“A Song of Welcome”
Sung by Princess Nausicaa to Me in My Dream
My castle rises by the wine-dark
sea.
I, Nausicaa, your welcome
sing,
On this day, may your
heart be free.
In the garden, I tended
flowers so fair,
Their fragrance filled
the air with their cheer.
The gods bestowed a voice
as my guide,
To sing the tales of our
ancient land, my dear.
Beyond the sea, your
journey afar
Has led you here, weary
but still aware.
Sit with me, let the wind
soothe your fears,
In the land where wisdom
and beauty appear.
In my hall, beneath the
starry night,
Sit with me, let the
firelight dance.
Tell me, my friend, why
you came here,
In the land where dreams and memories embrace.
I opened my heart to her then, telling how I had read about her in my reading textbook, and how I had longed to meet her in person. She told me that she had been expecting me, because Eirene, the priestess of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, had told her to expect a young stranger on the shore and to welcome him with open arms. It was getting late, so Nausicaa showed me to her guest room, next door to her own chambers upstairs. She sang me a sweet haiku lullaby as I fell asleep:
“Rest your weary mind.
The Lamp of Learning is
bright.
Your sleep will be sweet.”
The next day after breakfast, Nausicaa had her
chariot prepared, and she gave me a tour of her island. I saw palm tree groves,
gently rolling hills, sandy beaches, and a cave full of crystals that glowed in
the dark. We enjoyed a picnic lunch together on a flowering meadow, and then we
rode to the temple of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, which was in the village next
to the castle. At the temple, Nausicaa introduced me to Eirene, the priestess
who had foretold my coming, and Eirene received us graciously and gave us a tour
of the temple and its precincts, explaining the uses for the sacred furnishings
and the meanings of the statues and paintings of Athena that lined the walls of
the sanctuary. When it was time for the midafternoon service, Nausicaa and I
sat down on the steps leading up to the high altar while Eirene chanted this
hymn to Athena.
"A Song of Praise for Athena the Wise"
By Gwyneth Haynes, Staff Writer
A queen among the
divinities of Greece,
Athena rises, her
presence strong and clear,
Her mind a wellspring of
knowledge and esteem.
From her sacred temple on
the peaks of high Olympus,
The goddess surveys all
in her eternal gaze,
Her keen perception
piercing the veils of time,
Her wisdom a beacon, her
insight to the wise.
Athena, the strategist
unmatched,
Her mind a weapon of
cunning and might,
A master of the art of
war and of the state,
Her guidance sought by
mortals and gods alike.
The goddess of skills,
her hands skilled and swift,
Each touch a masterpiece
of craftsmanship unrivalled,
In weaving the threads of
creation and of life,
She crafts, like a
goddess, with wisdom and care.
The Moirae, the Fates, at
her loom do abide,
As with strands of life
they weave the mortal coil,
And while the threads of
life and death they entwine,
Athena, the weaver, the
pattern designs.
In wisdom, power, and
grace, Athena stands proud,
A beacon of enlightenment
shining forth,
The light of her knowledge
illuminating the path,
In this realm and the
beyond, guiding the way.
From her sacred grove,
the olive tree grows tall,
In Athens, the city of
wisdom and glory,
The emblem of the
goddess, its branches wide,
A symbol of wisdom, peace, and victory.
When the afternoon service had concluded, Nausicaa took me back to her castle in her chariot. She led me into her throne room, where (much to my surprise and delight) she knighted me as Sir Robert the Rhapsodist, betokening my budding interest in reading and writing poetry. Dinner was then served in the great dining hall. Once again, we dined together at the same table. It was a great honor to be speaking familiarly with a real princess! She told me that we would spend the next day in her great library, looking at books and reading stories together. I was so excited that I didn’t want to go to bed, but Nausicaa – by now my trusted friend – soothed me to sleep with another haiku lullaby:
“Rest, my princeling
friend.
Your dreams have brought
you here.
Sleep well, little one.”
The next day dawned, and I was awakened by the
cockcrow. After a hasty breakfast in the great dining hall, the princess led me
into her treasury – her vast personal library of books of lore! We spent most
of the day there, with the princess reading and telling stories to me. I was in
seventh heaven, because I loved nothing better than stories and reading – just
like I still do to this very day. She encouraged me to cultivate my love of
learning throughout my lifetime, with a special focus on the wisdom and lore of
the ancient world. And that I have done, most willingly and faithfully. We had
dinner again in the great dining hall, Nausicaa and I. When she told me that I
would need to sail back to the waking world the next day, I was genuinely sad,
but she assured me that my dream of her island would stay with me to inspire me
throughout my life, and that I would remember her always – even as she would
remember me always.
The next day dawned clear and bright, and after
breakfast in the great dining hall, Nausicaa drove me down to the beach in her
chariot. My small boat had been polished and shined by her attendants, and it
was ready to set sail. Nausicaa hugged me goodbye, and we parted with a
platonic kiss of eternal friendship. I set sail for the waking world, waving to
Nausicaa as the wind filled my sail and carried me away from Phaeacia. I woke
up in my own bed at home, marveling at all that I had seen and done in the
Dreamtime, and as the years have gone by, I have never forgotten Nausicaa and
Athena and the ancient world of heroes and adventures that they inhabit.
In this scene from my dream, Princess Nausicaa (at left) and I (at
right) are having dinner and conversation together in the great dining hall of
her castle on Phaeacia. (Digital artwork by the Editor.)
"A 1970s Throwback: An Elementary Schooler's Dino Daze"
By Ivy Elwanda, Staff Writer
Ah, the 1970s! When bell-bottoms were all the rage
and the airwaves were filled with hits from the likes of the Bee Gees and Sir Elton
John. It was also, of course, an exciting time in the world of dinosaurs! With Saturday
morning TV shows like Land of the Lost and the surge in dinosaur
toy popularity, young fans were completely bonkers for those prehistoric
reptiles!
Back in my elementary school days, dinosaur fever was
sweeping through the classrooms. My schoolmates and I bonded over our shared
fascination, trading dinosaur stickers, comparing dinosaur toys, and debating
which dinosaur was the coolest. Who needs gym class when you've got dinosaur
playtime?!
Popular culture was inundated with dinosaurs during
this era. Land of the Lost was a hit TV show that transported us
to a world of living, breathing dinosaurs. And those dinosaur toys! We all
wanted the ultimate collection, from the fearsome T-Rex to the majestic
Brontosaurus. In fact, I remember one holiday season where my entire wish list
was just dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and more dinosaurs!
Even educational material got in on the trend. We had
dinosaur encyclopedias filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating
facts. Schools had special units on dinosaurs, with teachers doing their best
to keep up with our unbridled dino enthusiasm. It was the ultimate intersection
of pop culture and education, and we soaked it all up like eager little dino
sponges.
The impact of dinosaur mania was not limited to toys
and screens, though. Paleontology was seeing a boom in interest, and the public
became more curious about the scientific field. This period inspired a whole generation
of future paleontologists, myself included!
Looking back, those elementary school days filled
with dinosaur excitement were truly special. We were lucky to be part of a
generation where pop culture and science intersected with such flair. The
memories of dino-themed toys, TV shows, and discussions with buddies will
always be a cherished part of my childhood. And if you ask me, dinosaurs are
still as cool today as they were back in the 1970s!
Ivy, the author of the foregoing article about the “dinomania” of the
1970s, is showing us her painting on canvas of a Stegosaurus in authentic
prehistoric scenery. (Digital image processed by the Editor.)
“When Dinosaurs Dream”
By Jill Prydain, Staff Writer
They do not roar or
fight,
For dreams have a
different kind of night;
A world in slumber,
A place where fears can
flee,
Where dinosaurs can rest,
And they can be.
They walk through
dream-filled lands,
Where rivers seem to
sing,
And mountains rise;
A place where fear's not
strong,
And dinosaur-dreams go
long,
And grow to greater
things.
They fly through
dreamscapes,
Over forests, lakes, and
seas,
Exploring places strange,
A world unseen -
Where dinosaur dreams
bring peace,
And fears of day are
eased.
They dance with laughter,
In fields of
dream-flowers,
Where sun and moon shine
bright,
And dinosaur-dreams take
flight,
To places where fears
have died in light.
They run with joy,
With no thought of prey;
In dinosaur-dreams they
play,
In a world so far from
night,
Where worries shrink and
shrink in size,
And their fears lose
their vice.
Their hearts are light as
feather,
In these dream-fields
they roam,
With none to stop them
here,
In dinosaur-dreams so
clear,
Where the worst the dream
world brings are tears,
And in their hearts grow
wings
Of freedom. Peace, and
peace, and more.
“Echoes of a Shared Past: A Tribute to Zion Lutheran School”
By Lisa Romenor, Staff Writer
With laughter,
friendship, and dreams that we wove.
The joy of learning and
play, the love we all glowed;
Our bond was strong, we'd
make sure it showed.
Those moments we shared,
in our hearts they do dwell,
A time of innocence, when
life was a fairytale.
“The Love of Learning”
By Willa Kirk-Novalis, Staff Writer
Like a flaming torch,
burning bright and true;
With each new lesson, my
mind expands:
A cosmic dance of
knowledge on the page.
With every page turned
and every word read,
I find myself drawn
deeper in
By the siren song of
insight and truth –
A journey of discovery,
endless and grand.
The Bardic Gorsedd
An Original Poem by Viviana Rivera & Rhiannon
Blythe, Staff Writers
In the realm of dreams, our mind takes flight
Into a world of wonder, where stories unite
And endless possibilities, like a rainbow bright
Awaken the creative muse inside just right
Imaginations run wild with every night
Creating worlds of wonder, like a brilliant light
In dreams, our inner child comes alive and bright
And the creative spark within us shines just right
In the silence of slumber, ideas take shape
And the creative muse begins to take its place
Our dreams reveal worlds of fantasy and hope
As the Muse whispers gently, "Create, let nothing
lapse"
The Muse inspires us, opening doors of chance
To new worlds, ideas, and creative romances
It encourages us to dream and to take a stance
And to let our imagination and inspiration dance
The Muse is always with us, day and night
Guiding us to places far too bright
In our dreams, inspirations come take flight
Inspiring our creative fire, like a brilliant light
In the realm of dreams, the Muse invites
With her presence, like a gentle kite
She guides our thoughts, and she guides our sight
Leading us to new creative heights
In this dance of dreams and creative bliss
The Muse is our partner, and the rhythm is just right
She encourages us and keeps us in its kiss
Inspiring us to reach for the stars in flight
The Muse doesn't judge, she only inspires
Unleashing our creative fire in higher spheres
With her, we feel free to create and to aspire
To express our inner world, letting our light shine
brighter
The Muse reminds us to never conform
To follow our passions, to create and transform
She encourages us to use our creative norm
And to turn our dreams into reality, to make them warm
Catena Aurea (The Golden
Chain)
By Tamsin Lambengolmo, Staff Writer
Here's a quote from Plato's dialogue Ion, where Socrates talks about the role of the Muses in inspiration and creativity:
"The Muses make men become poets, and not poets the Muses."
This quote highlights the idea that the Muses, or the divine sources of
inspiration, are the ultimate creators of poetic and artistic genius. They are
the ones who inspire and infuse their gifts into the minds of mortals, such as
poets and artists, who then become vessels for their wisdom and beauty. The
Muses are the sources of artistic inspiration, not the other way around.
Here's a Chinese Taoist proverb that speaks to the connection between dreams and creativity:
"In emptiness and silence, all things are at peace. In stillness and clarity, the mind is open to all possibilities."
In this quote, the concept of emptiness and silence represents the
potential and receptivity of the mind. When the mind is still and open, it
becomes a fertile ground for creativity to flourish. Dreams, in their nature,
often occur in a state of stillness and receptivity.
This Taoist
perspective holds that dreams and creativity both arise from a place of
stillness and receptivity within the mind. While dreaming, the mind is in a
unique state, neither fully awake nor completely asleep. This liminal state
allows for greater openness to new ideas, emotions, and insights, which can
later shape creative endeavors.
Furthermore,
dreams often tap into the subconscious mind, accessing thoughts, feelings, and
experiences that are not always immediately accessible during waking hours.
This connection to the subconscious can provide fertile ground for artistic
expression and innovation.
Sapientia Borealis
(Northern Wisdom)
By Toni
Thorvald, Staff Writer
Here's a quote from the Gesta Danorum, a chronicle of Danish history written by Saxo Grammaticus in the 12th century.
"Dreams are the mind's wanderings in the realm of the gods, and they often bring wisdom and insight that cannot be apprehended in waking hours." – Gesta Danorum (1.4)
This quote beautifully captures the idea that dreams can serve as
a gateway to insight and understanding beyond our ordinary awareness. It
suggests that the mind can access a higher level of wisdom and guidance in our
dreams, as if we are stepping into the realm of the gods who possess deeper
wisdom and knowledge.
This concept
ties in well with the idea of creativity as a flow state where we are able to
tap into our subconscious mind and access a deeper level of inspiration and
insight. Essentially, the quote suggests that dreams can be a source of
creativity and inspiration.
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