I have been a self-directed learner for a long time. The way I pushed myself through school was via convincing myself that everything would eventually be relevant to my creative writing. In 2019, after listening to the grades episode of The Happiness Lab podcast, I processed a lot of feelings (anger, regret, sorrow) about my … Continue reading Learning Plans and a Few Recommended Readings
Tag: polytheistic philosophy
A Miscellany of Quotations — More from Proclus’ v.1 commentary on the Timaeus
In June, I finished reading Volume 1 of Proclus’ commentary on Plato’s Timaeus. My copy (the translation by Tarrant) is now filled with marginal notes and heavily underlined, some of the notes in all caps, others paragraphs that spilled over the seams of the margin to end in the whitespace at the bottom or top … Continue reading A Miscellany of Quotations — More from Proclus’ v.1 commentary on the Timaeus
Four Drops of Bay Oil
four drops of bay oil three together, the fourth alonecircling as they twistedsmaller circle inspirallinguntil they pressed together in contactlike prayer hummingwithin the mindlight descending victorious When I prayed this morning, the drops of bay oil I gave to Apollon caught the light, three grouped together, the fourth alone. I watched the smaller bit inspiral … Continue reading Four Drops of Bay Oil
A Miscellany of Quotations — Proclus and Aguirre
This post is mostly about reading Proclus' Timaeus commentary in translation, with a bit of modern science writing thrown into the mix. It all works out harmoniously.
Commonplace Book: More From Proclus’ Commentary on the Myth of Er
A batch of quotations (in French) from Proclus' essay on the Myth of Er, selected because they're very interesting. One of them is a reincarnation story.
Commonplace Book: Proclus, Hermias
I haven't done a Commonplace Book post in a while, so here's another one. First, I have a book recommendation: If you like my commonplace book posts, which are heavy on Platonism and especially Proclus right now because that's who I'm reading, you will love Chlup's Proclus: An Introduction. There is a lower-priced paperback or … Continue reading Commonplace Book: Proclus, Hermias
Eumenideia 699.3
The Eumenideia starts at sundown on 20 February this year (27 Anthesterion). Before I get meandering, here are the basics: Make some cakes. They can have many humps; they can be smooth on top. It depends on whether you are working with something that holds its shape. I steam soft rice cakes and drizzle honey … Continue reading Eumenideia 699.3
A Miscellany of Quotations — Olympiodorus, Aristotle, Bryant, Proclus
In late December, I found out that we have Olympiodorus' writings about Plato and the Alcibiades in ebook format while I was juggling tasks at work. Because I compulsively do full text searches for Apollôn every time I encounter a Platonic philosopher (or, like, just happen to open up to the part of a text … Continue reading A Miscellany of Quotations — Olympiodorus, Aristotle, Bryant, Proclus
Some Quotations from Damascius
I finished reading Damascius' Lectures on the Philebus. Why does the Cause associate itself with the mixture? Because the mixture is all-embracing, while the Cause itself is all things. For what is simple cannot comprehend its power, which, transcending unity, comprises all things in an ineffable way. For this reason the divine Iamblichus says that it … Continue reading Some Quotations from Damascius
