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Tag: existential givens

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Existential Moment series

The Existential Moment – The Ides of March

Historically, “The Ides of March” is best known as the date, March 15, 44 BC, when a group of Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, assassinated Julius Caesar. The event marked a significant turning point in Roman history, leading to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Over time, “The Ides of March” became a metaphor for impending doom or betrayal, mainly due to the cultural impact of Shakespeare’s play. Now, the term can be used in various contexts as a reminder of the unpredictability of fate and the potential for sudden, unexpected, and tragic changes in life’s circumstances. It urges caution and awareness of potential dangers lurking around what might seem like any other day.

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March 1, 2024
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Existential Moment series

The Existential Moment – On Freedom and Responsibility

Unfairly imprisoned for 27 years in apartheid-ruled South Africa, Nelson Mandela refused to succumb to the chains of victimhood, blame, and rage, instead embracing the powerful message of self-mastery and determination of the poem “Invictus.” For Mandela, “Invictus,” meaning “unconquered” in Latin, was a guiding light of inner freedom in dark times of brutality, isolation, and hopelessness. The mindset helped turn a prison into a crucible of resilience and a man into a beacon of inspiration of hope, forgiveness, and unwavering strength

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August 1, 2023
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The Existential Moment: Acknowledge Death

“…it is he who is dead and not I.” 

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is a powerful exploration of mortality. Through the story of Ivan Ilyich, a successful and respected lawyer, Tolstoy portrays the tragedy of a life lived without acknowledging the certainty of one’s own death. Instead, as articulated in the quote, denial is a staunch ally in the process: others die, not me.

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May 1, 2023

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