Hi Rhyd. Love your writing. At nearly 87 I went through the Second World War as a kid in London We got bombed out twice but lived to tell the tale. The immediate aftermath was a time of hope and rebuilding. Then came the 60s when all the promises for a better time ahead were broken one after another. An example: North sea gas was discovered and we were promised a 35 hour week, the gas would be free. That never happened. Thatcher privatised everything for the benefit of shareholders promising the average Joe who bought shares he would make a killing in the market. The majority of shares were snapped up by the big financial conglomerates. Prior to this successive governments had sold off the family jewels with the promise this would make lives better for the average person. The governments did not tell the public it was to pay off massive dept. I wont deny that people have a better material life but spiritually society is bereft. I could go on but you most probably know this anyway. As I am looking down the mountain my fears are for my grand and great grandkids. Kind regards, Richard.
Beautifully put Rhyd and the possibility of the re weaving of fate is so important to recognise ; and FairPlay to you for being open to responding to the opportunities given you to reweave fate in your own life . Respect !
It is such a hopeful thought too with regard to the world and our place in it for we know not how it will play out as George Monbiot was writing today in the Guardian .we mustn’t give in to despair for it is self fulfilling , but believe instead in the reweaving of our fate and that of all our kin and the planet we inhabit, which is suffering so cruelly from our abuse .
Monotheistic fate as final decree and the polytheistic version, revisable through pleading, trickery, and intervention, aren't just two theologies. They're two completely different instructions for how to relate to your own worst circumstances.
Oh, fate! More and more, I've thought less about how to slip the web of fate (is that even possible? Ask Jocasta and Laius, I suppose) and more how to respond to it. Perhaps fate is the set-up, and we have a chance of writing the punchline or just, unconsciously, becoming it.
Lovely, and so hopeful, thank you. 💕 Also, I'd like to say, as a-heathen-from-a-Catholic-country (but living in a Lutheran country) that my observation is that people do commiserate with the poor people and do try to help; I feel there is less loathing for them than in Calvinist societies, perhaps. But then my adopted Protestant, Nordic country is like....pray, work and DO NOT EVER appear better than the others! Quite tiring, really.
This corresponds wildly with things I have thought about lately. Superb piece, Rhyd. Thank you.
Hi Rhyd. Love your writing. At nearly 87 I went through the Second World War as a kid in London We got bombed out twice but lived to tell the tale. The immediate aftermath was a time of hope and rebuilding. Then came the 60s when all the promises for a better time ahead were broken one after another. An example: North sea gas was discovered and we were promised a 35 hour week, the gas would be free. That never happened. Thatcher privatised everything for the benefit of shareholders promising the average Joe who bought shares he would make a killing in the market. The majority of shares were snapped up by the big financial conglomerates. Prior to this successive governments had sold off the family jewels with the promise this would make lives better for the average person. The governments did not tell the public it was to pay off massive dept. I wont deny that people have a better material life but spiritually society is bereft. I could go on but you most probably know this anyway. As I am looking down the mountain my fears are for my grand and great grandkids. Kind regards, Richard.
Our situation might be tough or our circumstances unchangeable, but how we respond to them is all on us.
Beautifully put Rhyd and the possibility of the re weaving of fate is so important to recognise ; and FairPlay to you for being open to responding to the opportunities given you to reweave fate in your own life . Respect !
It is such a hopeful thought too with regard to the world and our place in it for we know not how it will play out as George Monbiot was writing today in the Guardian .we mustn’t give in to despair for it is self fulfilling , but believe instead in the reweaving of our fate and that of all our kin and the planet we inhabit, which is suffering so cruelly from our abuse .
Monotheistic fate as final decree and the polytheistic version, revisable through pleading, trickery, and intervention, aren't just two theologies. They're two completely different instructions for how to relate to your own worst circumstances.
Beautiful!!
This is so good.
Oh, fate! More and more, I've thought less about how to slip the web of fate (is that even possible? Ask Jocasta and Laius, I suppose) and more how to respond to it. Perhaps fate is the set-up, and we have a chance of writing the punchline or just, unconsciously, becoming it.
Beautiful essay, thank you.
Lovely, and so hopeful, thank you. 💕 Also, I'd like to say, as a-heathen-from-a-Catholic-country (but living in a Lutheran country) that my observation is that people do commiserate with the poor people and do try to help; I feel there is less loathing for them than in Calvinist societies, perhaps. But then my adopted Protestant, Nordic country is like....pray, work and DO NOT EVER appear better than the others! Quite tiring, really.