"Askesis" is a Greek term that I am quite fond of. Perhaps the most literal translation of the word is "shaping of the self," although that does not quite capture its essence. Indeed, a definition of the word must necessarily allude to the introverted and contemplative process that a person must go through to experience "askesis." Thus, Askesis is a sort of spiritual exercise. Personally, I believe the word is also closely tied to the term "periagoge," or the turning around of the soul. The latter comes from the allegory of the cave in Plato's Republic. It is this "turning around" that allows a person to have the necessary perspective to experience that process of self-transformation or "askesis". I'm here reminded of Pico Della Mirandola as well, the fifteenth century humanist philosopher who said man has the capacity to rise to the status of the angels. And then there's Nietzsche's concept of the "Ubermensch" or overman. It seems the Western tradition has always been fascinated with the idea of re-inventing man and re-shaping him, sometimes even literally.
What I ask myself is, where do I go from here? What chameleon-like feature will I adopt now? And, can I really choose?
Snapshots from the "Forajidos" who brought down from power Ecuador's president last wednesday:
Tuesday I had a rather solemn moment: I was at the entrance to Congress when the bells form the Cathedral across the street started tolling incessantly. All the pigeons that were in the square started flying in circles while people repeated to themselves, "habemus papam, habemus papam." It was a moment charged with all sorts of symbolism.
Then, yesterday my dad called me to my cell. He was ecstatic: the government in Ecuador had been overthrown thanks to the mobilization of the civil population. By yesterday afternoon, Ecuador's eighth president within a ten years period had been sworn in.
And me, well, I'm just rolling with the zeitgeist.
There must be something truly narcissistic about keeping a blog. I mean, let's face it: a blog is basically like keeping a public diary...it's like, "look everyone, I am interesting!" And then there's the basic assumption that people will actually want to read your blog. Well, I must be a true narcissist, because here I am writing for everyone in the entire world wide web to peek in.
Truth is, when I first thought about starting a blog I saw it as a way to promote my music. Thing is, it's been about two years since I've been trying to record my music and I still have nothing to show for. So I have the blog, just not the music. The question then is: what do I want to write about? I guess I'll figure that as I go along.
A few months ago I thought about starting a diary (yes, I guess this thing might turn out to be a diary after all). Thing is, I just could not find the will to write. So the assumption here is that my vanity will be stronger than my laziness, so that if I manage to convince myself that someone is actually reading this, then I'll force myself to write.
Well, that's it for now.
ONE LOVE.
In the beginning there was nothing...
