Small Fires

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Gracian and the Shadows of Heaven

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Baltasar Gracian, the 17th century Jesuit, wrote a manual of practical philosophy called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom," which was highly regarded by Schopenhauer. In aphorism 205 (in the Christopher Maurer translation), Gracian writes on the benefits of scorn: One way to get things is to scorn them. When you look for them, they aren't there, and later, without your trying, they come running. Earthly things are the shadows of heavenly ones, and they behave like shadows; they flee when you pursue them and chase you when you flee them. He goes on to speak of scorn as a weapon, and to advise people to ignore their critics -- but this seems a serious change in tone. He refers to scorn as "the shrewdest way to seek revenge." At first he writes of a way to achieve your goals through a kind of unconscious state of retirement -- like Mozart playing billiards to take his mind off music, which often resulted in intense flashes of inspiration. But Gracian goes from achieving ...
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Ariadne's Thread

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At the lowest point of my job search, I was half-listening to an audio recording of a Joseph Campbell book, and focused in on a discussion of Ariadne's thread. I didn't hear the words with any precision, but I grabbed what later proved to be a useful idea. The hero Theseus rescues himself from the darkness, from the maze, not the grand act of killing the minotaur, but by following Ariadne's thread -- the barely perceptable. glimmer of guidance in the dark.  At the time, my job search had been completely pointness. I was broke and was sending out 10 or 12 job applications a day, while working as a substitute teacher. I couldn't pay my bills. And I had started the job search from a low point to begin with: burned out, bitter. In short, I had started low and remained there.  The idea of Ariadne's thread stuck with me, and I would repeat to myself frequently, like a mantra. Just follow Ariadne's thread. There will be no grand signs, no burning bushes, no...
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A Tea House of the Mind

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Prior to the pandemic, I had an impractical fantasy -- to one day own a Japanese-style jazz cafe. Instead of alcohol, I would serve tea in the Chinese manner (from a specialized ceramic vessel, with multiple infusions). If you don't know anything about these cafes, there are small bars (kissa) generally featuring an exceptional stereo system and a curated collection of records. The music doesn't even have to be jazz. There are jazz cafes featuring rock, noise, classical. Here, patrons sip high-end whisky while the owner smokes cigarettes in the corner. The mood is reverent and contemplative. No one speaks more than a few words. They listen. Or so I imagine. I’ve never been to one. I’ve read they’re becoming a thing of the past. It would never work in this country. It’s hard to imagine a silent space where people listen rather than speak. But I had an idea. I began to put together a nice stereo system, buying used components after researching how best to go about the tas...
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