Rethinking Life

Rethinking Treasure Hunts

2008-07-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last week, my family and I went to Amelia Island, Florida for a relaxing vacation. The days were spent floating in the soothing waves of the Atlantic, collecting shells along the beach, swimming in the resort pools, and hunting for treasure. Hunting for treasure? Yes...treasure hunting!

We went out to walk along the shore during the final night of our vacation. I had told the boys earlier in the day that Pirates sometimes come out at night to bury their gold! Being five and three, they were ecstatic! What the boys didn't know was that I had buried several piles of "pirate coins" along the way...each marked with an "X." When the boys saw an X with their flashlights, they would scream with excitement and run to dig up the treasure. You would have thought they won the lottery! Watching the joy they were experiencing filled me with that sense of wonder that I thought I had lost all those years ago. That night the boys fell asleep on a pullout bed with dreams of pirate treasure and the waves of the sea floating through their innocent minds.

As we grow older, the mystery and excitement of life seems to fade, doesn't it? An "X" in the sand of the shore is simply...a letter. The joy we once felt at the discovery of something new is swept away by the cares of this world. Sometimes I wonder if we as adults have it all wrong. Maybe my sons are the ones who have figured out the secret to life. What do you think?

Rethinking Coldplay II

2008-07-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends. - Coldplay

I couldn't have said it better myself...

Does anybody have any thoughts on these lyrics from "Death and All of His Friends?"

Rethinking Coldplay

2008-06-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

I finally picked up a copy of the new Coldplay CD, Viva La Vida. I've always enjoyed the way Coldplay starts a song slow and mellow and then allows it to rise to a powerful and emotional crescendo. I tend to find one or two songs on an album that really speak to me and listen to them over and over again. The lyrics to the song Viva La Vida have been drawing my attention lately. It's a good idea to pay attention to the things you pay attention to. The lyrics are below...

I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemies eyes Listen as the crowd would sing: "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

When things are going well in our lives, we feel like we are on top of the world. We feel invincible. But, when adversity rears its ugly head, we suddenly feel helpless. The earth quakes beneath our feet.

One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

"My castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand." Adversity makes us look beneath our "castles" to see what under girds them. What are the castles in your life? Your career? Your looks? What are the things that define who you are? Are they what is most true about you?

I'll write more about this song later...it's getting late.

Rethinking Challenges II

2008-06-21T11:20:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, I have been participating in the National Advisory Board for O2Max Fitness, an organization in Santa Monica, CA, that is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles among teens in the area and around the country. This summer, O2Max Fitness will be offering opportunities for teens to get into shape over the summer, including:

Six-week summer fitness camp for teens
Beat the Freshman Fifteen program
Sunday workouts in the park
Pre-season high school sports program

Remember, your mind, spirit, AND body are integral parts of who you are. We need to be mindful of each part of the whole. Don't miss these great offerings! Even if you don't live in the Santa Monica area, you can still participate in O2Max Fitness online.

Rethinking Paths

2008-06-12T20:12:00.001-07:00

Yes there are two paths you can go by... - Led Zeppelin

The more I think about it, the more I realize that our every thought, word, and action brings us one step further down a road that leads to either life...or destruction. Do your thoughts dwell on the negative? Are you consumed with worry or fear? Anger perhaps? Those are all normal emotions depending upon various life circumstances, so look at patterns in your thought life over a period of time. Are your thoughts leading to life or to destruction?

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart... - Matthew 15:18

Pay attention to the words you speak. Do they encourage others or do they spread doubt and fear? Do your words bring people together or do they sow division?

What do your actions tell you about the road you're on? Are your actions destructive? Take a moment to reflect upon what you do. Play your actions out over the course of time. Will they lead to blessing and life or will they lead to death? So often we cruise through life without ever considering where we are headed. There is hope in all of this though. It's not too late.

...but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on - Led Zeppelin

Rethinking the Abyss

2008-04-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. - Joseph Campbell

This quote has been on my mind as of late. We all have an abyss of sorts, don't we? Some dark place that we know exists, but we fear going down there. Could it be that our darkest abyss is in fact a doorway that opens to a world we were made for?

We tend to view our abyss as our destruction, but in reality, it may lead to our salvation. What do you think?

Rethinking Pets

2008-03-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

Perry Farrell, the former lead singer of Jane's Addiction, wrote a song years ago entitled "Pets." I happened to hear it again on XM radio the other day. The song itself pokes fun at our seeming inability to manage our lives, as well as our knack for destroying ourselves and our world. Some of the lyrics are explicit (inappropriate lines have been omitted), but the key lines are shown below:

will there be another race to come along and take over for us?
maybe martians could do better than we've done
we'll make great pets!
my friend says we're like the dinosaurs only we are doing ourselves in much faster than they ever did
we'll make great pets!

I know the song was meant in jest, but it got me thinking...(which is sometimes a dangerous thing :) What are some characteristics of a pet? Do you think we would "make great pets?" It sounds like a strange question, but stay with it. It may reveal some important insights about what it means to be human.

Rethinking Challenges

2008-03-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

As human beings, we are made up of body, mind, and spirit. Sometimes we devote our energy and time to building our minds, but neglect our bodies. Often, we exercise the body, but forget the mind and spirit. To be whole, we need to care for all three areas of our existence. O2 Max Fitness, an organization I support in Santa Monica, California, is doing some great things to encourage teens to take a more active role in their own health and fitness.

O2 Max Fitness will be sponsoring "O2 MAX PROM /SUMMER SHAPE-UP CHALLENGE: A 3-month fitness challenge designed to get teens looking and feeling great just in time for Prom and Summer season." Plus, you'll have the chance to win some terrific prizes for prom. And the best part is that you don't have to live in Santa Monica to enter - all you have to do is go to their Web site, enter "The Challenge," then download the workouts each week and blog about your progress on the O2 MAX site. You can find more information about The Challenge on their website at
www.O2MAXfitness.com.

Rethinking Prince Harry

2008-02-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man. - Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces

This afternoon, news broke on the Drudge Report that Prince Harry has been serving with British troops in Afghanistan, and has even taken part in gun battles (photos). The young prince is third in line to the throne of the English monarchy. I remember reading news stories about his intention to serve in Iraq, and the ultimate decision to keep him out of combat due to fears that al Qaeda or an insurgent group would attempt to kill or kidnap the prince. Why would someone with so much to lose enlist in the fight against a deadly and ruthless foe? The answer has its roots deep in the masculine soul...

To some of my female readers, this may seem like machismo, but there is a ferocity, a wildness, and need for battle that surges just beneath the surface of man's outer life. In our modern, civilized world, men tend to feel, well...tame. If you have ever watched a tiger pacing back in forth in a cage at a zoo, you'll get a tiny inkling of what many men feel on a daily basis. There is a boredom that comes from feeling trapped in the machine of the average life. They wake up in the morning, go to work, manage accounts, try to keep the peace in their families, and after watching the news, fall asleep and dream about adventure.

Every man (and woman) experiences a call to adventure, to set out on a journey that will test our beliefs and our limits. Whether we accept the call or bury our hearts in the monotony of busyness makes all the difference in the world. Prince Harry has embarked on his own Hero's Journey. It may cost him his life, which would devastate a family that has already suffered much grief. I ask you, though, what is the alternative to following your heart?

When you have a moment, read The Initiation of Perseus.

Rethinking Music

2008-02-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

Music is powerful...isn't it? It has the ability to stir our souls in ways few things can. Like story, music is another language of the heart. It conveys truth in a way that is once beautiful and powerful.

The New York Philharmonic recently had the opportunity to play in Pyongyang, North Korea. The communist North Korea, sometimes referred to as the "Hermit Nation," is one of the most closed societies on our planet. Inside this tiny country, the views toward the West range from suspicion to hostility. The video clip below shows American musicians playing alongside their North Korean counterparts in a wonderful display of harmony and grace.

Truth and beauty, carried along by music, can penetrate even the most closed system. What a powerful metaphor for what can happen in our own lives and hearts when we open up to the beauty that is all around us. Opening up is a risk, but one that can change things in ways you never dreamed possible!

Rethinking Starbucks

2008-02-25T12:21:00.001-08:00

Myth and symbol surround us. Echoes of the ancients still ring in our modern ears. The yearning for the spiritual and mystical is ingrained in our hearts, despite our immersion in the modern, secular, world. Let's look at an example...

Starbucks has been in the news quite a bit lately. Reported layoffs, financial woes, and temporary store closing Tuesday, have caused people to question this powerful Seattle coffee icon. The Starbucks logo is one of the most familiar corporate images anywhere in the world. What most coffee-drinkers don't know is that this mysterious female image depicted on the logo has its roots in the ancient past.

To better understand what we're talking about, it would be helpful to take a look at the evolution of the Starbucks logo over the years. Here is the current logo:

Here is the logo as it used to appear:

Here is the original logo pre-1987:

The image shown is that of a mythical mermaid-type creature, known as a melusine.

A melusine is a figure of European legends and folklore, a feminine spirit of fresh waters in sacred springs and rivers.

She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish (much like a mermaid) from the waist down. She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails or both, and sometimes referred to as a nixie (source: Wikipedia).

Here are some examples of the melusine from the past. If you look carefully, I'm sure you'll see the resemblence to the current Starbucks logo. The legend of the melusine was first told in 1394 in France. Take a moment and read the tale for yourself. Here is a collection of mermaid/melusine legends from across Europe, compiled by a University of Pittsburgh professor.

Myth and symbol are all around us...

Rethinking Eclipses II

2008-02-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

As I stood outside in the freezing cold winter night, staring up at the night sky, I came to a profound realization. Even though science clearly explains the cause of a lunar eclipse, it can never explain away the mystery and awe of experiencing one. Watching the moon slowly being overcome by the shadow of the Earth briefly reminded me of just how small we are. We go about our days, consumed with our worries and cares as if they were the center of the universe. I think it is good to be reminded that our little stories are a part of a much larger story. On a heart level, it gives us a different vantage point (if only for a moment) from which to view our existence.

View some fantastic photos of the lunar eclipse from around the world!

And still more...

Rethinking Antarctica

2008-02-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

Out of whose womb came the ice?, And the hoary frost of Heaven, who hath gathered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. - Job 38:29-30

It's been called a barren wasteland of ice and snow. The Antarctic explorer, Douglas Mawson, once wrote, "We had discovered an accursed country. We had found the Home of the Blizzard."

As with any story, however, things are not always as they seem...

Apparantly, scientists have discovered that beneath the waters of the frozen wasteland exists a wonderland of life. Amazing and mysterious new life forms have been found in the icy depths, including giant sea spiders and huge worms.

See a photo gallery of these amazing new animals!

Rethinking Eclipses

2008-02-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

Both lunar and solar eclipses were viewed in ancient times with a mixture of fear and superstition. The shadow of the Earth passing over the moon often gave an ancient viewer the impression that the moon was being swallowed or eaten by a great serpent. The ancients could predict eclipses, but had no real understanding of why they occurred. It was truly a time of mystery and magic.

Read an interesting article regarding the February 21st reappearance of a lunar eclipse that allegedly saved the life of Christopher Columbus over five hundred years ago.

The video below explains the science behind a lunar eclipse.

When can you see Wednesday's lunar eclipse? Click your time zone below:

Eclipse Diagram for AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for CST (Central Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for MST (Mountain Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for AST (Alaska Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for HST (Hawaiian Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT +1 (Greenwich Mean Time + 1 Hour)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT +2 (Greenwich Mean Time + 2 Hours)

View a chart detailing lunar eclipses to come over the next few years.

Rethinking Apocalypto

2008-02-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to watching Apocalypto last night. As an ancient history teacher, I immediately noticed several historical inaccuracies, however, the story ultimately captured me. Looking at the story through the lens of myth and ritual masculine initiation, it was very powerful.

Jaguar Paw, the Mayan hero, is taken against his will from the wildness of his jungle home, by an invading horde, and sets out on a forced journey to be sacrificed. One by one, the men chosen for the ritual Mayan sacrifice are dragged through a corrupt and chaotic Yucatan city. They are marched to the top of the pyramid and their hearts are cut out and offered up to the Mayan gods.

Civilization does this to the masculine soul, doesn't it? It civilizes a man and in essence, rips his heart out. Just like Jaguar Paw, we need to risk the pain, the wounds, and death to flee the things in life that kill our hearts. His heart was in the deep forest, his heart was with his wife and sons. The journey revealed the true meaning of his name, Jaguar Paw. Though dead, he united with his father in spirit and became one with the wild. The symbols and story were very powerful and bore real substance.

Rethinking Chaos

2008-02-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

We plan and prepare, control and design, and still something goes wrong. Something ends up backwards. We plan a wonderful family outing, and then someone gets sick. A marathon runner paces his race perfectly, finds himself in a position to win, then slips and falls on the finish line. We invade a nation in order to free its people from the grip of tyranny, only to realize that they don't want us there. You arrange for a lovely, romantic evening for two, and then a bitter argument ensues. We try to bring a little bit of order to the chaos in our lives and the chaos always seems to break loose and we end up with an inverted night sky. What is going on here anyway? Could we be missing something? The answers may be all around us in plain sight.

Download a copy of Jay D'Ambrosio's new eBook for only $0.49 from Amazon.com.

Rethinking Book Signings

2008-01-31T19:36:00.001-08:00

Saturday, February 9th, 2008 I'll be doing a book signing and giving a brief talk at Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The topic of my discussion will be making meaningful connections with adolescents through story.

You can purchase a copy of Rethinking Adolescence: Using Story to Navigate Life's Uncharted Years (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006) here.

Get directions to the Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Rethinking Unresolved Issues II

2008-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ajax went to his doom, his ire toward Odysseus unquenched and issues unresolved. Death appears indiscriminate at times, not caring whether a person has made peace with others in his or her life. Death takes those who are in harmony with others and also those who are not. A student might be angry with a person for dying. The goblins that can plague a teen who has experienced a death under these circumstances are known as Bitterness and Resentment.

This can be particularly difficult in cases of suicide or drug overdose—situations that could have been avoided. But whatever the circumstances, the question remains, Can the living make peace with the dead?

Rethinking Unresolved Issues

2008-01-20T12:58:00.000-08:00

As Odysseus encountered the ghosts of great and mighty figures throughout history, one stood out as aloof and bitter. It was the red and skeletal ghost of a former comrade at Troy, the powerful Ajax. This ghost scowled at Odysseus and cursed him. Following the death of Achilles, there had been a dispute among the Greek commanders as to who should rightfully inherit his armor. Ajax had laid claim to the armor, but Odysseus challenged him. The matter was settled, and Ajax was denied the armor of Achilles. In a furious rage, Ajax took his own life, knowing that he could never possess the raiment of the mighty Greek hero.

How does bitterness and resentment creep into our lives? What can we do about it?

Rethinking Life After Death

2008-01-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Life Continues

As the ghosts in Hades presented themselves to Odysseus, one in particular stood out from the rest. It was his mother, Anticlea. There, in the land of the dead, Odysseus finally realized that he had been absent from his family’s life for nearly fifteen years. The grief gripped him in a powerful way. He inquired of his mother the condition of his home in Ithaca and of his wife and son. He had a strong desire to know how his father was faring and the manner of his mother’s death. As his mother relayed the news from home, the Greek king fell into agony, understanding that to his family he was thought dead and that he had missed out on much of life.

When we stop to visit the graves of the loved ones that have passed on before us, it is difficult not to consider the living we have done since their passing. Births, graduations, marriages, and other major life events come and go, with the deceased individual apparently missing it all. This can provoke very powerful feelings of sorrow in those who are still here. It is no different for adolescents who lose someone special.

A student who loses a beloved grandmother, for instance, might have a difficult time around holidays, knowing that life’s customs and traditions are taking place without her presence. Another, experiencing the death of a close friend, may struggle with feelings of grief or guilt after winning an important basketball game. A teen whose mother has died could experience serious emotional pain during her senior prom, knowing that her mother would have loved to see the color and style of her prom dress. The dragon that stalks all these students, constantly struggling with the things they know their loved one is missing, is known as Despair.

How can we work with students who are grieving because they have come to the realization that their lives are continuing without the presence of someone they loved? What can make a difference in their lives?

One of the most crucial things we can do is to pay attention to the student who has lost someone special. Watch their behavior and interaction with other students, especially around times of the year and during events that may have been significant to the one that died. Does the student seem sad or cry easily? Is he unusually irritable or angry toward his friends? Do you notice that he is quiet, almost trying to disappear? These can all be clues as to the inner conflicts of the heart.

If you should happen to become aware of such changes in behavior or attitude, address it as soon as possible. Be a listening ear if students are comfortable discussing their struggles with you. Sometimes simply talking about the feelings one is experiencing can be very cathartic.

Art therapy works well in grieving situations, as well. Try having a student draw the things they wish the person who died could have experienced. Writing a letter to the deceased, describing what they have missed, can be very freeing to the young person who is grieving. Letters or artwork can be placed at the gravesite or similar memorial. Be creative. Try to empathize with the adolescent—put yourself in their shoes. The dragon of Despair would want a young heart to wrestle with these issues alone and in isolation. This beast can be slain by affording students an opportunity to share their pain with others, thus ultimately freeing the spirit to begin living again.

Odysseus, still in Hades, met his old ally Achilles, the mightiest of the Greek warriors. The hero, now a resident of the underworld, asked Odysseus for news of his family and whether or not his name was still remembered in the lands of Greece. Odysseus could not supply him with this information, but he was able to tell the ghost the tale of his son, Neoptolemus, and his heroic endeavors on the field of battle. Upon hearing this news, the great Achilles swelled with pride and went off along a meadow, now at peace.

Rethinking Fears

2007-12-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

Fearing for Loved Ones

The mighty prophet Teiresias at last revealed himself to Odysseus and drank his fill of the spilled blood. The prophet provided his counsel, cautioning that Poseidon’s anger had yet to be assuaged. He predicted that Odysseus would lose the whole of his crew, along with his ship, to the terrors of the sea and would return alone to shores of Ithaca. There, Teiresias declared, he would realize that the men of Ithaca who wanted to marry his wife Penelope had overrun his home, devoured all sustenance, and abused his son. Hearing this declaration by the sightless oracle, Odysseus was awash with fear—the fear of losing those he held most dear to his heart.

Fear and Dread are the ogres that often haunt the steps of the adolescent who becomes brutally aware of the mortality of loved ones. Those who care about students such as these must learn to smite such foes. They are enemies who would attempt to ensnare a life that could be lived in freedom.

When disaster strikes someone close to us, it is natural to feel worried about others that we love. The sudden realization that all human beings are mortal can be very unnerving for a young person. Thoughts such as “Will my mother die?” or “Will my brother be hurt?” can cross an adolescent’s mind with startling frequency. A student affected by another’s death may appear to be fine on the outside, but inside they are often grieving. They are fearful of experiencing this type of loss again in perhaps an even more personal and devastating way.

If you suspect that a young person is struggling with fears such as this, it is helpful to arrange for a private meeting. There, in an environment of caring and confidentiality, the student can share what is really on his mind. Allow the student to share with little input from you. Simply listen. Sometimes the best thing we can do for a young person in this situation is to be a listening ear.

If she is reluctant to divulge her thoughts concerning her fears and worries about the future, you may want to ask her to write her concerns on a piece of paper or in a journal. This is another grounding technique that allows an individual to take an abstract and thus powerful fear and make it concrete and tangible. Writing reduces intangible fears to something that is manageable. The student can look at the list and say, “So this is what I’m afraid of.” The rational mind is allowed to intervene and determine if the fears are worth having or if they are in fact irrational. A piece of paper and a pencil seem innocuous, but they are in reality very strong weapons against Fear and Dread. The pen is mightier than the sword. It is true that we will all lose those we love, but a life lived in fear of such loss is no life at all.

Rethinking the Season

2007-12-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times once gave the law In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of Thy people be; Before Thee rulers silent fall; All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Medieval tune rearranged by Neale, 1851

This medieval song carries a power and a depth and a magic that often seems to be missing in our modern celebrations. When you read the words to this song, is anything stirred in your heart? Is there something holding your heart in bondage this Christmas season? What would bring you joy? It almost seems taboo to waist "valuable time" pondering such thoughts. This year, step away from the mad rush of buying and selling and enter in to the solitude that will allow you to find answers to these questions. They may be the most important questions you ever ask!

Rethinking What Might Have Been

2007-12-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

The first ghost that appeared to Odysseus was that of one of his own sailors, Elpenor, who had died when he fell off the roof of Circe’s palace. He spoke regretfully of the drunken state that had caused him to stumble and fall to his doom. Elpenor entreated Odysseus to give him a proper burial lest his spirit torment the king’s days and haunt his steps. Odysseus swore an oath to provide a suitable wake for his fallen comrade.

If we think about Elpenor’s words, we see that his ghost was full of regret over what might have been. When someone dies in their own world, especially a classmate, it is very common for young people to feel great sorrow and regret over the opportunities they missed to interact with the deceased. These thoughts and emotions can swirl around inside a student and preoccupy their waking hours. The goblins with which we as adult leaders must do battle are known as Regret and Depression.

One of the best ways to help a student in this situation is to give him the opportunity to share his thoughts and feelings, either in a group of his similarly grieving peers or one-on-one with an adult leader. If not given the chance to be freely expressed, these emotions and thoughts can reach a boiling point and cause some serious problems in a young person’s life. Sharing in this manner allows a student the chance to give substance to his feelings and to put words to otherwise amorphous laments and sorrows. Steps should be taken to ascertain who the close friends of the deceased were so that the group can freely share personal memories and stories. These are some ways in which we can help students to slay the monster Regret.

Depression can be defeated through encouraging a grieving student to make forward progress. Suggest new activities in which the young person can become involved. Motivate the student’s friends to come around her during this time. Service projects can be an excellent way to move the student who is sinking into the mire of depression to look beyond her own struggles and toward meeting the needs of others.

What in your life do you regret doing? What do you regret not doing? What changes can you make right now so that you can live your life without regrets?

Rethinking Blood

2007-11-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

The Kingdom of the Dead

Odysseus knew that finding his way back home to Ithaca after leaving the island of Circe the sorceress would be impossible without special guidance. The enchantress advised him to seek out the counsel of the blind prophet Teiresias. There was one small problem, however. Teiresias had died some time ago and now dwelled in Hades, the kingdom of the dead. Upon hearing these words, the Greek king was filled with dread and trepidation. He knew that his destiny lay along a path that would take him through the underworld and death itself. Nevertheless, with great courage and emboldened by the desire to return to his kingdom of Ithaca, Odysseus commanded his crew to follow the directions given by Circe.

For days on end they sailed, until the sea itself seemed to flow in an unnatural slope. Darkness filled the horizon as the terrified sailors journeyed toward the growing gloom of Hades.

When the ship neared the lands of the dead, the winds ceased, but the sail still billowed. The sailors next saw dark meadows with black sheep grazing on black grass. Believing that the ghosts of men could be attracted by blood, the Greeks seized two sheep and quickly killed them, draining their blood into a trench in hopes of summoning the phantom of Teiresias. However, a host of specters surrounded them, each wanting to drink of the warm blood that flowed in the trench. There at the edge of the trench, Odysseus communicated with not only the blind prophet but several other spirits as well.

In ancient times, the color red (associated with blood) symbolized the magical power of being alive. Why do you think the ghosts were drawn by the blood in the trench? What were they really seeking?

Rethinking the Shadow of Death

2007-11-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
William Wallace

It is impossible that anything so natural, so necessary, and so universal as death, should ever have been designed by Providence as an evil to mankind.
Jonathan Swift

Death. Let’s face it—the word itself can bring us down. For adolescents, the concept of death and dying is one that can cause feelings of dread and foreboding. Yet every student will eventually have to face the cold, hard fact of human mortality, whether through a friend, a family member, or an acquaintance. When someone near to us dies, it shakes our world and forces us to take a personal inventory of our own lives. The minions of the enemy—fear, isolation, defeat, despair, and depression—smell blood in the water and begin to encircle the student who has been dealt one of life’s most severe blows. In the next few posts, we will examine the concept of death and dying, and how to guide and fight for students through the grieving process, by sifting through the words of Homer as he describes Odysseus’s journey through Hades.