globetrotter December 2017
phoenix
new beginnings- empowerment - rising & falling
Editor’’s Notes In our final edition of Globetrotter for the year of change which was 2017, we have decided to leave you, dear reader, with our Phoenix edition. An edition which encompasses everything from the myth of Phoenix, to how minimalism can help you declutter your life. May 2018 be a year of new beginnings, clean slates. and exciting opportunities.
Isabelle Brooking
May you be like the Phoenix. and rise again in 2018 to be the best version of yourself. From everyone from Globetrotter we wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.
Sea
s ughe H n
Kati Cieslar
Midor iU e
da
Noa van den Berg
rey Adinata Aub
An Pham
M
Lisa S pi
eth
Anasta sia
Contributors n Ka
Angel So
a urov Ch
Phyllis Fe r
o ch
kar Ozkaya Kac
Ann a
in uk Y h S
E
ooks h Br t i d
Mario Ciubo ta
g on
Alli s
eidrich H on
Martin a
D
ru Kimberley W
a sen s o
Content 1 3 7
Inspiring People You Have to Know !
11
New Beginnings in a Hectic World
Time is but a Stubborn and Cultural Illusion
Flame Red on Snow White Christmas
17
Everything New is Well-Forgotten Old
20
Language Revitalisation
23
Minimalism - The Last Resort
26 Religious Rebirth 31
The First Sparks of FIre
New Beginnings in a hectic world
Sean Hughes - Angel So Shuk Yin - Allison Heidrich
In our modern society, we are often persuaded to believe that the best way to start anew is through gaining material possessions and income. How often are we told that we can have a new perspective on life by doing the ordinary? Taking the time to appreciate how truly complex, yet simple our lives and all the components within them are will often leave you feeling unstuck from the feelings of repetitiveness and melancholy that life can bring to our attention at times. Will this always be the case? No, but nothing is really certain and the opportunity to get away from the world for a second on your own we think is well worth speaking about. The following three stories are our individual accounts of these experiences: It was a Friday, 8.45. The classroom was filled with the mellow sounds of baroque music, a small candle was flickering on the desk and in front of me, nothing but a blank piece of
1
paper and a pen. The teacher set a timer for 20 minutes and then we wrote – about anything we heard inside or outside. All our thoughts were streaming right through the pen and onto the paper. I paused. I asked myself an introspective question: What do I mean by this? I looked into nowhere for a split second before my pen continued to let my ideas flow, covering the no longer blank sheet. 20 minutes had passed and the teacher asked us: how do you feel? Terrible, relieved, satisfied, happy, bad, to name only a few of our answers. I felt good, a deep feeling of happiness warmed me from the inside and on my face was a genuine smile. I felt like I could begin the day with new energy, with a new mindset. Proprioceptive writing is what you call it. A little feeling of new beginnings in this hectic world is what I call it. Trees with fresh flocking line the highway as the slippery
roads provide for me just enough traction to get us where we’re going. It’s quite cold outside, but with the heater running full blast inside the car’s interior, you’d think it was a beautiful summer day. I slowly pull over on the side of the road, turn off the car, and everyone pushes their way out of the car in order to stretch and get their winter coats on. Fresh snow cakes the once barren plain to my right and you have to climb a mountain of the stuff in order to even be able to get on top of it. We all do just that, and now trudge through the thigh high white fluff that sucks you in and spits you out with forgiveness again and again. Eventually we reach the base of a hill. It is quickly decided we shouldn’t climb this hill with the snow as our handicap and instead we should build an igloo. This plan fell through quickly as the igloo fell in on itself multiple times, covering whoever was working on it at the time in snow. So this was where we were, at the base of a hill, all covered in snow, with a car within walking distance but zero interest in making that walk and returning home. So like the days of old we smoked from a corncob pipe and drank what made us warm, enjoying the winter landscape and forgetting about anything except what was right in front of us. It made me wonder if new beginnings are just old joys repackaged waiting to be opened by our mind. Immediately I packed a water bottle, a cap and some biscuits into my backpack, picked a nearby city on
google maps and figured out the direction before starting my bike journey. With the best inventiongoogle map, leading me all the way to my destination, I felt like I could finally breathe some fresher air. The soft sunlight made the temperature a bit higher than it actually was. I was passing by a massive grass land with a few heaps of sheep beside the river, which matched perfectly with the light blue sky. I occasionally looked up to the sky smiling while riding on this endless bike lane before making the next turn. There was also a little forest and bridges along the route. I could feel my muscles contracting and getting tired but interestingly I felt a strong motivation inside myself, pushing me towards my destination. Undoubtedly I had an enormous excitement by the time I arrived the place I marked on the google map as if I have finished one of the goals in my life. However, I could honestly tell the best part was not the destination, but what I have seen, enjoyed and experienced during the process. This is exactly what has made every journey complete and motivated. At this moment, I felt like I will be having many new motivations by picking different destinations on the google map and finishing them with no doubt!
2
TIME BUT A STUB IS & CUL
Kimberly Wong & Edith Brooks
Time according to Ein- sophical implications, it can also help us put the concept of time into a more stein’s theory of relativity In our daily lives, we experience time as a continuous flow of a 24-hour cycle. However, this may not necessarily be the case, especially when considering time as an unreliable and relative concept. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was first published in 1905, where he proposed that time is a relative concept. He hypothesized that the distinction between the past , present and future is but a stubbornly persistent illusion presented to us as humans, and that the actual concept of time is multi-dimensional and can flow in a non-linear fashion. This theory has enlightened scientists to make unremitting efforts on proving the validity of Einstein’s assumption. And while this theory has many scientific and philo-
3
human and cultural perspective. And while time is a subconscious concept universal to all human societies and cultures, it’s not one that is valued in the same way across all humanity. With the end of the year rapidly approaching, a great mark of time, *we at The Globetrotter* felt that it would be an interesting and relevant idea to take a closer look at the differences in time percep tion that various societies and individuals exhibit.
Monochronic vs Polychronic Cultures
In monochronic cultures such as the United States and Northern Europe, time is perceived as a linear concept. People display more future-oriented attitudes overall, and tend to make appointments in advance to antici-
BBORN Illusion LTURAL Illusion pate the future. People prefer to do one thing at a time and concentrate on the job at hand. On the other hand, people from polychronic cultures seem to view time more as a cyclical cycle. Plans are less concrete and are more fluid, and timeliness is of lesser importance. It can actually be seen as rude to check one’s watch while having a meeting. Individuals from polychromic cultures also tend to do multiple things at the same time. It is common to have phone calls and interruption during meeting. As maintaining a close relationship is a primary concern in polychronic cultures, the sco pe of discussion in a business meeting can be extended to a recent vacation or personal life.
Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, being punctual is highly valued. It is generally established that one should adhere to a scheduled time, as time is considered a valuable asset. In more business oriented countries, such as Japan or Germany, the standard of puncHowever, In contrast, in countries such as Mexico, Morocco, or Saudi Arabia, time is flexible because of longstanding relationships with partners, schedule and appointments can be changed. For example, if you are
Punctuality
In some cultures punctuality is regarded as a virtue of respecting others and a sign of orderliness. In the United States and Northwestern European countries such as
4
invited to a dinner party at seven pm, it is better to arrive an hour later to avoid embarrassing an unprepared host; and if you are to have a business meeting it is considered polite to inquire after the other person’s family before talking business.
This means that unlike Western countries, the day of Chinese New Year is determined by the pattern of the lunar cycle. The day when the first moon falls signifies the beginning of Chinese New Year. The next most influential calendar is the Hebrew or Jewish calendar.
Calendars With the end of 2017 rapidly approaching—marking another successful passage around the sun—the idea of time and new beginnings may be something that is on everybody’s mind. The idea of reflecting on Jewish Calendar the passage of a single year perhaps makes us think about the passage of time itself. One of the most important tools allowing us to mark the passage of time is the calendar. While differently calibrated across cultures, the calendar is always an indicator of how a culture approaches broader passage of time, Chinese Calendar outside of the clock. One of the biggest examples of a difference in the marking of a year is the Chinese calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar. A lunisolar calendar is one that is set to both the phases of the moon and the length of solar years.
5
This calendar was adopt ed by Judaism during the 15th century. According to the Hebrew calendar, there is no fixed length to how long a day should be. Instead, the length depends on the time between sunrise and sunset. In winter, an hour can be much less that 60 minutes; in summer, an hour can be much more than 60 minutes. In accordance with traditional Jewish law, individu als observe the Sabbath, or ‘day of rest,’ from sundown on Friday until the following nightfall.
With all of the different cultural and personal approaches to time, the experience of one calendar year is relative to each individual; the values that coincide with time are often a cultural phenomenon we often fail to even notice. It seems that, in accordance with Einstein’s Theory of Time Relativity, time is but a stubborn illusion that each of us experience in a unique manner. Moreover, because Einstein’s theory of Time and Relativity has recently been proven true, we must as a society question our perceptions and concept of time more than ever. Einstein continues to show us that the passage of a year means something different to everyone. So, the question remains: what does the passage of a year mean to you? by Editor
Inspiring People
v v a a H H u YYoou
SCIENCE “Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure, it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.” You are probably wondering why there’s a picture of Albert Einstein under this headline, and no, it’s not just because of the smart quote. Even Albert Einstein was a failure once - ever wondered why he doesn’t look like the typical scientist? Here’s why. While most people associate the word “Einstein” with a genius nowadays, it wasn’t always like that. Albert wasn’t able to speak fluently till he was nine-years-old. Teachers thought he was slow. He had a rebellious nature - he was expelled from school, and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School the first time. The typical won’t-achieve-anything guy who sits in class in the last row. So what do we learn from this story? First of all, stop the stereotypes - the rebellious guy who was probably expected to end up as a random worker, won the Nobel Prize. He revolutionize science’s understanding of the world. I’m not saying you need to change or save the world, but go for whatever you want to. Don’t let others put you into a box Albert didn’t and he turned out great. Rise and Shine!
7
! ! w w o o n n K K o t o vvee t ey Adinata r b u A & th ie by Lisa Sp
LITERATURE “By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.” J.K. Rowling – the author of the famous book series “Harry Potter” once believed herself to be the biggest failure. Everyone comes to this point in life at some time, but the most important to lesson to gain out of it is the following - don’t let your failures define you and live for what brings you joy. At first sight J.K. had the perfect life with a husband, a daughter and a loving family. But, sometimes everything can go from perfect to “I don’t even wish this on my shitty neighbor” really quickly. After the death of her mother, Rowling fell into a depression and shortly after she got divorced from her husband. Besides going through all these personal issues, also her book got rejected 12 times before it was published. Sometimes it not only one or two step backs, but maybe even 3, 4 or more. The important point here though is, you have to keep going for what you truly believe in and eventually it will work out regardless. Today, J.K. Rowling’s book series is available in 73 different languages, has been sold millions of times and accrued over $20 billion. Being honest to yourself and admitting where you are and having a clear goal in front of is one of the key secrets we can take with us.
8
LOVE “Marrying Ian meant that i was signing on to things that I don’t think I ever would’ve chosen for myself - working my whole life, having a husband who can’t be left alone, managing his caregivers, and on... But in light of all the practicals, and emotions, it was so very simple: We love each other ” No one can predict an accident. It just happens and the aftermath is on you. Ian Murphy and Larissa had been in a relationship for about 10 months. They hold hands with each other and go everywhere together, just like other ‘normal’ couples. Everything seemed to be working out like in a fairytale until the day Ian lost his control of his car. He hit a giant truck, fell into a coma and suffered a brain injury. An accident that no one would have expected. The moment he woke up, he was trapped in a damaged body, unable to speak or walk. Their relationship would never be the same. They couldn’t do things they used to do, they couldn’t do things that normal couples do. How must Larissa have felt? Did she dump him? Despite of the potential difficulties ahead. She didn’t. Instead, they continued on dating. They got married 4 years after the accident. Despite the difficulties they face, it does not stop her from loving him. For their love is eternal and Ian is still the same Ian she fell in love with.
9
EDUCATION “People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved” The famous Helen Keller, managed to become the first blind and deaf person to graduate from college. She surely had a lot of stories for attempting to communicate with the "other" world than she was in. The biggest influence in Keller's life is no other than her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Sullivan was born in a poor family and became an orphan after her parent's death. Ironically, Sullivan was also visually impaired. Teaching a blind and deaf person at the same time was not an easy task. Sullivan had to find a way to associate words with physical objects, hence, the hand signals. With those, she taught Keller, persistently and patiently. A lesson that would not be understood easily. Did she ever think of giving up on Keller? Maybe. But she did not. She even accompanied Keller to school, translated the teacher's lectures in to hand signals, teaching her braille so Keller could read her textbooks. Exhausting job? Yes, it is. I might not do it even if I got paid. It was an all consuming job but Sullivan managed to help Keller graduate. Maybe you don’t have the best starting opportunities, but you can surely manage your way up if you’re only motivated enough.
10
FLAME RED on
Snow White Crystals by Phylis Fercho
illustration by Midori Ueda
11
Once upon a time, there was a little boy called Aminon who was living on the edge of the forest together with his father. His mother died years ago when he was still young, crawling around on the floor of their tiny hut. Both Aminon and his father had to work hard every day as loggers so they could make a living. Aminon was always a bit weaker than the other children in the village and often had to stay in bed because he was too exhausted to leave the house. On the other hand, he had an even more lively mind, was full of enthusiasm and had an imagination that allowed him to see, feel, smell and hear miraculous things that no one else could experience. Even though the two never had enough to live a careless life, they were content with what they had and their little hut provided them with shelter during the icy winters.
Now there was a time when the winter had got bitterly cold and the glacial fingers of Jack Frost clutched their hovel. One evening, the two sat close by the fireplace after their dinner consisting of a puny turnip soup which was almost clear because it barely consisted of anything other than water. The father looked at his son who was hugging his legs in the middle of the gloomy room and said: "Tomorrow we will go deep into the forest. I know a place with the most beautiful trees which we can cut and then sell as Christmas trees."
The son looked at him with big dark eyes and nodded. Then he asked: "do you believe that we will see the Phoenix if we go that deep into the forest?" His father stopped and thought for a while. "I'm not sure, he replied, you never know where the Phoenix might be because he is a miraculous bird, but you never know when he might show up."
12
Aminon didn't say anything for a while but when he spoke again, his voice was full of conviction and admiration: "I believe that the Phoenix is real and that I, one day, will also become one if I prove myself to be strong, kind-hearted and faithful enough." His father nodded and smiled when his son tried to coax him to tell him another one of the phoenix's stories like the ones he had heard during wintry nights, countless times before. The phoenix’s story was the only thing Aminon could remember of his mother. She had been the one who had told a story every evening about the warm-hearted, magical bird with its red feathers who lived isolated from all the people somewhere in a cluster of rugged rocks the middle of the darkest forest. Even though not many people knew about its existence, the ones who truly believed in it and proved themselves to be worthy, were lucky enough to meet the Phoenix. Usually, that was in a moment of utter despair when there was no hope anymore. Nobody really knew what the Phoenix did but Aminon knew deep down inside that he would always have faith because his mother had told his father just before she closed her loving eyes for the last time, that, one day, the Phoenix would bring the family back together.
13
The next day, the two got up before dawn, shouldered their bags and set out into the forest. The air was so cold that after some time every breath they took burned like fire. Snow fell steadily but silently from the white clouds through the roof of dark branches and soon turned the surroundings into a beautiful winter wonderland. It looked magical but the father and the son struggled more and more to make their way through the masses of snow. They tried to conserve their energy by taking breaks but they had to keep going as they quickly started to shake with cold. The father tried to cheer his son up and give him courage by telling him more stories about the Phoenix but they soon had to stop more and more often. Then, when they were just crossing a clearing at the foot of a high, rugged mountain, the father first heard a rumble and then his son scream behind him. He quickly turned around and saw dismayed how an avalanche of snow and stones caught the fatigued Aminon and carried him away towards a cleft in the rocks. As the little boy comprehended what was happening to him, it was already too late and he was stuck between the snow and stones with both legs. He panicked as he saw his father eight feet above him, lying on his stomach, reaching over the edge of the stone and trying to somehow reach down to his son. It was cold. Bitterly cold. And Aminon felt how the embrace of Jack Frost got tighter and tighter as he was lying there in the grey and white gorge whilst the twilight started to set in. Desperate, he tried to free himself but his legs were stuck and his arms got heavier and heavier from shoveling the snow. His father told him to wait and looked for something that he could use to climb down to him but all the branches were rigid and frozen and everything else was buried in ice and snow.
14
With a sorrowful heart and full of despair, he hastened back to Aminon. When he looked down into the rock fissure, he saw how the little face of his son had turned from a warm golden tone into a pale white, almost as the light as the glistening snow around him. But something had changed. His eyes were now full of fire and determination and a smile played on his lips. Had his voice got weaker and weaker before, it was strong and calm when he said: "I know it! I know where we are! The fissured rock formations and the dark forest and there, over there, can you see what I found?" his voice was full of excitement when he lifted his thin little arm to point at the other side of the stone gorge. On the top of a little snowdrift, the father can see something red glowing in the twilight. When he slightly squinted his eyes together, he gasped as he realised what he saw: it was in the purest and most vibrant flame red and rested on a bed of white snow crystals. "It's the feather of the Phoenix", Aminon now whispers with a voice warm and soft and full of admiration but noticeably weakened.
“he is here somewhere, I know it!� His eyes were full of gratefulness and faith and his smile was the warmest and kindest smile a child could possibly have. Aminon’s father collapsed on the edge of the abyss, overwhelmed by feelings of surprise, excitement, fear and even greater desperation. The strongest feeling, however, was hope. Hope that this magical creature from all the stories he had heard from his late wife and then passed on to his son might be real. And hope that it might not only save his son but also somehow bring him closer to his beloved wife.
15
Little did he know that the red piece they had seen was a scarf. The wind had blown it off the neck of a lady who had ridden by on her horse. This had happened just an hour before the avalanche caught the exhausted Aminon and trapped him between the rocky walls. Little did he know that despite the raising hope, his son would, soon after his discovery, close his eyes for the last time in the firm belief that he would soon be saved. And little did he know that just another hour later, he would be found on the edge of despair kneeling on the frozen ground and crying over his loss, by the lady who had lost her scarf earlier that day and who would soon become his dearest friend. Aminon had proven himself to be worthy of his name: he had been faithful in the darkest hour and had thereby found refuge and strength in an old tale, passed on by his mother. His father had lost his son but he had discovered the power that lays within faith as well as the value of a great friendship which would help him process the experience and, after some time, find joy in life again.
16
NEW is Well-Forgotten OLD Everything
17
D
We are living in a society that values everything new and modern. People are standing in long queues for a new pair of shoes, the latest model of iPhone and for a new ‘Game of Thrones’ book. However, there are some things which are ‘eternal’, meaning relevant at any time, no matter which century it is, be it the 18th or the 21st. People keep referring to classics in their essays, speeches and in everyday life. Some books written 100-200 years ago often raise the questions that are still relevant to people nowadays. The title of the article comes from a famous Russian saying, ‘Everything new is well-forgotten old’. And that is true. Let’s think it through. Have you ever watched the TV series ‘Friends’? It was first shown on TV more than twenty years ago, however, its jokes are still funny and characters seem to have the same problems as we face every day. Moreover, most of the modern TV series, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’ to name but a few, are inspired by ‘Friends’ and often remind us of it. Another example is the 2013 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘The Great Gatsby’. It is based on the book by an American classic of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald. The movie was a huge success despite the fact that its plot was written approximately 100 years ago. The movie raised a huge interest to the Fitzgerald’s books among the modern youth. His stories have found their former glory in the 21st century.
18
The story ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ that is loved by nearly every girl and was put into a brand-new movie in 2017 starring Emma Watson. Do you know, that the original “The Beauty and the Beast’ story celebrated its 260th anniversary last year? That’s right! Who could have imagined that it would be popular in the century of computerized machines and online relationships? The last example of never aging classics is a book by Roald Dahl called ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Moreover, it was first screened in 1971 and was released under the name ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’. It wasn’t a huge success at the very beginning but it was admired by the public 10 years later and got so famous that Tim Burton made his own adaptation of it in 2005. The last version earned $56,178,450 in its opening weekend and is still known and loved worldwide. To invent a bicycle, one doesn’t need to be a genius, but has to know that inspiration is hidden in old simple things. Read classics, watch good movies, live long and prosper Anna Churova
LANGUAGE
R E V I TA LISATION Language itself is very flexible. It gets influenced by people. Sometimes the lack of use of language causes people to not remember a language well. When a language is not used anymore these kinds of languages are usually called dead languages. According to Cambridge dictionary “dead language� is a language that is no longer spoken by anyone as their main language. However, they still exist. They continue their existence in other languages. In this article, we will consider two dead languages, Latin and Ancient Greek. First of them belongs to Italic language family. Nowadays people can notice its impact when speaking Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish. It is possible to clearly see the roots of a lot of words in Latin sayings. Although people do not speak Latin anymore, it still exists in its written form. Although it counts as the dead language it is still used in different terms and definitions, especially in medicine and in law. On the other hand, there is Ancient Greek which belongs to the Hellenic language family. Today, there is the successor and it is Modern Greek. However, Ancient Greek has massive impact in other languages. For example, it found its place in terminology and spread across the world. Today it is possible to see it in almost every language. It is mostly used in medicine as well as Latin. In the end, it is safe to say that even though some of languages might count as dead, they still live in others. People still use it for academic style, for terminology.
20
REVIVAL
In contrast to keeping languages alive through the influences they have in other languages, it is also possible to bring back languages from the dead, albeit seldomly. There are two major examples when it comes to language revival; Irish, and Hebrew. Whereas the former had not exactly died, it had fallen from popular usage and did not seem to be getting any more popular. Hebrew, on the other hand, did die out completely before being adopted as the official language of the state of Israel.
Unlike Irish, Hebrew is a language that did die, but it managed to return. With this, it is the only language that has successfully returned from the dead. It had fallen out of use, and Yiddish was the primary language used by the Jewish community. However, even before the creation of the Israeli state, Jews started moving back to that region. As they came from various places, they used Hebrew as a lingua franca as it was their sacred language. Later, when the Israeli state was created, it used Hebrew rather than the (at the time) more popular Yiddish. Today, Hebrew is spoken by around 9 million people.
21
HEBRE
Irish is a language that lost popularity during the British invasion of Ireland, as the Irish faced social exclusion. For this reason, many learnt and adopted English as the primary language, and basically forgot about Irish. However, it never truly died out and after the Republic of Ireland was founded, it held many campaigns to make sure that it would remain in use. To this day Irish is used throughout the country, but is overshadowed by English which is still the primary language in the country.
IRISH
EW Kackar Ozkaya & Anastasia Kan
22
MI NI The Last Resort MA LISM by An Pham & Kati Cieslar
As far as I can remember, I was always wanting more and nothing would satisfy me to the point that I could say “that was enough”. It was more than consumerism, more than the desire to possess objects. It was the mentality. I would not say that I am an artist, but I know that I am interested and invested in the art world. In a sense, that indicates that I pleasure from admiring beauty. Naturally, that gives me the motives to make or own things that are eye pleasing. This was never a negative trait until I was not satisfied with my own artworks and needed more ‘artistic-sense’. I struggled for some time until I realized, it that could easily be bought from the stores. I would spend extra money on a bottle of wine that had a better looking label when I was fully aware that the cheaper, simpler looking one was tastier. I would buy from Urban Outfitters or Sissy Boy for the fake sense of ‘aesthetic’ that I felt having their products dangling on my hands when they were completely unnecessary. I would only consider buying from brands that has a well designed logo and bags to carry the products. It varies from furniture, clothing to even daily groceries; If I bought a box of clipper
23
tea I would have to buy every single other blend from the same line just for the uniformity when they are displayed on my shelves. Spending the extra money made me happy for a while, these beautiful things were mine as I surrounded myself in them. I needed these things as if I would be less of myself without them even though they were just objects. It is obsessive and unhealthy, I bought more and more of unneeded items just to feel like I had the aesthetic that these brands are trying to sell. I was being a perfect consumer and prisoner to the commercial industry, but at the end of the day, with my new possessions, I still felt empty, unsatisfied with the sense that I wanted something more.
enough? I was searching for my mean of satisfaction and found minimalism, a lifestyle that truly focuses on life. I slowly studied the mindset from reading blog posts by minimalists, listening to them explain why material substances should never matter on their podcasts and slowly applied this mindset into my life. Suddenly, I was a lot happier, a lot more satisfied, I stopped stressing out about ideas and images that are not real. I simplified myself, lived true to who I was and decided that material things that I owned would not define me. It is not the de-cluttering or living with only vital items but the awareness that things does not have meaning unless I gave it to them.
At one point, I realized that I am spending all this money trying to buy happiness and fulfillment and it is just not working. “Why am I still not satisfied?� The more I think about it, the more it is clear to me that I needed to stop buying to fill in the void that was left empty by dissatisfaction in life. I needed to focus on what really matters instead of literally dressing up my insecurities.
Being a part of Globetrotter gives me the opportunity to share this wonderful finding. For this issue with the theme representing new beginnings, I want to introduce this mindset and way of living with our readers as it is helping me to live a better, more mindful life. Start the journey through http://theminimalists.com, my personal favorite, where you can access many long-reads, podcasts and other minimalist that will explain why less is better and guide you on an intentional lifestyle.
24
“Is the use of social media endangering our mental health?” A critical approach After conducting research about minimalism and seeing people restart their life from rock bottom with this approach something was truly catching my eye. Minimalism is not only about giving up materialistic things and be more aware of one’s own consumption; it is also about social approval that we earn through our beloved apps such as Instagram and Facebook. I guess a lot of people are not even aware that this is also a “consumption problem” because it is not something we can buy rather something we create to “consume” likes, comments and views that give us a good feeling. We trade with so called “Social currency” – the more the better! Especially, my generation- including me! – seems to depend on our pretty little social media world. The other question is how can we not like it? Social media is great in terms of highlighting content that we find perfect. We take 50 selfies for the perfect picture we can post on Instagram or just post the things that we think people want to see such as our holiday moments or our new outfit. One interesting viewpoint of social media is that it can be seen as marketing, the only difference is that in social media we are the product that other people can judge. This might be good for social media influencer but a drastic fact is that it is also leading to a changing sense of our identity: “Why can’t I have such an amazing body? I want to travel as well but I can barely afford my rent! Damn I want to have her/his booty/outfit/dog/house/partner… the list goes on and on.
25
The point I am trying to make here is that since we have the power of framing our own reality with social media we live in a circle of competition. This is not a result of social media it is a natural instinct of human beings to compare themselves with others but social media is definitely stressing it out even more. The Canadian association of mental health discovered that Grades 7-12 students who spent over 2 hours a day on social media reported higher depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Social media does not have to hurt our mental health if we act upon it. It does not mean to cut social media out or delete all accounts, just the fact that you are reading this can create more awareness. Ask yourself how often you need to check your Instagram and maybe cut it down when you realize that it is actually stressing you more out than making you happy and find out if you really need social currency to achieve happiness. And most importantly, even though people have picture perfect content on their social media accounts does not mean that they have a picture-perfect life.
RELIGIOUS REBIRTH by Noa van den Berg and Isabelle Brooking
Religion is one of those topics where people automatically tend to squirm in their seats. The automatic uncomfortable sensation that creeps up our spines when we know we’re talking about something that most people don’t talk about. One of the overarching themes that is addressed is the afterlife.
The promise of the knowledge of what happens to us when we die, as well as what we have to do have a peaceful and happy existence once we are dead. In this article we will explore the different approaches of Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity when it comes to reincarnation or rebirth.
In Buddhism, ones desired final destination is Nirvana. However, before a buddhist reaches Nirvana, he or she must go through a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara. The belief being that when someone dies their energy is transferred into another form. The path to enlightenment is paved through good intentions, specifically ethical behavior and working to enhance concentration and wisdom. These actions are part of the Eightfold Path- “The teachings of the Buddha that can lead to the end of suffering: 1 - Right Views; 2 - Right Thinking; 3 - Right Speech; 4 Right Action; 5 - Right Livelihood; 6 - Right Effort; 7 - Right Mindfulness; 8 - Right Meditation.� Positive actions will culminate in a better rebirth. However negative actions, such as unethical behavior, and bad intentions will result in the opposite. Depending on how one behaves in previous lives, rebirth can have multiple forms. You could be reborn as a human, an animal, ghosts, demi-gods or even gods. In the Buddhist school of thought, being born as a human is a singular opportunity practice good Karma and possible escape the cycle of samsara.
27
Thus, reaching Nirvana or enlightenment. Nirava or enlightenment is in a way seen as your final destination, therefore you will no longer be reborn. Once Nirvana is achieved Buddhist teachings say that the practitioner is able to see the world for what is actually is. This means realizing and assuming the Four Noble Truths: 1. The truth of suffering (Dukkha).
2. The truth of the origin of suffering (SamudÄ ya) 3.The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha) 4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga). It also means being awakened to the reality of life. Christians believe in the spiritual rebirth. They believe that when you die you can either go to heaven or hell and they can not reach either if they are not reborn through water and the spirit. In the bible it is first said in John 3:3-8 and it is repeated many times that only when a person is reborn through water and the spirit will he reach eternal life. 6.A false witness that speaketh lies, 7. He that soweth discord among brethren. When performing one of these seven sins the only way to redeem yourself is to confess. A confession is between the follower of the religion and God. But a confession can also happen during confession with a priest. Man is created in the image of god and only through water and the holy spirit can he be reborn. Even if the man is made in God’s image mankind will never be divine in the way their God
To reach heaven after death one most live a good life and not fall prey to any of the seven deadly sins. 1. A proud look, 2. A lying tongue, 3. Hands that shed innocent blood, 4. A heart that deviseth wicked acts, 5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
is as all of mankind has sinned. Only by redeeming themself can they go to heaven as a literal rebirth is no part of the religion.
29
The Hindu religion believes in Sa sār, this is the continuous cycle of life and death also known as rebirth. Because while a body may die a soul, known as Atman, does not. "Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones." (2.22) According to the hinduism a person must undergo many different experiences before they can become one with the divine, which exists out of this universe and will continue to exist even when this universe no longer does. The Hindu legend of creation starts with the separation of the soul with undifferentiated one. From there their journey starts. During their many lives souls have three different destinations. These are
”
heaven, hell or earth, either as a human or an animal. During their lives people collect Karma. Karma can be either good or bad. Karma comes from being a good person. By pursuing Dharma, which are the ethics and righteousness in the world, good Karma can also be achieved. The true goal of a Hindu’s life is Moksha also referred to as Nirvana and Samadhi. This can be seen in multiple ways: as the realization of one's union with God; as the realization of one's eternal relationship with God; realization of the unity of all existence; perfect unselfishness and knowledge of the Self; as the attainment of perfect mental peace; and as detachment from worldly desires. Any of these realizations can free oneself of Samsara and the
30
We all know the legend of the Phoenix, a fire bird that after it dies, it reborn from its ashes, but have you ever wondered what the true story of this mythical creature is? Because of the mystery that surrounds this amazing bird, we decided to reveal the different stories told throughout history in Egypt, Greece, and China. Let’s begin our journey, shall we? Our first destination is ancient Egypt. Here we will find a mythical fire bird with beautiful gold and red plumage called Bennu. It is said that this bird lives for 500 or 1461 years, depending on the source, and at the end of its life-cycle Bennu will build a nest that will ignite.
31
Both nest and bird will burn fiercely and they will be reduced to ashes. From the ashes a new Phoenix arises. From the remaining ashes of the previous Phoenix, the reborn one makes an egg that it will be deposited in Heliopolis, translated as “the city of sun� in Greek, located in Egypt. The ancient Egyptian mythology associated Bennu with the rising sun and with the Egyptian sun-god, Ra. The next destination is ancient Greece. Here we will find that the Greeks took the name Bennu and changed it to their own word phoenix, which means the color
The First Sparks of a Fire
the stories behind the legend Mario Ciubotaru and Martina Dossena
purple-red or crimson. According to the Greek mythology the Phoenix lived in Arabia next to a well. At dawn, it bathed in the water of the well and the Greek sun-god Apollo stopped his chariot, the sun, in order to listen to its song. The last destination of our journey is ancient China. Here we will find the Phoenix called Fenghuang, which however does not symbolize rebirth. The peacock-like bird is said to feed from bamboo seeds and drink from sacred springs. Its body represents six celestial elements, namely the sun, the sky, the moon, the earth, the wind and the planets. The virtues that the Fenghuang is generally associated to are the specifically female
Iones of beauty, charm and fertility. In relation to the latter, the original name includes both the Chinese characters to refer to a male bird and to a female one, combining masculinity with femininity with a clear reference to the Yin-Yang in two birds instead of one. Contrarily to common belief, the Phoenix is not merely a firebird reborn from its ashes. This creature is associated with many different qualities, ranging from beauty, to new beginnings and the aim of our journey has been that of discovering the real roots of this legendary bird.
32
MERRY CHRISTMAS &
Happy New Year
design by Aubrey Adinata