School Of Athens ~ Art Of The Renaissance

Art reflects society through its characters and themes included in the painting, particularly in this painting, the Renaissance has influenced this painting to be. The painting School of Athens is a piece dedicated to the whole driving force of the Renaissance period, an age where the thirst for knowledge and observation of the world consumed every man and women caught in it's grasp. This particular painting by Raphael has 2 main points of Renaissance influence. The first is architecture, as you look at the actual building in the painting, it consists of Roman and Greek architectural aspects such as columns, rounded arches, and pagan statues of Roman/Greek gods. The second is the two men in the middle, whom one is a thinker and his apprentice a scientist of observation. This divides the room into two groups, the thinkers on the left and the scientists/observers to the right. The Renaissance was an age of rebirth, this rebirth was of observation, progress, enlightenment, but most importantly, knowledge. So as you have the thinkers like Heraclitus ( a Greek thinker) and Plato (as well as many others) of both Greek and Renaissance era's, the knowledge is also being rediscovered in the Greek and Roman remains too, showing just how well the Renaissance people looked back at their own heritage as well as progressed in their own. Onto the scientists and observers of the real world, they also made impressive progress, but in realistic ideas, rather than the thinkers ideas of dreams, ideas unsupported by proper evidence and passion for the unknown out there in the world and universe around us! So art is a reflection of its society, without it, words are all that is left, but as they say, pictures are stronger than words.

If I were a person from the painting School Of Athens, I would be Athena, for her skills in war, strategy, wisdom yet passion for justice. I have always had a mind for battle, the strategies playing out to imaginary achievements or failures. Athena is a justice loving godess too, which I believe is a trait of great importance, without justice, where would we be? Even now to fight for justice is hard, and I try my best on the scales I have in my hands. I also admire Athena for her wisdom, knowing when to act in a certain way is an art I continue to find important, as well as knowing certain things to help others, such as dealing with certain probelms before or even helping with homework. I wish to be like Athena, with a passion for justice, a slight thirst for action, and a heart of wisdom and strategy.

Leonardo, A Man Of The Renaissance

Leonardo is a true Renaissance man, he was the essence of the free will and ideology the Renaissance is unique for. He was brilliant in science, realistic in art and cunning in math. He had the ability to conquer almost every task he was faced with, the Last Supper, the Angel he contributed with in Botticini’s painting the Baptist of Christ, the Mona Lisa and his numerous flying inventions and war machines. The Renaissance was an era of new knowledge, refining old ideas and becoming a less religious society without loosing faith in God. The Renaissance also took old information and refined it to their own benefit to create an advanced world of information and inventions.

If Today Was Your Last Day

"If Today Was Your Last Day" ~ Nickelback, Lyrics: Chad Kroeger.

My best friend gave me the best advice

He said each day's a gift and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned,

leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride

Chorus:

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life

What's worth the prize is always worth the fight

Every second counts 'cause there's no second try

So live like you'll never live it twice

Don't take the free ride in your own life

Chorus

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories

Would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?

Swear up and down to God above

That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day

If today was your last day

Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?

You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars

Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes'

Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life

Let nothin' stand in your way

Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories

Would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?

Swear up and down to God above

That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day

Here is the music video:

Artist: Unknown

"Key To The Mind"

In the song, If Today Was Your Last Day, Nickelback sings about how in present day life we forget that possessions mean nothing, and that through them we have become self centered and overbearing. This 'coruption' is the soul reason many people are no longer 'open minded', therefore loosing the ability to be the best they can be through honesty, respect and kindness towards everyone around us. Now that the world has progressed from purity to vanity, violence, misunderstanding and hatred have become a part of life, when in truth, we live in peace together, if we had the will power and bravery and leave the system of laws and so called justice. Yet as stated in The Shack (a powerful book about one mans journey towards finding his true God) because our human lives are so corrupted, that without laws, we wouldnt be able to survive unless everyone participated in the change/glorification of the world. If today was your last day, would you feel like you were the best you could have been?

The Only Way To Beat Desire Is To Embrace It.

Artist: Timo Jattu
"Red Tree"

Desire:
Desire tugs at the minds of it's followers,
in a consuming veil,
Devouring the doubt of it's apprentices,
Burning all will to resist.

In Paulo Coehlo's The Alchemist, desire plays a key role in consuming Santiago (a shepherd boy, main character) and helping him to overcome every obstacle through a burning passion to succeed in achieving his destiny. "Some people wanted champagne and caviar when they should have had beer and hot dogs" Dwight D. Eisenhower. This quote represents the effects of desire when mistreated, as in, when desire turns to selfishness, where-as in the Alchemist, Santiago uses desire as a positive force. By understanding desire rather than abusing its vain ways, he can achieve greater things in life by perceiving everything as a new chance to gain one step closer to his treasure, IE: his destiny. With a little desire and a lot of perseverance, the two will aid you in achieving what your heart craves for, no-matter the consequence's. Although desire is a dangerous and capricious, with the right frame of mind, can aid you in achieving greater things, but only if you embrace it.

Little Ray Of Sunhine

A Landscape at Sunset
1773, Claude-Joseph Vernet

Through optimism, my destiny will always be a challange, but one that I won't fear. Being bright hearted towards every situation has it's hardships, and I admit, I slip up sometimes, but the best part of being optimistic, is when you get back up, nothing can stop you! With a smile, the whole world smiles back, hence refering to Mr.Coehlo's: The Alchemist,'s main focus on the allusion that when someone wishes to achieve their destiny, the whole universe conspires to help them achieve it. By applying this allusion to everday life, I can remain happy about my future and what the present presents to me today without a single dark thought. I may not be perfect, but by embracing life with a smile and kind thoughts, the world treats you the way you treat everyone in it, and together, everyone can smile, and brighten someone elses day, its as simple as that. In the world today, so much wrong is done, but with a little ray of sunshine for everyone to be guided by, less and less wrong will be done as we all pass on the smile, the optimism.

One With the World ~ The Alchemist

“Thank you,” Said the boy. “You taught me the Language of the World.” (Coehlo 146) Santiago, a kind natured shepherd boy, is called to his destiny, after receiving an omen in the form of a dream, through this dream, he is urged towards Egypt to find his treasure and achieve his destiny. Santiago begins in the fields of Andalusia, Spain, where he has the merchant’s daughter and sheep to satisfy his heart. But after embracing his calling, Santiago travels to Egypt, a land of extremities and unique culture. Santiago meets his true love; Fatima, also reaches a state of enlightenment and is guided by his mentor, the Alchemist, in the deserts of Egypt while embracing his heart and using his initiative to learn the Language and Soul of the World. Santiago is beckoned by his destiny’s calling when he dreamed of treasure in Egypt, his adaptable nature, open minded views and faithful heart guiding him along the way.

Being a shepherd boy for two years, Santiago has an adaptable nature to aid him in several obstacles he stumbles upon throughout his journey. “…he realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief and as an adventurer on a quest for adventure.’ “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure.”(Coehlo 40) At this turning point, Santiago has just decided to pursue his treasure, even though he has just been robbed of all his money by a thief. With no money or knowledge of Africa or anyone to guide him, Santiago still perseveres to maintain a positive outlook for his destiny’s sake. Santiago uses his adaptive nature in order to achieve the next step in his journey: taking a caravan to the pyramids of Egypt, where there he will find his destined treasure. Not only does being a shepherd ¬¬¬¬boy prepare Santiago, but aids him in embracing the best of this new world he has been destined to arrive in. Adaptability is a vital natural ability for Santiago to possess, but even more-so is his faith in his heart, and the ones he loves or cares for.



Unlike most characters, Santiago has a unique way of finding a loyal faith to place in others that he is almost certain will help him. When he is first robbed in the docks, Santiago takes a painful downfall to his faith, but as the story progresses, Santiago takes charge with his adaptable nature and faith. Fatima, a desert woman, first met Santiago by the well in ‘the oasis’ declaring his love for her courageously and without hesitation, having faith in his hearts immediate longing for Fatima. Although at first Fatima hesitates, she comes to embrace Santiago, and lets him continue on his journey, for she believes in “Maktub.” If I am really part of your dream, you’ll come back one day.”(93 Coehlo) Maktub was first introduced to Santiago in the crystal merchant’s shop, where he had worked for the man in hope of regaining his shepherd ways; but instead ‘Maktub’, or ‘it is written’ in Arabic teaches Santiago that he will continue on his journey, for Allah has already wrote it. Allah is the Islamic equivalent of God, not only does Allah know the world, but writes the history and future of it. Santiago uses his faith in the crystal merchant and Fatima to continue pursuing his destiny, but unlike most, he will soon be relying on his open-minded views in order to overcome his next challenge, understanding and embracing, the Soul of the World.

It’s hard to find faith in the people and places you love, but Santiago has the unique ability to find a loyal faith that is unbreakable in Fatima and the Alchemist is fortified over his journey and their own participation in his destiny. “We are all made with the same hand, and we have the same soul….. Cross the seas, blow away the sand that covers my treasure, and carry the voice of the women I love.” (140 Coelho) At this turning point, Santiago places his faith in the Alchemist to guide him in speaking the ‘Language of the World’. This ‘Soul’ of the world is the stage of inner connection to all living things in our hearts that most choose to ignore. The Alchemists are the group of humans who live and work to achieve the portal to the ‘language of the world’ or ‘soul’. But as the Alchemist stated: “Not all alchemists are the same”, through this statement, the belief that all alchemists are pure or equal is incorrect, and that each alchemist chooses to follow his destiny through a different journey, some more similar than others.
But the faith that you must have in your beliefs and religion are the key to achieving this ‘gateway’ and understanding are challenging enough to stop many from achieving their destiny. Yet Santiago overcame this obstacle, and through his love for Fatima, faith in the alchemist and adaptability to the ever-changing world he lives in, he is now one with the Soul of the World and through god, is his own messenger to supporting the world to be a better place.

Growing from being a peasant shepherd boy to an enlightened young man whose soul is one with God, Santiago is the change God and the Alchemist want to see in the world. He has remained loyal to his heart through his journey, keeping his adaptable nature and his open-mind that has been vital along the way. Santiago listened to his heart, and through his patience, learned to speak to the wind, the sun and everything alive about love and how his love pushes him to achieve his destiny; His love for Fatima and his own heart, his love for the world around him and his love for everything alive in the world. Only when Santiago fulfils his destiny back in Andalusia, Spain, does he realize that the treasure was never his real achievement, but the journey along the way. For every step he took towards his treasure, Santiago was growing, and now a wise young man, he is God’s messenger, Santiago is the change he wants to see in the world, and will never cease to pass his faith onto others, will continue the chain the of love that the Alchemists’ urge people to embrace.

Love Knows No Bounds

Love to me knows no bounds, it can over-run any negativity, destroy any hate and replace any despair from anyone who is touched by its ways. Below is a link to my ibelieve essay, from which contains my beliefs on love and compassion, and all its effects in the modern day world today:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd36bzg7_8d726sghs

Picture:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/love/shannia96/love.jpg?o=4

99 Balloons Eliot

Here below is a video of one family's journey to discovering everyday is a blessing. Eliot lived to be 99 days old after struggling with one un-developed lung, a hole in his heart and a DNA problem. His father, Matt wrote letters two weeks before his birth till the day Eliot died. This video (photos) was made by Eliot's family in loving memory of Eliot:

This video teaches me that everyday is worth fighting for, and we have no idea how important each day is.
99 Balloons:

Celebrating Who We Are, Not Who We Want To Be

"People want to feel connected to each other. They want to be heard and seen, and they're curious to hear and see others from places far away." Matt Harding, Seattle, WA.
Matt Harding is a traveler set on joining the world together, so that one day we can all connect and understand one another instead of living in ignorance. A few years back Matt went on a back backing trip and video tapped himself dancing (horribly!) in varying locations. I believe his video inspires the crazy connection we all share through our actions and changes. It makes you wonder why the world we live is so corrupt, if we all share the common goal of living in a happy and safe place, together united? People like Matt Harding and Susan Boyle must understand this goal in there own perspectives well unenough to united themselves through music and other means and take a step towards to uniting us all in invisible bonds, the kind no-one wants to break.

In the video i was amazed to see how many people wanted to join Matt Harding in celebrating the fact that we are all united and connected together in one world, our world.

Image: http://media.photobucket.com/image/worlds%20in%20our%20hands/johnmig1/SPIRITUAL/Hands20Joining20the20World1.jpg

I chose this image because to me the world is in our hands, not only for us to fix but to come together and correct our mistakes together.

I Am Who I Am

I am….

I am the sun in the frozen winter,
Smiling when the best things happen now,
I am a tiny star in the ebony night,
No matter the odds,
I never stop shinning,
I am a fragile cookie,
I crumble when hurt,
but someone out there keeps me together stronger than any glue,
I am a hidden dark wolf,
Staying loyal to those who deserve it,
Singing my song into the silent, piercing night,
I am a giant colourful lollipop,
If you don’t spend time with me I never reveal who I really am,
I am an orange iPod,
My soul is portrayed through music,
I am a broken angel,
I have no wings but one day I will fly,
I am an untitled song,
I change with the blink of my emotions,
And lead you to new depths of my heart,
I am an ice cream,
My flavours can vary on my feelings,
I can melt but i can stay frozen too,
You may never find out all of my flavours,
because you might not know which ones are true

Picture:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/color%20splash/Perovich/Bit%20Of%20Color/hands_by_peeteey.jpg?o=6
Artist: Photobucket Participant

I chose this image because the colour splash on the flower represents the symbolism of my heart in the world of gray, the fact that my emotions can sometimes get the better of me or that i can be as fragile as a flower to those i let in.

Misunderstanding and Believing

Reflecting upon Susan Boyle’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent, I realize the stereotypical view we have on people at first glance puts the saying “Never judge a book by its cover” to justice. At first I was rolling my eyes, not recognizing that she had an inner beauty, her voice, that wasn’t on the outside; Understanding the concept of first glance, first opinion, the 47year old British lady put me to justice for my mislead assumptions of her because of her appearance and first hand personality; But as I continued to watch her gather her nerves for the song, I had a doubt in my mind that she was as straight forward as I thought, but non the less, her voice sent shivers through my body as I listened to her sing her heart out about dreams and hopes through the lyrics of the song: I Have A Dream. Not only does this show that hopes, dreams and wishes can be our best chance at life and taking chances, but that appearances shouldn't’t be the better of us and our judgment should be finalized after we have lived our lives with that person rather than seeing her for a brief few minutes.

Langston Hughes poems also connect to this moment of truth/ shock to reality, through the poem: The Dream Keeper. One sentence that I feel grasps me the most along with Susan Boyle is: “… Bring me all your heart melodies…” Heart melodies to me symbolize the songs that singers sing of their own story to the world. Not only does beauty, pain, hope, dreams, experience, courage and wishes come in time, but only at the right moment; Susan Boyle and Langston Hughes are just a select few who have grasped this concept, (in different ways) Anyone who has a dream, deserves equal and pure judgment and acceptance by anyone and everyone.

Picture:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/color/sechicas/PORTRAITS/30dd594f30906150.jpg?o=12
Face book Participant

I chose this picture because it represents the different sides of everyone that comes and goes, yet no-matter how many times we see/experience them, we still make the same assumptions and mistakes that can often cost us alot more than lives. Trees to me symbolize that life never stops living on, but its never to late to reach for the stars no-matter who you are.