PinnedMember-onlyA Schopenhauer Cheat SheetHandy conceptual shortcuts (+ a few comic touches) — Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) may be the most interesting of all modern philosophers. He is widely credited as the father of modern pessimistic philosophy, and a major influence in key 20th-century developments such as: symbolist, absurdist and postmodern literature post-Romantic music post-Newtonian physics psychology of the unconscious and the irrationalPhilosophy4 min readPhilosophy4 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·PinnedMember-onlyA Very Fast Tour of Two Influential Economic TheoriesAnd how an aging debate between supply-side and demand-side policies still shapes partisan politics — “Supply-side” and “demand-side” are shorthand terms for two approaches to governmental policy in a market-based economy. Each view has a long history in both theory and practice — and it’s open to debate whether either is really applicable to 21st-century economies. In fact, the study and practice of macroeconomics has…Economics7 min readEconomics7 min read
Published in Nothing Applies·PinnedGoodbye to Joan DidionA slow fading ends . . . Once upon a time, I created a Medium publication called Nothing Applies, and subtitled “A literary focus on some philosophical and psychological matters — as seen through the lens of one writer, one novel.” I went to a good bit of trouble…Literature3 min readLiterature3 min read
PinnedMember-onlyMausA unique, unforgettable view of the Holocaust and its aftermath . . . — The Complete Maus is a graphic chronicle of artist Art Spiegelman’s attempt to understand his father’s life, his mother’s death, and his own identity. To say it is unique is to say the least. Spiegelman’s Jewish parents were both Holocaust survivors — or it might be more correct to say…Holocaust4 min readHolocaust4 min read
Published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life·PinnedMember-onlyThe Watercourse WayExcerpts from a vintage interview with the American Taoist master Charles Belyea — Working my way through stacks of saved magazines and newspaper clippings, I reached a 1997 copy of Yoga Journal. It fell open to a centerfold that seemed for a moment like the very essence of serenity. I had never heard of Charles Belyea, and despite the fact that I know…Meditation4 min readMeditation4 min read
Published in Perspectives on Tarot·Mar 21, 2022Member-onlyTarot and the Tides of WarSeeing in dark times . . . — In one month, the world has changed profoundly. I think everyone realizes that in a general way — but I suspect most people haven’t really grasped what lies ahead. Partly because “most people” are not in the habit of looking at the world as an interplay of synchronistic events, where…Tarot5 min readTarot5 min read
Published in Perspectives on Tarot·Dec 31, 2021Member-onlyTarot NoirThe “Nightmare Alleys” of Guillermo del Toro and William Lindsay Gresham If you happened to see the teaser-trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s remake of Nightmare Alley last summer, you might have noticed a close-up image of a Tarot reading. But you won’t see that frame — or anything else about…Tarot5 min readTarot5 min read
Published in Perspectives on Tarot·Updated Nov 8, 2021Member-onlyAbout Tarot on MediumI would love to be writing a different story . . . . — I’d hoped that writing about Tarot on Medium — in a serious (but not boring!) way would open up the topic for a broad spectrum of readers. That’s not going to happen. But a few people (not quite 100) have followed Perspectives on Tarot, and others have also read and…Tarot4 min readTarot4 min read
Published in Perspectives on Tarot·Sep 7, 2021Member-onlyTransforming Tarot: 1925–1950Tarot travels to the City of Angels . . . — Tracing the history of Tarot so far, we have looked at three stages: the “Historical Tarot,” from around 1450 to 1750, the “Esoteric Tarot,” from 1750 to 1880, and “The Makers of Modern Tarot,” 1880 to…Tarot12 min readTarot12 min read
Published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life·Sep 4, 2021Member-onlySelf-Synchrony: A Visual ApproachThe art of aligning with your own values — What is “Self-Synchrony”? Briefly — that feeling you have when: Decisions seem obvious Actions seem natural Life seems to flow rather than flounder I can’t tell you how to get there — everyone has their own path. But I can offer a visual aid that I thought of one day…Self2 min readSelf2 min read