It is known that samurais didn’t have a religion so much as they had a way of life. As practitioners of Zen Buddhism, samurais trained their minds just as rigorously as they trained their bodies and thoughts about religion were mostly restricted to lessons about how to not fear death. A samurai mind was trainedContinue reading “A samurai’s mind”
Author Archives: Krista Marson
Storm of Steel
One of the most insightful books that I have read was a personal account written by a diarist in WWI named Ernst Junger. I think a good way to understand war, any war, is to approach it via personal accounts written by those who lived through it. When it comes to WWI, there is notContinue reading “Storm of Steel”
Simplify
Several years ago, I cleaned out my mother’s house after she passed away. I had to go through everything, all of it, the whole kit and kaboodle. I couldn’t discern what was once very important to her from what was not. It all looked the same to me. In the end, there was too muchContinue reading “Simplify”
Impermanence
Impermanence is perhaps the least appreciated factor that underscores all existence. With every second, each and every creature has moved on to the next phase of their being, and then again the next second after that. There is no point to holding on to a single second as it exists for the moment, because soonContinue reading “Impermanence”
The Art of Nothingness
The Banksy painting that sensationally self-destructed three years ago after selling for $1.4 million at auction was resold by Sotheby’s Thursday for 18.6 million pounds, or $25.4 million dollars in Oct 2021. At the time of the shredding incident, Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art, Europe, said: “Banksy didn’t destroy an artwork in the auction, heContinue reading “The Art of Nothingness”
Pompeii Amphitheatre
The Pompeii Amphitheatre was buried by Mt. Vesuvius. It is known to have been one of the earliest Roman amphitheaters built of stone; previously, they were built out of wood. The building was immortalized in a fresco when an artist depicted a riot that happened outside its walls after a particularly feisty game. The brawlContinue reading “Pompeii Amphitheatre”
Caspar David Friedrich
Everyone has their favorite artist, some artist that they connect to in their heart. Some people adore Monet for his colors, some love Van Gogh for his vitality, and some might love Picasso just because they know of no other artist. For myself, it is Caspar David Friedrich whom I fell for because I amContinue reading “Caspar David Friedrich”
ode to museums
I enjoy museums because I enjoy history. I am a proponent of the maxim of “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” (George Santayana) Every generation goes through very similar life cycles and so often the same mistakes get repeated albeit with updated flourishes. It’s interesting to recognize these patterns. WarsContinue reading “ode to museums”
Matera Memories
Hello! Book Two of my Memory Road Trip series is out, and I’m already working on an outline for my next installment. I have a bunch of rough drafts to go through, and I can tell already what I’m going to keep verses what won’t make the final cut. Following is an excerpt taken fromContinue reading “Matera Memories”
Musings
Life and death ebbs and flows. Nature, man — we are the same. We intertwine. We go way back together. We both have stakes in this planet, this big blue floating ball. How is it that we both ended up here? Why is it natural to feel the need to get away? Is life really thatContinue reading “Musings”
Krista Marson 