Dying Every Day

Dying Every Day

🖼️ Socrates' Defense, Starry Nights, and Shakespeare's Poetic Wisdom

The Wisdom of Art (Vol. 10)

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J.W. Bertolotti
Sep 15, 2023
∙ Paid

Greetings Readers!

Here is the next volume of our series — The Wisdom of Art. This series invites us to pause from our busy lives to explore the wisdom of art and poetry.

***There’s still time to register for Happiness & the Meaning of Life, which started this week. The course is free for Perennial Meditations members and includes email meditations (every Tuesday and Saturday) along with an end-of-course meetup on Saturday (14 Oct at Noon EST).

Here is a painting, a poem, and a bit of prose…

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (1889)

Consider becoming a paid member for full access to this series, Sundays with Seneca, Letters to a Young Seeker, and other benefits. If you cannot afford it, feel free to request a complimentary membership or use this discount link.

1. The Starry Night (Painting)

Starry Night is one of the most recognized art pieces in the world. Van Gogh's night sky is a field of roiling energy. Below the exploding stars, the village is a place of quiet order. The flamelike cypress connects earth and sky, traditionally associated with graveyards and mourning.

“If you hear a voice within you, say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means, paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

— Vincent van Gogh

Contemplation Exercise:

  • Consider taking some uninterrupted time to observe the painting.

    • Notice what arises…

    • What makes this painting a timeless piece…


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