Burning Phoenix Podcast

In this season finale of the Burning Phoenix we'll be looking at how Contemplation can be the key to rebalancing your outlook and re-connect with the Transcendent, and we'll see how this is suggested both by the Greek Philosopher Aristotle and in Dante's Paradiso.

And a big thanks to all our listeners for the great questions and inputs in this season!

Wishing you a peaceful and contemplative Christmas, and all the best for a happy and prosperous beginning of 2024!

Enjoy!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

Today it's a bit different episode where we'll be sharing a discussion of the Sphere of Venus with Prof. Robert-Louis Abrahamson from our Dante's Divine Comedy Podcast.

The conversation is about the main topics in the Third Sphere in Paradiso, and we'll explore the themes of spiritual growth, different forms of love, how self-management of your soul can shape reality, your relationships, and transform your perception of the world - and how living according to your own Nature is essential for your happiness!

Time stamps:

00:05 - Introduction

01:50 - The Conversation w/Prof. Abrahamson

Thanks for listening!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

Today we'll be discussing a question from Adam in St. Louis, Missouri, about ways to think about the bigger overall life choices, especially in your early 20s.

And the Topic of the Week is the 4 Primary/Cardinal Virtues, how they can provide a great map for orientation and for navigating life, and how they are ultimately oriented towards seeking the Truth and the morally Good - originating in the Ancient Greeks.

Time stamps:

01:40 - Listener Question from Adam, Missouri

08:15 - The 4 Primary Virtues

And the two ongoing listener questions we'd love to hear your thoughts on are:

1. What is your favorite discovery/learning moment that you've had from reading medieval/classical literature? Is there a specific moment that changed your life or the trajectory of your life?

2. What is the biggest conundrum/dilemma you're trying to solve in your life at the moment? Then we'll try to connect this to the timeless wisdom from the old Traditions.

Please send us your thoughts on burningphoenix.substack.com, or by email at burningphoenix (at) substack.com!

Thanks for listening!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

Today we'll be discussing a question from Steven in Cumbria, England, and look at Dante's compelling argument about the unlikelihood of complete "randomness" in the Cosmos, and its consequences.

And we're launching a new field of study today: Bigpicturelogy! The inquiry and knowledge about the Big Picture of Being and the World.

Time stamps:

00:40 - Listener Question

13:15 - The "Crafted Cosmos Argument" from Paradiso Canto VIII

The two listener questions we're asking everyone are:

1. What is your favorite discovery/learning moment that you've had from reading medieval/classical literature? Is there a specific moment that changed your life or the trajectory of your life?

2. What is the biggest conundrum/dilemma you're trying to solve in your life at the moment? Then we'll try to connect this to the timeless wisdom from the old Traditions.

Just send us your thoughts on burningphoenix.substack.com, or by email at burningphoenix (at) substack.com, we'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for listening!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

Today we'll look at Del Noce's "The Idea of Modernity", talk about a listener question from Chris in Georgia, US, and ponder how looking at Venus in the early morning can connect us to the experience of Ancient Peoples.

2:00 - Listener Question from Chris, Georgia US

11:00 - Del Noce about Modernity

Enjoy!

Today we're having a listener comment from Sean in Dallas, TX, and we'll look at how Dante suggests Humanity as a whole needs to realign with Transcendent Realities eventually - both in the Earthly and the Spiritual Realms.

And our two questions for you is an ongoing open conversation:

1. What is your favorite discovery/learning moment that you've had from reading medieval/classical literature? Is there a specific moment that changed your life or the trajectory of your life?

2. What is the biggest conundrum/dilemma you're trying to solve in your life at the moment? Then we'll try to connect this to the timeless wisdom from the old Traditions.

Send us your inputs at burningphoenix (at) substack.com, or comment on burningphoenix.substack.com.

Thanks for listening!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

In this episode we'll go through two great examples from our listeners about how reading old texts have transformed their lives and their future outlook.

We'll also do a brief recap about Imperial History with Emperor Constantine's rise to sole Emperor after his first appointment to Ruler by his father's army in York, in 306 AD.

And we have a little plug for a conversation we did earlier this week with Robert-Louis Abrahamson, a Professor in English for the European Division of the University of Maryland, and also a Podcaster about Dante. The conversation is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mY0dlQTiCT7uGy2lCOjqC

Thanks for listening!

Music: "Piano Sway", by OurMusicBox

Welcome to Season 2 of the Burning Phoenix!

Today we're talking about the "Beyond" or Transcendent as the long term stable Big Picture for our thinking - partly as Dante describes it in the Divine Comedy, after a long speech from Beatrice.

And we have two questions for you:

1. What is your favorite discovery/learning moment that you've had from reading medieval/classical literature? Is there a specific moment that changed your life or the trajectory of your life?

2. What is the biggest conundrum/dilemma you're trying to solve in your life at the moment? Then we'll try to connect this to the timeless wisdom from the old Traditions!

Send us an email at burningphoenix (at) substack.com, or leave a comment on burningphoenix.substack.com.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

We'll look at three videos in this episode - about Ancient Japanese "Forest Bathing" with Shinto, some key points about the current right brain deficit in our current culture, and how the Ancient Greeks described much of the nature of the Right Brain with the idea and concept of the "Nous".

Timestamps

Forest bathing: 0:45

Right Brain Deficits: 2:30

Ancient Thought, The Nous: 8:05

Dante, on Learning: 13:00

Shinto Trailer, by Mythos & Logos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ya39a4AJac

Right Brain Deficits, by Tom LA Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5981pRcF0I

The Nous, by Bishop Maximus and Dr. Vervaeke (from c. 24 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRyVK0OEUH4

All of which points to a balanced brain, and solutions to re-finding the "Renaissance Mind".

Thanks for listening!

We'll look at what the poet and father of Humanism, Francesco Petrarch, wrote about Dante in a letter to Boccaccio. Dante and Petrarch in many ways represent the two main reactions to the corruption of the Church and the negative anthropology that developed after the Schism: Dante regenerates a positive comprehensive cosmology, while Petrarch limits the focus to the human context and dismisses that which lies beyond.

But it is still an open question, as to why Petrarch refused to see how Dante introduces a positive form of Humanism in the Divine Comedy, and elevates the Classical Tradition and Greek Mythology, while still unifying this within something bigger.

Thanks for listening!