“Moonbeams and Wind” | Anthony Satori
“You’re not like the others. I’ve seen a few; I know. When I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon, last night. The others would never do that. The others would walk off and leave me talking… No one has time any more for anyone else.” — Clarisse M. (Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury)
Interior, The Galleria | (Milan, Italy) | Anthony Satori
It is difficult to rival the Italians when it comes to architecture as an art form. Consider the awe-inspiring Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in Milan, Italy. It is a magnificent structure built with dramatically arching panes of glass, intricate cast iron latticework, and an interior filled with paintings, mosaics, and countless other elements of architectural and artistic style.
It was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni in 1861, and it was built between the years 1865 and 1877, also by him. The building was named after (and financed by) Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of a newly unified Italy.
Other interesting facts:
1) It was intended to be exactly what it is, a shopping mall. And, over 100 years later, it still is.
2) Whenever you go to a modern shopping mall anywhere in the world and it is called “The Galleria,” it is a reference to this specific structure. (Whether the builders realize it or not.)
3) In an ironic turn of fate, Mengoni died soon after the Galleria’s completion. He fell off the roof of his own creation. (It is 154 feet tall.)
On a lighter note, a few years back I ate a Big Mac there. Madness, I know. A Big Mac in Italy, the land of incredible food. But there was a method to my madness. First, purely for the sake of the sheer juxtaposition of experience, it was novel and fun. Second, I have a healthy appetite, so there was no chance that one burger was going to slow me down. Third, and perhaps most significantly of all, you can’t have a Big Mac there anymore. That’s right, in 2012 the Galleria refused to renew McDonalds’ lease, and after a protracted round of legal jousting it was decided that the fast food giant would never return to the mall. That spot is now occupied by a Prada store. There was, of course, no way for me to foresee this at the time, but it definitely makes me all the more glad that I did it.
I suppose the point is, enjoy the moment. Have fun. A Big Mac is only as mundane as you allow it to be. Engage with the unique texture of wherever you find yourself. To be alive is amazing… savor it.
Laughing Buddha | Anthony Satori
The Laughing Buddha. What a wonderful symbol. Arising out of 8th Century China, Budai is the very image of contentment. He carries his material possessions in a simple cloth sack, and he is always depicted smiling or laughing. He is a jovial, yet profound reminder that spirituality is not meant to be a dour, somber affair. Quite to the contrary, any genuine exploration into our spiritual nature — and thereby into the nature of the universal Creative Spirit — will be a journey toward increased compassion, peace, vitality and happiness in our lives.
“Wild Horses” | Anthony Satori
To strive to be your best self — in a world that seems full of reasons not to — this is truly a worthy endeavor.
“Evening Snowfall” | Anthony Satori
Snow falls silently from the night sky. Countless soft flakes drift downward in what seems like slow motion, almost as if time itself has slowed down. The earth and trees become gently coated with a layer of fresh, soft powder. You feel a slight chill in the air. Your breathing becomes deep and steady. The world is suddenly quiet. It is a peaceful moment, full of mystery and beauty.
I wish everyone joy and light, this holiday season. Merry Christmas!
“Solstice” | Anthony Satori
Tomorrow, December 21, is Winter Solstice. Every season has its beauty, and Winter’s stark wonder reaches its subtle peak tonight, the longest night of darkness in the year. There is deep beauty to be found by immersing oneself in the experience of the clouds, the rain, the wind… they are, without a doubt, genuine offerings of Demeter’s heart, and hold profound meaning in their nature. Do not become too mired in their melancholy, however… for the planet has turned on its axis, the captivity of Persephone has crossed its half mark, and the earth has begun its slow, steady thaw toward Spring. And Spring, after all, is where life is meant to thrive. Just appreciate every moment along the way, every step of the journey.
“Wail, Man, Wail” | Anthony Satori
A portrait of musician Chantz Powell. This performer is a true triple-threat: singer, dancer, trumpet player. He’s been on the scene for years, and I recently got to see him put on a show on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. Crowds gathered, the energy was high, and music was in the air. Some performers just bring it, no matter where they are, and Chantz is one of those. If you find yourself in the Santa Monica area this holiday season, keep your eyes and ears open… you might just get lucky and catch a performance. If not, you can always catch up with him at chantz.com.
“Puppy” | Animal Spirits (pg. 28) | Anthony Satori
I am convinced that animals have souls, much like we do. They demonstrate truly individual personalities, they display an undeniable capacity for love, and when you look into their eyes, it doesn’t take much to see that there are real thoughts and emotions behind them. In addition, only a creature with a soul could experience empathy, and if you’ve ever had a pet cuddle up to you when you were feeling down, you surely understand what I am saying.
Transcendentalist philosopher and noted nature-lover Ralph Waldo Emerson built an entire spiritual philosophy around the belief that nature is a window into a deeper spiritual world. And the further I look into the natural world myself, the more convinced I become that he was right.
“Summer Reading” | Anthony Satori
The heel of her foot pressed into the lounge chair… her hand involuntarily gripped the towel beneath her… she was transported into another world by the words on the page…
As the sun illuminates the body, so knowledge illuminates the mind.
Boxed In | Anthony Satori
No society can truly thrive without the presence of a robust artistic element in its culture. In the modern era, it is too easy to become jaded, myopic, even utilitarian in our view of the world around us. We become immune to the enriching effects of subtlety, nuance, and beauty, rendering our psyches out of balance and causing a dangerous lack of vital nourishment to our spiritual health. The artist’s role, at least in part, is to help us return to a place of awakened perception, to lift us out of purely linear modes of thinking and seeing, and to remind us again how it feels to experience the world with a sense of wonder.
Satori Circle | Art & Culture 