The story of Moses at the burning bush in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 3:1-12) is a profound moment that carries layers of symbolism, including themes of humility, transformation, and the stripping away of identity.
When Moses encounters the burning bush, God calls to him:
“Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)
The Symbolism of Removing Sandals
In the ancient Near East, removing one’s sandals was an act of reverence, humility, and recognition of sacred space. However, this command also has a deeper philosophical and spiritual significance: it represents stripping away one’s identity before the divine.
1. Sandals as Symbols of Worldly Identity
• Sandals are practical tools for traversing the earth, protecting one’s feet as they walk through the dust and grime of daily life. They symbolize the physical, earthly identity—our status, possessions, and attachments.
• By removing his sandals, Moses sets aside these external trappings, presenting himself as barefoot, vulnerable, and exposed before God.
2. Shedding the Ego
• Moses’ act of going barefoot signifies shedding the ego, pride, and any claim to personal identity or status. Standing barefoot before the divine reflects the idea of returning to an essential state—a recognition that in the presence of the infinite, the finite self must be laid bare.
3. Sacred Ground and Transformation
• By acknowledging the holiness of the ground, Moses enters a sacred space where identity is transcended. This encounter marks the beginning of Moses’ transformation:
• From a shepherd tending flocks in obscurity to a leader of a nation.
• From a man burdened by a complicated past to a prophet stripped of fear, surrendering to a higher purpose.
• Stripping off the sandals symbolizes a return to essence, where Moses’ worldly identity dissolves, and he accepts his divine calling.
4. Alignment with the Divine Will
• Standing barefoot suggests complete surrender and openness to divine instruction. Moses cannot rely on the coverings (sandals) of the past; he must walk forward as a new man, unencumbered and attuned to a higher will.
Broader Context of Identity Stripping
This theme resonates across other traditions and philosophies:
• In asceticism and mysticism, shedding material possessions (like sandals) symbolizes renunciation of the world to embrace spiritual truth.
• In Zen Buddhism, the stripping away of external identity helps one connect with their truest, formless essence.
• In Stoicism, identity rooted in externals (status, possessions, ego) must be relinquished to live according to nature and virtue.
In Moses’ case, removing his sandals signifies:
• A purification of self, where he leaves behind his former life as an exiled shepherd.
• A moment of rebirth, where his new identity emerges solely from his connection to the divine.
Conclusion
Moses barefoot at the burning bush symbolizes the stripping away of identity to approach the divine in purity and humility. By shedding his sandals—symbols of earthly attachment—Moses embodies vulnerability and openness, preparing to receive his sacred mission. This act teaches that to encounter the transcendent, one must let go of the false self, allowing the true self to align with higher purpose.
Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects belonging to the family Pseudococcidae. They are common pests in greenhouses and gardens and thrive in warm, humid environments. Their waxy, white, cotton-like appearance makes them easy to identify.
Why Mealybugs Thrive in Greenhouses
Greenhouses provide an ideal environment for mealybugs to grow and reproduce due to the following factors:
1. Warm, Humid Conditions
• Mealybugs thrive in consistent warmth and humidity, which are essential features of most greenhouses. This climate accelerates their life cycle, leading to rapid infestations.
2. Lack of Natural Predators
• In an enclosed greenhouse environment, natural predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are often absent or in low numbers. Without these natural enemies, mealybug populations can grow unchecked.
3. Overcrowding of Plants
• Greenhouses often have closely packed plants, which provide an ideal setting for mealybugs to move between plants and establish new colonies. Crowding also reduces airflow, further creating a favorable environment.
4. High Levels of Nitrogen Fertilization
• Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers encourages soft, succulent plant growth, which mealybugs prefer for feeding. These plants provide a rich source of sap.
5. Hidden Life Cycle Stages
• Mealybug eggs and young nymphs hide in crevices, leaf joints, under leaves, or even in the soil. These hidden locations make early detection and control difficult.
6. Transport on New Plants
• Mealybugs are often inadvertently introduced to greenhouses through infested plants or soil brought in from external nurseries.
How Mealybugs Damage Plants
• Sap Feeding: Mealybugs pierce plant tissues and suck out sap, weakening plants and causing stunted growth, wilting, and yellowing.
• Honeydew Production: They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which encourages the growth of black sooty mold, further harming plants.
• Disease Transmission: Mealybugs can transmit plant viruses, adding to their destructive impact.
Preventing and Controlling Mealybugs in Greenhouses
1. Inspect New Plants
• Quarantine and inspect new plants thoroughly before introducing them into the greenhouse.
2. Encourage Natural Predators
• Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs or parasitic wasps to control mealybug populations biologically.
3. Regular Cleaning
• Keep the greenhouse clean by removing plant debris and weeds where mealybugs may hide.
4. Pruning Infested Areas
• Cut off heavily infested parts of the plant to prevent the spread of mealybugs.
5. Water or Soap Spray
• Spray plants with a diluted mixture of water and insecticidal soap to suffocate the mealybugs. Neem oil is also effective.
6. Alcohol Treatment
• Dab individual mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to dissolve their waxy coating.
7. Avoid Over-Fertilizing
• Use balanced fertilizers and avoid excess nitrogen to discourage the growth of mealybug-attracting succulent tissue.
8. Sticky Traps
• Place yellow sticky traps near plants to monitor and capture crawling nymphs.
In greenhouses, where controlled conditions favor mealybugs, prevention is key. Early detection and integrated pest management (IPM) practices can help minimize infestations and protect your plants.
Spider mites are common greenhouse pests that thrive in certain conditions, and their infestation of a palm tree can be attributed to several factors:
1. Environmental Conditions
• Warm Temperatures: Spider mites thrive in warm, dry climates, which are often found in greenhouses.
• Low Humidity: They prefer low humidity. If the greenhouse air is too dry, it creates a favorable environment for them to multiply.
2. Lack of Natural Predators
• In a greenhouse, the controlled environment often lacks natural predators like ladybugs or predatory mites, allowing spider mites to reproduce unchecked.
3. Stress on the Palm Tree
• Underwatering or Overwatering: Stress from improper watering can weaken the palm tree, making it more susceptible to infestations.
• Nutrient Deficiency: Poor soil health or a lack of nutrients can compromise the palm tree’s defenses.
• Transplant Shock: If the tree was recently moved or repotted, it may be stressed, creating an opening for pests.
4. Introduction of Infected Plants
• Spider mites can easily be introduced to the greenhouse through a new, infested plant. They often go unnoticed because they are very small and can hide on the undersides of leaves.
5. Lack of Air Circulation
• Stagnant air in the greenhouse can encourage spider mite proliferation, as they prefer areas without much airflow.
6. Dust Accumulation
• Dusty leaves provide an ideal surface for spider mites to anchor and feed. Greenhouses with poor cleaning routines may encourage infestations.
How to Manage and Prevent Spider Mites
1. Increase Humidity: Misting plants or using a humidifier can create an unfavorable environment for spider mites.
2. Inspect New Plants: Quarantine and inspect new plants before introducing them to the greenhouse.
3. Encourage Air Circulation: Install fans or improve ventilation.
4. Clean Regularly: Keep leaves clean by gently wiping them with a damp cloth or spraying with water.
5. Use Natural Predators: Introduce predatory mites or ladybugs to control the population.
6. Apply Horticultural Oil or Soap: Neem oil or insecticidal soap can effectively reduce spider mite populations.
7. Regular Monitoring: Check the underside of leaves frequently for early signs of infestation.
Addressing these factors can significantly reduce the likelihood of spider mites infesting a palm tree or other greenhouse plants.
Destruction. What’s popping, people? It’s Dante. Check it out: dead trees.
When winter comes, the climate becomes chaotic—lots of rain, random windy days, and then suddenly, a sunny, beautiful day. Yesterday, I didn’t even need a big coat. Change is interesting. Every single day is different. Every fleeting moment is different. And every moment, we’re evolving and changing.
I think it’s important to recognize this Flux of Life. When I see the changing seasons, the way trees shed their leaves and regrow, it reminds me of humanity. On a biological level, we’re not so different. We evolve through cycles of death, growth, and rebirth.
The Body as Nature
I like to think of the body as a battery and the sun as a charger. What fuels me with energy and vitality is:
Exposure to sunlight and UV radiation
Eating fatty red meat packed with nutrients
Drinking clean water
Every morning, I turn on the faucet and drink a cup of water. It’s a privilege that I don’t take lightly. These nutrients flow through my bloodstream, and when I look at the trees, I realize we, too, undergo a kind of photosynthesis.
“The branches of trees, reaching for sunlight, echo the design of our lungs. The veins of a leaf resemble the veins in our bodies.”
When I pick up a leaf and see its intricate patterns, it mirrors how water and nutrients flow through my veins. It’s fascinating to think how interconnected we are with nature.
Lessons from the Horticulture Center
Spending time in horticulture has taught me to appreciate these cycles. One of my favorite things to do is propagate overgrown plants, giving them new life in a fresh location. It’s magical to watch the seasons change and witness this rebirth.
“Maybe there’s something spiritual about nature—a kind of miracle in the way the universe operates.”
This connection with nature isn’t just physical. On an internal level, aligning with nature can lead to purification and growth. Even though we are imperfect creatures, bound by gravity and mortality, striving for perfection is a worthy goal.
Modernity’s Distractions
Today’s world bombards us with distractions:
Social media and celebrity gossip
Advertisements telling us how to live
News filled with drama
These distractions stray us from striving for the ideal, for becoming better versions of ourselves. Embracing too much of modern technology leads to imbalance.
“The more you consume, the less you become. The more you subtract and purify, the more you grow.”
I believe life is a stream of becoming—a constant evolution. But complacency with mediocrity or societal norms is worth questioning. Why settle for less when there’s so much more?
Division vs. Unity
“We divide ourselves more than we come together, which is a strange realization when we’re literally on a giant rock floating in a void of space.”
Whether it’s through race, religion, or political ideologies, we create barriers between each other. My travels have taught me how similar we all are. I’ve seen division firsthand—from physical walls in the West Bank to ideological walls in our everyday lives.
Violence and division are universal, but they distract us from the truth that we all stem from the same place. We share this Earth, this life, this humanity.
Through Fire, We Rise
Suffering, pain, and grief are universal, but they’re also essential. To grow, we must go through the fire. Like dead leaves pruned from a tree, we shed what no longer serves us and emerge stronger.
“Maybe the ultimate aim in life is to grow through suffering and pain—to strive upwards despite the strife.”
Whether I’m pruning palm trees or contemplating sculptures of heroes like Hercules and Achilles, the message is the same: transformation comes through challenges. We’re bound by gravity, but we can strive to rise, to purify, and to create something new.
Final Thoughts
Maybe this modern world distracts us and separates us, but I believe these distractions are like spiritual warfare. To fend them off, we must stay laser-focused on becoming better versions of ourselves.
“Sometimes, you have to destroy yourself to create anew. Embrace the chaos, then put order to it.”
Time to catch the sunrise and let that light fuel me for another day.
During my trip to Rome and Florence, I remember gazing at the sculptures of ancient Greek heroes. The sculptures reminded me that I can strive for greatness, to overcome this modern world, through embodying the myth of the heroes in the art. All of these heroes have flaws that lead to their ultimate demise—demigods, half-man, half-god—mortal creatures. Despite this, I find that by viewing the beauty in the sculpture, the perfection, and the stories behind these figures, I’ve given myself permission to strive to become godlike, to purify myself, to go through the fire like Hercules, and to come out on the other side as the embodiment of perfection.
In Christian theology, Jesus is considered pure and sinless. He is the embodiment of divine perfection: light from light, God from God, embodying the Word of God in flesh and blood. He transcends the concept of a demigod, being fully God and fully human.
As mere human creatures—flesh and blood, who cut, bleed, have bones that break, and a heart that will stop beating, who will and must die one day—why strive to be perfect? I know that the path moving away from perfection leads to the decay of the physical body at a faster rate. Smoking vapes, doing drugs, consuming alcohol, and indulging in hedonistic sexual experiences will lead to our ultimate demise earlier in life. We are all imperfect creatures, but without a guide, an archetype, a hero, a myth, or God himself, why even strive to be perfect at all?
Advertising and television will tell you that you must consume, seek pleasure, comfort, and conform to the masses. The problem is, the majority of these television shows, media, music, and movies promote degenerate culture, and it feels like an attack on the souls of the world. Body positivity becomes a hallmark for commercials, making the masses feel comfortable being sick. Pharmaceutical companies remind you that it’s okay to be imperfect, that a quick pill or medicine will solve your health problems, both physical and mental. Don’t worry, you can keep eating Cheetos and Tastykakes, because we have an injection for that or a pill for this. The irony of these CEOs and people who promote junk food and processed poison is that many of them come from the tobacco industry or simultaneously work in healthcare. The soullessness of these individuals and corporations is palpable, and the corruption is real.
Let us not forget the root of the word corporation: “corpus,” or “corpse,” meaning a dead body. Dead body, dead mind, dead soul.
Our current battle in this modern world is a spiritual war—a war for your body, your mind, and your spirit.
Why Purify?
When I consider the death of Hercules, the searing of his flesh by fire, the pain is excruciating, probably the worst pain man can experience. But in the end, his body ascends to Mount Olympus, where he is seated alongside the gods. No longer suffering in his mortal body, his soul then goes to live on forever.
Like Hercules, the life of an individual will have many trials and sufferings in life. This is a part of our reality as humans on this earth. Pain will teach us and guide us in life. When we do something wrong, there is a repercussion, as we do cut and bleed. If we do something right, maybe we’ll become stronger, grow muscles, and become more wise.
All Is One
When I consider purification, I think about my current job, working in horticulture. I’m constantly pruning the plants, as the leaves wither and change with the seasons. Some plants are more formidable than others, some become disturbed by the temperature, others go into shock when planted. There are constant cycles of death and rebirth. One of my favorite things to do in the garden is to take off a piece of a plant and propagate it into another pot or in another area of the greenhouse, and watch as it grows again. By removing the dead parts of the plants, you give them the ability to regrow and become born again.
I noticed some very small bugs eating the leaves on the palm trees that were recently planted. I washed them off with water, removed the cobwebs, trimmed and pruned the little brown parts on the tips of the leaves, and soaked them with water from the soil, giving the palm tree the nutrients it needs. Maybe those little bugs will find a new home somewhere out in the forest, and hopefully, find what they need. Managing the greenhouse is challenging because it’s in a very controlled environment, so you kind of have to go out of your way to disrupt nature’s process. It’s kind of like purifying and cultivating the perfect paradise.
As much as humans are animals, I believe we are more similar to plants in a lot of ways. We require very simple things like water and sunlight in order to feel good. By drinking water, we support the flow of blood in our bodies, carrying nutrients throughout our veins and arteries, which helps repair dead cells and regrow new tissue. Our bodies are like batteries, and the sun is the ultimate supercharger. The more sunlight we get in the day, the more energy we will feel, similar to a plant undergoing photosynthesis.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in nature and around a variety of plants. When I go really close to plants and photograph them on the macro level, I recognize how similar we are in terms of the structural elements that make up a leaf. Just look at the pattern of the veins that carry the nutrients of water throughout the leaf—they are very similar to the veins that flow through our bodies. When I look up at a tree and see the way in which the branches extend into the sky, I breathe in the fresh oxygen the trees produce while recognizing the connection between the pattern of the leaves and the trees’ branches, similar to that of the lungs within my physical body. I exhale the carbon dioxide, and the trees inhale it. The trees exhale the oxygen, and I inhale it.
Recognizing these very simple patterns in nature reminds me that all is one. From the smallest cell within my physical body to the vastness of the universe and the grandeur of the stars in the sky, we are all interconnected in many ways. I think we get so caught up in this modern world, with distractions, that we have forgotten how connected we all really are. I think a lot of the time we like to divide ourselves based on specific identity groups, whether we identify with the color of our skin, white or black, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, or whether or not we identify sexually in a particular way. I can’t help but think about how we all stem from Africa. We all have spawned from the same gene pool, the same body of water, the same cells that make up the entire population. I think we need to take a moment, step back, spend time alone in silence and contemplation, and remind ourselves of this fact. This simple fact alone, I believe, can generate a wave of peace and ripple of prosperity for the entire world. I’ve traveled this entire world, and I can tell you with 100% certainty, we are more similar than different. The more we divide ourselves, the more we will devolve as a people.
Division is a Distraction
During my time at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, I had a professor who was extremely anti-Palestinian. He wouldn’t shy away from cruel jokes and often used me and my photographs as an example for the class, considering I traveled all throughout the West Bank. He actually told me that I should go into a Palestinian home and strap a fake bomb to the chest of a Palestinian baby and make a photograph of this staged scene. The professor would often remark and laugh out loud, saying, “Allah Akbar, baby!” This experience was insane to me, considering he was a professor, someone with authority in the classroom. You can’t really talk back or do anything about it; you kind of just laugh, brush it off, and recognize that he’s just a nut job.
But I’ll be honest with you—he was being authentic. He definitely wasn’t wearing a mask or pretending to hide his feelings. He genuinely felt this way and had animosity toward a group of people, and there are probably real reasons why. During my time studying abroad, one of my classmates was stabbed and murdered on the light rail. She was a very sweet young woman from the UK and was killed by a Palestinian man in broad daylight. Maybe my professor feels the way he does because his perception of reality revolves around the terrorism and violence that occurs within the Holy Land. I’m not justifying his thoughts, but I am making the point that we all have different perspectives, feelings of hatred, love, anger, and grief.
When I would walk around certain locations, Palestinian cities in particular, many young teenagers or young adults would always ask if I was Jewish, saying that they hate Jews, want to kill them, and would draw Stars of David everywhere. They expressed general animosity toward Jewish people and Israelis. The problem is, a lot of them grow up with bad role models who only teach them to fight because that’s all they know. That’s their reality. Many of these people feel as though they only have one option: to fight back; otherwise, their people will perish.
Maybe the more authentic we become, the more we actually let out our true feelings—our raw and real emotions—the closer we can become to the truth. If we consider this idea of wearing a mask, or a personality that you put on when you go out into the public, and you’re constantly wearing it, how will we ever find the truth? If you genuinely feel a certain way about somebody, you might as well just say it instead of wearing a mask. I think the truth is difficult and hard to discover when we all pretend and don’t actually share the real, the raw, and the true. I know the saying, “the truth hurts,” but honestly, it should. It’s only through hurt and suffering that we can ever grow.
Take Off the Mask
One thing I noticed through everyday interactions in public spaces or just walking around the city is the fact that everyone’s just wearing a mask. It doesn’t seem like anyone’s authentic anymore. People have their shirts tucked in, say “yes ma’am,” “thank you, sir,” color in the lines, and all simply abide by the rules. This system of conformity, of obeying guidelines, rules, and dogma, has led to the mass adoption of the mask. The mask is a metaphor for a personality, a persona that we put on when we go out into the world. We hide our true selves, our innermost voice, and suppress it when we go into public spaces.
We’ve become so uptight. Everything is offensive, controversial, and politically incorrect these days. We shy away from speaking our mind, from telling the truth, because we’re afraid to hurt people’s feelings. What if this idea of wearing a mask is leading to a separation from the truth in general? The more that we don’t speak the truth, the more that we live in a lie, behind a mask, behind the façade, a wall, in a matrix, the worse off society will be.
I think it’s time for us to get more ratchet, more ghetto, and just start fucking speaking up, telling the truth, and stop being afraid.
Stay Focused
I think men are supposed to keep their mouths shut and just live their everyday lives. For instance, when the teacher was saying these horrible things to me in the class, I didn’t bat an eye. I never responded, just kept my mouth shut and moved on. If someone says something bad, something that doesn’t align with you, there’s no need to rebuttal, start debates, and bicker over trivial things. Misery loves company and will always try to drag you down into it.
If you’re thinking about other men, their lifestyle, their decisions, their thoughts, that’s a personal problem. Maybe this is a byproduct of low testosterone? The lower the testosterone, the less physical strength the man feels, the more they are inclined to behave through reputation destruction. Low testosterone makes you behave passive-aggressively. High testosterone makes you a man, more stoic, and less emotional.
I remember when I was a teenager and would play competitive online video games, like Counter-Strike, Halo, or Call of Duty. Some people would buy these gamer supplements, like G Fuel, Gamer Fuel, or some weird pre-workout drink to keep them focused while gaming. Ha ha ha. I just find it hilarious that there were products made for gamers to keep them focused while playing. When people play competitive video games and have a screen in between them and the physical person they’re playing against, they become so emotional and enraged at their opponents. I’ll never forget the pregame lobbies in Modern Warfare 2 or Halo 3, when people would scream back and forth at one another. These online spaces are like the epitome of low-testosterone men raging and firing with their hormonal imbalances. I think that’s what these drinks do as well. A lot of these hyper-processed, weird gamer fuels, pre-workouts, sodas, monsters, and candy, they all disrupt your hormones. The more your hormones are imbalanced, the more prone you are to rage and passive-aggressive behavior.
Life Is the Ultimate Video Game
When I look up at the moon in the morning, during dawn, it feels so close, almost like I can reach up and grab it. I think life is like the ultimate video game, and anything is possible. We limit ourselves based on our beliefs, dogma, traditions, religions, and identities that tie us down to this earth.
What if we break free from these limiting beliefs, from the chains that bind us by gravity, and strive upwards infinitely? Even if you max out your stats to level 99, you can still play the game and strive for perfection. I think we need to realize how infinite life, the universe, and the mundane moments we experience truly are. This feeling of abundance flows through me when I look up at the sky. I remember being in Zambia, Africa, looking up at the sky and seeing every star in the galaxy. Every single night I saw shooting stars. I could even notice satellites moving in the night sky. My host father and I would speak about life, philosophy, and how different yet similar our lives are because of where we live.
It’s this connection to the universe at large that reminds me I am bound by gravity. When I look up at the moonlight, I’m reminded that I can strive to move upwards, to touch the sky. Although I am bound by gravity, I will cut and bleed. Despite the suffering, I will never stop striving.
I believe that through purification, trial by fire, we ascend upwards. By shedding your skin, or pruning the dead, through simple actions like removing toxins, drugs, alcohol, people, and even physical locations from your life that make you feel down—make you feel like you’re being pushed down by gravity—you become lighter and float upwards.
Bruce Gilden is a photographer known for his striking, confrontational style, and his work in Haiti exemplifies this approach. The photobook captures the resilience and spirit of the Haitian people, revealing moments of profound humanity amidst chaos.
The Essence of Haiti
Haiti is not just a collection of photographs; it is an exploration of life in one of the world’s most challenging environments. Gilden’s lens focuses on the raw emotions of the Haitian people, juxtaposing the vibrancy of their culture with the stark realities of poverty and struggle.
Gilden’s images confront viewers with the intensity of his subjects. The close-up compositions and stark contrasts reveal the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. The photographs demand engagement, compelling the audience to look beyond the surface and connect with the stories behind the faces.
Bruce Gilden’s Approach
Gilden’s signature style is marked by his aggressive use of flash and close-range shooting. In Haiti, this approach captures the intricacies of the environment and the raw emotion of its people. His photography seeks to reveal the truth beneath the surface, unfiltered and unpolished.
While Gilden’s methods have occasionally drawn criticism for their confrontational nature, his work in Haiti demonstrates an empathy for his subjects. He spent time immersing himself in the culture and environment, building a connection that is evident in the intimacy of his images.
Highlights from Haiti
The photographs in Haiti are striking in their ability to evoke emotion and tell stories. From haunting portraits to dynamic street scenes, each image is a testament to Gilden’s ability to find beauty in adversity. The book’s design, with its high-contrast black-and-white imagery, complements the starkness of the subject matter, focusing the viewer’s attention entirely on the people and their surroundings.
Why Haiti Matters
Bruce Gilden’s Haiti stands as a powerful example of documentary photography. It provides an unflinching look at life in a place often ignored by the world, emphasizing the resilience and dignity of its people. Through his lens, Gilden challenges viewers to confront their assumptions and engage with the realities of life in Haiti.
Closing Thoughts
Haiti is a masterclass in storytelling through photography. It captures not only the struggles of a nation but also the strength and vibrancy of its culture. Bruce Gilden’s work reminds us of the power of art to reveal truths, evoke emotions, and inspire empathy.
Pietas in Roman culture refers to a deep sense of duty, loyalty, and devotion to one’s family, gods, and country. It was considered one of the highest virtues, often depicted in Roman art and literature as a guiding principle for moral and social order.
Pietas in Literature
The concept of pietas is famously embodied in Virgil’s Aeneid through the character of Aeneas, often referred to as “pius Aeneas.” He exemplifies this virtue through:
1. Devotion to the gods: Aeneas consistently fulfills his divine mission to found Rome.
2. Loyalty to his family: His rescue of his father Anchises from burning Troy is a quintessential act of pietas.
3. Commitment to his people: Aeneas sacrifices his own desires, including love, to ensure the future of the Trojans.
Virgil’s portrayal made pietas synonymous with Aeneas’ sense of duty over personal inclination.
Key Characteristics of Pietas
1. Religious Duty: Honoring the gods and maintaining ritual obligations.
2. Familial Obligation: Respect for parents, ancestors, and family responsibilities.
3. Civic Responsibility: Duty toward one’s community, city, and state.
Pietas in Art
A common artistic representation of pietas is Aeneas carrying his father Anchises while holding his son Ascanius’ hand. This iconic image symbolizes the continuity of duty: honoring the past, protecting the present, and ensuring the future.
Modern Reflection
While pietas was a specific Roman virtue, its essence continues to resonate today:
• Duty to one’s community and family.
• Respect for traditions while embracing a forward-looking vision.
• A balance between individual desires and collective responsibilities.
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante, starting my morning here in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Hopping off the bus, what do I see? A bunch of dead trees, man. The conditions of winter are rough. Yesterday, I was waiting for the bus, and a tree toppled down right next to me. Unexpected. Spontaneous.
And that’s the beauty of life—the unpredictable, the unknown, the chaos, the entropy of it all.
The Photographer’s Duty
Perhaps a photographer is merely responsible for positioning themselves on the front lines of life, out there in the world, in embodied reality— walking, moving, endlessly searching.
It’s our duty to carry a camera.
Currently, I have my Ricoh GR IIIx tucked away in my pocket, pretty much living on this wrist strap. I wield my camera like a sword, striking through the heart of chaos, creating visual order and harmony on the front lines of everyday life.
“Our goal as photographers is to respond to life—to be in the moment and capture it as it unfolds.”
Always Be Prepared
The number one tip I give to any photographer is simple: always carry a camera with you.
Maybe you prefer planned projects.
Maybe you have specific locations or ideas in mind.
But even then, carry your camera.
Why? Because life always has something for you, and you’ll miss it if you’re not prepared. Like a sword for battle, the camera is your tool for the unexpected.
Fortune Favors the Prepared
I remember a day during the Day of the Dead in Philadelphia. I was walking the perimeter of the city, heading to grab a bowl of Vietnamese beef pho—that bone broth is the best in the city. I didn’t plan to photograph anything special; I just wanted a long walk.
But then, boom, I stumble into this incredible festival:
Markets bustling.
People full of life.
Perfect pockets of light.
It was one of those moments you couldn’t plan for. The street will always deliver. You just have to be prepared.
“You don’t need a plan. You just need a camera. Fortune favors the prepared mind.”
Photography is Like Weight Training
For me, photography is a daily ritual. It’s like hitting the gym.
Lift weights, gain muscle.
Shoot daily, make better photos.
Repetition is key. It’s the same principle. The more you photograph, the more you improve.
“Photography is like espresso for me—I could go without it, but I need it. I love it.”
I don’t go anywhere without a camera. For over a decade now, it’s been my constant companion. There’s no shortcut. You have to go out there every day, move your body, and set it in motion without preconceived notions.
The Superpower of Photography
This video, this post—it’s for anyone, anywhere:
The photographer out in the Midwest with “nothing” to shoot.
The one in New York City who prefers parks over street corners.
The person in India documenting their daily life.
The location doesn’t matter. Photography gives you the ability to create something from nothing. That’s the superpower.
“With a camera, life becomes like a dream. Everything isn’t what it seems. You start to perceive the world differently, looking for compositions, moments, and meaning.”
Keep Shooting
The key to it all? Keep shooting.
Carry your camera.
Shoot often.
Accept failure and keep progressing.
There’s so much failure in photography, but every now and then, you’ll find something. And when you do, it’s worth it.
Final Thoughts
Life is unpredictable. It’s spontaneous. And it’s fleeting. As photographers, it’s our responsibility to respond—to position ourselves, camera in hand, and document the moments that matter.
So if you want to improve, just carry a camera with you. Always.
“The more you shoot, the better you’ll get. Photography is about showing up, being prepared, and creating something every single day.”
Larry Towell’s The Mennonites is a masterpiece of documentary photography that delves deep into the lives of one of the most private and traditional communities in the world. Through a profound combination of visual storytelling and poetic insight, Towell portrays the Mennonites as both timeless and vulnerable, capturing their unique relationship with land, faith, and identity.
Who Are the Mennonites?
The Mennonites are a Christian Anabaptist group originating in 16th-century Europe. Known for their simple, rural lifestyle and deep commitment to pacifism, the Mennonites often reject modern technology and focus on:
Faith in God
Community-oriented living
Simplicity and separation from worldly influences
Agricultural self-sufficiency
Larry Towell spent over ten years documenting the Mennonites of Mexico and Canada, immersing himself in their daily lives to tell a story that is at once personal and universal.
The Vision of Larry Towell
Larry Towell, the acclaimed Magnum photographer, approaches his subjects with reverence and curiosity. In The Mennonites, he builds a bridge between their isolation and the outside world. Towell avoids sensationalism and instead creates images that are:
Intimate yet respectful
Poignant and timeless
Candid but deeply poetic
Towell’s connection to the Mennonites goes beyond photography. He shares in their experience, often living among them to gain their trust and insight. This human connection permeates his work, making the images alive with subtle narratives.
Photographic Themes
1. Land as Identity
The Mennonites’ relationship with the land is central to Towell’s portrayal. The vast expanses of farmland become a recurring motif, symbolizing both their livelihood and their struggle. Their migration across borders — from Canada to Mexico and beyond — reflects a longing for a place to call home, free from outside interference.
2. Community and Isolation
Towell captures the tension between community cohesion and cultural isolation. Images of large families, communal labor, and traditional gatherings are juxtaposed with scenes of vast, empty landscapes. The Mennonites live together, yet their chosen separation from modern society creates an atmosphere of solitude.
3. Faith and Tradition
Religion governs every aspect of Mennonite life. Towell’s photographs highlight:
Worship in modest, unadorned churches
The plain dress of women, men, and children
Rituals and celebrations that have changed little over the centuries
These images reveal a profound dedication to tradition, underscoring their desire to live a life uncompromised by modernity.
4. Youth and Change
Towell also examines the struggles of younger generations within the Mennonite community. Images of children at work and play evoke innocence but hint at an underlying tension. As the world around them modernizes, Mennonite youth face the difficult choice between staying true to their roots or embracing change.
The Power of Black-and-White Photography
Towell’s use of black-and-white photography in The Mennonites is deliberate and impactful:
Timelessness: The monochrome palette gives the work a historical feel, emphasizing the community’s resistance to change.
Focus on Form and Texture: Light and shadow highlight the simplicity of Mennonite life — the texture of weathered hands, the stark landscapes, and the modest clothing.
Emotional Weight: The absence of color intensifies the images’ emotional depth, drawing attention to the subjects’ expressions and environment.
Towell’s photography strips away distraction, allowing viewers to focus on the essence of each moment.
Why The Mennonites Matters
Larry Towell’s The Mennonites is not just a book of photographs; it is a historical and cultural document. It offers a rare glimpse into a community often misunderstood or overlooked, capturing their struggles, joys, and unwavering faith.
Key Takeaways
The Mennonites reveals the beauty of simplicity and tradition in a rapidly changing world.
Towell’s approach highlights the importance of building trust and understanding in documentary photography.
The book reminds us of the human need for identity, community, and a place to belong.
Final Thoughts
Larry Towell’s The Mennonites stands as a testament to the power of photography to tell stories that transcend time and place. It is a book that challenges readers to reflect on their own relationships with faith, community, and modern life.
For anyone interested in documentary photography, cultural studies, or the quiet resilience of human life, The Mennonites is an essential work.
All right. So let’s just walk through this with some degree of specificity. You’re always moving from point A to B. You see a pathway and you see tools. That produces positive effect. Movement towards a desired aim generates positive emotion, which is mediated by the dopamine system. That’s what positive emotion is—a signal that you’re progressing toward something worthwhile.
The hypothalamus sets up the aims and the frame:
The goal
The frame of reference
On the other side, the hypothalamus mediates exploration. For example, consider a cat with its brain removed, leaving only the spinal cord and hypothalamus—a state known as a decorticate cat.
A female cat in this condition can still function relatively well.
The cat cycles through motivational states, explores hyperactively, but cannot build a model of the world since it lacks memory.
This hyper-exploration highlights something critical: the brain inhibits exploration once a model of the world is created. You explore, map the environment, remember, and then stop exploring. If your frame collapses—through novelty, psychedelics, or errors—you return to exploration.
“When you’re an adult, you see assumptions, not reality. Most of what you see is memory.”
Perception, Models, and Exploration
How Visual Systems Work
Your visual system takes input from the retina to the primary visual cortex. There, it detects basic features like edges. Moving upward in the brain hierarchy:
Top-down inhibition modifies perception.
You primarily perceive what you assume, not what you directly see.
“Once you build a model, you see the model. But if the model is wrong, or the world changes, you must return to exploration.”
The Hypothalamus: Exploration and Positive Emotion
The hypothalamus operates two motivational systems:
Standard reference frame: What should you eat? What should you aim for?
Exploration mode: If needs aren’t met, explore; if all needs are satisfied, explore for future preparation.
Exploration is neurologically ancient, as old as hunger or thirst, and forms the foundation of the dopaminergic system. This system underpins positive emotion, motivation, and addiction.
“Exploration and positive emotion are the same thing—approach to a valued goal.”
Drugs like cocaine exploit this system by artificially simulating incentive reward. However, addiction can often be overcome by pursuing something better:
12-step programs reorient individuals ethically, spiritually, and communally.
Higher aims recalibrate the nervous system to replace false rewards.
Tools, Obstacles, and Frames of Reference
As you move from point A to B:
Positive emotion emerges when your plan works.
Obstacles can arise:
Circumvent them and maintain the same aim.
Switch aims if the obstacle is insurmountable.
“Obstacles produce negative emotion. But unpredictability also elicits curiosity—a signal to re-explore and reframe.”
This interplay of predictability, obstacles, and unpredictability defines the human condition:
Chaos forces you to abandon invalid frames.
A new, emergent aim brings renewed clarity and meaning.
The Dragon and the Treasure: Confronting the Unknown
The unknown has dual meaning—it is both dangerous and opportunistic:
The Dragon represents threat, the predator lurking beyond the firelight.
The Treasure represents opportunity and transformation.
“The heroic path is confronting the dragon—not running or hiding. The predator holds the treasure.”
Humans are not merely prey animals; we are prey animals who chose to be predators. This fundamental orientation toward danger and opportunity defines our historical and psychological development.
Personality Traits and Transformation
Human personality is best understood through the Big Five Traits:
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Openness to Experience
1. Extraversion
Positive emotion system
Subdivides into:
Assertiveness: Social dominance
Enthusiasm: Social enjoyment
Men and women are roughly equal, though women show higher enthusiasm.
2. Neuroticism
Negative emotion system
Subdivides into:
Withdrawal: Depression and avoidance
Volatility: Irritability
Women score higher in neuroticism—likely for evolutionary reasons:
Physical vulnerability
Infant distress sensitivity
3. Agreeableness
Compassion and politeness
Advantages: Cooperation and caretaking
Disadvantages: Vulnerability to exploitation
4. Conscientiousness
Industriousness and orderliness
Predicts work ethic and long-term success.
5. Openness to Experience
Subdivides into:
Creativity: Aesthetic and innovative pursuits
Interest in Ideas: Intellectual exploration
Exploration and Personality Integration
Personality traits create niches in society, allowing for diverse pathways to success:
Plasticity: (Extraversion + Openness) leads to entrepreneurship and exploration.
Stability: (Conscientiousness + Agreeableness + Emotional Stability) leads to social and managerial success.
“A well-structured society provides games for every personality to play—so everyone has a role to fulfill.”
Creativity and Risk
Highly open individuals explore risky, creative avenues. Success is rare, but extraordinary when achieved. Most people, however, operate within safer and more predictable roles.
Final Thoughts: The Heroic Path
Transformation emerges from exploration—from confronting the dragons in life. The unknown is both dangerous and rewarding. You must navigate obstacles, adjust your aims, and expand your maps of the world:
“When you stop exploring, you stop growing. Movement toward valued goals sustains you—and when those goals collapse, you must confront the chaos, reframe, and set forth again.”
Life is a cycle of exploration, failure, and transformation. By understanding the traits that define us and the systems that motivate us, we uncover pathways to meaning and growth.
All right. So we’re going to intermingle three topics in this lecture: the tradition of Jean Piaget, the tradition of the biologists, neurobiologists, neuropsychologists, and behaviorists, and psychometric approaches to personality. And we’ll do that in a way that integrates all of those with what we’ve discussed. I mentioned to you when we first started this voyage that I would endeavor to present you an integrated view of personality theories, using a hierarchy of conceptualization to locate the different levels of theoretical analysis and unite them.
And I think we can bring that to a successful conclusion, integrating these three quite vastly different approaches—all predicated on the idea that if there is a unity of phenomena and a unity of conceptualization, there should be a unity of scientific representation. All apparent paradoxes, therefore, should reconcile, except insofar as there is an error.
Key Figures: Piaget, Swanson, Gray, and Panksepp
Here are the people we’re going to talk about:
Jean Piaget: A developmental psychologist who called himself a genetic epistemologist because he was interested in the genesis of things—the development of knowledge structures in children.
Larry Swanson: A physiologist who mapped out the nervous system, particularly spinal cord function and motor activity.
Jeffrey Gray: A master of the behavioral world. His work in The Neuropsychology of Anxiety integrated neuropharmacology, brain anatomy, and emotional function.
Jaak Panksepp: Known for Affective Neuroscience, he discovered the play circuit in mammals—a major league discovery.
Piaget and the Stages of Play
Piaget believed we could understand knowledge and philosophy best by analyzing how it develops in children. Children enter the world not with abstract conceptual structures but with rudimentary abilities to act. For example:
A baby can suck and explore with their mouth, mapping their environment for functional significance.
Play becomes a primary vehicle for scaffolding development. Babies imitate themselves: if an action produces an interesting response, they replicate it.
Through play, children build their conceptions of reality by exploring, assimilating new information, and accommodating their schemas to fit new discoveries.
“Assimilation is the incorporation of new information; accommodation is the adjustment of schemes to incorporate that new information.”
Swanson and the Nervous System
Swanson’s work on the nervous system complements Piaget’s developmental theory perfectly:
Your spinal cord handles basic motor actions (e.g., walking is a controlled fall).
The hypothalamus regulates basic motivational states: hunger, thirst, sexual desire, temperature regulation, and elimination.
Motivations cycle through these states, each one capable of rearranging perception, emotions, and fantasies to achieve its goal.
“Motivation sets a goal; emotion tells you where you are on the pathway to that goal.”
Panksepp and the Discovery of Play
Jaak Panksepp’s discovery of the play circuit was groundbreaking. He showed that even rats engage in reciprocal play, which reveals the emergence of a spontaneous morality:
Juvenile rats will work to enter an arena to wrestle with other rats.
If one rat is 10% larger, it can reliably win. Yet, if the larger rat doesn’t let the smaller rat win one-third of the time, the smaller rat will stop inviting it to play.
“Fair play emerges naturally, even among rats. The ethos of reciprocity forms the foundation for stable social organization.”
This play ethos lays the groundwork for human communities. It begins in early childhood when children learn to play structured games, negotiate rules, and adopt roles. Play becomes the mechanism through which we integrate social behavior.
Personality and Cognitive Ability
Personality is not a unitary structure—it is clearly five-dimensional:
Openness to Experience
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Cognitive ability, on the other hand, is unitary. General intelligence (g) emerges from a person’s ability to perform across multiple domains of cognitive tasks:
People with higher IQs tend to have larger brains relative to body size, faster neurological transmission, and greater resistance to degeneration.
The best predictor for maintaining cognitive ability is physical health: weightlifting and cardiovascular exercise.
“Weightlifting keeps your brain healthy because the brain is metabolically demanding.”
The Role of Play in Development
Play is not frivolous. It is essential for children to learn socialization, roles, and reciprocity:
Dramatic play helps children develop their identities and negotiate social hierarchies.
Children use pretend play to act out adult roles and explore moral frameworks in a low-risk way.
Screen time is a major threat to childhood development because it substitutes structured play with passive consumption.
*”If you substitute screen time for dramatic play, you interfere with childhood development. Children *must* play to develop socially and cognitively.”*
Why Play Matters for Adults
The highest form of maturity is the ability to rediscover play while retaining adult wisdom:
Relationships become play when there is reciprocity and shared goals.
Work becomes play when it aligns with your interests and allows for exploration and creativity.
A well-structured life reflects the ethos of fair play.
“Your relationship becomes play, your work becomes play. That’s the highest ideal of living.”
Final Thoughts
Personality emerges through the interplay of action, motivation, and cognition. Play is the foundation of this development, both as children and adults. It is through play that we build friendships, communities, and even our identities. As Panksepp demonstrated, the ethos of reciprocity is natural—it emerges even in rats. It is our responsibility to cultivate this ethos and extend it into every aspect of our lives.
When life feels fragmented or miserable, it may be worth asking: Am I missing something? Often, the answer lies in returning to the spirit of play, to exploration, and to wonder.
