To be strong, curious, and courageous each day

Communion with the Gods

When I wake up in the morning before the sunrise, eager to see the sun peering over the horizon, I find myself in communion with the gods. When I listen to the birds chirping, embrace the breeze in the atmosphere of the morning, that brisk air, I fuel my curiosity and imagination. It’s a great way to start the day, watching the sun, pure above the clouds, behind the horizon, and conquer the morning.

Embrace Dionysus

As artists, we desire to be in a state of ecstasy. I believe that the god of ecstasy, Dionysus, is in our blood as creative people. We must embrace the chaotic and spontaneous nature of life and fuel ourselves through frenzy and ecstasy. While this is easily achieved through the use of drugs, such as alcohol, and other substances, they mostly just give you a headache. However, the use of espresso is a funny way to utilize a drug that puts you in a state of heightened awareness and alertness. Before I go to sleep, I pre-prepare four shots of espresso that I leave in my fridge so that I can consume them all the next morning with speed and get right outside.

Espresso is a very practical way to enhance the state of frenzy, but you can still achieve this through embracing danger, trying new things, and walking new paths. I believe that even through simple acts, such as weightlifting, you enter this state of ecstasy, feeling the blissful sensation of moving your physical muscles and pushing your boundaries further each day. Weightlifting is an adrenaline rush that you can achieve in the comfort of your home, simply by doing push-ups or pull-ups. Maybe with the combination of espresso and weightlifting, we can achieve a pure state of ecstasy, embracing Dionysus in a new way.

A Spiritual Practice

Street photography is an ethos and a philosophy, a way of life for me. I find that it is now becoming a spiritual practice in my daily routine. Street photography becomes the ultimate drug, where you are addicted to the feeling, sensual, visual, and auditory aspects of life while moving through the world.

When I set my body in motion without preconceived notions, simply remaining open, I exist outside the passage of time. While I am inside, my soul slowly dies, and I find that time passes by. However, with a keen eye, two legs, and a camera in your pocket, it is inevitable that you will become successful.

I believe the ultimate sign of success in any human being is pure curiosity. Curiosity fuels me each morning to wake up and catch the sunrise. I’m always surprised at what I will find, even walking the same lanes every single day. The mundane can become a place where I play and thrive.

Become God

Are we not permitted to call ourselves gods? Am I seen as mentally ill or crazy for this statement? Why is it that we are not permitted to become something greater than ourselves?

I believe that in this modern world we lack this imaginative, creative spirit, and we must return to it. Perhaps the fact that we have a lack of connection to the cosmos, the universe, the galaxy above, the shooting stars, and the beautiful colors, due to light pollution, dampens the human spirit.

I will never forget when I was a volunteer in Zambia, Africa, looking up towards the night sky, watching stars shoot across the galaxy, watching satellites move, and gazing up at these beautiful colors and hues. It’s truly unfortunate that cities are filled with such light pollution because I believe that many will go their whole lives without viewing the heavens.

Maybe as artists we should perceive this world as a dream, using the physical spaces around us as our canvas. We wield light, the ultimate source of power in this world, as our medium. We possess the power to create a new world in a fraction of a second. This act alone provides endless curiosity in my life and fuels me with a creative spirit. Simply knowing that you can never make the same photograph twice is enough to understand the true power of curiosity and photography. You can walk the same mundane lane every single day for the rest of your life and still find a new way to create something. We possess the ability to paint with light endlessly.

Every night before I go to sleep, I treat it as if it was my last waking breath, as though I will not wake up in the morning, treating this moment like a mini death. When I wake up, with my eyes wide open, I am born again, like a child. The act of waking up in the morning never ceases to put a smile on my face, as I am so grateful to be able to walk, eat food, look at things, sing, dance, fight, shout, whisper, read, and listen.

Photography becomes a superpower, and we become the gods of light itself.

When you look at something, perceive it through your unique two eyes, and position your body and your camera in the world in new ways, you affirm this confusing, wondrous, and joyful experience, lifting the human spirit to new heights that have never been seen before. Every morning when I open my door, I’m always eager, wanting more but expecting nothing. When you detach yourself from the outcome of everything in life, whether it is photographs, money, fame, or all the material things of this world, you become one with your ultimate superpower, abundance.

When abundance flows through you, you enter a blissful state, recognizing the patterns of both nature and human behavior, while studying light and the way it casts upon surfaces, or the way people dance with their two feet upon the concrete. You come in tune with the rhythm and the beat of the street.

The world is a stage, and we are all actors. When I am practicing my photography on any given street corner, I am both the conductor and participant of the orchestra or the drama that unfolds. You become closer to life through photography, and this is something I believe we lack in the modern world. Street photography becomes a spiritual experience of communing with the gods.

To be old, weak, and bitter.

The tradition of climbing the greased pole, known as the “Albero della Cuccagna” (Tree of the Abundance), has a rich history in South Philadelphia, particularly among the Italian-American community. This event is a highlight of the annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine Festival, which celebrates Italian heritage and community spirit.

Origins and Historical Context

1. Italian Roots: The tradition of climbing a greased pole dates back centuries in Italy, particularly in Southern regions like Naples and Sicily. In Italy, this event was often part of village festivals and religious celebrations, symbolizing abundance and communal effort.
2. Immigration to Philadelphia: As Italian immigrants settled in South Philadelphia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they brought with them their customs and traditions. The greased pole climb became a way for the community to celebrate their heritage and maintain a connection to their homeland.

The St. Nicholas of Tolentine Festival

1. Early Years: The St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, founded in 1912, became a focal point for the Italian community in South Philadelphia. The festival, typically held in June, includes religious ceremonies, food, music, and various traditional games, with the greased pole climb being a central event.
2. The Event: The greased pole, usually a tall wooden pole smeared with grease, has various prizes attached to the top. Participants, often working in teams, attempt to climb the slippery pole to reach the prizes. The event is both challenging and entertaining, showcasing teamwork, strength, and perseverance.
3. Community and Celebration: The festival and the greased pole climb serve as a celebration of Italian-American culture, bringing together multiple generations. It reinforces community bonds, provides a sense of identity, and offers a joyful way to celebrate their shared heritage.

Modern Times

1. Continuing Tradition: Despite changes in the neighborhood and the broader city, the greased pole climb remains a beloved tradition. It continues to draw crowds and participants, maintaining its status as a highlight of the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Festival.
2. Symbol of Heritage: For many Italian-Americans in South Philadelphia, the greased pole climb is more than just a game. It represents their ancestors’ struggles and triumphs, and the community’s enduring spirit.

This vibrant tradition is a testament to the enduring cultural heritage of the Italian-American community in South Philadelphia, highlighting the importance of maintaining and celebrating one’s cultural roots even in a new land.

Free as a Bird

The sounds of birds are music to my ears. When I wake up in the morning before the sunrise, I often hear the birds from my window chirping away for hours on end. From the morning between 4 to 6 AM, there are beautiful musical notes that you can catch, especially along the Schuylkill River Trail here in Philadelphia. When I consider birds, they are very symbolic of freedom. Think of America, and the eagle.

Birds Can’t Fly in a Cage

I remember in high school, feeling physically constrained to the four corners of a classroom or the school itself. I had to enter through security, put my bag through an x-ray, and all the doors were locked—you were not allowed to go outside. Doesn’t this sound like a prison? I was always so antsy and eager to just get up and leave the classroom, ditching school, and exploring outside the school grounds. I believe this is because I realized that the things they were teaching in high school were quite meaningless—you just memorized a few things, and regurgitated them on a test later that week. I don’t believe that the school system, specifically the public school system here in Philadelphia, sets students up for success.

Maybe it was my personal experience, and just my perception of the system, but what do they expect you to do and where do they expect you to go after embarking on eight hours per day, sitting down, under fluorescent lights? Perhaps they expect you to just go to work, sit down, and stay within your box, or your cubicle, under more fluorescent lights. That’s no way to live—as a free bird, we don’t desire cages. We desire open spaces, and places for us to physically conquer.

Physicality

Think of the human body as the ultimate vehicle. I see traffic jams filled with cars all throughout the city. However, by walking, I’m not only increasing my physical strength and my body, but also my mind. I believe that a strong body creates a strong mind. I also believe that a weak body will have a weak mind. Or in other words, the weak will envy the strong.

This past weekend on Saturday, my friend wanted to watch this boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Tyson Fury was certainly bound to win as he is much larger and appeared much stronger. I remember rooting for the smaller man, Usyk, with my friend, and we wanted to see the underdog defeat the giant. Perhaps this is a tendency of our human nature, as it is easier for ourselves to identify with those that are more likely to be the victim.

Who is Handala?

While walking on the trail this morning, I read a poster of this cartoon of a small Palestinian boy, titled, “Who is Handala?” I remember seeing this cartoon plastered on the walls all throughout Palestine while I was traveling there. I used ChatGPT as a way for me to inform myself deeper about this cartoon and its meaning.

Handala is a significant character created by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali. Depicted as a ten-year-old boy, Handala has become an iconic symbol of Palestinian resistance and the struggle for justice. He is characterized by his simple clothing and the fact that he is always shown from behind, with his hands clasped behind his back. This stance symbolizes his passive yet unwavering witness to the injustices faced by Palestinians. Handala’s age, which remains eternally ten, represents the age at which al-Ali was forced to leave his homeland, marking a loss of innocence and a perpetual state of resistance. The character is widely recognized in the Arab world and has become a powerful emblem of defiance and solidarity.

I spent six months studying abroad in Jerusalem, at Hebrew University, volunteered on an Israeli kibbutz, and also lived with a Palestinian family, volunteering at a hostel. I believe I possess a nuanced understanding of the Holy Land through my direct experiences.

When I lived in Jericho for three months, I woke up every morning, swept the floors, did my chores, ate breakfast of dates, pita, eggs, and hummus, then proceeded to knock on the door of my friend Mohammed’s house. He was my guide and best friend for the next three months. He was a 21-year-old young man, the same age as me at the time, living in this Palestinian refugee camp on his own with no family, no mother, no father, no brother, and nobody to guide him. He built his own home using cinderblocks and tin. Every day, we walked to the center of town, where we greeted his mentor, Hassan, watered his garden, tended his plants, and spent time on his porch, simply chatting as he enjoyed cigarettes after using his breathing machine. Because Mohammed was alone, he sought guidance and wisdom from this elderly man. You could see a fire in his eyes when they were together, in the way that he interacted with him—they had a very strong bond and relationship. Hassan was the father figure and mentor that Mohammed lacked in his life as a refugee.

There is a resilience that these young Palestinian men face, living in solitude, in extremely harsh conditions that I would not wish upon my worst enemies. The beautiful thing about the community in Jericho was that everybody was bound under God. Each morning, I would hear from the speaker of the mosque, before sunrise, “Allah Akbar” in a beautiful song, and I would join in with many people, gathering in prayer. Despite the living conditions and situations of Palestinian refugee life, prayer, community, and God keep the Palestinians resilient during tough times.

I remember walking along the outskirts of Jericho, by the border. Most refugee camps are surrounded by a big wall, with security, x-rays, and military checkpoints to go through. The border of Jericho is not surrounded by a wall, like many of the refugee camps throughout Palestine, but it is simply guarded with a barbed wire fence. These young boys, seemingly ten years old, wanted to show me the border as they often play just nearby a farm overlooking the fence. As the boys approached the barbed wire, they pointed out to me Israeli soldiers, perched behind their trenches and bunker, pointing their assault rifles towards the children. This sight was something that astonished me and certainly struck a chord in my soul. To live like this as a child must be so difficult, and I certainly empathize with the Palestinian people, but more specifically with the youth that are growing up in these conditions.

Nature is Violent and All is War

One day, I was walking through the park here at Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, where I watched a hawk sweep down from the trees and devour a baby bird in mid-flight. All that was left at the scene were a few feathers falling to the ground. This reminded me how violent nature is, and that all is war. Perhaps there will always be war, violence, and conflict. This is always found in nature, and humans, too, partake in this conflict.

Maybe there will always be division, whether it is by religion, politics, race, philosophy, location, and dogma, but I believe we must transcend and go beyond the horizon. I believe that there is potential for a middle ground, or a nuanced way of viewing humanity and society as a whole. Perhaps we can go beyond the basic ways of identifying with either the oppressor or the victim by understanding our human natural tendency to seek power and dominance. There is a hierarchy within society, and the most dominant shall win. Even consider capitalism as a cruel and violent aspect of American life. While you can achieve freedom and prosperity within the United States of America under a capitalist society, this also means that there will be great disparity between the rich and the poor. This is why you will see many people flying on jets, riding on yachts, going on extravagant vacations, and spending money on luxury goods, while others are in the streets, using the concrete as their bedroom and their bathroom, begging, and sleeping on the corners.

As much as we can strive to be the free bird, soaring through the air and the open spaces with our wings spread, there will always be that keen sting and violent nature, that cruel tendency, to clip the wing of others, and tear everything down. I believe we must remain strong, resilient, and increase our physical power. The more you focus on physiological strength, the stronger your mind will be. We can achieve resilience against all odds, to transcend this slave mind, of identifying with the victims.

Morality is a fickle and funny thing, but perhaps violence is merely a byproduct of human nature’s tendency to seek greater power.

Or in other words, a weak body will have a weak mind.

Those that are physically weak are also mentally weak and not to be trusted with any power?