Bay Shore NY
9-17-2024 8:32am

Love Over Hate and the Beginning of Autumn

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - LOVE OVER HATE AND THE BEGINNING OF AUTUMN

 If love is our highest vibration, then hate must be our lowest. We are made of love. So, why don't we tell each other "I love you" more often? Why is there so much hate in the world now?

It is probable that the Ancient Greeks invkented the phrase I love you, if you go by the fact the Greeks have four forms of love. They are:

  • Philia - The love of friends and equals, or the love between long-term lovers. It can also refer to the love between God and people, or between God the Father and God the Son.
  • Storge - The love of parents for their children, which is often described as the most natural love.
  • Agape - The love of mankind, or God's divine love for all people. It's the love that is given regardless of whether it's returned, and is important in the process of forgiveness.
  • Eros - Romantic love, which is often described as a powerful and explosive love.

How ever you define it, love is a powerful force. We've been loving each other for millions of years. So, who came up with the concept of love? It seems Phaedrus, who is the “father” of the idea of talking about love, claims that Love is a God, and is one of the most ancient Gods. According to Hesiod, Love was born to Chaos and Earth. Love gives us the greatest goods and guidance. 

Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet generally thought to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. Homer, who was born c. 8th century BCE, was an Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history. Several of Hesiod's works have survived in their entirety. Among these are Theogony, which tells the origins of the gods, their lineages, and the events that led to Zeus's rise to power, and Works and Days, a poem that describes the five Ages of Man, offers advice and wisdom, and includes myths such as Pandora's box. Hesiod is generally regarded by Western authors as 'the first written poet in the Western tradition to regard himself as an individual persona with an active role to play in his subject.' Ancient authors credited Hesiod and Homer with establishing Greek religious customs. Modern scholars refer to him as a major source on Greek mythology, farming techniques, early economic thought, Archaic Greek astronomy, cosmology, and ancient timekeeping. Whew!

Phaedrus spoke of love while Hesiod and Homer blended literature and philosophy with the idea of our thinking and reasoning about the idea of love in the world. This combination of thought and action created the philosophical movement that continues today though it's not quite as eloquent now. I wish it were. We do remain curious about the place love has in our daily lives, however. The yearning of it can drive us mad and so can the loss of it. The receiving of it can fill our mind, body, and soul with satisfaction, contentment, and bliss. Soddisfazione, contentezza e beatitudine. The Italians know a thing or two about love, too.

There's so much I could write about the philosophical idea of love. We all crave it. The eternal search of it keeps us alive. It's a common thread that binds us. I believe it is our highest vibration. I think we need to experience more love and to say "I love you" more often to people that we're not just romantically involved with, but people we meet along the way. We are not using this language enough. Imagine if we started to say these three words on a regular basis, we could change the chemistry of our brains and the trajectory of our lives. I often wonder why we are afraid to say "I love you" to someone we're not in love with. Love knows no boundaries. It has no limits. It's a beautiful word. Let's say it more. I love you.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, love is essential to our well-being.

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE

On any evening during sunset, a walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse is one of the most enchanting and romantic walks with the one you love. 

The Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for transatlantic ships coming into New York Harbor at the turn of the last century. For many European immigrants, the Fire Island Light was their first sight of land upon arrival in America. The first lighthouse built on Fire Island was completed in 1826. It was a 74-foot high, cream-colored, octagonal pyramid made of Connecticut River blue split stone. The tower was built at the end of the island, adjacent to the inlet. This tower was not effective due to its lack of height. It was almost entirely removed and the stone reused to build the terrace for the present lighthouse. Today a circular ring of bricks and stone are all that remain of the original lighthouse. Due to the westward migration of sand along the beach, known as littoral drift, the inlet is now approximately six miles westward of this site.

In 1857 Congress appropriated $40,000 for the construction of a new tower, 168 feet tall. It was lit for the first time on November 1, 1858. This tower was made of red brick, painted a creamy yellow color. The tower was changed to the present day-mark of alternating black and white bands in August 1891.

For more information, visit www.fireislandlighthouse.com

"NEW" - SKYLARK'S HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Autumn begins this Sunday, September 22 at 8:43am. Buon Autunno! 

The autumnal equinox is when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading back south. Most places around the world will experience equal hours of daylight. In the Northern Hemisphere, we will experience less daylight each day until the December solstice. That's the bad news. 

The good news is we had a full moon this past Tuesday on September 17th. The full moon closest to the equinox is known as the harvest moon. Long before electricity, the Harvest Moon was a boon to those who needed the moon’s bright light to bring in the harvest. The harvest moon’s seemingly brighter light is a phenomenon of the moon rising a little quicker after sunset, and almost at the same time, for several days.

Usually, the moon rises 50 minutes later each night. During this time, it rises around 25 minutes later. This happens due to the combined effect of the moon’s orbital path and the tilt of Earth’s axis.

The moon will appear even brighter due to another astronomical occurrence, a perigee moon, the point where the moon is closest to Earth on its slightly elliptical orbit. “Supermoon” is the modern nickname of the slightly brighter effect.

There was also a partial lunar eclipse on the 17th. At 10:45 p.m., 8% of the moon was darkened by Earth’s deepest shadow. There was a slight shading of the harvest moon around that time.

The autumnal equinox is a good time to set new intentions. It marks the change of seasons as the weather gets cooler.  We change, too, in a new season. So break out those candles and cozy blankets and get ready to enjoy this beautiful, colorful season we call Autunno! 

SKYLARK PRAYER OF THE WEEK - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

What does love mean to you? 

Please put your answer in the Reply bubble at the bottom of my newsletter next to the Heart. I'd love to hear from you. Thank you.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM by YVONNE ELLIMAN (from the film, Jesus Christ Superstar)

<!-- EMBEDDED YOUTUBE URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS2nX4fuzqc -->

LYRICS

I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changes, yes, really changed
In these past few days when I've seen myself
I seem like someone else

I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man, he's just a man
And I've had so many men before
In very many ways
He's just one more

Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love
Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny
I should be in this position?
I'm the one who's always been
So calm, so cool, no lovers fool
Running Every Show
He Scares me so

I want him so, I love him so.

ABOUT MY BRAND, SKYLARK LIVE

My Brand - Skylark Live was born out of my turning 60 and noticing a profound shift in this age. I wanted to talk about it and share what I was experiencing with the hope of helping other women as well. My brand consists of a weekly newsletter and a monthly vlog designed to motivate and inspire women over 60 to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness. I’m in the process of formulating in-person presentations called The Skylark Sessions. These can be conducted in someone’s home, local library, or senior center.

My Weekly Newsletter - My weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, features articles about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, motivation, music, places I've been to, and ideas I want to explore. I represent Bay Shore and towns beyond. There is also a calendar of events. I throw in Italian words, too, because I love the language and all things Italian. Bella Italia! As a paying subscriber, you will receive my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. That gives you a head's up. You can also advertise your business or event on my newsletter. Just click this link to subscribe: For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

My Monthly Vlog - My first Monday-of-the month vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, is a recap of what I've written about in my newsletters throughout the previous month. Then, I introduce a unique topic for the current month's vlog. My vlog is recorded and posted on my YouTube channel as well as on my Patreon account and my social media sites. Just click my YouTube channel link below to subscribe: www.youtube.com/@christineskylark

WHERE TO SUPPORT AND FOLLOW ME

Support me on Patreon - This is where you can support my brand for just $5 a month. This enables me to carve out time to write my newsletters, create my vlogs and to expand my brand. Just click the link below: www.patreon.com/SkylarkLive

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Thank you for your love and support! Grazie per il vostro amore e sostegno!

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