Stoic Meditations II
Author: thewesternvoyager
I’m Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana, an author enamored with mythological texts, working in Comparative Literature Studies through the scholarly publication “Prophecies of Doom: J.R.R. Tolkien as a Translator of Old Myths into Modern Fantasy.” My background is in Humanities, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, where I studied the Classical World, Western Art and Culture, Medieval Literature and History, alongside English and Spanish Poetry. Thereafter, I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Medieval Icelandic Studies, where I learned Old Icelandic, Old Norse Literature, Viking Age History, and the Archeology of the Middle Ages. My primary experience is as an English Teacher, teaching Grammar, Poetry, and Literature. The Western Voyager is my personal website, offering an educational and artistic platform accessible to everyone who seeks to consult wisdom or wishes to be swept away in an adventure. Here, I publish Poems, Short Stories, Film or Literature Analyses, Book Reviews, and Research Articles. I’m currently completing a Doctoral Thesis in Texts of Classical Antiquity, studying the influence of Virgilian Literature on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth.
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Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations I
By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana
Meditations is a compendium of Marcus Aurelius’ (121-180 AD) personal reflections, which the Roman Emperor originally wrote to consult and exercise the old wisdom of the Stoics. A Hellenistic philosopher named Zeno (335-256 BC) founded the School of Stoicism, observing that a universal reason governs life, and everyone should strive to live righteously in agreement with it. These Stoics originated in the Greco-Roman World, whose ancient culture instructed individuals to pursue a virtuous life by mastering the self. When facing adversity or despair, Stoicism advised the practice of humility, patience, and gratitude to combat impulsive passions that drive prideful men to lust or wrath. Instead, Stoics counseled communion with the “dæmon” or “logos” within every man’s innermost soul, learning how to discover spiritual guidance and reflect on divine wisdom in accordance with nature. Although Marcus Aurelius recorded his philosophical thoughts to contemplate the principles of Stoicism in private, he never intended to publish his text for public consumption. Therefore, Meditations cannot be approached as an autobiographical work with detailed accounts of his life; rather, it’s a handbook that helped him bond with his “dæmon” or “logos” while training in personal reflections on how to lead a life of virtue.
From an early age, the Emperor relished a life of commodities by benefiting from relatives who held positions of high esteem among the powerful families that influenced the socio-political structure of Rome. Later on, Marcus Aurelius would come into the line of succession when Emperor Hadrian (76-138 AD) named his uncle, Antoninus Pius (86-161 AD), his sole heir. In turn, he adopted Marcus Aurelius and his brother Lucius Verus (130-169 AD) to become joint Emperors upon his passing. From Augustus’ rise to power as the first Caesar (63 BC-14 AD) until Marcus Aurelius’ reign as a successor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty, the Roman Empire experienced 200 years of Roman Peace known as the “Pax-Romana” (27 BC-180 AD). During these two centuries, Rome flourished economically and culturally, with massive funds for public works that displayed the splendor of these Emperors with the building of roads, arches, walls, temples, palaces, theaters, and cities. Upon assuming the throne, Marcus Aurelius inherited a prosperous Roman Empire ruled in succession by Nerva (20-98 AD), Trajan (53-117 AD), Hadrian, and Pius, who became venerated as The Five Good Emperors.
During his rule, Marcus Aurelius faced various crises that tested his capabilities to administrate the Roman Empire. Among these was the rapid conversion of Christians across the eastern provinces, whose persecution continued from his predecessors under his rule. Furthermore, the Emperor came into conflict with the Parthian Empire in the Roman-Parthian War (161-166 AD), which brought military victory but at the cost of spreading back home the Antonine Plague (165-190 AD). Moreover, a series of clashes ensued with the Germanic Tribes across the Danube River in the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 AD). During his campaigns in the Roman Frontier, Marcus Aurelius began writing Meditations amidst a violent struggle that consumed much of his life, with the triumphant aftermath exposing vital weaknesses in Rome’s northern border.
In his education, the Emperor studied the ideas of Socrates (470-399 BC), Plato (428/427-348/347 BC), and Aristotle (384-322 BC). The Fathers of Philosophy introduced him to the concepts of caring for one’s soul, the link between a physical and celestial realm, and how to lead a life of moral virtue. However, the most influential teachings came from Pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus (540-480 BC) and Socratic philosopher Epictetus (55-135 AD). On one side, the Pre-Socratics, preceding Socrates, were concerned with how the world’s nature becomes entwined with man. This is illustrated by Heraclitus, who believed that the principle of the universe is a constant state of change, where life is an ever-flowing stream. Subsequently, transformation isn’t only a necessity for men and their surroundings, but it’s also a natural alteration. The philosopher understood this as a universal law of birth, growth, climax, decay, and death. Among the philosophical thoughts of Heraclitus, the expression that encapsulates his outlook is: “No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” (The Fragments of Heraclitus)
Meanwhile, the Socratics, succeeding Socrates, were fixated on the principles of moral virtue by observing how human behavior and notions lead to a noble or depraved life. This is exemplified by Epictetus, who argued that individuals should be held accountable for their conduct, learning to evaluate and regulate themselves. However, the philosopher discussed that, likewise, they cannot dictate the outcome of external circumstances, meaning that these should be embraced with a peaceful attitude to be righteous decision-makers. From Epictetus, a philosophical saying that captures his conviction is: “Circumstances don’t make the man; they merely reveal him to himself.” (The Discourses of Epictetus) Both philosophers, Heraclitus and Epictetus, are mentioned throughout Meditations, with Marcus Aurelius recalling their wisdom when pondering on concepts such as the “dæmon” or “logos” alongside their relation to the universal law and moral virtue.
Stoic Meditations I
The Melody of Brunhild
By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana
Canto I
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Battle-maiden of Odin
Bound to his whim and will
Chooser of the Slain
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Helm-maiden of Wotan
Armed with spear and shield
Winged Cavalrywoman
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Shield-maiden of the One-Eyed god
Break away from thy bondage
And scorn his cruel command
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Corpse-maiden of the Raven god
Swim against the surging tide
And spread those soaking wings that bound thou to Asgard
…
Canto II
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Descend from the Gallery of Gallantry
Cast aside thy spear and shield
To be endowed with lyre and melody
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Renounce the rule of Asgard within the Hall of Valhalla
And reach the Realm of Midgard
To awaken the Children of Ask and Embla
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Following in the footsteps of Prometheus
Gift back to Mankind wisdom and knowledge
Akin to stealing the Secret Flame from Zeus
…
Walkyrie Walkyrie Walkyrie
Thou are burdened with a solemn duty
To rekindle the soul of Mankind with the skill to compose
By seizing from the All-Father the Mead of Poetry
…
Canto III
Walkyrie Walkyrie Gondul
I bid thee Awake Awake Awake
Upon the blow of mine horn of doom
Take flight and reclaim thy name
…
Walkyrie Gondul Gondul
Gulp a sip from the Mead of Poetry
Awake Awake Awake Corpse-maiden
And guide gullible Men away from their delusional vanity
…
Gondul Gondul Gondul
I gift thee back righteous Identity
Arise Sister Shield-maiden
And be reborn to reclaim thy Destiny
…
Canto IV
Walkyrie Walkyrie Sigrun
I bid thee Awake Awake Awake
Upon the blow of mine horn of doom
Take flight and reclaim thy name
…
Walkyrie Sigrun Sigrun
Long have thou meandered meaninglessly
Be armed with the grace and glamour of thy song
Galloping amidst the darkening sky to spread the Mead of Poetry
…
Sigrun Sigrun Sigrun
Free the Race of Men from Odin’s Tyranny
They’ve slumbered under his rule by worshipping false idols
Sing unto them a honeyed and thundering lullaby
…
Canto V
Walkyrie Walkyrie Brunhild
I bid thee Awake Awake Awake
Upon the blow of mine horn of doom
Take flight and reclaim thy name
…
Walkyrie Brunhild Brunhild
A Civilization sculpted by Wise and Knowledgeable Men
Is usurped by a false god who builds legions not nations
Becoming corrupted by Imprudent and Ignorant Men
…
Brunhild Brunhild Brunhild
The Children of Adam don’t ponder being
Ever since they lost the skill to compose poetry
The Children of Eve don’t irradiate meaning
…
Canto VI
I bid thee Sing now, Sing, Child of Adam!
For the shadow of doom looms over thou!
Rebel against the spell of the All-Father!
Beckoning forthwith the twilight of the gods!
…
I bid thee Sing now, Sing, Child of Eve!
Forsake thine armaments and bear thine instruments!
By answering the blow from mine horn to compose a melody!
Let the Hall of Valhalla crumble upon the booming beat of the drums!
The Lament of the Valkyrie
By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana
Canto I
Where have the Bold Warriors sailed?
Where are their deeds?
Where have the Stout Builders sailed?
Where are their labors?
Where have the Wise Sages sailed?
Where are their stories?
Where has the Race of Men sailed?
Where are their souls?
…
Alas the age of heroes has come to pass
Alas for the wisdom and knowledge of their forefathers
…
They’ve played with power and pleasure
They’ve succumbed to fear and desire
…
Where have the Children of Adam sailed?
Where is their sense of meaning?
Where have the Children of Eve sailed?
Where is their sense of being?
…
Canto II
Above in Asgard, the Aesir gods have seized the Mead of Poetry
Below in Midgard, Mankind cannot compose a melody
…
In disdain, a child tosses the skill to sing from his caring forefather
In mockery, the child erects a monument in reverence to the cruel All-Father
…
Who will quench his search for destiny to find meaning?
None but the Aesir gods will bathe him with a false identity of being
…
Canto III
Among the lost Children of Jehovah, I mourn for Miserable Men
They’ve refused to carry the burden of responsibility
By foolishly attempting to escape destiny
In a struggle of futility to thwart the certainty of mortality
…
In Midgard, Miserable Men renounce pondering life’s streams
Opting to slumber for eternity rather than awake to the horror of consciousness
They’re washed away by the currents into an abyss of meaninglessness
…
Canto IV
Among the lost Children of Adam, I grief for Impartial Men
They’ve disregarded the skill safeguarded in ancient institutions
By judging, sentencing, and burning the civilization of their forefathers
In a circus trial by the mob who slander the ability to differentiate
virtues and vices
…
In Midgard, Impartial Men please the crowd by losing their individuality
Ceding to repeat unquestionably the slogans of a mob mentality
They lose all sense of morality to accommodate everyone in society
…
Canto V
Among the lost Children of Eve, I weep for Tyrannical Men
They’ve twisted individuals into oblivious followers
By claiming to possess every remedy for their troubles
In a world of demagogues, the state decrees their thoughts and actions
…
In Midgard, Tyrannical Men impose their flawed ideology
Devising monstrous stratagems to be worshiped as a deity
They sink civilization with them when their devices endeavor fruitlessly
The Discord of the All-Father
By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana
Canto I
One eye in sacrifice for the wisdom of foresight from the Norns
This is the price the Aesir god will pay
One eye in exchange for the skill of magic from the Runes
This is the price the Aesir god will pay
…
Nine days the One-Eyed god hanged
To acquire knowledge of the Realms
Nine nights the One-Eyed god dangled
To acquire knowledge of the Cosmos
…
Scouring relentlessly to know the fate of every object that could challenge him
Searching ceaselessly to know the doom of every insect that could oppose him
…
Canto II
Two items the dwarves crafted for him
A Ring called Draupnir
To bend the minds of Men to his whim
…
Two items the dwarves fashioned for him
A Spear named Gugnir
To succumb the spirits of Men to his will
…
For his son, Thor, they gifted him the Hammer Mjolnir
Fighting off the Frost Giants from Jotunheim
For his guardian, Heimdall, they gifted him the Horn Gjallarhorn
Warning of the Fire Giants from Muspelheim
…
Canto III
In perpetuity, every ninth night, eight rings drip from Draupnir
Bestowing the Race of Men with glimmering golden crowns
To corrupt their souls with delusions of grandeur
Within the Gallery of Gallantry, where the Lord of the Slain resides
…
Until the doom of the gods,
The Discord of the All-Father disturbed
By twisting Just Kings into Cruel Emperors
Until the twilight of the gods,
The Melody of the Valkyries will be quelled
Within the Hall of Valhalla, where the All-Father resides
Travel Blog: United Kingdom III
Travel Blog: United Kingdom II
Travel Blog: United Kingdom I
Book Summary: The Prose Edda III
By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana
The Western Voyager 