J.R.R. Tolkien: The Living Tree
JRR Tolkien saw trees as living, breathing beings. He sensed the rich life that flowed through them; he saw faces in their corrugated bark; he heard their voices. And of all the beloved characters he wrote about–hobbits, dwarves, elves–the most bewitching of all his creations are the Ents.
Read MoreWhy I Waste Time on Social Media
It’s tempting to say, ah, it’s all a load of nonsense and skip social media altogether. But in today’s world people of good will all need to speak up. Speak up, and stand up for truth and reason, in any way we can.
Read MoreBranching Out
The branching pattern of this tree—of any tree—is beautiful, complex, and anything but accidental. There’s a reason for every twist and turn in every smallest twig. It’s all driven by the search for sunlight.
Read MoreRudyard Kipling: Merlin’s Isle
Rudyard Kipling originated the genre of books where realistic children stumble into magic adventure. Suddenly magic intersects with everyday life—turns out there’s a snowstorm going on in the back of a wardrobe, or an owl brings you a letter inviting you to Hogwarts! He was followed by E. Nesbit, C.S. Lewis’s tales of Narnia and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. But Kipling did it first.
Read MoreWinter Solstice: Coming Soon to a Horizon Near You
What is a solstice? It’s the darkest part of winter. Yet paradoxically, it’s a time to celebrate warmth, and light, and life. A holiday for everyone, all welcome, no religion necessary. It’s just about the planet we all live on, tilting to and fro on its long journey around the sun. It’s when the days start getting longer. And the solstice is also a precise moment in time. This year, the solstice falls on December 21, at 11:19 p.m. Set your alarm. Why mark this moment? It’s the tipping point between light and darkness. Why 11:19 and not 11:18 or 11:20? Well, it’s the precise instant at which...
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