• The Magic Hour Podcast
  • Anthony Alvarado
  • DIY Resistance
  • DIY Magic
  • Workshops

Anthony Alvarado

Anthony Alvarado

Tag Archives: mortality

Memento Mori

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Alvarado in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

day of the dead, death, inspiration, memento mori, mortality, skulls, solomon, wisdom

Hey, you there! Could I please have your attention for a moment? Yes, you, right there, the reader. No, don’t look over your shoulder I’m not talking to the person behind you. I’m not talking to the person who might have read this message before you, nor the person that might read it after you. I mean you specifically, I have a message for you that is going to come true. I will be blunt. Ready?

You are going to die.

There I said it. Now calm down, I’m not saying anything you didn’t already know, I’m just reminding you of something that you already know. You will die. It’s a fact. I will too, we all will. We don’t know how or when, but it is inevitable. It’s also something that we are supposed to pretend to forget apparently. At least these days, in Western culture you don’t hear a whole lot about mortality. Like it’s not a big deal. Well, it IS a big deal! Death. Everything that you know here, in this life. It will all end. This life is not a practice run, it’s not a dress rehearsal, this is it! That’s a freaking big deal! OK, I will try to calm down and not use exclamation marks at the end of every sentence, that’s a bad habit. Ahem!

SugarSkullTattoo_original

Ok, everybody calm down. Let’s think this through. Before you sidle away from me, and my rant here, like I’m a bug-eyed, wild haired crazy person who is accosting you in the supermarket, let me defend myself and say that there is a long rich history of people who thought it very important to remind themselves and others, once in a while that we humans don’t get to live forever. Granted a lot of them were monks and philosophers, who tend to be a gloomy bunch of grumpy Gusses. But the awareness of one’s own mortality does not have to be morbid. I believe that it can be inspiring, uplifting, and remind you of your focus and purpose.

day_of_the_dead_skull_by_potionanimation-d3fy96m

A Memento Mori is an object that is meant to remind you that someday you will die. It is neccessary because these days we tend to live as though that is not true, as though we can forget that. Talk of death is viewed as unpleasant and morbid. It is seen as rude to bring it up. I mantain that death is not morbid, it is natural, it is simply the state of things, and reminding yourself that you will one day die is no more weird and morbid than reminding yourself that you cannot fly. Indeed, if we often forgot that we can’t fly we would want to write that fact down on a card and keep it in our pocket, no?

Memento_Mori_by_sebreg

Nowadays we live in a world that seems driven by commercialism and capitalism. The message is don’t worry about “the end”, chill out and drink a coke. If you feel worried or unsatisfied maybe you should buy something? We live in a culture that glorifies youth over all else, any talk of death is seen as morbid or taboo.

StillLifeWithASkull Philippe de Champaigne

Medieval philosophers would often keep a human skull on their desktop to remind them that they too would one day die. I think that if we have an awareness of our own mortality it can help us to focus on what really matters. When you begin each day knowing that it is a unique opportunity, that this day has never happened before in human history, and will never happen again than you take it more seriously. Do you think that in being aware of death for today you will be kinder or more selfish? Will you be more or less likely to reach for your goals and dreams, when you remember that this is a one shot deal? Do you think that a remembrance of mortality is likely to make you reach for a Coke or a Budweiser, a McRib Sandwich, or a new car, when you are planning how to spend your time? Is is it more likely to make you question what really matters? And to strive after things that are both less “substantial” but have more “substance” things like honor, truth, peace and happiness, a legacy?

memento_mori_by_sozakunixe-d3fkvg1

I think that the answer is pretty obvious. That keeping in mind that life will end helps us to treat it as the rare and precious commodity that it is. Memento Mori is Latin for “remember that you will die.” A Memento Mori is an object that you keep around you to remind yourself of your own mortality. It is a symbol that represent death. Now look, I am not trying to inspire y’all to be Goth, you don’t need to rush out and get a bunch of skull tattoos. It can be subtle. Not all of us can be like the Medieval philosopher and keep a human skull on our desks. Actually the image that has been at the top of this blog (a photo I shot at a Dan Deacon concert of a plastic neon skull) is meant as a Memento Mori. But it doesn’t even have to be a skull. It can be anything that reminds you that life is fleeting, that existence is temporal. I use an hourglass, I keep it on my desk, and it reminds me that time spent does not come back. Your memento mori can be a drawing, a photograph, an object, a piece of jewelry, whatever works for you. Other things you might consider:

A moth ( symbols of the soul)

something green (a symbol of death in medieval culture)

something black

an hourglass

a fossil

scrimshaw

Lilies

A scarab

a statue, or bust of a famous deceased person

a snake

a painting or poster

an animal skull or skeleton

a crow, or an owl

a cross

a wheel ( a symbol of death and rebirth in Buddhism.)

A picture of a sunset

It can be a phrase that you write down and keep somewhere. It is said that Solomon had a ring on his finger that said “this too shall pass.” When he was sad it made him happy, and when he was happy it made him sad.

Be creative, anything that reminds you of mortality can work. Set it up somewhere that your glance will fall upon at least once a day. And whenever you notice it, let it remind yourself – this is it. Now, make it count!

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • June 2018
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • October 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • November 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010

Categories

  • Comedy
  • creativity
  • excercise
  • Magic
  • meditation
  • Uncategorized
  • writing

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy