Sapientia #42: Discernment, Soul, Spirit and the Purpose of Life, On Suffering, What To Tell Your Children, The Art Spirit, and more...
Learn to discern
The latest from the Journal…
Discernment is the ability to see clearly, understand deeply, and decide wisely. It’s more than just making choices — it’s the art of perceiving truth beneath the noise, of navigating life with clarity and purpose. In a world filled with distractions and half-truths, discernment acts as a compass, pointing us toward what is real, meaningful, and aligned with our values. But how do we cultivate such an elusive yet essential skill?
Language shapes our reality, influencing thought, emotion, and perception. Yet its deliberate manipulation has sown confusion, distorted truth, and eroded understanding. Words carry meaning, and when that meaning is lost or twisted, clarity fades, leaving us open to deception. To reclaim discernment, we must restore precision to language and uncover truths buried beneath centuries of distortion. In this series, I will explore the soul, spirit, and their roles in life’s greater purpose.
A post from the past…
If we give in to suffering, its current will carry us, as it always does — down and away from presence, away from now, into the depths of despair and disconnection.
But if we pause, if we recognize the trigger — that subtle nudge toward the edge — we can stop the spiral before it begins. In that moment of awareness, we can defuse the noise and rise above it, reframing suffering as a teacher rather than a tyrant. With courage, we can grasp the root of the weed and pull it free, clearing the soil for new life to seed.
Read more (as seen in my book)
Music of the moment…
Thought provoking finds…
Shawn James (My Self Reliance) has inspired hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to rethink their priorities in recent years. He has built his homestead in the Ontario wilderness — twice — relying solely on his wits and hands. In this video, he discusses the challenges he foresees for his daughters in the years ahead and emphasizes the importance of staying informed about trends, technological paradigm shifts, and what lies ahead for the next generation.
Art provides an immeasurable amount of awe and wonder and insight to our lives. This powerful tool helps us interpret the world in ways we never would’ve imagined and gives us the language to document it and make sense of it.
Experience how artist and animator Mark Wooding, creator of the amazingly successful After Skool and Before Skool YouTube channels, sees our world this week on Spirit Gym.
Learn more about Mark’s work on his website and on social media via Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and Patreon.
An excellent discourse touching on a number of timeless topics.
When I’m editing and revising my material, it helps to have something playing in the background, and I’ve found more recently that a good mix of classical music fits the bill nicely.
Enjoy this mix when you’re writing, reading, or simply staring out the window at the fading light of the day. For an alternative, this “chillstep” mix by MARION is also great listening.
Buy My Book!
My first book is published! The Reluctant Pilgrim, Vol. I: Ashes and Ascent is now available from Amazon (Canada, UK). Read all about it here, and here.
Until next time!
Solvitur ambulando