By the author of Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City and The Ultimate Survival Gear Handbook In life‚ it’s vital to balance action‚ mindset‚ and spirituality. When it comes to preparedness and survival‚ I try my best to keep visiting between these three essentials constantly‚ for myself and also in my guidance work and writings. I find Stoicism to be particularly helpful. Action and mindset can be pragmatic‚ functional. But spiritual matters are more intimate‚ more personal. One can find whatever one’s looking for – strength‚ faith‚ determination‚ inspiration‚ solace – in religion‚ philosophy‚ and other practices‚ even physical ones. The beauty is that these aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact‚ they can complement each other. This time‚ I’ll talk about philosophy. It can be a code of conduct‚ a practical and actionable guide for a better life. In that sense‚ it shares that ancient‚ profound‚ powerful wisdom and higher aspirations of most‚ if not all‚ religions. Just as well it can also prove helpful‚ particularly during hard times such as what we’re going through in much of the Western world. People may roll their eyes and deem “philosophy” overly theoretical‚ academic‚ or too distant from their reality. However‚ men and women of action have been using philosophy throughout history and to this day to overcome obstacles and achieve personal growth and victories in all areas of life: relationships‚ careers‚ business‚ adventures‚ courts‚ and battlefields. So why not in preparedness and survival? What is Stoicism? Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded in Athens‚ Greece‚ by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. The most well-known practitioners and promoters are Epictetus‚ Cato‚ Seneca‚ and Marcus Aurelius‚ considered one of Rome’s wisest emperors. Stoicism asserts that virtue and judgment are based on behavior rather than words. Therefore‚ it’s not some theoretical concept‚ much less an academic debate with esoteric propositions. It’s a very actionable philosophy comprised of simple yet solid‚ proven‚ and – most importantly – actionable principles that carry the wisdom of time-tested practices. That’s why it yields practical results. Why Stoicism? I studied and practiced Stoicism even before discovering preparedness as a structured disciple and started dedicating myself to it. Since then‚ I have been deeply impressed by how much both have in common‚ to the point that I included a few Stoic principles in the first edition of my Street Survival Training book from 2018. I’ve edited out that part in a recent revision to improve the objectiveness and free some space for more on-point content related to street survival (the stuff I share here on TOP). However‚ I still share its tenets whenever I have the opportunity to try and see if they can benefit from it as much as I do‚ always taking care not to be preachy. And above all‚ I follow its core principle – that is‚ more through actions than words. Below‚ I review some of the main Stoic principles and how they relate to preparedness and survival. It may seem that some overlap in parts. Nonetheless‚ I believe it bears visiting each to appreciate the nuanced insights and wisdom they provide individually and collectively. “Focus on what you can control.” The central tenet of Stoicism is‚ at the same time‚ the most simple and powerful. One. It’s Selco’s concept of big and small circles and a lot more. “The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can clearly tell myself which are externals not under my control‚ and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals‚ but within myself to the choices that are my own…” — Epictetus Another way of expressing that idea is “we don’t control what happens‚ but how we respond.” That’s important in life‚ no matter the context. Still‚ it becomes even more powerful during challenging times like now and even more so if TSHTF because that’s when focusing our energy and efforts on ourselves‚ our thoughts and our actions is the only way to improve our situation. “Practice Misfortune” Ancient Stoics of all walks of life would abandon their possessions‚ leaving their homes occasionally to wander the streets or country for a period‚ experiencing life with very little or no possessions‚ comforts‚ and conveniences. “Seneca‚ who enjoyed great wealth as the adviser of Nero‚ suggested that we ought to set aside a certain number of days each month to practice poverty. Take a little food‚ wear your worst clothes‚ and leave the comfort of your home and bed. Put yourself face to face with want‚ he said‚ you’ll ask yourself “Is this what I used to dread?” It’s important to remember that this is an exercise and not a rhetorical device. He doesn’t mean “think about” misfortune‚ he means to live it. Comfort is the worst kind of slavery because you’re always afraid that something or someone will take it away. But if you can not just anticipate but practice misfortune‚ then chance loses its ability to disrupt your life. [SOURCE] Practicing what we fear and training adversity can provide maturity‚ wisdom‚  a more profound life experience‚ and ultimately make hardship less fearful and more bearable (when it inevitably comes). Based on that idea and the urge to become more resilient and better prepared for difficult times (among other personal goals)‚ I decided to follow that doctrine and started going out on the streets amidst the homeless. “This too shall pass.” Everything is transient‚ cyclical. Classic Spanish Author Miguel de Cervantes put that idea perfectly in his masterpiece novel Don Quixote: “For neither good nor evil can last forever‚ and so it follows that as evil has lasted a long time‚ good must now be close at hand.” This also encapsulates a couple of important lessons or reminders: to keep hopeful and see the light at the end of the tunnel when SHTF or the times are dire and to appreciate‚ be grateful‚ and enjoy fully when times are good. “Memento Mori“ Translated literally‚ memento mori means‚ “Remember you must die.” Meditating on death can give us strength‚ courage‚ and a dose of serenity to face adversity and danger. Don’t sweat the small things. Don’t take everything so seriously. Always remind yourself no one lives forever. So be good‚ do good things‚ and be humble. Marcus Aurelius said: We could leave life right now. Let that determine what we do and say and think. That’s a proposition to guide our actions in the best‚ more just‚ and decent way as if those are our last deeds on earth because they might as well be. “Premeditato Malorum” Premeditato Malorum means “the premeditation of evils.” To put it another way‚ “practicing negative visualization” can well be considered another staple of preparedness. Imagining scenarios and things that can go wrong helps us prepare for setbacks and losses‚ which are inevitable. But pay attention: that’s not the same as engaging in a negative spiral of thoughts or inaction. Dwelling in doom and gloom is counterproductive. Using negative visualization to strategize‚ plan and act is an exercise that builds preparedness and confidence. “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” If we suffer in anticipation‚ we suffer more than necessary. That’s common if we live too much in the past or in the future and too little in the present. It’s also counterproductive and not based in reality because our imagination can make things and situations much worse than they are‚ especially ones that can happen in the future or as a result of our actions and decisions. As Seneca explains: “We are in the habit of exaggerating‚ or imagining‚ or anticipating‚ sorrow.’ In doing so‚ we put ourselves in a mental disposition which is incommensurate with the situation we happen to be in truly. We lose track of the present‚ and we embellish the future with our fears and insecurities. Oftentimes‚ our greatest inner turmoil is not an ailment of actuality‚ but an unconscious manifestation of our perceived shortcomings…The immediate consequence of the gap between perception and reality is that on the individual… the largely self-inflicted‚ but nevertheless perturbing‚ anguish of the mind.” “Amor fati” Amor fati translates to “love of one’s fate.” Treat everything that happens and every moment‚ even bad ones‚ as something to be embraced and lived fully. No matter how tricky or challenging or bad the situation‚ it all happens as it should. We are small and ignorant about the greater designs‚ unable to see the bigger purpose of everything. But it exists‚ and we must embrace whatever comes our way with courage and determination. The principles of stoicism speak for themselves. These principles speak for themselves. They’re profound but‚ at the same time‚ actionable and thus serve a very practical purpose if we can continuously reflect on and internalize them. There are many other Stoic aphorisms that can help preppers have a better life now and also if times get dire. Below‚ I provide a few online and printed sources to inspire and guide those looking for more about Stoicism. Books Meditations‚ by Marcus Aurelius The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs‚ by Ryan Holiday Ego Is The Enemy‚ also by Ryan Holiday Websites Daily Stoic – Ancient Wisdom For Everyday Life Aurelius Foundation Do you use Stoic practices? Have you studied Stoicism? Do you find it to be a useful philosophy? Is it something you could see applying to your preparedness efforts? Is there another philosophy you find useful? Let’s talk about it in the comments section. About Fabian Fabian Ommar is a 50-year-old middle-class worker living in São Paulo‚ Brazil. Far from being the super-tactical or highly trained military survivor type‚ he is the average joe who since his youth has been involved with self-reliance and outdoor activities and the practical side of balancing life between a big city and rural/wilderness settings. Since the 2008 world economic crisis‚ he has been training and helping others in his area to become better prepared for the “constant‚ slow-burning SHTF” of living in a 3rd world country. Fabian’s ebook‚ Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City ‚ is a practical training method for common city dwellers based on the lifestyle of the homeless (real-life survivors) to be more psychologically‚ mentally‚ and physically prepared to deal with the harsh reality of the streets during normal or difficult times. He’s also the author of The Ultimate Survival Gear Handbook. You can follow Fabian on Instagram @stoicsurvivor The post Stoicism: How an Ancient Philosophy Applies to Modern Prepping‚ Survival‚ and Hard Times appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

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Let's talk about the NEWS! Official GoFundMe Link to help Stray Cats: https://gofund.me/ae739c32 Fistful of Radio: https://fistfulofradio.com/category/l... Twitter: @CotteeTalkChat Stray Cat Sanctuary: @straycatsanctuary1945 Please help support this channel: https://www.paypal.me/coffeetalk (friends and family please) David from Coffee Talk: PO Box 1692 Lithonia‚ GA 30058 Would you like to donate Crypto? Bitcoin: 3MCJRj3BUsGzghJKEscv8DTBzYvEdWkNd6 BCH: qzvdwnzyeu0jwhulhw48pc5j3wnt7ldpkgdswgmct5 ETH: 0xE089f68A1f3ffDaB8cFdE265a6DAD75df34bE970 ETC: 0x30C792DF2329afA22bb9F9d803781f5676b1a2c6 LTC: MP3YkPfUCM8mUoiBAp6i63RchtE6q8KwHV ZRX: 0x3EDA3FEcFE7729bF27DAE48D72E2e0C60Cec2FB0 BAT: 0xFF6667433Fa04018f3e287Ad6F886443846EC406 USDC: 0xAbd5483CF99b4d65e6255E764e0CA982Ec307f96 ZEC: t1LHYu45cmhAxBUwbgfS2rRWd6SAFGCFMcG DAI: 0x484b42D96eff229a19bc6f59D6AE256bCC3ee25B #news #politics #currentaffairs #dailynews #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #radio

Pregnancy is going to happen‚ even during SHTF! If society collapses there are a few things that the prepper minded individual should consider. (This video done by request).. Please help support this channel: https://www.paypal.me/coffeetalk (friends and family please) David from Coffee Talk: PO Box 1692 Lithonia‚ GA 30058 Find our other channel Coffee Talk on YouTube: @coffeetalklive Stray Cat Sanctuary: @straycatsanctuary1945 Would you like to donate Crypto? Bitcoin: 3MCJRj3BUsGzghJKEscv8DTBzYvEdWkNd6 BCH: qzvdwnzyeu0jwhulhw48pc5j3wnt7ldpkgdswgmct5 ETH: 0xE089f68A1f3ffDaB8cFdE265a6DAD75df34bE970 ETC: 0x30C792DF2329afA22bb9F9d803781f5676b1a2c6 LTC: MP3YkPfUCM8mUoiBAp6i63RchtE6q8KwHV ZRX: 0x3EDA3FEcFE7729bF27DAE48D72E2e0C60Cec2FB0 BAT: 0xFF6667433Fa04018f3e287Ad6F886443846EC406 USDC: 0xAbd5483CF99b4d65e6255E764e0CA982Ec307f96 ZEC: t1LHYu45cmhAxBUwbgfS2rRWd6SAFGCFMcG DAI: 0x484b42D96eff229a19bc6f59D6AE256bCC3ee25B LINK: 0xAF5b3145203c3340EB090329ee36DCd88d4D210A REP: 0xbA74Cab7c243582429AA7EC2255c497a829EA35F #prepper #prepping #preparedness #survival #survivalist

The space between galaxies has long been considered a dead area. Single rogue stars may pop stars may pop up here or there‚ but the majority of this cosmic backward was considered empty by astronomers. But now‚ a paper from astronomers at various European and California institutions has found a trail of stars flowing between galaxies in a cluster. They’re calling it the Giant Coma Stream‚ after the Coma Cluster of galaxies where it originates. Observing this cluster back in 1933‚ Fritz Zwicky‚ a Swiss astronomer‚ noticed that the galaxies in the cluster were moving too fast to be caused by only ordinary matter. The “dunkele Materie” (dark matter) that he proposed back then is still our best guess as to what is causing these galaxies to move so fast‚ even if we still don’t entirely understand what that means. There were plenty of galaxies for Zwicky and the modern-day astronomers to look at. The Coma Cluster contains over a thousand cataloged galaxies and is about 300 million light-years away in the Coma Berenices constellation. It remains a favor of amateur astronomers because some of its brighter galaxies can seen with relatively small amateur telescopes. EarthSky has a video describing the new discovery.Credit – EarthSky YouTube Channel It was a relatively small amateur telescope‚ though one run by professional astronomer Michael Rich of UCLA‚ who also happens to be Neil de Grass Tyson’s PhD advisor. He initially used a 70-cm telescope in Califonia to detect a faint wisp of a trail of stars between galaxies in the cluster. As with so much in astronomy‚ a bigger telescope was needed‚ so Dr. Rich reached out to his colleagues across the Atlantic and got some time on the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope in Spain. This much larger telescope could see the full extent of the stream‚ and its scale was breathtaking.  From our perspective‚ the stream runs in a straight line in the middle of a complex gravitational environment of galaxies constantly disrupting each other’s trajectories. Even in that disruptive environment‚ the stream appears coherent and is almost ten times the size of our own galaxy. Isaac Arthur explains how useful these streams of stars might turn out to be if we ever decide to colonize other galaxies.Credit – SFIA YouTube Channel This isn’t the first time astronomers have found streams of stars. Some have even been spotted in the Milky Way itself. But this is the first time that astronomers have found a stream large enough that it crosses the chasm between galaxies. It wasn’t even what they were looking for in the first place – Dr. Javier Roman of the University of Groningen and the University of La Laguna‚ who served as lead author on the paper‚ mentioned in a press release that his team was actually looking for halos around stars located in large galaxies‚ of which there are plenty in the Coma Cluster.  But now‚ this new research path has got him excited. Computer simulations the team developed after this first observation show that there could be many faint extragalactic bridges out there. With time‚ larger telescopes such as the Extremely Large Telescope‚ with a whopping 39-meter observational dish‚ and Euclid‚ which recently started releasing color images. With these more capable observational tools‚ Dr. Roman is confident they will find more extragalactic streams of stars. Due to the high demand‚ it might be a while before they can get some observational time on these newest observatories. Given the success of this paper‚ though‚ there might be plenty more star streams that can be found with smaller telescopes as well. Learn More:Astonomie.nl – Astronomers spot giant stream of stars between galaxiesJavier Roman et al. – A giant thin stellar stream in the Coma Galaxy ClusterUT – A Star Near the Center of the Milky Way is a Visitor from BeyondUT – A River of Stars Streaming Across the Sky Lead Image:Image of the Coma Cluster with the Giant Coma Stream shown as the black line from upper left to bottom right.Credit – Roman et al. The post A Giant Stream of Stars is Flowing in Deep Space appeared first on Universe Today.

Anyone who regularly watches the skies may well be familiar with the constellation Orion the hunter. It is one of the few constellations that actually looks like the thing it is supposed to look like rather than some abstract resemblance. One prominent star is Betelgeuse and back in 2020 it dimmed to a level lower than ever before in recorded history. A team of astronomers have been studying the event with some fascinating results. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star almost 650 light years from Earth. With a radius of 617 million kilometres‚ if it were in the position of the Sun‚ then the orbit of Earth would be buried deep within its layers. It’s also a variable star which means it varies its output of light and in the case of Betelgeuse this variability is semi-regular or in other words‚ regular with a few irregularities along the way! Its variability is related to a pulsating of the stars radius which occurs over a period of around 400 days although there is a longer period of variability of around 2‚100 days of uncertain origin‚ possibly linked to variation in convective flow.  Back in 2020 Betelgeuse dimmed to a level that had never been recorded in what has since been dubbed the “Great Dimming”. It’s visual brightness or magnitude‚ dropped by 1.6 although its dimming did not seem consistent across the star’s sphere; the southern hemisphere was much darker than the northern and there have been many theories put forward to explain the event. Among them‚ large formations of star spots or dust clouds above the photosphere are favourite. A paper published recently in Astronomy and Astrophysics by a team of astronomers led by Daniel Jadlovský explores the Great Dimming event using 15 years of data from the STELLA robotic telescope. The STELLA system comprises two robotic telescopes in Spain coupled with a high resolution spectrograph and a wide field imager.  STELLA Observatory in Tenerife‚ Spain. The data allowed the team to explore the photosphere (visible layer) of Betelgeuse in incredible detail. They were able to gain valuable insight into the radial pulsations‚ shockwaves and how they passed through the photospheric layers. Five distinct layers of the photosphere were identified using the tomogrpahic technique – a method where images are constructed form a series of projections.  Analysis revealed that the variations in the innermost photospheric layer‚ known as C1 was in line with the timescales of the visual magnitude variations. Shockwaves travelling through the layers also seemed to be broadly in line with the brightness variations.  In regards to the Great Dimming vent of 2020‚ the data showed two powerful shock waves in the photosphere‚ the first likely to be the cause of a major outflowing of material which caused an infall of all layers. As the infall reached maximum velocity the second‚ more powerful shockwave occurred leading to the a significant outflow of material. Due to the different photospheric layers‚ these events didn’t happen simultaneously across them all and it wasn’t until early 2022 that Betelgeuse settled back down.  Source : The Great Dimming of Betelgeuse: the photosphere as revealed by tomography during the past 15 years The post 15 Years of Data Reveal the Events Leading Up to Betelgeuse’s “Great Dimming” appeared first on Universe Today.

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