Author Archives: memoriesandsuch

In My Hands Today…

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The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church – Sarah McCammon

Growing up in a deeply evangelical family in the Midwest in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Sarah McCammon was strictly taught to fear God, obey him, and not question the faith. Persistently worried that her gay grandfather would go to hell unless she could reach him, or that her Muslim friend would need to be converted, and that she, too, would go to hell if she did not believe fervently enough, McCammon was a rule-follower and–most of the time–a true believer. But through it all, she was increasingly plagued by fears and deep questions as the belief system she’d been carefully taught clashed with her expanding understanding of the outside world.

After spending her early adult life striving to make sense of an unraveling worldview, by her 30s, she found herself face-to-face with it once again as she covered the Trump campaign for NPR, where she witnessed first-hand the power and influence that evangelical Christian beliefs held on the political right. McCammon also came to discover that she is among a rising generation of the children of evangelicalism who are growing up and fleeing the fold, who are thinking for themselves and deconstructing what feel like the “alternative facts” of their childhood.

Rigorously reported and deeply personal, The Exvangelicals is the story of the people who make up this generational tipping point, including McCammon herself. Part memoir, part investigative journalism, this is the first definitive book that names and describes the post-evangelical movement–identifying its origins, telling the stories of its members, and examining its vast cultural, social, and political impact.

In My Hands Today…

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A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages: The World Through Medieval Eyes – Anthony Bale

A captivating journey of the expansive world of medieval travel, from London to Constantinople to the court of China and beyond. Europeans of the Middle Ages were the first to use travel guides to orient their wanderings, as they moved through a world punctuated with miraculous wonders and beguiling encounters.

In this vivid and alluring history, medievalist Anthony Bale invites readers on an odyssey across the medieval world, recounting the advice that circulated among those venturing to the road for pilgrimage, trade, diplomacy, and war. Journeying alongside scholars, spies, and saints, from Western Europe to the Far East, the Antipodes and the ends of the earth, Bale provides indispensable information on the exchange rate between Bohemian ducats and Venetian groats, medieval cures for seasickness, and how to avoid extortionist tour guides and singing sirens.

He takes us from the streets of Rome, more ruin than tourist spot, and tours of the Khan’s court in Beijing to Mamluk-controlled Jerusalem, where we ride asses across the holy terrain, and bustling bazaars of Tabriz. We also learn of rumored fantastical places, like ones where lambs grow on trees and giant canes grow fruit made of gems. And we are offered a glimpse of what non-European travelers thought of the West on their own travels.

Using previously untranslated contemporaneous documents from a colorful range of travelers, and from as far and wide as Turkey, Iceland, North Africa, and Russia, A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages is a witty and unforgettable exploration of how Europeans understood―and often misunderstood―the larger world. 20 illustrations; 6 maps

Festivals of India: Vata Savitri

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Also known as Savitri Vrata or Savitri Amavasya, the festival of Vata Savitri has its roots deeply embedded in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The story behind this auspicious celebration centres around the legendary tale of Savitri and her husband, Satyavan.

According to the epic, Savitri was the beautiful and virtuous daughter of King Ashvapati. When the time came for her to choose a husband, she selected Satyavan, the exiled prince who lived in the forest with his blind father, Dyumatsena. Despite being warned by the sage Narada that Satyavan was destined to die within a year, Savitri remained steadfast in her decision to marry him.

On the fateful day, as Satyavan went to the forest to gather wood, he collapsed and died. Yama, the god of death, appeared to claim Satyavan’s soul. Undeterred, Savitri followed Yama and pleaded for her husband’s life. Moved by her unwavering devotion and determination, Yama granted her three boons. Savitri used these boons to restore her father-in-law’s sight and kingdom and ensure she would become the mother of a hundred sons. Ultimately, Yama, impressed by Savitri’s selfless love and courage, relented and returned Satyavan’s life to her. This act of Savitri’s triumph over death and her ability to secure her husband’s life have made her an exemplary figure of marital devotion and faithfulness in Hindu tradition. The festival of Vata Savitri commemorates this legendary story and the power of a woman’s love.

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The name Savitri itself holds deep significance in Hindu mythology. Savitri is also the name of the Vedic goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. By invoking the name of Savitri, the festival emphasises the importance of understanding, devotion, and the sanctity of marriage.

Therefore, the name Savitri is central to the festival, as it represents the embodiment of the ideal wife and the triumph of love over death, which are the core themes celebrated during the Vata Savitri festival.

The festival of Vata Savitri is celebrated primarily by married Hindu women in various regions of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The celebration is centred around the veneration of the Vata, or Banyan tree, believed to be the abode of the three primary deities in Hinduism; Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma.

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The Vata Savitri festival is observed with great devotion in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Married women wake up early, bathe, and don their finest traditional attire and jewellery. The women then gather at a Vata tree, carrying a sacred white thread, and a Kalash, or pot, filled with water, turmeric, vermilion, and flowers. They worship the tree, lighting a ghee lamp and offering prayers for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The highlight of the celebrations is the ritual of tying the white thread around the Vata tree seven times, symbolising the unbreakable bond between the wife and her husband. This act is believed to ensure the husband’s long and prosperous life. In some regions, the women also prepare a special satvik or pure meal, which they offer as a sacred offering to the deities. The day is marked by fasting, the chanting of mantras, and the exchanging of blessings among the women.

In Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat, the festival is known as Vat Purnima and is observed during the full moon, or Purnima, in the month of Jyeshtha. In Maharashtra, women fast for the entire day and tie red and orange threads around the auspicious Banyan tree, praying for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. In some parts of Maharashtra, the women also draw pictures of the Vata tree, Savitri, Satyavan, and Yama on the floor or walls using a paste of sandalwood and rice. These images are then worshipped with mantras and offerings. In Gujarat and Goa, women follow similar customs as those in Maharashtra.

In Odisha, the Vata Savitri festival is celebrated with a unique twist. Here, the women offer worship to a grinding stone or sila pua, which is considered a symbolic representation of Savitri. Women perform puja on the grinding stone, adorning it with flowers and applying vermilion. They also tie threads around the stone, seeking the blessings of Savitri for their husbands’ well-being. This regional variation in the celebration of Vata Savitri showcases the diverse cultural and traditional practices that have evolved around this ancient festival across different parts of India.

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The festival of Vata Savitri holds immense spiritual and cultural significance for Hindu married women. It is a celebration of the unwavering love, devotion, and determination of Savitri, who defied the god of death to save her husband’s life. For Hindu women, Savitri is revered as an exemplary figure of marital fidelity and the embodiment of the ideal wife. The festival serves as a reminder of the power of a woman’s love and the importance of preserving the sanctity of marriage.

By observing the Vata Savitri fast and performing the rituals associated with the festival, married women seek to emulate Savitri’s virtues and pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The act of tying the thread around the Vata tree is believed to symbolise the unbreakable bond between the wife and her husband, and the desire for a prosperous and harmonious marital life. The festival also serves as a means of fostering community and social harmony, as the shared experience of celebrating Vata Savitri transcends religious, social, and economic boundaries. The women come together to support and encourage one another, strengthening the bonds of sisterhood and collective identity.

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The festival of Vata Savitri is a testament to the enduring power of love, devotion, and the unwavering spirit of the human soul. The story of Savitri’s triumph over death and her ability to secure her husband’s life has made her a revered figure in Hindu tradition, inspiring generations of women to emulate her virtues and seek the blessings of the divine. Through the various rituals, customs, and celebrations associated with Vata Savitri, married Hindu women across India reaffirm their commitment to their husbands and seek divine grace to ensure their well-being and longevity.

As the Vata tree continues to be a symbol of longevity and the abode of the divine, the celebration of Vata Savitri serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the sanctity of marriage and the enduring legacy of Savitri’s unwavering love and determination.

2024 Week 25 Update

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I have been leading a very fascinating life these days – in my dreams! Because I am not able to shake off this cold and cough, I have been taking some form of medication almost every night. I am not sure if this is because of the medication, but I get vivid dreams that I forget almost as soon as I wake up. In the dreams, I am in a variety of situations and if I could remember them well, they’d make such good story plots. Like yesterday, I was part of a murder mystery and another day, it was a family drama. I wish I remembered the dreams, they would be so interesting.

The author of today’s quote is F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is an American novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel, The Great Gatsby, a quintessential depiction of the Jazz Age and the American Dream. The quote reflects a sense of optimism and determination to improve and achieve more in the future. Fitzgerald suggests that despite any challenges faced today, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. The quote embodies a spirit of perseverance and the belief that continued effort will lead to greater accomplishments. The imagery of running faster and stretching out arms farther symbolizes the idea of pushing beyond current limits, aiming for progress, and striving to reach new heights in the future. The quote encourages a forward-looking attitude, focusing on resilience and the ongoing pursuit of goals, regardless of setbacks or difficulties.

This week, I did something I normally would not do. I paid more than SGD 100 for the pro version of a resume website. I bought three months’ worth of it and hope this will help me with my job search. I hope it’s not money down the drain.

Anyway, that’s all from me this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!

In My Hands Today…

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The King’s Shadow: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Deadly Quest for the Lost City of Alexandria – Edmund Richardson

For centuries the city of Alexandria Beneath the Mountains was a meeting point of East and West. Then it vanished. In 1833 it was discovered in Afghanistan by the unlikeliest person imaginable: Charles Masson, deserter, pilgrim, doctor, archaeologist, spy, one of the most respected scholars in Asia, and the greatest of nineteenth-century travelers.

On the way into one of history’s most extraordinary stories, he would take tea with kings, travel with holy men and become the master of a hundred disguises; he would see things no westerner had glimpsed before and few have glimpsed since. He would spy for the East India Company and be suspected of spying for Russia at the same time, for this was the era of the Great Game, when imperial powers confronted each other in these staggeringly beautiful lands. Masson discovered tens of thousands of pieces of Afghan history, including the 2,000-year-old Bimaran golden casket, which has upon it the earliest known face of the Buddha. He would be offered his own kingdom; he would change the world, and the world would destroy him.

This is a wild journey through nineteenth-century India and Afghanistan, with impeccably researched storytelling that shows us a world of espionage and dreamers, ne’er-do-wells and opportunists, extreme violence both personal and military, and boundless hope. At the edge of empire, amid the deserts and the mountains, it is the story of an obsession passed down the centuries.