Suckle That Fig

While I was listening to The Plays The Thing broadcast of 'Stick Fly', I heard the rare use of the word 'sychophantic'. The meaning never sticks with me because I never use the word, nor do I hear it used much. In fact, in this case, it was used as a tool to help portray the intellectual air of this privileged family—they argue whether the right word to use is implicit, intrinsic, or inherent. One character described her father as having a 'sycophantic' relationship with the subjects her wrote about.

Looked up the word again and this time found more interest in the etymology. Its origins come

'from Ancient Greek συκοφάντης (sukophantēs) from σῦκον (sukon), “‘fig’”) + φαίνω (phainō), “‘I show, demonstrate’”).'

- wiki

Nani Fruit

It goes further to say:

'The gesture of "showing the fig" was a vulgar one, whom was made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, which is itself symbolic of a cunt (sykon also meant "vulva"). The story behind this etymology is that that politicians in ancient Greece steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but urged their followers sub rosa to taunt their opponents by using it.'

Fig Montage

When I looked at images of figs, that said it all. This supports my thoughts about the apple. And I heard a while back that the more accurate translation
is that it was a fig.

Slices

Marmelukes in Egypt

Here's another string of connections. One new thing that leads to another and another.

First, I was listening to the January 7, 2008 archive of Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC. I was originally interested in another story, but spotted one titled 'How the West Discovered Ancient Egypt'. The keyword in all this is 'mirage'. One reason, it's the title of the book of the guest being interviewed—Nina Burleigh. The meaning for the title is multi-layered. That alone calls for another listen.


Another reason is to hear again about the Mamelukes. Very curious. I'll just say: White boys taken from their homeland and bred to be slave soldiers in the Middle East and North Africa. Their name translates to 'possessed' or 'owned'. I say 'white boys' not to be derogatory; they were boys taken from The Caucasus, which is where the inaccurate term 'Caucasian' comes from.

Wiki on Mamluk

This is another example of how history is not told completely. More and more, people are telling the rest of the story, though. This is something to look into more.

Twenty-Eight Days Makes a Habit

"Do anything for 28 days and you break the cycle and that new thing becomes a part of you."

This might be one way to reprogram the subconscious mind. Neuro-science shows that our conscious mind can process 1,000 bits of information per second whereas the subconscious mind can process 1,000,000 bits per second. So there is no contest when the two compete. Therefore, if you try to beat the subconscious mind with the conscious, you will fail miserably. The solution is to focus on reprogramming the subconscious for it will follow whatever it is set to do and do it automatically and without question.



Use all the tools: Replace a habit with a new one by doing one thing instead of another. Do it regularly for a month and it becomes a habit deeply ingrained. Use active meditation and creative visualizations to see yourself there while in a relaxed state of mind, preferably while the brain waves are in theta. Affirm the change to the new with statements that speak in the present and positive. Allow it to happen with ease and the comfort in knowing that it is already there.

Click to enlargen.

Remember: In every problem, there is already the solution.