April 2017 - The Acropolitan Magazine

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

As we look out to the horizon, and drink the gentle beams of the tropical spring sun, a mysterious thirst remains unquenched; the parched throat yearns for nectar, unsatiated by the material comforts that emerge from the industrialized advancements made through humanity’s recent past. It’s as if an inner voice whispers that there must be something more – beyond the race for comforts, fame, financial gain, and successful careers.

Perhaps this whispering voice functions like an inner ethical compass, directing the path to our true home, our true state of being, characterized by beauty, harmony, fraternity, and collective wellbeing. Individuals since the beginning of time have dared to embark on this voyage; some by unraveling clues that lay waiting to be revealed in the natural world of symbols, some in their attempt to grasp and express beauty as in the way of an artist, and some who are compelled to engage with society, to empower individuals to effect real sustainable change in the way we choose to live our lives.

Some might insist that we must allow life to play itself out. And sometimes, this is true. But there are also times that need us to interfere and take responsibility for initiating change. What an adventure it might be to find this balance – and to return home! To truly Discover ourselves. To Awaken our potential. And to Transform our world.

ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

The Power of Symbols

April 1, 2017

By Alex Warren

Symbols hold a powerful attraction for people. Even today, in an age in which materialistic perspectives rule human thought, many ancient symbols such as the ankh, the yin/yang, American Indian designs, pyramids, and many other symbols are quite popular in jewelry and in the home. Why do symbols of the ancient civilizations continue to be an integral part our society, even to the point that corporations use them in commercials, movies, logos, in television documentaries, etc.?

Ulysses: The Mission to Return Home

April 1, 2017

By Sivan Barzilay

Are you familiar with those moments when it seems that life is talking to you, sending you some message, a direction? In the beginning, it might not seem very clear but with some extra observation and deeper investigation you become able to view the connection.

And so, a few weeks ago, the name Ulysses came to my life. It landed on me with no prior announcement, as if it wanted to tell me something, give me some message. I was not aware of this name before, but could guess that it was from Roman or Greek mythology. Indeed, based on some short investigation, I learnt that it is the Roman name of the Greek hero Odysseus, the main character of the famous Odyssey.

Harmony and the Art of True Friendship

April 1, 2017

By Ran Kremer

A wise man once said, “One close real friend is better than ten distant and estranged brothers.” Does true and unconditioned comradeship still exists in the 21st century? How different is real friendship from having casual friends or from “Facebook Friends”? Can this kind of lasting and profound friendship be found? How and where?

There are many kinds of friendships, some casual, some romantic, some are pleasant like flowers that bloom for a day or like a summer cloud, but some rare ones are as firm as an oak. These rare relationships do not depend on passing needs or on momentary interests.

Empowering Real Change

April 1, 2017

By Purbasha Ghosh

Few amongst us can deny a ubiquitous yearning for change – socially, politically, ecologically, spiritually and a myriad other dimensions. Unfortunately, this longing seldom manifests beyond vehemently voicing the already well-recognised need for change or deluging the social media space with our postulates of it. Real change, nevertheless, continues to elude us. Intimidated by the apparently enormous effort essential to effect change, we succumb to our instinctive resistance to change resigning to an endless array of excuses – resorting to blaming destiny, external circumstances, or political situations, among others.

Let’s Play Some Chess

April 1, 2017

By Agostino Dominici

Although I have never been a chess player I have always been fascinated by the various elements which constitute this game. Looking at the black and white chess board or the shapes of the various pieces I feel as if something very old and mysterious has been hidden behind those symbols. The origins of this game are not so clear, but it is well known that board games can be found all over the ancient world with records which stretch back as far as 5,000 years ago (i.e. in Egypt). It is very likely that the “ancestor” of this beloved board game was from the East and most likely from India. We also know of its connection with war, military strategies and the Kshatriya (warrior) caste. As India has always been associated with metaphysical teachings I wanted to see what symbolic connections could be found in this game.

The Way of the Artist

April 1, 2017

By Shraddha Shetty

How would you define art? Usually, it is described as a form which is pleasing to the eyes. We call this form ‘beautiful’. Is beauty then related only to the sense of sight, motivated by the viewer’s feeling at the moment of viewing? Or is there such a thing as absolute Beauty, which is beyond subjective feelings of that moment, grasped by an inner sight, which remains beautiful, whether the viewer appreciates it or not; like a beautiful sunrise, or a lotus flower. Many religions speak of such Beauty as an eternal value, an archetype, one among many expressions of the principles of an objective unchanging reality, unbound by space and time, beyond the ever-changing subjective reality. If such absolute beauty exists, it becomes an aspect of reality, which unites despite differences in moods, fashion, culture, nationality, skin color, or gender.

Apr2017-Interference - An Option or a Necessacity

Interference: An Option or A Necessity?

April 1, 2017

By Pierre Poulain

As a street photographer I have the opportunity to travel worldwide, to present exhibitions, to present various photography workshops, and of course to take new photographs.

From those travels there is a photograph I have always presented in my last few workshops. I use it to illustrate a “dynamic composition”, which is a composition with a lot of visual elements, allowing a dynamic lecture of the photograph. This particular photograph is not an outstanding example of such a composition, but I use it to explain an ethical concept, and to initiate a dialog with the workshop participants about whether or not it is necessary for the photographer to be involved in a situation