ascesis – Page 2 – Red Angel Sophia's Blog

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Two circles one within another. The inner circle features a geocompass and one of those arrows that splits into three directions - all that symbolizing one's own choices and decision-making. In the outer circle, faded out underneath the circle's gray fill-color, are a picture of a house, a dollar-sign, a first-place medal, and a crown - all symbols of external, worldly things that many people covet. Behind the set of two circles, one can see the flame that represents the Logos burning in the background. This image is for articles on this site (virtualstoa.org) that prominently feature discussion on the Stoic concept of Locus of Control.

Complex Situations and the Locus of Control

May 18, 2017 sophia_my_blog

Even in situations that tempt you to focus on factors you don’t directly control, you can learn to spot the factors in the equation that are firmly in your control. Recently I wrote a piece about how Epictetus gave examples Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The flame representing the Logos is shown (faded) in the background - while the big blue letters "FAQ" feature diagonally in the foreground. A number of yellow question marks also populate the image. This image is meant as a featured images for articles in this blog that are installments in the site's FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions document) on Stoicism.

FAQ: Ascesis – doesn’t that mean depriving myself of something?

April 2, 2017 sophia_my_blog

No. While ascesis can indeed involve self-deprivation, and every Stoic makes some ascetic use of self-deprivation, the definition of ascesis doesn’t inherently include deprivation of any kind. This article is an installement in Sophia’s Stoicism FAQ. One term of importance Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An open book with writing represents a journal - specifically, a meditative journal, which is an ancient time-honored ingraining technique. Above it and to the left, a chain of Death Beads used in a very recently-devised ingraining technique. Above the book and to the right (slightly overlapping) is a blue silhouette of someone running - a symbol of exercise - as the ingraining techniques are key philosophical exercises for Stoicism. Above all that are, in big red letters, the words "EVERY DAY" highlighting the importance of making it an every-day practice to use whatever regimen of ingraining techniques are found to be appropriate for you. This image is for articles in this blog pertaining to Stoic ingraining techniques - whether they be ingraining techniques that we get from the Classical Stoics, or whether they be those developed in modern times by Modern Stoics.

Meta-Ascetic Journaling – What it Means and Why Do it

March 27, 2017 sophia_my_blog

In the effort to neurodiversify Stoicism, a meta-ascetic journal can be a great tool for Stoics to help themselves and one another discover the ascetic regimens that best fit them. There are probably several different kinds of Stoic journals out Read more