Notes by Ray.

If someday somehow you obtain the power to step into any painting, then I highly suggest that you should take that first step into Raphael’s “School of Athens”. I mean, seriously, it’s where legendary, and some are quite mythical, philosophers and thinkers casually mingle in one massive hall, as if it was the classiest and most epic TED Talk ever.

Raphael basically teleports you straight into the midst of the gathering of the greatest smarties in the history of human civilization. He didn’t merely slap paints on the wall of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, he was crafting a passionate tribute, or, if I may, a love letter to the exploration of science and knowledge upon the altar of science.

Each character on the fresco was displaying peak spirit of curiosity, wrapped in togas and intellectual banter. At the center of the stage, we can see Plato, holding a copy of his Timaeus, indulging himself in deep conversation with his pupil, Aristotle.

Not to mention how Raphael depicted the Renaissance architectural marvel in the background which, according to Giorgio Vasari in his biography series The Lives of the Artists, was consulted with and inspired by the works of Donato Bramante, an Italian architect that puts up the basic design of St. Peter’s Basilica, which then executed by none other than Michaelangelo Buonarroti. Raphael also paid homage to the Ancient Greek antiquities by putting sculptures of Apollo, the Greek god of light, archery, and music, and Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.

Raphael perfectly captured the essence of the Renaissance spirit in this work. As we know, the Renaissance was all about reviving the classics, celebrating individuality and humanism, and having a strong will to dive head-first into the pool of knowledge and wisdom. It was a remarkable visual composition that expressed the Renaissance thirst for human discovery.

Quick fact: some of the Renaissance figures were featured in this work, particularly people that were, in some way, Raphael found inspiring or influential. Some of these figures are: Leonardo da Vinci as Plato

Michelangelo as Heraclitus

Donato Bramante as Euclid

Timoteo Viti (Raphael’s mentor) and Raphael himself

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Stay curious, ciao!

Your dose of inspiration delivered today by none other than your Renaissance stargazer (in a quite most literal sense), Galileo Galilei (1564-1642).

What exactly does Galileo trying to say here?

Well, the way I see it, Galileo was trying to tell us that we are all on our journey of discovery, on the path to Enlightenment. And in the process, no matter how much someone dropped knowledge bombs on your face, you GOT TO OWN your learning. Teaching or explaining something to someone is more like providing maps and guides for their very own towards insights and knowledge.

By sharing insights and wisdom, you’re most likely sparking a quest for truth within that person. By the time you receive those fresh-from-the-oven insights, it’s up to you to let it all slide out, or to pack it up and continue to uncover your path of Enlightenment.

I believe that all of us got (or soon will get) the capacity and the opportunity to do the latter, and I believe once we embark on that path, we will shine brighter than that supernova which Galileo himself observed back in October 1604.

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Anyway, quick fact: the October 1604 supernova (also known as Kepler’s supernova, or SN1604) was the last ever supernova in our galaxy that is observable by the naked eye.

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Stay curious, ciao!

The spirit of Renaissance — French word for “rebirth”, blossomed in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century. It was a testament to the incredible capability of human creativity and innovation. It was a time of flourishing art, groundbreaking scientific discovery, and renewed curiosity about the world and its antiquities.

But how, you might ask, do we embrace the 500-year-old spirit and mindset to the settings of the 21st century? Believe it or not, it is not that difficult, actually.

The pursuit of knowledge

Shakespeare once wrote, “knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.” The Renaissance was a time of intense intellectual passion, a period where knowledge was revered and sought after. It is possibly applicable for our modern times to indulge ourselves in the thirst for learning. Delve into books, attend lectures (both online and in real life, whichever that are easily accessible to you), and never cease to question everything that you encounter in your everyday life.

Pen your mark in history

Inspired by the wordsmiths of the old, do take up the art of writing. Embark on a journey with your pen (or any choice of stationary, for that matter) and a piece of paper, just the three of you against the rest of the world (damn, how cool is that?!). Whether it’s journaling your thoughts, crafting poetry about that crush you don’t have the courage to talk to, or start working on that novel that once you dreamt about in your high school years, just let your inner artist shines. Your words will take you a long way, you just don’t know (or realize) that yet. ;)

Create and innovate

The Renaissance was an age of innovation and exploration. Seriously, they were vigorous creative thinkers and innovators back then. I mean, who on God’s green earth would think of a flying machine with a propeller system in the 15th century? Yeah, I know, it’s not the time anymore to innovate things such as helicopters or lightbulbs (yeah, no shit, Sherlock). Instead, sketch something, grab some paint and rub it on some canvas, sculpt a chunk of Play-doh or something. Whatever you do, let your imagination run wild. And I do mean WILD wild. Wild as in that 15th-century flying machine.

You’re a human, be one

Humanism was one of the cornerstones of the Renaissance spirit. They celebrated human potential, and on top of that, empathy. You know, the world is not so bad. Yes, of course, there are some ignorant spawns of satan roaming out there, for sure. Yet, you possess the power to shape the world as how you like it. Remember, society is made up of people, and people are made up of persons. Extend kindness, engage in meaningful conversations (especially with strangers), and stand up for justice, act fair even from the realms of your mind. Further note: meaningful conversations are not always about “heavy” stuff, like academic discussion or something. It includes simple gestures like asking that barista from your regular local coffee shop, “How was your day?”. Trust me, it will make them feel better, make you feel better, and it goes a long way.

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Built upon the best minds in the history of human civilization, the era of the Renaissance was filled with timeless insights that are still relevant as ever, even in our modern world today. It is quite an incredible opportunity for us to explore their marks in history and embark on the journey to rediscover the Renaissance spirit and embrace its essence to enhance our modern lives.

I get it, it wouldn’t be that simple. Yet, at least we know what we are trying to achieve. And even though you can only grow 0.1% each day, in a year, you will reach a growth rate of 36.5%. That’s more than a third of what you are today.

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I supposed that this would be your first encounter with this page. That’s okay. Readers, meet Ray. Ray, meet readers. We are no strangers anymore, are we?

I aim to explore and indulge myself in the spirit of the Renaissance, and also encourage you so that together we shall embrace the spirit for our modern lives, for the advancement of our civilization, and for an eternal pursuit of Enlightenment.

If my topics and my mission resonate with who you are, then I cordially invite you to join me on this journey. You can also find me on Instagram, where I am posting stuff about Renaissance works and inspirations.

May the spirit of the Renaissance guide your path, and may your future endeavors, whatever it is, be as timeless as the artistry of that wondrous age.

Until next time, ciao!