The Kester/Kister family lived in the Fulda region of what is now Hessen, Germany, for generations, from the mid-1600s until immigrating to the United States in the 1840s. Their story begins with Joannes Kister (6GG), born in Burghaun, Fulda, in 1665.
The cold air gradually pushed southward. After a brief warming around Christmas, the frost returned with even greater force. Temperatures dropped further each day. In Berlin, for example, it reached minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22°F) on January 10, 1709.
As 1830 drew to a close, the stage was set for a decade of transformation. The world our ancestors' families knew stood on the precipice of change, poised to leap into an uncertain but irresistible future. Sound familiar?
While education is often called the great equalizer, its promise too often depends on the resources a student brings with them. Can we reimagine a system that fulfills its promise of opportunity for all?
As we reflect on this period, we find numerous parallels to our own time. The political instability, economic uncertainties, and social upheavals that characterized 19th century Hesse echo in our modern world.
Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, stands as a central figure in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, embodying the universal ideal of mercy and the aspiration to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. This revered deity, whose name in Sanskrit translates to "Lord who gazes down," originated in the early Mahayana texts of India...
This article explores the nuanced transformations of Scotland's Central Lowlands—specifically Perth and Newburgh—during the 18th and 19th centuries. Unlike the Highlands, which experienced profound cultural and economic upheaval, these Lowland regions underwent a more measured integration into the British economic and political frameworks, while maintaining their distinctive Scottish identity.
The Seven Ill Years left a profound legacy on Scotland, reshaping not only its economy and society but also its political trajectory. For Perthshire, the famine underscored the fragility of its rural communities and their dependence on agriculture, while also setting the stage for the agrarian reforms of the 18th century that would help the region recover.
In 1604, at the age of 44, Marinus saw an opportunity for his family and made a decision that would define his legacy. He uprooted his young family and joined the first group of settlers in Nieuwvliet, a nascent community rising from recently reclaimed land in Zeelandic Flanders. This move coincided with Prince Maurits recapture of the Land of Cadzand from Spanish control, opening up new opportunities for those bold enough to seize them.
Accepting feelings is not ignoring them or avoiding them, but welcoming them; Vietnamese poet and writer, Thich Nhat Hanh recommends we say, "Hello Loneliness, how are you today? Come, sit by me and I will take care of you." Morita's advice: "In feelings, it is best to be wealthy and generous", ie, have many and let them fly as they wish.
Despite these societal convulsions, daily peasant life outwardly transformed relatively slowly. Farming practices and crop rotations changed little over generations. The liturgical calendar continued regulating secular and religious rituals like planting, harvesting, holy days, and festivals.
Litany by the Sea In an abundant woodOf Queen Anne’s lacedried and brown like bamboo,the ant scurries its way over fallenbramble and raspberry thorn,twisted California poppy blooming orange.As I lay there, intertwinedlistening,I hear an old manwith an ancient smilein simple language say -“Every step is a Prayer.” 1 Every feather in a wingevery sail set to... Continue Reading →