make sure to refresh this page every time you access it;  

updated: 9/16/15

tower m ottotower m ottotower m otto

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space.  He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.  This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.  Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.  Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)  Mathematical Circles

 

Pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but  sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.

David Foster Wallace, Commencement Speech

 

Love alone can unite living beings so as to complete and fulfill them... for it alone joins them by what is deepest in themselves. All we need is to imagine our ability to love developing until it embraces the totality of men and the earth." 
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Dass Guided Imagery

"LOVE AND DO WHAT YOU WILL"  St. Augustine

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9-17  Quiz in class. "Best and Worst" for first half of alphabet

GAWAIN and perfectionism

Gawain and the Green Knight: The Challenge of the Gothic North

Gawain

 

 

TODAY'S GOALS [2I1] “to know thyself.” To know one’s strengths and weaknesses . Self-awareness is essential not only for leadership and ethics, but for good writing for it enables self-management of time and emotional as well as intellectual resources.

honi soit motto Goals for Best and Worst: see list

TODAY'S TOPICS:perfectionism; Gawain;



PRETTY HURTS

 

 

TODAY'S ACTIVITIES: ethics guided imagery; first half of alphabet sharing: feelings about best and worst events of the previous week, preferably based on blog entry (for points); QUIZ on 2ND half of Gawain; acting session, recorded for our secret Facebook group, induction into the order of the Knight of the Garter. discussion of perfectionism and Gawain etc., exploration of website, +

REQUIRED READING:

  Second Half of Gawain: 525-576

REVIEW  70-2  Perfectionism  AND  DFW on Perfectionism

Recommended Reading:

original ed. J RR Tolkien  stanzaic trans Deane 1999     trans. Neilsen


 

 

UP TO 10 PTS. C.P. EXTRA CREDIT FOR ANY STUDENT COMING IN ARTHURIAN COSTUME BOTH DAYS

Narrator: Keya

Green Knight: Harsha

Gawain:  Jellyfish

Arthur: Christine

Items supplied by instructor: paper crowns, toy axe, green giant mask, plastic ivy, king's robes (white)

    SCRIPT FOR CLASS PERFORMANCE 9-17

    NA, WITH GK AND G ACTING OUT THE WORDS:   

    Then the Green Knight made him ready, and grasped his grim weapon to smite Gawain. With all his force he bore it aloft with a mighty feint of slaying him: had it fallen as straight as he aimed he who was ever doughty of deed had been slain by the blow. But Gawain swerved aside as the axe came gliding down to slay him as he stood, and shrank a little with the shoulders, for the sharp iron. The other heaved up the blade and rebuked the prince with many proud words:
    GK:   

    "Thou art not Gawain, who is held so valiant, that never feared he man by hill or vale, but thou shrinkest for fear ere thou feelest hurt. Such cowardice did I never hear of Gawain! Neither did I flinch from thy blow, or make strife in King Arthur's hall. My head fell to my feet, and yet I fled not; but thou didst wax faint of heart ere any harm befell. Wherefore must I be deemed the braver knight."

     

    SECOND STRIKE: NA: The Green Knight “heaved aloft the axe with fierce mien, as if he were mad. He struck at him fiercely but wounded him not, withholding his hand ere it might strike him.


    THIRD STRIKE: NA: He lifted the axe lightly and let it fall with the edge of the blade on the bare neck. Though he struck swiftly it hurt him no more than on the one side where it severed the skin. The sharp blade cut into the flesh so that the blood ran over his shoulder to the ground.

    GK: First I menaced thee with a feigned one, and hurt thee not for the covenant that we made in the first night, and which thou didst hold truly. All the gain didst thou give me as a true man should.

    The other feint I proffered thee for the morrow: my fair wife kissed thee, and thou didst give me her kisses--for both those days I gave thee two blows without scathe--true man, true return.

    But the third time thou didst fail, and therefore hadst thou that blow…..I sent [my wife] to try thee, and in sooth I think thou art the most faultless knight that ever trode earth …. But thou didst lack a little, Sir Knight, and wast wanting in loyalty,"

    G: For fear of thy blow cowardice bade me make friends with covetousness and forsake the customs of largess and loyalty, which befit all knights. Now am I faulty and false and have been afeared: from treachery and untruth come sorrow and care. I avow to thee, Sir Knight, that I have ill done;

    GK: thou hast made such free confession of thy misdeeds, and hast so borne the penance of mine axe edge, that I hold thee absolved from that sin, and purged as clean as if thou hadst never sinned since thou wast born. And

    this girdle that is wrought with gold and green, like my raiment, do I give thee, Sir Gawain, that thou mayest think upon this chance when thou goest forth among princes of renown, and keep this for a token of the adventure of the Green Chapel,

    G: as for thy girdle, that will I take with good will, …. in sign of my frailty. I shall look upon it when I ride in renown and remind myself of the fault and faintness of the flesh; and so when pride uplifts me for prowess of arms, the sight of this lace shall humble my heart..

    GK PUTS THE GREEN [BAND ON] BALDRIC ACROSS GAWAIN’S [WRIST] CHEST

    BACK IN ARTHUR'S COURT

    N: he bare the shining [BAND] girdle as a baldric bound by his side, and made fast with a knot 'neath his left arm, in token that he was taken in a fault--and thus he came in safety again to the court…. He showed them the wound in the neck which he won for his disloyalty at the hand of the knight, the blood flew to his face for shame as he told the tale.   

    G: "this is the bond of the blame that I bear in my neck, this is the harm and the loss I have suffered, the cowardice and covetousness in which I was caught, the token of my covenant in which I was taken. And I must needs wear it so long as I live, for none may hide his harm, but undone it may not be, for if it hath clung to thee once, it may never be severed."   

    N: Then the king comforted the knight, and the court laughed loudly at the tale, and all made accord that the lords and the ladies who belonged to the Round Table, each hero among them, should wear bound about him [HER WRIST] a baldric [BAND] of bright green for the sake of Sir Gawain.

    And to this was agreed all the honour of the Round Table, and he who ware it was honoured the more thereafter.

    KING ARTHUR NOW ASKS EACH MEMBER OF THE ROUND TABLE IF S/HE RENOUNCES PERFECTIONISM.  IF THEY ANSWER ‘I DO’ THE KING KNIGHTS EACH MEMBER OF THE ROUND TABLE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT BESTOWS THE GREEN BAND ON EACH. NEWLY KNIGHTED, EACH MEMBER PROCLAIMS LOUDLY

     

    HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  • The Order of the Garter

    The Oldest and Highest British Order of Chivalry

    The origin of the symbol of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a blue 'garter' with the motto Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense will probably never be known for certain as  the earliest records of the order were destroyed by fire, ....

    It was thought that in 1344 King Edward III inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, made a spectacular demonstration of his interest in Arthurian legend during a massive joust at Windsor Castle. He also promised to renew King Arthur's fraternity of knights with all the paragons of knightly virtues with a complement of 300 men. Work also even began on a gigantic circular building two-hundred feet across within the upper ward of the castle to house this so-called Order of the Round Table.

    As the garter was a small strap used as a device to attach pieces of armour, it might have been thought appropriate to use the garter as a symbol of binding together in common brotherhood. The patron saint of the Order of the Garter is St George and as he is the patron saint of soldiers and also of England, the spiritual home of the order has therefore always been St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

    The holders of this Order as a Knights Companion, entitles the recipient the right to use the title "Sir" before their Christian names as well as being entitled to add the letters "K.G." or  in the case of a Lady Companion "L.G." after their surnames or title.

    The insignia of the Order has gradually developed over the centuries, starting with a garter and badge depicting St George and the Dragon. A collar was added in the sixteenth century with the star and broad ribbon being added in the seventeenth century.

    Each newly appointed Knight, or more recently Lady of the Order is assigned a stall in St George's Chapel Windsor from which their Banner  displaying their coat of arms is hung.

     

    Beneath the banner is a Knights helm (helmet) on which is placed the carved and painted representation of the Knights Crown or Crest.....The Crests were thought to have originally been worn on top of the Knights helm (helmet) during pageants and tournaments in the fourteenth century and used as a form of identification.

    The griffin, for example, is Sir William Gladstone's crest

    Some of the totem animals are more familiar to Texans

    For almost two centuries each year, usually at St George's - tide in April the Sovereign and Knights of the Garter met at Windsor Castle for a Festival which lasted for three days. They gathered in Chapter, feasted in St George's Hall and occupied their stalls in St George's Chapel for Matins, the Eucharist, Evensong and Requiem for departed Knights. From 1674 onwards until 1805 services were held less frequently and during  the remainder of the 19th century the life of the Order was restricted to Chapter meetings for investitures and elections normally held in London.

     

    In 1948 His late Majesty King George V1 commanded the Knights of the Garter to once again assemble at Windsor Castle for a Chapter meeting, to Process through the Castle and to have a Service at St George's Chapel. Since that time a Garter Day of this type has been regularly held each June. The procession taken by the Garter Knights  from the Upper ward to the Royal Chapel is a public witness to the long tradition of the  Sovereign and the leaders of the nation giving their allegiance and thanksgiving to God for creating, renewing and sustaining the World.

    St George's Chapel Windsor                                                                        

    The Queen's Free Chapel of St George in Windsor Castle more commonly known as St George's Chapel was founded in 1475 by King Edward 1V as the chapel for the Order of the Garter and was eventually completed by King Henry V111 50 years later. St George's Chapel shares the distinction along with Westminster Abbey of being not only one of the most revered hallowed Royal shrines of the British Monarchy, but also one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the world, the Chapel belongs to the College of St George which is a self governing community of priests and laymen.

    Each Knight of the Garter is allotted a stall (seat) in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle and above it is placed the medieval symbols of chivalry, his banner which was often carried in battle bearing his coat of arms, these arms were also often worn as a tabard over his armour which helped to identify him. On top of the stall is the knights helm (or helmet) on this is placed his crest or in the case of foreign sovereigns the crest is replaced with a crown, which again is used as a form of recognition.

    source: http://www.heraldicsculptor.com/Garters.html

Gawain and the Green Knight: The Challenge of the Gothic North to Arthur's Round Table:

Gawain

Gawain

 

BBC DOCUMENTARY

WARD DOCUENTARY

AUDIO VERSION  FIRST NINETY LINES

AMATEUR MOVIE VERSION

ANIMATION PART One

 

 

ANIMATION PART TWO

ANIMATION PART THREE

Gawain

A green man looks down on the Christians at Christ Church cathedral, Oxford

"Green Men" sculptures at Winchester, at York, and at Oxford: Balliol Library, the Bodleian Library, Merton Chapel, and City Hall

"Green Women" on the tomb of St. Frideswide, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Green Giant in the home of the Vikings

The Orders of the Garter and the Thistle

Online Resources

Gawain

 

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

9-18  extra credits for sustainability (ethics flag)

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2015 SUSTAINABILITY SYMPOSIUM:

EXTRA CREDIT 9 CREDITS FOR ATTENDANCE AT FIRST EVENT + 7 CREDITS FOR ATTENDANCE AT EACH SUBSEQUENT EVENT: Friday, September 18, 2015; 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  AVAYA Auditorium, POB 2.302  SCHEDULE  DON'T MISS 1:15 SWIFT FOX: CAMPUS BEEHIVES ETC.

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UT Microfarm Seeks Interns And Volunteers
SEPTEMBER 18 deadline for applying for paid positions

The UT Microfarm, UT's first student-run farm, is seeking interns and consistent volunteers to attend our weekly workdays! Located near the Facilities Complex at 2204 Leona Street (at the corner of Manor and Leona), the Microfarm uses organic, sustainable methods to grow produce for UT dining halls and the local community. The following positions are available: +Pest Control and Fertilizing; Interns; Compost Management Interns;Resource Recovery Interns; +Blog/Social Media Interns; +Farm Stand Interns; +Education/Outreach Interns; +Beautification Interns
All volunteer positions have the potential to earn a paid position for summer 2016 and/or the 2016-2017 school year. If interested, please apply here:
http://goo.gl/forms/XzdKslRHSS
by September 18th.

Interested volunteers should then attend a weekly workday (Wednesdays 5-8pm and Sundays 9-12pm) to meet the staff and undergo any necessary training.
Please like our Facebook page for workday updates, cancellations, and other news:
https://www.facebook.com/UTMicroFarm

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Moonlight Prowl set for September 18th 8 PM in front of the Tower

  10 POINTS FOR PROOF OF ATTENDANCE AT ENTIRE EVENT===============================================================================================

    9-20 Sunday: blogs for 9-22 and 9-24 assignments due by 11:59 PM Sunday.

EX TENDED OFFICE HOURS NEXT WEEK. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:

9/21 MONDAY AFTERNOON and

9/23 WEDNESDAY MORNING OR LATE AFTERNOON.

To make an appointment, email me at bump@utexas.edu

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9-22;Project 1 and Power Animals;   Quiz in class. "Best and Worst" for second half of alphabet

 

 9-24 Meet on second floor of the HRC: the ART OF WRITING VS PERFECTIONISM  The Art of Writing; Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon; and Farewell to Arms; "Best and Worst" for first half of alphabet. clan animal choice 

9-29; REBIRTH AS YOUR POWER ANIMAL

 CONNECT, HAMMER INTO UNITY: Your Head and Your Heart

honi soit motto

“Stress Recess” Stressed by papers? Tests? Relationship issues? For these and other stressors, take a few minutes to check out a new interactive website called “Stress Recess” at http://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess, a component of the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center. This site is loaded with videos, animation, video games, body scans, quizzes, clickable charts and graphics and practical information tailored to YOU. Learn what causes stress, signs of stress and—most importantly---what you can do to manage stress in healthy ways!

FYI :Mindfulness Meditation Lunch Hour Group:
A drop-in group for any member of the UT Community to practice mindfulness meditation together. No experience necessary; brief instruction on meditation will be provided.
Group will meet biweekly on Fridays at 12:10 beginning on Sept. 11. Meetings in Harry Ransom Ctr, 3rd Fl. Tom Lea Room.

     

     honi soit motto

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