...let thy growing hours be strong to set right some wintry wrong"
What heartening words by Caroline May and which are especially poignant today, the National Day of Reflection 2021.
We take time on the first anniversary of UK lockdown to recognise what has taken place throughout the last 12 months, and importantly to stand together. Not only do we support those who may be grieving, but we may also identify how we move forwards stronger, learning from what has been experienced.
The videos which have been created for this occasion feature the motto "take a moment to connect" and I think that this is something which we have learnt, and will continue to learn, as we move out of this situation. Lockdown has restricted contact between family, friends, partners, neighbours, work colleagues and so many different communities which form an integral part of our lives. The connections we create now hold even greater significance in our lives, especially as we all have to endure time and the pressures of online meetings, zoom calls and many virtual celebrations..
Given the opportunities to connect with others with a minutes silence at 12 noon and at 8pm by lighting a candle, I think it is useful for us to consider how we can expand our awareness and understanding in the journey ahead. #reflection
Lewis Grizzard said:
"Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn"
The picture above from a regular daily walk demonstrates that Spring is on its way...we can establish strong connections with Nature and enjoy its beauty. The continuity of the seasons may be something which you take comfort from, as the last few days of March signals the brighter mornings and longer nights. British Summer Time will begin on Sunday 28th March, resulting in longer daylight hours.
Rose Kennedy said:
"Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments"
I think this quote highlights how experiences and events can be fleeting but these altogether add up to form our lives. The coming of summer will occur as the clocks move forwards by one hour, as we travel towards the longest day and summer on the horizon...be that as it may, remember to enjoy the present moment and all that it has to offer.
Today stands as a national day of reflection but I urge you to think about continuing this practice as we traverse the upcoming months. Rain or Shine, Day or Night, Happiness or Sadness...these opposites occur frequently, and the best we can do is to reflect on all our encounters and keep steady. Reflection is a useful way for us to consider situations with more objectivity, and to become more aware of ourselves. In turn, this may help our interactions with others, once we have better understood our own limitations and how we can adapt to help and support ourselves and others.
I shall continue the blog with a focus on Aristotle's "modes of persuasion", because I think that this trio can be usefully extended beyond rhetoric and out into the wider world and our perspectives on life. The three are known by the names of ethos, pathos and logos.
More and more businesses are seeking new ways to use stories and rhetoric in order to connect with their audience. During the time of the pandemic, the disadvantages of long periods of screen time has taken its toll and consequently, these three have become even more important for businesses to grab our attention with different advertising tactics.
The definitions of the three have often been defined as follows:
Ethos = credibility
Pathos = emotion
Logos = logic
However, when we delve further into these three, it becomes clear that they can be adapted for our personal use. Let us examine each individually and consolidate our understanding.
Firstly, ethos is derived from the Greek word ethos which comes with a multitude of meanings, some of which include character, beliefs, ideals, morals and morality. In rhetorical terms, ethos is an appeal to the credibility or authority of the presenter, whether they: are a notable figure in the particular field; can demonstrate a mastery of the particular field; or can produce some credentials from other established authorities. To put it in a straightforward manner, ethos works by getting your audience to trust you.
Secondly, pathos is derived from the Greek word pathos meaning suffering, experience and emotions amongst other definitions. English words such as sympathy, empathy and pathetic all are derived from this Greek word, which highlights how it may cover a range of emotions and feelings. In rhetorical terms, pathos may present itself in the form of a simile or metaphor, a passionate delivery of a speech, and maybe a claim that the matter discussed is unjust. It works successfully when the author or speaker shows agreement with a reader or listener. That emotional connection is able to sway the audience. Pathos works by getting your audience to feel.
Lastly, logos is a term often used in Western philosophy derived from the Greek word logos with varied meanings including ground, plea, word, speech, account, reason, opinion and expectation. Nevertheless, logos is commonly associated with the English word logic and so, its appearance within rhetorical situations reflects this. Logos presents itself as a logical appeal, or at least a simulation of that. It is a way of persauding the audience with reason, often by using facts and figures to provide evidence. What is more, logos can enhance the use of ethos because the information makes the speaker appear prepared and intelligent in front of the audience. However, logos can be confusing, misleading or even inaccurate and so, the audience must not be deceived by the information. Ultimately, logos works by getting your audience to think with reason.
Think about the use of these three rhetorical devices when you are next listening to, or watching an advert. Effective adverts use all three in combination to successfully persuade the audience to think, speak or act in a particular way.
In terms of their practical application to our lives, I think that the visual above signifies the essence of the three. To put it simply, Ethos relates to ideas or beliefs, Pathos to feelings or emotions and Logos to logical facts or figures.
Think about the prevalence of trios in our lives, starting the list with examples from religion and then moving to the modern day:
Father, God and Holy Spirit making up the Holy Trinity in Christianity...
The Three Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh...
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe among the works of CS Lewis...
The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
Charlie's Angels...
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
Nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice"...
Alvin, Simon and Theodore as the notorious Chipmunks trio...
The fictional trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione...
Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony with the love triangle of the ancient world...
Snap, Crackle and Pop as the cartoon mascots of the popular Kellogg's cereal Rice Crispies
The list is endless...
But of course, very notably...
Author Sam Leith has made the connection between the three Musketeers and Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion. Porthos, Ethos, and Aramis are no longer just a mnemonic to help us remember Aristotle's three methods of persuasion. They are characters directly linked to the quality of Aristotle’s modes, and their personalities make memorable the need to communicate with logic, with credibility and with emotion. This is something which we could utilise in our own lives, and consider how we approach situations. Do we approach scenarios purely with our own authority and credibility? Do we rely on logic? Or do we drive forwards with emotion?
Most of us will probably have a natural favourite approach which we instinctively embrace, but I believe that the extra time and space which has arisen out of the pandemic situation means that we have the opportunity to hone our use of all three.
The Buddha said:
"Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds"
We have the chance to extend the day of reflection, which has taken place today to mark this national moment in our history, beyond the timeframes of the day and maybe beyond even the month of March. In Hinduism and in many parts of Eastern philosophy, we find three paths or ways (*the power of the trio) which are described as having the power to lead human beings to freedom. Individuals can work hard and journey along one of these paths. These are:
The Path of Action
The Path of Devotion
The Path of Knowledge
Yet again, we are faced with the power of the three. The power of three has been repeated time and time again, but I think that we can find practical use in Aristotle's ethos, pathos and logos just as much as we can in these three paths commonly found in Indian scriptures. It seems to me that these three paths link very closely to Aristotle's modes of persuasion, and may be reflected in the characters found in the novel by Alexandre Dumas.
What is more, if an individual were to combine the three paths, then the scripture suggests that they would not only become free, but they would also hold a deeper understanding and connection for others, as they could adapt themselves to whatever the situation or person required at that time...action, devotion or knowledge or a combination of all three.
Given that we all react differently to people and situations around us, let us take the time to explore our habitual reactions and see if we can act in a more considered manner, incorporating... logic, credibility and emotion...knowledge, action and devotion...
There may not be direct correlations between these trios, but I think that the comparison helps to provide extra context and detail for our practical usage.
I hope that these explanations have given you more to reflect and ponder upon in the coming days...
The fact that such powerful ideas like these withstand the test of time demonstrates their strength and relevance for life.
The month of March has continued to be a month of experimenting in the kitchen. I continue to experiment with numerous flavours of hot cross buns whilst enjoying frequent walks in Nature. Please do keep watching the instagram account for more foodie creations, as many supermarkets have taken on the competition to produce the most imaginative flavour combinations of hot cross buns. It began with M&S chilli cheese. As Easter moves closer, why not take on the challenge of baking your own hot cross buns from scratch?
Mothering Sunday was a great occasion to treat those nearest and dearest in your lives with indulgent treats and dishes.Below was the scrumptious dessert prepared for Mother's Day and it was a delight to be able to share such a special day at home with a take-away filled with sweet goodies...
Easter is fast approaching, and I hope that you are looking forward to a plethora of chocolate and eggs, of all varieties. You can find these posts and a range of other foodie inspiration on the instagram account.
It is astonishing to consider that it will be 1 year since I set up the brand and it has been a pleasure to share my daily creations with you, and respond to different suggestions in terms of content. I am delighted to have launched my first giveaway, reaching the first milestone of 500 followers... Please keep watching for an exciting announcement coming very soon...
We are quickly moving towards a time when restaurants, pubs and cafes will be open for us to enjoy once again. Take pleasure from the remaining time spent in your kitchens cooking and baking before our meals out with friends and family again...
Please continue to let me know of any suggestions or ideas which you would like to see featured in the brand in the future. Thank you for all your continued support and enjoy your time in the kitchen :)
As part of my Masters studies in Broadcast Journalism, I recently had the pleasure to present the afternoon news programme, which was focused on how the pandemic has affected, and continues to affect, those in a multitude of industries. It was fantastic to be part of a great team who all worked hard to produce this programme, during one of the first days back on campus. Please do enjoy the show and I would love to hear from you if you have any stories which could feature in a future programme. The programmes alternate each week broadcast between TV and radio, with the latter available on catch up via the SalfordNow account on Soundcloud.
Click on the image below to view me presenting one of our recent TV programmes:
I continue to present a weekly show on Lymm Radio, broadcast every Sunday morning 6-8am for a show full of songs, guests, quotes and so much more...I am currently focusing on British icons and role models, which has featured Dame Judy Dench, Rowan Atkinson and David Attenborough thus far. During these uncertain times, I think it is lovely for us to take inspiration from those people involved with a variety of industries. Tune in via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #reflection
I conclude this third blog with a quote by Tony Gaskins:
"If you can't do anything about it then let it go. Don't be a prisoner to things you can't change"
Keep in mind scenarios which you can control, and try to avoid worrying about what is beyond your control. Consider your approach to life and work towards freedom.
Action, Devotion, Knowledge.
Credibility, Emotion, Logic.
Happy reflecting,
Sitara xxx
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