Bill Ryan
@billr1953.bsky.social
I write essays for the pure fun of doing so. My topics pertain mostly to philosophy, culture, history, politics, and economics. Check out my essay collection free of charge at billryanwritings.com or Substack https://billryan.substack.com
Reposted by Bill Ryan
"You catch my eye despite hurried distractions. My mind slowing; the spin like a roundabout in an empty park. It stops at a settling thought. We are all toddling along. A speck on a map so large it can’t fit on one sheet." Margaret Aitkin
#VT365
#MacroMonday
#NaturePhotography
#Poetry
#Zen
#VT365
#MacroMonday
#NaturePhotography
#Poetry
#Zen
December 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
"You catch my eye despite hurried distractions. My mind slowing; the spin like a roundabout in an empty park. It stops at a settling thought. We are all toddling along. A speck on a map so large it can’t fit on one sheet." Margaret Aitkin
#VT365
#MacroMonday
#NaturePhotography
#Poetry
#Zen
#VT365
#MacroMonday
#NaturePhotography
#Poetry
#Zen
“When our mind is cleansed from the dross of matter, then alone can we behold the vast, radiant, subtle, ever-pure and spotless Self, the true basis of our existence.”
The Upanishad
The Upanishad
December 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
“When our mind is cleansed from the dross of matter, then alone can we behold the vast, radiant, subtle, ever-pure and spotless Self, the true basis of our existence.”
The Upanishad
The Upanishad
We are raised in a world governed by indisputable premises such as traditional ideas of what is right and wrong. billryanwritings.com/an-examinati...
An Examination of Truth | Bill Ryan Writings
billryanwritings.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We are raised in a world governed by indisputable premises such as traditional ideas of what is right and wrong. billryanwritings.com/an-examinati...
This Fever Ray performance in Sydney last year is one of the great concert videos to sit beside Morrissey's 2007 Hollywood Bowl show, Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads, and Queen at Live Aid in 1985. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-g8...
Fever Ray | Live at Sydney Opera House
YouTube video by Sydney Opera House
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This Fever Ray performance in Sydney last year is one of the great concert videos to sit beside Morrissey's 2007 Hollywood Bowl show, Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads, and Queen at Live Aid in 1985. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-g8...
Not sure I “love” five-month long New Hampshire winters 🥶, but I understand the sentiment of this post.
December 21, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Not sure I “love” five-month long New Hampshire winters 🥶, but I understand the sentiment of this post.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
My painting CALIFORNIA POPPIES
Doors close tonight!
Learn to paint stunning landscapes like this.
Doors close tonight!
Learn to paint stunning landscapes like this.
December 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
My painting CALIFORNIA POPPIES
Doors close tonight!
Learn to paint stunning landscapes like this.
Doors close tonight!
Learn to paint stunning landscapes like this.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
🔥 Enduring wisdom from Seneca:
“The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”
“The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”
December 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
🔥 Enduring wisdom from Seneca:
“The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”
“The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”
Reposted by Bill Ryan
Reposted by Bill Ryan
Some would say that the magic of Christmas doesn't exist. Everything is hectic and stressful... but that's not true. Of course, I see people who seem to have no sense of humor or joy, or people who rush past you. But I also see people laughing, children's eyes shining, and joy.
1/2
1/2
December 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Some would say that the magic of Christmas doesn't exist. Everything is hectic and stressful... but that's not true. Of course, I see people who seem to have no sense of humor or joy, or people who rush past you. But I also see people laughing, children's eyes shining, and joy.
1/2
1/2
Freedom AND Equality
December 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Freedom AND Equality
“The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule, between good and evil but between two evils."
George Orwell
philosophors.substack.com
George Orwell
philosophors.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
“The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule, between good and evil but between two evils."
George Orwell
philosophors.substack.com
George Orwell
philosophors.substack.com
“Every silence is composed of nothing but unspoken words. Perhaps that is why I became a musician. Someone had to express this silence, make it render up all the sadness it contained, make it sing as it were.”
Marguerite Yourcenar
philosophors.substack.com
Marguerite Yourcenar
philosophors.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
“Every silence is composed of nothing but unspoken words. Perhaps that is why I became a musician. Someone had to express this silence, make it render up all the sadness it contained, make it sing as it were.”
Marguerite Yourcenar
philosophors.substack.com
Marguerite Yourcenar
philosophors.substack.com
“A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth — that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire."
Viktor Frankl
philosophors.substack.com
Viktor Frankl
philosophors.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
“A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth — that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire."
Viktor Frankl
philosophors.substack.com
Viktor Frankl
philosophors.substack.com
"This irrational fear of death results from the failure of having lived; it is the expression of our guilty conscience for having wasted our life and missed the chance of productive use of our capacities."
Erich Fromm
philosophors.substack.com
Erich Fromm
philosophors.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"This irrational fear of death results from the failure of having lived; it is the expression of our guilty conscience for having wasted our life and missed the chance of productive use of our capacities."
Erich Fromm
philosophors.substack.com
Erich Fromm
philosophors.substack.com
Consciousness studies and contemplation is fascinating to me! billryanwritings.com/consciousnes...
Consciousness Considered | Bill Ryan Writings
billryanwritings.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Consciousness studies and contemplation is fascinating to me! billryanwritings.com/consciousnes...
Much is written by the medical community of the lack of scientific evidence about the alleged benefits of cannabis. For example, many claim there is no firm evidence that pot reduces pain. That may be true. Weed may not take the pain away from you, but it does take you away from the pain.
December 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Much is written by the medical community of the lack of scientific evidence about the alleged benefits of cannabis. For example, many claim there is no firm evidence that pot reduces pain. That may be true. Weed may not take the pain away from you, but it does take you away from the pain.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
Call it affordability, vibes, politics: asking people how they're doing financially has been a grim exercise for some time.
Only 21% in 4th quarter said they're better off financially than a year ago, near Great Recession lows. Drop in 3 steps: pandemic '20, high inflation '21-22, and past year.
Only 21% in 4th quarter said they're better off financially than a year ago, near Great Recession lows. Drop in 3 steps: pandemic '20, high inflation '21-22, and past year.
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Call it affordability, vibes, politics: asking people how they're doing financially has been a grim exercise for some time.
Only 21% in 4th quarter said they're better off financially than a year ago, near Great Recession lows. Drop in 3 steps: pandemic '20, high inflation '21-22, and past year.
Only 21% in 4th quarter said they're better off financially than a year ago, near Great Recession lows. Drop in 3 steps: pandemic '20, high inflation '21-22, and past year.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."
Norman Maclean
#VT365 #NaturePhotography
#Poetry
Norman Maclean
#VT365 #NaturePhotography
#Poetry
December 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."
Norman Maclean
#VT365 #NaturePhotography
#Poetry
Norman Maclean
#VT365 #NaturePhotography
#Poetry
“All our talents increase in the using, and every faculty, both good and bad, strengthens by exercise: therefore, if you choose to use the bad, or those which tend to evil, till they become your masters, and neglect the good till they dwindle away, you have only yourself to blame.”
Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë
December 18, 2025 at 1:36 AM
“All our talents increase in the using, and every faculty, both good and bad, strengthens by exercise: therefore, if you choose to use the bad, or those which tend to evil, till they become your masters, and neglect the good till they dwindle away, you have only yourself to blame.”
Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë
"But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.”
Albert Schweitzer
philosophors.substack.com
Albert Schweitzer
philosophors.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:35 AM
"But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.”
Albert Schweitzer
philosophors.substack.com
Albert Schweitzer
philosophors.substack.com
“To me, literature is a calling, even a kind of salvation. It connects me with an enterprise that is over 2,000 years old. What do we have from the past? Art and thought. That’s what lasts."
Susan Sontag
philosophors.substack.com
Susan Sontag
philosophors.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:33 AM
“To me, literature is a calling, even a kind of salvation. It connects me with an enterprise that is over 2,000 years old. What do we have from the past? Art and thought. That’s what lasts."
Susan Sontag
philosophors.substack.com
Susan Sontag
philosophors.substack.com