Momento Mori
Dear Friends,
I just found out the sad news that Frater Tomas has passed into the abodes of the night. I don't know why. There hasn't been a cause of death determined at the time of writing this. I am grieved to the core at this news. We had just collaborated on the planning for the new 100 Day Challenge: Way of the Scholar-Warrior. He was one of my best friends. Hell, one of my only friends. We kept in touch weekly. It's a big deal. My mother had just passed recently and prior to that I lost my brother. All too young. Tomas was only 48, my brother only 46, and my mom was only 75. All of these seem way too young to me. Cherish your loved ones my dear friends. This is truly an unhappy day for me. Tomas is survived by both parents and an older brother named Bjorn.
There is a story from a Chinese Idiom that I learned when I was young. It conveys a sense of deep friendship.
"During the Warring States Period in ancient China, there was a man named Boya Yu who played the Qin (a kind of string instrument in China) very well.
One day when he was playing the Qin in a remote forest, a woodcutter named Ziqi Zhong came by. Boya used music to express his thoughts on climbing mountains. Ziqi would chime in and suggest,” As lofty as Mount Tai “.
Boya used his music again to express the running water. Ziqi complemented: “What a mighty river it is !” What Boya placed in music, Ziqi always responded with powerful understanding. Thus the two became bosom friends.
Later, when Ziqi died, Boya lost his bosom friend and was extremely sad, he threw his Qin away and vowed never to play again.
From this historical story, a special term “知音（zhi-yin)” in Chinese is thus created, which could be translated as “recognizing your music, inner feelings and potential impacts.”
This term “high mountain-running water (高山流水)” in Chinese is often used today to suggest the rare fortune of having friends who can really appreciate your passion, recognize your talents and endeavors, and further encourage and inspire you to reach a higher level.“
Like Boya, I shall cast my Qin into the sea. haha...
So sad everyone. Thanks for your support and understanding at this hard time.
Much love and Good Magick!
Frank Monday
Ad Astra per Aspera