Hello, my name is David Hartmann, and welcome to my blog reimagined. It is the first time I have been able to manage my blog via my brand-new website. Yay!
I did start my blog officially back in 2015, but I have been very lax with it the past year. I was originally inspired to write a blog way back in 2011.
I was an international key-note speaker for the AAAOM conference in Baltimore, USA.Whilst there I met some lovely American ladies that had been participants of my Eight Extraordinary Vessels presentation.
It was the end of the day, I was at the bar having a well-deserved cleansing bevvie, and the ladies wandered over for a wine and a chat. They wanted to know where they could find out more about me and my Chinese medicine experience. Seeing as I did not have a website, they suggested I start up a blog.
I will always remember that chat because it was the first time I had been to America. The ladies were so interested in what I had to say. At one point I said to them, “What else would you like to talk about?”. Their response was priceless:
“Whatever you like; we love your Aussie accent and just want to hear you speak”.
Well, it took me four years, but I finally got there ladies! This hardly makes me the Road Runner or Speedy Gonzales of blog posts – ha!! More the slow turtle in the Tortoise and the Hare kids story. Now – fast forward to 2021 and it is time for my blog to get an update.
The idea behind the blog is to discuss a range of different topics – not exclusively Chinese medicine. Do not get me wrong, Chinese medicine is the biggest love of my life outside of the family, but I also want to share my other passions.
Those passions include:
- Chinese philosophy
- Western philosophy
- Chinese history
- Western history
- Numerology
- Music
These themes are from antiquity to modern times.
Typically, in my posts, you will get an overview of the history that framed the event I am discussing. For example, if I am discussing a particular philosopher then you will get a little look at what was happening in their worlds around the time they existed.
One of the important things I found whilst studying philosophy is that the reader should have a base knowledge of the history during the period that the dude is philosophising in. This allows the reader a greater understanding of why that philosopher was thinking the things they were thinking.
Be it Confucius (Kǒng Zǐ/孔子), and the tumultuous period he was alive called the Warring States (475-221BCE); or Seneca (4BCE-65CE) and his musings during the reign of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero; or perhaps Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679CE) and his view of the world being dog-eat-dog (actually he referred to it as ‘Social Contract Theory’), during a time when the catholic church lost its grip on England, thanks largely to King Henry VIII.
I hope to be able to simplify what these guys were trying to say in a passionate manner that engages the reader. But also, to insert the philosophical ideas into our world; as in, use a philosopher by discussing his views on anxiety or stress or relationship problems. And lastly, to then offer regular discussions (perhaps podcasts) on these philosophers for those that are interested.
I am aiming to post a blog every 2-4 weeks (depending on my busy schedule). As each blog is written, those that are subscribed to my website will receive an email advising you it has arrived. Otherwise jump on every couple of weeks to see what else is new on my website, apart from blogs.
Since I have a range of different blog themes, I will have a list of different categories that you can explore based on the themes mentioned earlier in this post. Some blogs will be short and pack a punch (500-1000 words), whereas others will be almost a mini-thesis, such as my experience when visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps in 2019 (this blog ended up just shy of 4000 words). My writing experience suggests that sometimes you cannot get the information across unless you really immerse yourself in the words.
I plan to have the blog as a written and videoed experience, depending on your preference for receiving/reviewing information. Depending on my available time I may also offer the larger blogs as a snapshot for those that feel a little time-poor.
As with any blog, I would love to think that it will create conversation. I love nothing more than to engage in meaningful chats with my peers.
I cannot wait to hear from you in the future; love and light to you all.
David Hartmann