TEDxSummit 2012 has concluded and we’re all spreading out back across the globe after gathering over seven hundred amazing people into one place. Inspirational, transformational, likely seminal, the event touched a lot of people deeply. When we were in the desert on Wednesday, Jason Hsu read Ithaca to a small group around the campfire. It struck a perfect cord in many of us, so we had him repeat it to close out the final session of the event and then Katerina Biliouri read the poem in Greek for us.
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon—do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.Constantine P. Cavafy (1911) (greek original)
If you know me at all well, you’ll know how much this poem resonates with me. Thank you Jason for bringing it to our campfire and thank you Katerina for giving it to us in its original lanugage.
More photos and thoughts from TEDxSummit to come now that I have half a chance to catch my breath and start posting again. Well, and a set of flights to Portland… The road is long.
Posted by James Duncan Davidson.