Travel | 2 Days in Rome - Power+Logos+Love. (Part 1)

Hi All,

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos and lose sight of what really matters. In this post, I wanted to share my recent trip to Rome and reflections as part of my spiritual journey.

*What's covered in this post

I. Why Rome?

II. Intention for the Trip - where my headspace was at

III. My first impression of Rome - The Puzzle for my trip

  1. Rome the Military City

  2. Rome the Biblioteka

  3. Rome the Center of Spirituality (will be covered in part 2)

IV. Suggested References & Resources (will be covered in part 2)

I. Why Rome?

Two things. The inspiration for the trip came about:

1. Upon running into the book entitled “Italian Journey" by Goethe on my bookshelf. Goethe is my favorite author of all time. He went on a trip to Italy for two years when he was about 37. (I also wrote a post about him)
2. Coincidentally, my friends who are from Rome called me up to visit them, so I felt like stars were all lined up and the Universe was asking me to go to Rome. So, I packed up and squeezed two days in for the change of scenery + inspiration.

II. Intention for the Trip - where my headspace was at

As I arrived in Rome, I found myself consumed by the TV show 'Succession'. It's been a cathartic and healing experience for me, as it's prompted me to question human nature and the power dynamics at play in both corporate and family settings. Some people view the characters in the show as sociopaths or narcissists, while others see them as victims of generational traumas and the "rules of the game". This got me thinking: is it possible to be successful without resorting to the cutthroat tactics of Logan Roy i.e. having a killer instinct? So, this became my puzzle - ‘Does one must kiss the devil to get to the top?’ I was hoping to find an answer to my question on this trip.

Growing up, I was an idealistic purist who was turned off by the harsh realities of the world portrayed in shows like 'Succession' - the world full of betrayals and political power plays. It was part of the reason I left South Korea. When I was in university, I also considered renouncing the world to escape into a monastery; I wasn't sure if I can 'do' the world without compromising my moral values. I sought refuge in a dream of a Utopian world where all people are saints i.e. where rainbows shone and unicorns flew. Like Rogan's son Kendall, I wanted to prove that I can be different and there is a way to be just and a great leader without tainting one's hands with blood. However, as I continue to navigate the "real" world, I came to realize that sometimes one must pick up the sword and fight in self-defense (think Na'vi in the movie Avatar!). It is the "rules of the game." It is the reflection of where the collective consciousness is at and has nothing to do with what I want. This transformation was difficult for me as a born pacifist, and it caused me many sleepless nights and moral dilemmas. Even in hypothetical situations where I am the victim, I find myself feeling sorry for my attacker for having sinned. But surviving in the world requires me to acknowledge that I am not a saint or Mother Mary, and to see the world as it is, not through rose-tinted glasses.

III. My first impression of Rome - The Puzzle for my trip

As always, I didn't do much planning before arriving in Rome. I prefer to let the road lead me and see where it takes me. I am usually summoned by the places I visit. It often feels like a game, where the place and I interact in a matrix-like way. Cities seem to open doors for me, inviting me to explore certain parts of them when I'm ready to see or experience certain things.

This was my third time visiting Rome, but the first two visits were 23 years ago, so they don't really count. I was eager to be blown away by Rome once again. Despite the rain, the atmosphere was welcoming and warm, and strangely enough, it felt like coming back home.

Every city has its own vibe, from the sound and mood to the overall theme. Most of the time, it's a reflection of the people who live there, but I also believe there are unseen elements like guardian beings, the spirit of the land, historical events, and the people who have passed through. Rome has over 1,000 years of history as the capital city of the Roman Empire, as well as the horrors of Mussolini's regime and the World Wars.

1. Rome the Military City

Colosseum

Upon landing at the Termini train station from the airport via Leonardo Express, the first place the city decided to show me was Colosseum. (by the way, besides walking, the metro is a great way to get around the city. It costs only 1.50 euros per ride as of March 2023 and you can buy a 24 (7 euros) or 48-hour pass, etc.)

As I walked out of the metro station, I could feel the presence of Julius Caesar. His energy imprint was everywhere! and later I was surprised to find out that there are indeed a series of statues of his on the street between the Colosseum and Victor Emmanuel II Monument.

The first impression of Rome I got was the Spartan-like, militant, aggressive and masculine energy of the city. Its past glory was still there - which Mussolini briefly tried to resurrect with fascism, but I started to wonder how great of an empire it must have been - the Roman empire - to have existed for 1,000 years and to have the lasting effect of a couple of thousands of years later still to this date.

I spent about an hour walking around and admiring the architecture and history of this ancient arena. I skipped the tour of the Colosseum because I’ve done it before and I didn’t want to get in touch with the horrors of the past in a way. After all, it was a cruel battlefield amusement park - full of blood from innocent animals and gladiators for people’s amusement. But you can book a priority ticket online, which allows you to skip the long lines and enter directly. The Colosseum is amazing, both from the outside and the inside.

I walked on, imagining myself as a Roman soldier who probably had walked on the streets in sandals. Soaking up the glorious energy - I prayed and wished that I could train like a Roman soldier to have a disciplined and strong military body like theirs. How wonderful it would be to have strong bones, muscles, and strength like them! Ironically, it is impossible to have those in this life in my Asian female body. ;)

I spent some time enjoying the views of Rome and Piazza Venezia from Victor Emmanuel II Monument and as it started to pour again I rested my feet inside Sant'Ignazio, Rome on my way to Pantheon. It had beautiful baroque-themed paintings and gold decorations all over. As I explore the place, a random thought occurred to me. I wondered - ‘How do certain monuments and places try so hard yet they don’t become #1?  What does it take to be #1 and who decides that?!’ I don’t know the answer - but if you do, please let me know!

2. Rome the Biblioteka

Pantheon

My favorite part of the trip was hands down - Pantheon. This was my first time visiting Pantheon, but I remembered it to be a blue-colored dome and indeed, I could see a glimpse of its pale blue-colored dome through the alley as I walked toward it. My first exposure to Pantheon was from the back end. It has a bulky and simple exterior.

I remembered my NYU Art History professor’s remark - as we learned about Pantheon’s architectural integrity and beauty from the slides on the screen sitting in our classroom, she urged us to visit Pantheon at least once in a lifetime and she could not stop praising the architectural perfectionism of Pantheon - how it is the first monolithic dome as the original one-piece, the concrete dome in the world. Indeed, Pantheon's importance in architectural history lies in its innovative design and the use of advanced engineering techniques that were ahead of their time. It has inspired many architects and designers throughout history, and its design elements have been replicated in buildings around the world. One can argue it is the single most influential building in Western history. It was a pagan temple at first and turned into a church later. Looking at the pictures of the Pantheon, I did not care much about the place then and it did not seem interesting to me at all vs. grandiose Firenze, palaces of Europe, etc., but upon getting inside, I could understand why the professor was so enthusiastic about the place. (Side note: to all teachers and professors out there, I want you to know you do have an impact on students. Certain things you say are remembered 15 years later no matter how unlistening students appear in class! :D)

Indeed, I did not expect to be blown away by its ethereal beauty and elegance. It was just perfect and complete. The first thing that captured my eyes was:

The light!

The light coming down through the oculus.

It reminded me of the light from the Abydos temple in Egypt.

The place had such an elegant and clean beauty. Ethereal yet it had a touch of gravitas. Power and authority. I felt like I was being transported into another dimension.

As I sat down to meditate, I let my imagination run wild. A wise female voice (Minerva's) started to talk to me. In her ancient Roman robe, she was lying on an elongated golden chair. She told me being too militant and asking for power only can lead one to be an ego-maniac. Like the lesson we learned from Julius Caesar - his tragic demise and assassination at the end, so we should learn to balance strength with wisdom (intelligence).

Power + Logos.

I thought to myself. Isn’t that what Plato talked about all along? The philosopher King in his book, the Republic? Plato's Republic introduced the concept of a philosopher king, who is suited to rule because they do not desire power and are morally and intellectually fit. This idea was influential in the Roman Empire and was revived during the era of absolutist monarchs in Europe.

Aristotle also came to my mind. He would have liked this place very much. Aristotle means ‘the best of all’ and Pantheon means ‘temple of all the gods.’ The female voice went on to tell me 'Pantheon is the center of all wisdom like a Biblioteka or encyclopedia. Anyone who visits this place is blessed with knowledge and can also tap into the higher wisdom.' I suppose thousands of years of prayers said on this site have accumulated power and energy condensed into the air that circulates within. So, I bathed in this tranquil energy and started to head out again to warm my body and fill my hungry belly with some Italian goodies - espresso, gelato and carbonara pasta!

The next day, while I was at a restaurant, from a fellow American John who’s been living in Italy for 12 years, I learned that the Romans used the pillars from Egpytian temples to build Pantheon.

It all made sense to me.

(to be continued in Part 2.)