1577 - 1640 Flanders (Belgium)

Rubens brought together the best of Italian and Dutch renaissance painting into a lush style that has become known as Baroque. His ability to bring the human form and flesh alive continues to amaze. He was also, by the way, a skilled diplomat who quietly helped maintain peace between Holland’s independent north and his own Spanish-controlled south.

“This simple and most elusive of truths surrounds us. Your enemy is that stroke of red. You are that stroke of blue. Your enemy is that stroke of white. You are that stroke of black. You complete each other.” 

Philippus Paracelsus

1493-1541 Switzerland

“Alchemists” have unfortunately come to be trivialized as people on a Quixotic quest to make base metals into gold. Paracelsus was a true alchemist—a brilliant medieval physician and chemist who combined breakthrough scientific discoveries with careful observation and traditional folk wisdom to, literally, bring medicine out of the “dark ages” and lay the foundation for both traditional and “complementary” modern healthcare.

“Oh…if I could but transform the wisdom of the dead into the understanding of the living that, that would be alchemy.” 

1533-1603 England

Through skilled diplomacy, uncommon wisdom, and unparalleled charisma, the brilliant and beloved “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth brought religious peace to England during the worst days of Protestant-Catholic conflict. And, with minor exceptions, she maintained military peace with other nations during those treacherous times during which Western European countries were incessantly vying for control of the New World, and each other. She also inspired extraordinary achievements by many of her most famous and loyal subjects—from Sir Francis Drake to William Shakespeare.

“To stay in the presence of conflict without flinching, without reaching for the weapon, without signing the order of execution, without agreeing to the marriage takes real courage.”

121 - 180 Roman Empire 

Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD. He’s best known for his Meditations, a remarkable book that captures the essence of stoic philosophy, and is the equal of the Tao te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, Plato’s Republic, and other classic texts that struggle to establish the principles of ethical behavior.

“I see the same ceaseless chasing after vanity and pride that drove my people mad with power. I see the same exaltation in others’ suffering that made our coliseums roar with bloodlust. I see the same insistence on putting personal gain before common good that brought down the many with the few.”

Marilyn Monroe

1926 - 1962 America

Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous movie stars of all time. Many people have tried to explain (and others have tried to dismiss) the powerful impact her presence had on the consciousness of America...and the world. She combined sexuality and innocence; passion and humor. But she also had a wisdom that is just beginning to be revealed.

“Most humans realize that they are playing multiple roles throughout their lives. But what they don’t realize is that multiple spirits are also playing multiple roles through them.”

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9th Century BC, Lebanon  / Israel

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess from Tyre (Lebanon) who was married off to Ahab, King of the Hebrews. She tried to introduce her native idol worship to Israel, incurring the wrath of the prophets, particularly Elijah. Their story is told in 1 Kings.

“When Gods are used as weapons and women as coin, everyone suffers.”

1810 - 1849 Poland / France

The famous 19th century composer, Chopin transformed the piano into a solo instrument of breathtaking emotional power. Consumptive and sickly, he is almost as well known for his liaison with the writer George Sand as he is for his genius at the keyboard.

“Everywhere I look, I see left hands wandering aimlessly in the wilderness of daily life searching for purpose and right hands wandering aimlessly in the wilderness of the eternal searching for expression.”