How does a philosopher-emperor maintain wisdom while commanding armies on a frozen battlefield?

Drake and Holly explore Marcus Aurelius' extraordinary Meditations, written not in comfort but in military tents during brutal Germanic campaigns. They examine how the most powerful man in the world used Stoic philosophy to stay human amidst plague, betrayal, and the death of his children - and why his private notes still offer profound guidance today.

• Writing philosophy on the barbaric frontier

• The Meditations as survival tool, not theory

• How obstacles become the path forward

• Maintaining humanity while wielding absolute power

• CBT's roots in ancient Stoicism

• The view from above as therapeutic practice

• Why Marcus never claimed philosophical perfection

The Obstacle as Path: "What stands in the way becomes the way" - difficulties aren't detours but the actual route to wisdom

Memento Mori: Using awareness of death not morbidly but as a clarifying force for what matters

View from Above: Rising to cosmic perspective to maintain proportion amidst daily struggles

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

When facing today's obstacles, ask not "Why is this preventing my path?" but "How is this obstacle actually my path?"

• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (Gregory Hays translation)

• Epictetus, Discourses

• Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way

• Massimo Pigliucci, How to Be a Stoic

About Ab Immemorabili: Ancient wisdom meets modern minds. Join Drake & Holly for explorations of philosophy, consciousness, and transformation.

Contact: podcast@maaoot.org | www.maaoot.org

The wisdom you seek has always been within you. You're not learning it. You're remembering it.