Every day this last week, after my morning meditation, I’ve set a timer for five minutes and pulled out a stack of handwritten index cards, each inscribed with a stanza of John Keats’ great poem, Ode to a Nightingale. As I flip through the cards, I visualize the imagery of each line: from the nightingale in its “plot of beechen green and shadows numberless” to the mythical chariot of Bacchus, pulled by leopards. So far, I’ve memorized 50 lines, over half of the 80-line ode.
Why am I doing this?
In our culture, we tend to consider “rote” memorization a tedious and even pointless task. As adults, we rely on smartphones to remind us of appointments, navigate city streets, and access information at will. Even educators ask why children should have to memorize facts, when they can simply Google it or ask ChatGPT. The work of holding information in our brains seems like a thing of the past, up there with cursive handwriting.
At the same time, we wonder why students can’t write well or read books. Why citizens can’t tell fake news from reality. Older adults live in fear of developing Alzheimer’s disease—or of our parents getting it.
The Art of Memory
From ancient times through the Renaissance and even into modern times, memory has been a highly honored quality. In Greek mythology, the goddess Mnemosyne (memory) was the mother of the nine muses, reflecting how memory is essential to all kinds of creative and cultural production. Before the invention of the personal computer or even the printing press, Roman orators and Renaissance wizards practiced the Ars Memoriae, or Art of Memory, using it to memorize long speeches, poems, history, law, mathematical and scientific formulae, and more.
One of the keys to memorizing information is to use vivid imagery. Keats’ poetry is easy for me in this regard. When Keats writes, “I will fly to thee, not charioted by Bacchus and his pards, but on the viewless wings of poesy,” I literally visualize Bacchus (a.k.a. Dionysus, the god of wine) on his chariot flying through the air, pulled by a team of spotted leopards.
Another key technique of the Art of Memory is the memory palace (also known as the method of loci), an imaginary building in which images can be placed in rooms or niches for long-term storage. Made famous in modern times by the TV show Sherlock, the memory palace is one of the ancient world’s most amazing technologies—leveraging the way our brains use spatial memory to store an astonishing amount of information.
Although the Art of Memory is little known today, a few practitioners are keeping it alive. There are even national and international memory championships, at which wizards of memory demonstrate astonishing mental feats, like memorizing the order of multiple decks of cards in a matter of seconds.
My Motivation
I’m not looking to break any Guinness world records. I just want to keep my mind as sharp as I can until I die. I know that part of that equation is outside of my control. I watched my grandmother, an intelligent woman who read mystery novels and had a sharp sense of humor, struggle with dementia in her last years. But along with physical exercise, a healthy diet, and social interaction, continuing to challenge our brains is one of the best things we can do to prevent cognitive decline.
More than concern for the future, though, I’m training my mind for the present. As a therapist, coach, and writer, my mind is the primary (sometimes only) tool of my trade. I want to be able to remember the things I read and learn about, and have that information ready to use in my writing or client sessions.
Finally, memory training lights up my brain and makes me feel great. Maybe it’s my ADHD-ish brain craving dopamine, but for me, it just feels good to challenge my mind in this way (especially over a good cup of coffee of tea). I’ve always resonated with the idea of training my mind, whether through meditation, academic study, reading, or martial arts. (As a reader of Mind, Meaning, and Magic, I suspect you feel can relate!) Memory training is another way to develop my mental faculties to their fullest potential.
Learning More
If you’re interested in learning more about the art of memory, there are many resources available online. Lately, I’ve been learning a lot from Nelson Dellis, a 6-time USA Memory Champion as well as a mountaineer, adventurer, and writer. (You can see Nelson in the Netflix documentary Memory Games or check out his YouTube channel.) I’m currently taking Nelson’s online course, the Everest Memory Masterclass, and really enjoying it. (One thing I love about online courses is the opportunity to learn from the best in the world. And by the way, that’s not an affiliate link).
So, what about you? Have you ever wished you could improve your memory? If you could memorize anything, what would you want to learn? Let me know in the comments.
Chris Cordry, LMFT
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I've wanted to improve my memorization abilities for a long time. Naturally, learning multiple languages involves a tonne of vocabulary memorization. But after trying a lot of techniques, I realised it's not so much a lack of memorization skills- it's a lack of discipline and willpower. Haha.
I try to learn the lyrics of songs I like. I’m with you in the desire to keep my mind as sharp as possible. That course sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing, Chris!