I think you are right that we must create our own rituals or they will be created for us - I have certainly fallen into random portals and looked around like John Travolta in that meme from Pulp Fiction and these were the times where I was letting external pressures shape my life a lot. but the portals that open when everything is aligned and you are working/intentional about your own life (maybe even your WRITING CAREER) are more beautiful and actually lead somewhere and when you enter them you might feel a little scared but you don’t feel lost
This is amazing, actually, and something in my chest lit up when I read “literary mysticism,” so thank you for sharing this with us. I’ll be following along!!
I really appreciate this. What makes sense to my creative mind is wandering until I notice and can’t help but want to write about something pulling me into itself. The LC quote is great. It reminds me of a post it I have hanging up on my mirror by Audre Lorde: “I am who I am, doing what I came to do.”
This is a lovely meandering of thoughts, a lot like Leonard's songs, touching within me, disparate thoughts and feelings of my own. and what else is life in its most artistic expression , but the intricate balance between the world of duality (your writing career) and spirit (Fairy Portals.) I believe it is important to find complete embodiment in whatever element you find yourself, and realize that you might just be working on your writing career while wandering Fairy Portals. How can we know? Your deeper wisdom knows when to focus on what. Our job, I am told, is just to listen. As for accomplishment, I already have the ultimate prize, as do you--I am the Poet Laureate of my house.
There is this inherent mismatch between the vital fairy portals of imagination required to stoke the creative fires and the administrative marketing gobbledygook required (is it though?) to bring eyes to your work. Fairy portals are so ineffable and ungovernable that a lot of people have taken to writing out the minutiae of the administrative side. But without the mystical portals, it's just articles about articles about getting people to read your articles.
Let me know if there are any openings for this fairy portal PhD taking place in your brain, because I 100% would join. If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend the Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett (first book is The Wee Free Men) which informs my entire belief system. Features quotes such as:
“There's always a story. It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.”
“It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works.”
“There isn't a way things should be. There's just what happens, and what we do.”
"I wanted to learn fire, and pain, but I should have learned people.”
This is the chaotic energy I need to be bringing to my own life right now. I do random tarot pulls every couple of weeks after asking the universe for a sign and the last time I did this a week ago I actually drew The Tower upright. How interesting. Here's the thing though, I don't actually know anything at all about tarot or whatever the cards are supposed to mean so I interpret them in the moment based on the context of when and why I felt the urge to do it. I was very depressed all summer and this was a transitional pull for me as I eased into fall. In that moment I felt my subconscious was signaling me that it was time to make a bold leap forward in my life and stop being so timid. I have been making plans again for the future and stopped feeling as depressed ever since. I too would like to grow into an identity similar to that of a literary mystic. Language is the scaffold upon which human consciousness is largely built and to truly understand how words and stories shape all of our lives on an intuitive level is akin to looking upon the face of God/ the Absolute itself.
Oh, I am so looking forward to your exploration of Wizard of Earthsea - I loved that book way back as a kid! And why not explore your own home library and teach yourself literary mysticism? Many of the greats in many fields did that kind of self-study program, so why not you too? Or any of us?
I love the hiking trail picture in your post. I feel like it’s looking at me, asking me a question, and I don’t know the answer to it yet. I would not walk through it. I’ll turn around and return when I have an answer, and see what happens.
I was newly recovering from a year as a high school dropout traveling around the United States by myself when I read the Earth Sea trilogy. It was a deep part of my healing journey. Enjoy your read.
I think you are right that we must create our own rituals or they will be created for us - I have certainly fallen into random portals and looked around like John Travolta in that meme from Pulp Fiction and these were the times where I was letting external pressures shape my life a lot. but the portals that open when everything is aligned and you are working/intentional about your own life (maybe even your WRITING CAREER) are more beautiful and actually lead somewhere and when you enter them you might feel a little scared but you don’t feel lost
Love the last sentence... Are more beautiful and actually lead Somewhere and when you enter them you might feel scared but you dont feel lost ♥️
thank you!
This is amazing, actually, and something in my chest lit up when I read “literary mysticism,” so thank you for sharing this with us. I’ll be following along!!
I really appreciate this. What makes sense to my creative mind is wandering until I notice and can’t help but want to write about something pulling me into itself. The LC quote is great. It reminds me of a post it I have hanging up on my mirror by Audre Lorde: “I am who I am, doing what I came to do.”
That's such a great quote. I need that reminder daily!
Me too!
This is a lovely meandering of thoughts, a lot like Leonard's songs, touching within me, disparate thoughts and feelings of my own. and what else is life in its most artistic expression , but the intricate balance between the world of duality (your writing career) and spirit (Fairy Portals.) I believe it is important to find complete embodiment in whatever element you find yourself, and realize that you might just be working on your writing career while wandering Fairy Portals. How can we know? Your deeper wisdom knows when to focus on what. Our job, I am told, is just to listen. As for accomplishment, I already have the ultimate prize, as do you--I am the Poet Laureate of my house.
There is this inherent mismatch between the vital fairy portals of imagination required to stoke the creative fires and the administrative marketing gobbledygook required (is it though?) to bring eyes to your work. Fairy portals are so ineffable and ungovernable that a lot of people have taken to writing out the minutiae of the administrative side. But without the mystical portals, it's just articles about articles about getting people to read your articles.
I love your writing :)
very relatable.
Let me know if there are any openings for this fairy portal PhD taking place in your brain, because I 100% would join. If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend the Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett (first book is The Wee Free Men) which informs my entire belief system. Features quotes such as:
“There's always a story. It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.”
“It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works.”
“There isn't a way things should be. There's just what happens, and what we do.”
"I wanted to learn fire, and pain, but I should have learned people.”
This is the chaotic energy I need to be bringing to my own life right now. I do random tarot pulls every couple of weeks after asking the universe for a sign and the last time I did this a week ago I actually drew The Tower upright. How interesting. Here's the thing though, I don't actually know anything at all about tarot or whatever the cards are supposed to mean so I interpret them in the moment based on the context of when and why I felt the urge to do it. I was very depressed all summer and this was a transitional pull for me as I eased into fall. In that moment I felt my subconscious was signaling me that it was time to make a bold leap forward in my life and stop being so timid. I have been making plans again for the future and stopped feeling as depressed ever since. I too would like to grow into an identity similar to that of a literary mystic. Language is the scaffold upon which human consciousness is largely built and to truly understand how words and stories shape all of our lives on an intuitive level is akin to looking upon the face of God/ the Absolute itself.
This is precisely the kind of content I’m looking for here
I feel I'm not focusing enough on fairy portals
That Cohen video!
I needed to hear that today.
You do have mystical powers!
Oh, I am so looking forward to your exploration of Wizard of Earthsea - I loved that book way back as a kid! And why not explore your own home library and teach yourself literary mysticism? Many of the greats in many fields did that kind of self-study program, so why not you too? Or any of us?
I love the hiking trail picture in your post. I feel like it’s looking at me, asking me a question, and I don’t know the answer to it yet. I would not walk through it. I’ll turn around and return when I have an answer, and see what happens.
I was newly recovering from a year as a high school dropout traveling around the United States by myself when I read the Earth Sea trilogy. It was a deep part of my healing journey. Enjoy your read.
I love this Shannan!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾