Right after the 2016 election, I read an essay saying that the universe threw down its "trump card" (as in bridge) to wake us up, to expose the shadows for healing. It was a long essay and this is a very short paraphrase--your reference to Loki reminded me of it.
Yes, yes, yes! Brilliant and true. And this: “My attempt to make intellectual sense keeps my focus too narrow, too small for what’s happening. For all human history, myth is how we’ve placed our lives in a larger context, how we derive and pass on meaning, and also how we balance spiritual and psychological postures for right action in this world and the next.” Thank you so much, Julie.
And a very deep bow of gratitude for giving a shoutout to Reweaving Earth & Soul. I am honored to be in the company of those you named. 🙏
Isn’t it uncanny how similar our themes were this week? Maybe it’s Joanna Macy’s spirit rippling out to us, reminding us to pay attention and give over to grace.
This is a very thoughtful piece and there is a lot within it to think on. It’s true that none of us will be untouched by the current state of affairs, I just hope we can hold onto our gentleness and kindness in the process. It’s a hard path to walk. I appreciate that you honored Joanna Macy in your post. I’ve read she’s in the process of transitioning. She is a wise woman, and our world is a better place thanks to her. 🙏🏻
Well said, Troy. Kindness seems a rarity on the national stage but thankfully still present locally, one on one. I never got to work with Joanna Macy in person but her training video for The Work That Reconnects is wonderful. My friend who recommended it posted recently that she’s demonstrating how to die the same way she demonstrated how to live. 💔
"Let this darkness be as a bell tower/ and you the bell. As you ring/ what batters you becomes your strength." That's a great translation of Rilke, and those words resonate especially strongly with me today (pun intended). As for Trump, I think he is still Loki, and will always be the Trickster. I think that's as far as his capabilities go. Which is not to say he's not venal and destructive; he's just not steady and able to evolve. Thank you for the reminder to get outside and reconnect with the living world (practice our terraphilia) and to trust the wisdom of the body in this time when "rational" doesn't apply. Blessings.
I 100% agree. Experiencing myth, sensation, and soul through our natural world is an amazing way to enhance our worldview and navigation of weird and interesting times. We sometimes forget to rely more on our senses; this article was a great reminder to me!
This is a wonderful piece, Julie. I feel like I will need to read it again in order to truly begin to internalize the ideas you've shared here, but it feels intrinsically right that part of what will help us through this extremely difficult time is embracing mythos - stepping outside the box of logos and telling ourselves the right story. That is, after all, what the opposition has been doing all along - fabricating their own lore in order to redefine reality in a way that suits their purpose. It has been shown again and again that logic is a far less effective tool of persuasion than a good story. This is a skill we need to hone and wield in the face of the never-ending stream of lies spewed forth by the far right. We have to get out of our heads and into our hearts and our guts ... stop doubting, and instead know in our bones what is the right thing to do.
Beautiful Julie. Making sense through our sensing, the kind that can only exist through relation, through the truth of our interdependence that logos forgot somewhere along the way.
Wow. I want to quote this whole damn essay. Brava, my friend. Thank you for articulating so beautifully why mythos is so desperately needed right now to urge the evolution of our consciousness ever forward. (And I'm honored to be mentioned, thank you.)
Right after the 2016 election, I read an essay saying that the universe threw down its "trump card" (as in bridge) to wake us up, to expose the shadows for healing. It was a long essay and this is a very short paraphrase--your reference to Loki reminded me of it.
Yes, that sounds familiar.
Thank you for this recentering essay—you have put into words so well what I have been groping towards… and Rilke… ❤️
Thanks for reading. I’m glad some of it serves. 💚
Yes, yes, yes! Brilliant and true. And this: “My attempt to make intellectual sense keeps my focus too narrow, too small for what’s happening. For all human history, myth is how we’ve placed our lives in a larger context, how we derive and pass on meaning, and also how we balance spiritual and psychological postures for right action in this world and the next.” Thank you so much, Julie.
And a very deep bow of gratitude for giving a shoutout to Reweaving Earth & Soul. I am honored to be in the company of those you named. 🙏
Isn’t it uncanny how similar our themes were this week? Maybe it’s Joanna Macy’s spirit rippling out to us, reminding us to pay attention and give over to grace.
I think we can trust that her spirit is with us. 💗
This is a very thoughtful piece and there is a lot within it to think on. It’s true that none of us will be untouched by the current state of affairs, I just hope we can hold onto our gentleness and kindness in the process. It’s a hard path to walk. I appreciate that you honored Joanna Macy in your post. I’ve read she’s in the process of transitioning. She is a wise woman, and our world is a better place thanks to her. 🙏🏻
Well said, Troy. Kindness seems a rarity on the national stage but thankfully still present locally, one on one. I never got to work with Joanna Macy in person but her training video for The Work That Reconnects is wonderful. My friend who recommended it posted recently that she’s demonstrating how to die the same way she demonstrated how to live. 💔
Thanks for the mention Julie and for your belief in everything that isn't simply grim compulsion! I wish I had written this essay 🙏🏼
That’s high praise, Susie. I’m always inspired by your writing. 💚
🙏🏼🥲
"Let this darkness be as a bell tower/ and you the bell. As you ring/ what batters you becomes your strength." That's a great translation of Rilke, and those words resonate especially strongly with me today (pun intended). As for Trump, I think he is still Loki, and will always be the Trickster. I think that's as far as his capabilities go. Which is not to say he's not venal and destructive; he's just not steady and able to evolve. Thank you for the reminder to get outside and reconnect with the living world (practice our terraphilia) and to trust the wisdom of the body in this time when "rational" doesn't apply. Blessings.
Thanks so much for these thoughtful notes.
I love your watercolor of Uluru!
Thanks so much! It’s an incredible place.
My favorite!
Complexity embraced,
fundamental (sans ism)
to understanding.
💚
Thank you for this Julie. What you say here is a reminder and touchstone, to return to the mythic over and over again.
So glad this resonated. Thanks for reading.
I 100% agree. Experiencing myth, sensation, and soul through our natural world is an amazing way to enhance our worldview and navigation of weird and interesting times. We sometimes forget to rely more on our senses; this article was a great reminder to me!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
This is a wonderful piece, Julie. I feel like I will need to read it again in order to truly begin to internalize the ideas you've shared here, but it feels intrinsically right that part of what will help us through this extremely difficult time is embracing mythos - stepping outside the box of logos and telling ourselves the right story. That is, after all, what the opposition has been doing all along - fabricating their own lore in order to redefine reality in a way that suits their purpose. It has been shown again and again that logic is a far less effective tool of persuasion than a good story. This is a skill we need to hone and wield in the face of the never-ending stream of lies spewed forth by the far right. We have to get out of our heads and into our hearts and our guts ... stop doubting, and instead know in our bones what is the right thing to do.
Yes! "get out of our heads and into our hearts and our guts" and we "know in our bones what is the right thing to do." Well said.
I needed this! Thank you!
Thanks for being here.
Its a great place to be 😀
Beautiful Julie. Making sense through our sensing, the kind that can only exist through relation, through the truth of our interdependence that logos forgot somewhere along the way.
Thanks for being here, Kim.
Wow. I want to quote this whole damn essay. Brava, my friend. Thank you for articulating so beautifully why mythos is so desperately needed right now to urge the evolution of our consciousness ever forward. (And I'm honored to be mentioned, thank you.)
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it. ☺️
And PS. Just noticed myself in your footnote. 💕🥰
Always
I love this — intuition, imagination, the mystical. Thanks Julie, understanding is not the only way to experience the world.
As you know well, I’m sure. 💚