“Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself.” ~ Octavia E. Butler.

I was an avid reader as a child.  Well, I guess I still am! But I remember in particular a book called ‘Swallows and Amazons’.  It was a story of imagination, told from the point of view of a group of children who created their own imaginary land, based on what they knew of the tropical rainforest of the Amazon basin, and those who lived there.  They seemed to have a great deal of freedom to set up adventures of exploration and danger, and considering that the children in the book were really living in the Lake District of England, which is nothing like the Amazon basin, it is a tribute to the story telling that we the readers bought into the whole idea.

But that is the great thing about good writing.  It draws you in to an imaginary world where you ‘suspend disbelief’ in order to truly enjoy the story.  Science fiction is another great example of how you can accept the world described by the author, even if it in no way mimics our present-day world.  The author quoted above is a perfect example.  I have read a couple of her books.  One of them (written in 1993 but set in the present time) was so believable that it was uncanny.  She described a scenario (in California) where climate change, epidemics and extreme inequality had led to social collapse, and it was every man (or girl, in this case) for themselves.  Another of her novels (Kindred) skillfully imagines a woman who time travels back and forth from present time to a previous life as an enslaved woman, and does such a good job of describing the lives of all involved that it is a classic, and taught at College level.  It is also one of those frequently banned books, which makes it all the more important to read!

As I was thinking of this week’s message, I was reflecting on some of the great story-tellers.  One of them posted on social media about three short trips he had taken (I forget whether they were by taxi or Uber, or both!) and the stories he had elicited merely by conversing with the driver.  It occurred to me that in order to be a great storyteller you first must be a good listener, and be open to opportunities to hear them.  For if we are not first inquisitive, and curious about the world and our neighbors, we miss out on understanding what others may be going through.

It is also important to be discerning, especially at present, where manufactured stories are as prevalent as real ones.  There are also those who wish to retell history in a way that ignores the truth, that omits the reality of whole sections of society.  This week was quite interesting, as we heard from two world leaders: one who was elected in a democratic way, the other who descends from a line of inherited monarchy.  One spoke of an imaginary, white-washed country, using nationalistic language that imagines a totally different reality from the one in which we live.  The other (using humor and extremely good manners) reminded the US of what it should stand for, of where it is really coming from.  Despite having never been a fan of the monarchy, I had to respect a speech which managed to make our elected representatives on both sides of the aisle stand up and applause the things many of them have failed to stand up for so far: checks and balances on one branch of government; supporting Ukraine; the important role of NATO; and most significantly, the necessary fight against climate change.

It is not clear where this country is headed, as we see billions of dollars being spent in an uncertain war, while at home families struggle to juggle their income with their ever-increasing expenses, with less and less help from their government.  Meanwhile the inequities of the system are being exploited as the supreme arbiter of law in this country makes it harder for a diverse society to elect representatives who truly represent their interests.  And who knows what an unchecked AI may be doing to undermine and erode the norms of our society.

At times like these it is important to slow down and pay attention to the things around us.  I thought of my childhood story this week as I watched birds flock to our bird feeders, the common sparrows and pigeons seemed to rhyme with ‘Swallows and Amazons’.  We may not always see exotic, pretty colored birds visiting us, but those sparrows can be quite beautiful, with their patterned shadings of browns and creams.  Pigeons, although much maligned, have the most amazing iridescent hues, especially when sunlight catches them.  This week some cheeky parrots (red-crowned Amazons, apparently) decided they could perch on the tiny ledge, designed for much smaller birds, and sneak out some birdseed.  Whether it is the sight of birds nesting, or the reassuring sound of the waves crashing to shore, or the glimpse of a full moon, it is therapeutic for the blood pressure to take a break from the news cycle and the scrolling to restore your soul with a dose of Mother Nature. 

On this Friday morning, as we gear up for another week of crazy news, trying to make sense of all that is happening around us, it is good to listen to the stories of others, to just listen, to hear them, and imagine a life other than our own.  We can learn even more and lose ourselves in well-researched novels, and see the patterns of human behavior, recognizing that much that we are seeing now has played itself out elsewhere in history, that this too shall pass.  And we can remember that ‘we the people’ have power, can vote, can contact representatives and make our voices heard.  As the famous anthropologist Margaret Meade once wrote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Have a great weekend, Family!

One Love!

Namaste.