This was cool water poured over my parched throat. This was a soothing balm smoothed over my cracked skin. This was medicine and poetry and heart wrenchingly good food for my soul. As always, thank you, Sharon. You truly have earned the honourific ‘Elder’ to me as I raised myself up, rooted. Your work has guided me for over 7 years and continues to inspire me to new faith. Go raibh maith agat.
I'm not a fanboy of Homer, but I will say this in defense of men's stories: "progress" and "stewardship" often butt heads, but both are necessary for growth.
Progress is naturally competitive and even destructive: building on top of old edifices. (This goes for emotional progress as well: letting go of old emotions, developing empathy where once fear lay.)
Stewardship, husbandry, cultivation is preservative. In a sense, it seeks to stave off progress. Or at least manage progress.
Homer-like stories are stories of progress, violence, disruption, volcanic origination with steam arising from ocean waves. Women's poetry is song: healing, curing, soothing, comforting, reminding, challenging, encouraging.
We need both. But I would argue we first need disruption and violence -- men's stories -- and then we need women's stories to calm, heal, guide, encourage.
I am very much in sync with your piece on "faith." I feel so much anger and sadness and frustration with the world today and what's going on in the U.S., but I find respite in the tales we are exploring, in my imagination, in connecting with my friends. I am at a turning point in life at 69 and have purposefully stopped doing what I have been doing for the past 12 years: creating online courses about goddesses, fairy tales, tarot archetypes and other subjects. I wrote a book (Goddesses of Self-Care: 30 Divine Feminine Archetypes To Guide You) two years ago and just reached a stopping point this year. I have an idea for a novel, but I'm letting myself lie fallow for now. I am semi-retired and still seeing some clients for psychotherapy treatment, but I am wanting to strive less and less. Mostly I am Being.
I am doing my best to avoid news, but as a seeker of truth and one who wants to understand what is going on in the world, it is hard for me. Your writing and this forum, Sharon, have offered me a safe place to land and spend time, so thank you. I enjoy reading the stories of my kindred spirits here as well as we see ourselves as the heroines of our own journey, which, of course, we are.
I recently read this piece posted by a friend on Facebook and it resonated with me, although I don't know who Paul Weinfield is:
“Leonard Cohen said his teacher once told him that the older you get the lonelier you become, and the deeper the love you need. This is because, as we go through life, we tend to over-identify with being the hero of our stories. This hero isn’t exactly having fun: he’s getting kicked around, humiliated, and disgraced.
But if we can let go of identifying with him, we can find our rightful place in the universe, and a love more satisfying than any we’ve ever known. People constantly throw around the term 'Hero’s Journey' without having any idea what it really means. Everyone from CEOs to wellness-influencers thinks the Hero’s Journey means facing your fears, slaying a dragon, and gaining 25k followers on Instagram.
But that’s not the real hero’s journey. In the real hero’s journey, the dragon slays YOU. Much to your surprise, you couldn’t make that marriage work. Much to your surprise, you turned forty with no kids, no house, and no prospects. Much to your surprise, the world didn’t want the gifts you proudly offered it. If you are foolish, this is where you will abort the journey and start another, and another, abusing your heart over and over for the brief illusion of winning.
But if you are wise, you will let yourself be shattered, and return to the village, humbled, but with a newfound sense that you don’t have to identify with the part of you that needs to win, needs to be recognized, needs to know. This is where your transcendent life begins. So embrace humility in everything. Life isn’t out to get you, nor are your struggles your fault. Every defeat is just an angel, tugging at your sleeve, telling you that you don’t have to keep banging your head against the wall. Leave that striver there, trapped in his lonely ambitions. Just walk away, and life in its vastness will embrace you.” ~Paul Weinfield
Sharon, thank you for this exquisite post. I have found myself reading it several times. It speaks to me on several levels.. A few highlights::: I join you in choosing FAITH. and YES , to we all come here for "something" ..our unique calling. I deeply believe this. You wrote: "I came here... to help them find a way back to who they really are... This! is exactly what you are doing for me. You are a part of my journey, assisting me on capturing lost parts of myself so that I can shine my light in this world. I am grateful for your wisdom and inspiration. You have also taught me to look at things/stories , to examine things from different perspectives.. to see a bigger picture. In closing... Enheduanna... love her! I discovered her about a year ago. She captured my heart .. and she is also inspiring me on my journey through life.
The last few days your letter is sinking in Sharon, together with my own thoughts, experiences, feelings and the awareness I have at this moment in my life about life and all it encompasses.
I know I can live with death. Of myself, of loved ones. Because it is a part of the nature of being alive and mourning a loved one is part of loving someone ...
Being destructed for the sake of someone else's revenge ... I get cold to the bones when my head goes there ...
Maybe the stories of all Myths, shared world wide, are coming together in this era to invite humans individually for once and for all times, to answer to the call of life. To become aware of the pain we are individually in. Live through it and stop ourselves from giving it forward to next generations. So we can collectively heal.
All I know from living my life is that that is what life is doing. Inviting me to open myself and listen (becoming quiet and hear) to what she is willing to share with me. And as long as I keep doing it my way ... all fails. And because I understand pain, I often cling to my way, untill everything slows down and I have to open myself for the reality I am in. Looking at all that is happening and how my life is evolving lately I have hope. Which is based in a some times unexplainable trust that Myths and metaphorical stories share guidelines of how the feminine and masculine energies are functioning in our inner and outer life.
They make sense and through them we can be re-minded of the spirit we are and life is.
The death of a body I can deal with, it will become food for new life.
The destruction of my and other souls ... wow. No. That really scares the hell out of me. It would mean the end of life ...
A woman lay dying in a hospital. She was dying because the doctor had made a terrible mistake. He made the mistake because he was in a hurry to get to the next patient and the more patients he had the more money he made.
Now the woman had two daughters. One daughter was overcome with anger at what the doctor had done and ran off to confront him. The other daughter stayed with her mother holding her hand and giving her sips of water.
Each of them did what they could according to their own gifts…their own calling.
Maybe the angry daughter changed the behavior of the doctor and thus saved many lives.
Maybe the gentle comfort of the other daughter healed the mother and she lived.
We do not know how the story ends. But both daughters tried because they loved their mother.
Dear Sharon, I really loved this newletter writing. You've put it so well. As an artist I am always wondering why I need to make art, and why my goals are not to make commerically viable products, but meaningful ones that come from the heart and I love how you wrote it - it so resonated.
"I’m trying to create beauty for the sake of the world and for the sake of a species whose actions make me angry and make me grieve. And you know, I think that’s what we’re for. We’re here to live in the heart of that paradox. To risk everything for faith and beauty. And also to allow ourselves – and each other – sometimes to fail, when we do. Because you can bet your life on the fact that we all do."
That is exactly why I feel the need to paint. Because I am convinced we need beauty and enchantment, but creating beauty is HARD, we have to become active, we have to DO something. Ugliness is so much easier.
This so resonates with me. I’m very conscious that there is much suffering and many horrors out there, and I do what I can in my small way to try to alleviate what I can. But to fall into a hopeless cycle of rage with no practical action has led me to deep despair and hopelessness. I decided to try to keep most of my Instagram and Substack posts focused on the personal and positive, while occasionally highlighting social and global issues that move me and concern me. But I worry sometimes that the online culture right now demands us to be in a state of permanent, immobilising fury, and that if we aren’t performing anger, we’re somehow wallowing in unchecked privilege.
Anyway, those are just my seed thoughts on the matter. But it’s helpful to know that others are also pondering these things in more depth and greater articulation than I’ve managed.
I really appreciate the sentiment that there's a difference between sharing and inflicting, and that it's good to be mindful when talking about whatever negative emotions we have about the state of the world.
I actually feel quite hopeful about the state of the world. Sometimes, it feels like I'm the only one but a few others have mentioned they feel the same way. Hearing this felt like a breath of fresh air.
Just having an adventure today I wanted to share with this community, 6 am flight from Sydney to Brisbane for the “Fairytales “ art exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
Thankyou Sharon, I really needed this. A crisis of faith is an interesting and profoundly uncomfortable place to be, I am in that, and your profound and beautiful thoughts are a gift to me. A friend of mine owns a woodland in Sussex, and she sometimes lets it out. Some people had come to stay and they left behind a lot of rubbish, which took her a long time to clear up. She was depressed and saddened by their lack respect for the wood and for her requests to leave it as they found it. it took her a lot of time and work to restore it after they had left. They caused damage. Then later, she mediated in the woods, and received this message, loud and clear, from the woods "do not not bring me your grief, your misery, your anger, bring me your joy, as they brought theirs" and she went on to understand that the woods had enough of the sadness of people, and wanted their joy. This has really stayed with me. I really appreciate your thoughts and words, that allowed me to acknowledge my crisis of faith in people, and to begin to process that, not to deny it, but to work through it. Love to you x
This was cool water poured over my parched throat. This was a soothing balm smoothed over my cracked skin. This was medicine and poetry and heart wrenchingly good food for my soul. As always, thank you, Sharon. You truly have earned the honourific ‘Elder’ to me as I raised myself up, rooted. Your work has guided me for over 7 years and continues to inspire me to new faith. Go raibh maith agat.
I'm not a fanboy of Homer, but I will say this in defense of men's stories: "progress" and "stewardship" often butt heads, but both are necessary for growth.
Progress is naturally competitive and even destructive: building on top of old edifices. (This goes for emotional progress as well: letting go of old emotions, developing empathy where once fear lay.)
Stewardship, husbandry, cultivation is preservative. In a sense, it seeks to stave off progress. Or at least manage progress.
Homer-like stories are stories of progress, violence, disruption, volcanic origination with steam arising from ocean waves. Women's poetry is song: healing, curing, soothing, comforting, reminding, challenging, encouraging.
We need both. But I would argue we first need disruption and violence -- men's stories -- and then we need women's stories to calm, heal, guide, encourage.
I am very much in sync with your piece on "faith." I feel so much anger and sadness and frustration with the world today and what's going on in the U.S., but I find respite in the tales we are exploring, in my imagination, in connecting with my friends. I am at a turning point in life at 69 and have purposefully stopped doing what I have been doing for the past 12 years: creating online courses about goddesses, fairy tales, tarot archetypes and other subjects. I wrote a book (Goddesses of Self-Care: 30 Divine Feminine Archetypes To Guide You) two years ago and just reached a stopping point this year. I have an idea for a novel, but I'm letting myself lie fallow for now. I am semi-retired and still seeing some clients for psychotherapy treatment, but I am wanting to strive less and less. Mostly I am Being.
I am doing my best to avoid news, but as a seeker of truth and one who wants to understand what is going on in the world, it is hard for me. Your writing and this forum, Sharon, have offered me a safe place to land and spend time, so thank you. I enjoy reading the stories of my kindred spirits here as well as we see ourselves as the heroines of our own journey, which, of course, we are.
I recently read this piece posted by a friend on Facebook and it resonated with me, although I don't know who Paul Weinfield is:
“Leonard Cohen said his teacher once told him that the older you get the lonelier you become, and the deeper the love you need. This is because, as we go through life, we tend to over-identify with being the hero of our stories. This hero isn’t exactly having fun: he’s getting kicked around, humiliated, and disgraced.
But if we can let go of identifying with him, we can find our rightful place in the universe, and a love more satisfying than any we’ve ever known. People constantly throw around the term 'Hero’s Journey' without having any idea what it really means. Everyone from CEOs to wellness-influencers thinks the Hero’s Journey means facing your fears, slaying a dragon, and gaining 25k followers on Instagram.
But that’s not the real hero’s journey. In the real hero’s journey, the dragon slays YOU. Much to your surprise, you couldn’t make that marriage work. Much to your surprise, you turned forty with no kids, no house, and no prospects. Much to your surprise, the world didn’t want the gifts you proudly offered it. If you are foolish, this is where you will abort the journey and start another, and another, abusing your heart over and over for the brief illusion of winning.
But if you are wise, you will let yourself be shattered, and return to the village, humbled, but with a newfound sense that you don’t have to identify with the part of you that needs to win, needs to be recognized, needs to know. This is where your transcendent life begins. So embrace humility in everything. Life isn’t out to get you, nor are your struggles your fault. Every defeat is just an angel, tugging at your sleeve, telling you that you don’t have to keep banging your head against the wall. Leave that striver there, trapped in his lonely ambitions. Just walk away, and life in its vastness will embrace you.” ~Paul Weinfield
Sharon, thank you for this exquisite post. I have found myself reading it several times. It speaks to me on several levels.. A few highlights::: I join you in choosing FAITH. and YES , to we all come here for "something" ..our unique calling. I deeply believe this. You wrote: "I came here... to help them find a way back to who they really are... This! is exactly what you are doing for me. You are a part of my journey, assisting me on capturing lost parts of myself so that I can shine my light in this world. I am grateful for your wisdom and inspiration. You have also taught me to look at things/stories , to examine things from different perspectives.. to see a bigger picture. In closing... Enheduanna... love her! I discovered her about a year ago. She captured my heart .. and she is also inspiring me on my journey through life.
I for one, and so grateful for your “necessity”.
The last few days your letter is sinking in Sharon, together with my own thoughts, experiences, feelings and the awareness I have at this moment in my life about life and all it encompasses.
I know I can live with death. Of myself, of loved ones. Because it is a part of the nature of being alive and mourning a loved one is part of loving someone ...
Being destructed for the sake of someone else's revenge ... I get cold to the bones when my head goes there ...
Maybe the stories of all Myths, shared world wide, are coming together in this era to invite humans individually for once and for all times, to answer to the call of life. To become aware of the pain we are individually in. Live through it and stop ourselves from giving it forward to next generations. So we can collectively heal.
All I know from living my life is that that is what life is doing. Inviting me to open myself and listen (becoming quiet and hear) to what she is willing to share with me. And as long as I keep doing it my way ... all fails. And because I understand pain, I often cling to my way, untill everything slows down and I have to open myself for the reality I am in. Looking at all that is happening and how my life is evolving lately I have hope. Which is based in a some times unexplainable trust that Myths and metaphorical stories share guidelines of how the feminine and masculine energies are functioning in our inner and outer life.
They make sense and through them we can be re-minded of the spirit we are and life is.
The death of a body I can deal with, it will become food for new life.
The destruction of my and other souls ... wow. No. That really scares the hell out of me. It would mean the end of life ...
Here’s a story…
A woman lay dying in a hospital. She was dying because the doctor had made a terrible mistake. He made the mistake because he was in a hurry to get to the next patient and the more patients he had the more money he made.
Now the woman had two daughters. One daughter was overcome with anger at what the doctor had done and ran off to confront him. The other daughter stayed with her mother holding her hand and giving her sips of water.
Each of them did what they could according to their own gifts…their own calling.
Maybe the angry daughter changed the behavior of the doctor and thus saved many lives.
Maybe the gentle comfort of the other daughter healed the mother and she lived.
We do not know how the story ends. But both daughters tried because they loved their mother.
Both were needed.
That’s what matters.
I loved reading this. So much resonance.
Dear Sharon, I really loved this newletter writing. You've put it so well. As an artist I am always wondering why I need to make art, and why my goals are not to make commerically viable products, but meaningful ones that come from the heart and I love how you wrote it - it so resonated.
"I’m trying to create beauty for the sake of the world and for the sake of a species whose actions make me angry and make me grieve. And you know, I think that’s what we’re for. We’re here to live in the heart of that paradox. To risk everything for faith and beauty. And also to allow ourselves – and each other – sometimes to fail, when we do. Because you can bet your life on the fact that we all do."
That is exactly why I feel the need to paint. Because I am convinced we need beauty and enchantment, but creating beauty is HARD, we have to become active, we have to DO something. Ugliness is so much easier.
This so resonates with me. I’m very conscious that there is much suffering and many horrors out there, and I do what I can in my small way to try to alleviate what I can. But to fall into a hopeless cycle of rage with no practical action has led me to deep despair and hopelessness. I decided to try to keep most of my Instagram and Substack posts focused on the personal and positive, while occasionally highlighting social and global issues that move me and concern me. But I worry sometimes that the online culture right now demands us to be in a state of permanent, immobilising fury, and that if we aren’t performing anger, we’re somehow wallowing in unchecked privilege.
Anyway, those are just my seed thoughts on the matter. But it’s helpful to know that others are also pondering these things in more depth and greater articulation than I’ve managed.
I really appreciate the sentiment that there's a difference between sharing and inflicting, and that it's good to be mindful when talking about whatever negative emotions we have about the state of the world.
I actually feel quite hopeful about the state of the world. Sometimes, it feels like I'm the only one but a few others have mentioned they feel the same way. Hearing this felt like a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for this thoughtful article!
Just having an adventure today I wanted to share with this community, 6 am flight from Sydney to Brisbane for the “Fairytales “ art exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
Wonderful, thank you. I needed this perspective today ❤
Bravo 👏🏻
Thankyou Sharon, I really needed this. A crisis of faith is an interesting and profoundly uncomfortable place to be, I am in that, and your profound and beautiful thoughts are a gift to me. A friend of mine owns a woodland in Sussex, and she sometimes lets it out. Some people had come to stay and they left behind a lot of rubbish, which took her a long time to clear up. She was depressed and saddened by their lack respect for the wood and for her requests to leave it as they found it. it took her a lot of time and work to restore it after they had left. They caused damage. Then later, she mediated in the woods, and received this message, loud and clear, from the woods "do not not bring me your grief, your misery, your anger, bring me your joy, as they brought theirs" and she went on to understand that the woods had enough of the sadness of people, and wanted their joy. This has really stayed with me. I really appreciate your thoughts and words, that allowed me to acknowledge my crisis of faith in people, and to begin to process that, not to deny it, but to work through it. Love to you x
My soul is smiling.