The night of delusion is over; it’s almost dawn.
The sun is rising, dispelling
thick nets of darkness, and lotuses are blooming…If even the planets
can’t fathom Here, who will break up these fun and games?
—Meditate on Kali! Why be anxious? – Ramprasad, part of an English version by Rachel Fell McDermott
If, “As we are with our lives, so we are with our writing; as we are with our writing, so we are with our lives.”, how can we not be afraid? I foolishly spent a few weeks on Facebook. The fear level and false reassurances became horrifying. Q: “What if a wildfire breaks out near me. My partner and I live in the forest. Even if the fire doesn’t get us, what about thunderstorm flooding deluging our little house?” A. “Tell yourself that the flood will be watering drought-deprived trees down the slope. And breathe.”
Q: “Covid is ravaging our neighborhood. So many of my neighbors refuse to wear masks and socially isolate.”
A. “Breathe. You are well enough to post on FB. Just breathe.”
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. I’m off Facebook, but If I hear one more character on Netlix tell someone to “Breathe”, I may have to get off my night-time digital drug before I smash my innocent computer monitor. At least I managed to pull my dopamine-disordered junkie mind off the social media site that is more insidious than opioids – and a hell of a lot more addictive.
I’ve been using the internet to sedate the fear that spreads out in me when I open the document for my new novel. And you? Your fear? Your writing? Your not-writing? The fear that takes over if you decide to respond to this Breakthrough. Use the photo as a prompt. Feel free to use shebetsherlife@gmail.com to send me your writing, let me know if I can publish it – and only breathe if you want to.
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