Sunday, November 22, 2009

Revelations


A friend and I went to Georgetown yesterday, walked around the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. Wow. What a beautiful place!

During times of transformation, personal truths I hadn't understood previously come into consciousness. For instance, one thing I've realized lately is that I like reading thrillers. Thrillers? Yes, indeed. I read Dan Brown's books, for instance, but I used to tell myself I did that because his work speaks to the group mind of my culture. I think it's also true that I like fast paced plotlines. Wow. Just finished Timeline by Michael Crichton (may that amazing writer rest in peace). LOVED that book.

A month ago I would have told you that I never read fiction, but in fact ... I do! And when I do, I really enjoy it. The personal myth called "I Only Read Non-Fiction" has now been officially and completely unraveled. Go figure.



Perhaps not completely unraveled, but different than I thought, is the personal myth I call "I Am 100% Introverted." In fact, if I'm working on a project, I love being a part of a group. I am energized when working with a group on something - anything. That's why I enjoyed the Reclaiming Collective so much. We were always planning witch camp or a class or a public ritual together. This discovery, that I am fed by collaborative work, explains why I loved the film collective way back when, and why I really miss office culture even though I'm not exactly suited to working inside a taupe colored cubicle. Office culture is collaborative. I do miss that, I really do.

If I'm collaborating on a project, I am not so introverted as I claim to be. Hmmm.

In spite of transitional grumpiness, I am also curious to see what other personal myths will unwind themselves. What next?


Sunset on the Potomac River, on our way home.

20 comments:

steven said...

when i read your latest posts reya it's like seeing macro shots of a tapestry depicting a historical event. the details open out the whole and make you reconsider the knowing you took from the big picture.
i know that we hold onto our personal mythologies for self ientification and even for self-protection. letting those needs go allows for the magic we give and the magic that we receive to take hold of our lives. like listening to the little voices! steven

ellen abbott said...

I know what you mean.

When I was doing the river guide thing, I would tell people I was really anti-social. Everybody would laugh...you? they'd say, no way. And when I was on the river, I was very extroverted. But the rest of the time? Since my studio is at home, unless I had to run errands, I never interacted with people.

In fact, when I was on the river, I was a completely different person. No one knew me, we were all strangers together for three days and I could be anyone I wanted. It was fun.

Cheryl Cato said...

I identify with your words "during times of transformation". It seems I have experienced transformations every decade for my entire life. Many of those transformations were difficult but I (usually) came out the other end a better person. I'm still searching, transforming as I'm sure many of us are.

Through it all my escape was fiction and usually thriller-type stories. Some were low-key, but sitting-on-the-edge-of-my-seat types wondering what would happen to the characters.

Thanks for this post & the great photos in Georgetown... I love that area!

Cyndy said...

Going through a transformation or any type of change can be pretty uncomfortable, especially if you were fine with the way things were. But it is exciting to find out what will happen on the other side!

Did you sample any of those persimmons?

PurestGreen said...

People I know can't believe I'm an introvert either. I tell them I am an introvert who has learned extroverted skills.

Your new banner is lovely, as are the photos from your adventure.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

wonderful place that dumbarton oaks! almost thought of going there yesterday too, but we got caught up wandering around the mall and in your neighborhood - even at at a pizza place next to montmarte for a late lunch! kept hoping to run into you.

i enjoyed timeline too. i especially love books that can flip back and forth in time seamlessly. speaking of which, have you read ann benson's books - if you haven't and interested in a book with flips btw the 14th century and the not so distant future, check out the plague tales (the first of a series) - perhaps, not really a thriller, but there's plenty of lots of thrills to keep one on the edge of one's seat!

Rosaria Williams said...

Lovely pictures, Reya, supporting your mood, I guess.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Tom said...

if that is how the Dumbarton garden looks in the fall, it must be very lovely in the summer mnths..wow!

i've always enjoyed fiction also..and congats on the new header and moving on.

Lynne said...

OMG ... a new name for your blog!
Kind of sad to see the past names give way to the new, but I understand. Onward and upward, Reya!I l love that man in the moon shot anyway!

And, about your reading fiction now ... everyone needs a good escape now and then. I might even have a few recommendations for you ...

Barbara Martin said...

Time passes and new situations come to the front. Once an old path is dispersed with new ones open up with a brilliance that may seem staggering.

I love your photos today, Reya. A culmination of fullness and completion.

Elizabeth said...

new header too good to be true!
bliss
and the garden ripe with fall
so lovely

Meri said...

That's the gift of transformation, of peeling back the layers one by one and taking the time to figure out what's there.

Ronda Laveen said...

I love what a garden, mostly spent, looks like in winter. I don't read much fiction either and its been a while, but Timeline ranks up in my favorite books category. The movie, not so much. They just couldn't capture the magic and suspense. And I am also enjoying Dan Brown.

Pics are moving, as is your new header.

Catching up with yesterday's post. Why don't you want a new dog? Well, what pooped up...I mean popped up immediately was that with all the transformation, you seem a bit unsetled. You need to be settled to have a dog. They kinda necessitate that state of being. Your inate senses are speaking loudly. Change is in your future. But what?

Reya Mellicker said...

Steven I always learn some delicious truth from you. Thank you!

Ronda I thought you were going to explain it all to me. Oh well.

Mouse YES flipping back and forth from medieval Europe/Asia to the now or future is exactly what I feel like reading.

And Cheryl, how cool that you read thrillers during times of transformation. That's a great confirmation - thank you!

Ellen, were we separated at birth? Just askin'!

Ronda Laveen said...

Well...I could try but I thought maybe I was overstepping my bounds as it was. My psychic friend, Susan, taught me that you don't look at peoples stuff without being invited. She calls it diddling. "I endeavor not to diddle," she would endlessly tell me.

On the spiritual level, a call has been sent out by the Masters. This is a time of great shift and change. Many people are leaving the planet. The shift is becoming very difficult for many beings who are not ready. For others, we are responding to a call to arms. Warriors of The Light are gathering and will serve as pillars lighting the way for ascension of the Earth. It is her time now. Her contract of being dormant is over. Transformation IS occuring at a cellular level. Literally. For the sensitive, Light is being infused in every cell, and even deeper in the RNA and DNA.

On the personal level, I saw the image of a mate.

Ronda Laveen said...

I need to add light is not being infused just into the sensitive but to all beings. But the frequency is very high and that is why many people are having trouble. One must be strong to hold that frequency.

I am not surprised you feel this.

Mrsupole said...

Wow, change happens!!!

God bless.

PS...loved reading what Ronda said. And love the new header name with the moon pic.

SG said...

Indeed.. there are moments of truth when I feel that I really hadn't known this about myself. I love those moments of self discovery.
The pictures are fantastic, that must be one lovely place!

Pauline said...

change is the only constant...

speaking of which, the header change is marvelous. As are the accompanying photos, as usual.

Alex said...

Your images of Dumbarton Oaks are really lovely. It reminds me that it's been years since I've been there and it's time to visit again.