My delay in writing has been due to moving into a cabin in the woods that I was excited about a couple of weeks ago. It is such a lovely, quiet place. Unlike the dwelling of the Unabomber, my cabin has more than one room, running water and electricity…and I am not seeking a primitive lifestyle; only quiet, semi-seclusion. For the record, I have no interest in making bombs either. These days, I’m more of a hazard to myself than others.
I have been contemplating the question by my therapist: “Who am I when I am not wearing a mask?” I am still no closer to an answer than I was in 1986 when I first began therapy. Seems it is automatic for me to define “self” according to whatever behavior I may be engaging in at the time or whatever emotion I might be experiencing at any given moment.
Several months ago, I attempted to discover self through meditation. According to some Youtube videos, I could achieve this by “looking within”. Although I must admit, I don’t know where “within” is exactly. I don’t see anything when I “look within”…just blank. My therapist suggested that I might have a “blockage” and that could be why I can’t “see within”. Blockage? Why can’t it be that there’s nothing there? Where am I supposed to be going, anyway? I’m not even clear how meditation works. Perhaps it requires a different skill set I have not yet acquired.
I am pretty good at psychological projection onto inanimate objects though. Which I suspect is somewhat akin to religion. Speaking of which, I wrote a type of poem about the goddess Morrigan after reading about her through the study of Celtic mythology and beliefs. It is a mixture of how she is portrayed by others, as well as my own search for self and attempt to see beyond my own mask.
Morrigan, Morrigan
Phantom queen.
Binding my fate
And setting the scene.
Morrigan, Morrigan
The one not clear.
Challenging me
To overcome my fear.
Morrigan, Morrigan
Who ignores demands.
They run through my fingers
Like grains of sand.
Morrigan, Morrigan
Weaver of time.
Creating a mountain
Then hurrying me to climb.
Morrigan, Morrigan
Shifter of shape.
Constant lessons
I cannot escape.
Morrigan, Morrigan
The one who knows.
I follow your path
But see only shadows.
Morrigan, Morrigan
I must open my eyes
If I’m to see you
Beyond your reflected guise.
©Shadow
