My thoughts on 'descent' are entirely different, Priya. I view the word with trepidation. Here's a quote I didn't know belonged to Virgil, "“The gates of hell are open night and day; Smooth the descent, and easy is the way: But to return, and view the cheerful skies, In this the task and mighty labor lies.” So when I think 'descent' I often think of 'descent into hell.' And the more modern adage of that is, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Jeanine, thank you for sharing. I can resonate with the trepidation. Sometimes I come across writing where the descent is valorized and the arrival made inevitable, and it can be hard to keep in mind that sometimes descent is ..descent. That it does not come with a guarantee of anything. Perhaps what may happen is we learn to make meaning of our experience and that seems to be what we do as humans, a kind of transforming of our pain- is that the real arrival? Thank you, that is a formidable quote.
I loved the quote! I really felt and was engaged by your description of the train and its billowing smoke.
And the invite to mediate on descent was a fun one for me. Immediately I thought about being at the top of a hill atop my skateboard — the imminent descent animating every part of my body with a thrumming excitement. :)
Hi Michael, thank you for sharing your image of descent! "imminent descent animating every part of my body with a thrumming excitement" - there's so much movement in that phrase, a kind of dynamism, and the thrill of it. I find it amazing how for each of us, based on our experiences, our personalities, we bring the word to life in different ways. Thank you!
I find that amazing too! And I think what you said is right about how all the personal stuff we bring to these words greatly shapes how everyone can read the same piece and all have entirely different takes.
Words, writing, and reading are fascinating in that way.
This was a delight, Priya! Your details of the sounds of home were mesmerizing. Put me right there. As for the color of descent, I think of something very dark, cavelike, a brown-black, full of shadows. That Hillman quote about words is a gem!
Hi Julie, thank you! When I read your description, it felt almost womb-like which is why, probably descent feels like a more feminine aspect of a journey. Yes, Hillman has a way with words and what he says about words with his way with words is just amazing.
What a treat it is to read your writing again, Priya! This piece is so evocative. And it makes me wonder if you may have ever read Maureen Murdock's, The Heroine's Journey? I find it interesting how she frames the Hero's Journey as one of ascent, and the Heroine's Journey as one of descent within. As the fairer sex😁perhaps we have a tendency to dwell in our interiority more than the exteriority...? In any case, I enjoyed Murdock's exploration and investigation of the descent within. And perhaps the descent is simply more of a yin journey, and the ascent is more of a yang journey, and both men and women embark upon both...? thank you for inspiring these fun ponderings on this Monday morning as we're about to depart from Monument Valley which sits right on the border of Arizona and Utah, and I wish I could share a photo here as it's quite spectacular. I'll just have to write a post♥️🔥🙏
Camilla, sorry I missed responding to you! I have read Murdock and descent (though not always the milestones and path Murdock traces) does seem to be part of the feminine journey. Hope you are having a wonderful trip!
No worries, Priya. Thank you for your good wishes, we're on our way home now. I feel like we've been on Ten Thousand Journeys😉 Hope you're having a wonderful summer! xo
My thoughts on 'descent' are entirely different, Priya. I view the word with trepidation. Here's a quote I didn't know belonged to Virgil, "“The gates of hell are open night and day; Smooth the descent, and easy is the way: But to return, and view the cheerful skies, In this the task and mighty labor lies.” So when I think 'descent' I often think of 'descent into hell.' And the more modern adage of that is, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Jeanine, thank you for sharing. I can resonate with the trepidation. Sometimes I come across writing where the descent is valorized and the arrival made inevitable, and it can be hard to keep in mind that sometimes descent is ..descent. That it does not come with a guarantee of anything. Perhaps what may happen is we learn to make meaning of our experience and that seems to be what we do as humans, a kind of transforming of our pain- is that the real arrival? Thank you, that is a formidable quote.
This was a lovely piece, Priya.
I loved the quote! I really felt and was engaged by your description of the train and its billowing smoke.
And the invite to mediate on descent was a fun one for me. Immediately I thought about being at the top of a hill atop my skateboard — the imminent descent animating every part of my body with a thrumming excitement. :)
Hi Michael, thank you for sharing your image of descent! "imminent descent animating every part of my body with a thrumming excitement" - there's so much movement in that phrase, a kind of dynamism, and the thrill of it. I find it amazing how for each of us, based on our experiences, our personalities, we bring the word to life in different ways. Thank you!
I find that amazing too! And I think what you said is right about how all the personal stuff we bring to these words greatly shapes how everyone can read the same piece and all have entirely different takes.
Words, writing, and reading are fascinating in that way.
Thanks Priya :)
This was a delight, Priya! Your details of the sounds of home were mesmerizing. Put me right there. As for the color of descent, I think of something very dark, cavelike, a brown-black, full of shadows. That Hillman quote about words is a gem!
Hi Julie, thank you! When I read your description, it felt almost womb-like which is why, probably descent feels like a more feminine aspect of a journey. Yes, Hillman has a way with words and what he says about words with his way with words is just amazing.
What a treat it is to read your writing again, Priya! This piece is so evocative. And it makes me wonder if you may have ever read Maureen Murdock's, The Heroine's Journey? I find it interesting how she frames the Hero's Journey as one of ascent, and the Heroine's Journey as one of descent within. As the fairer sex😁perhaps we have a tendency to dwell in our interiority more than the exteriority...? In any case, I enjoyed Murdock's exploration and investigation of the descent within. And perhaps the descent is simply more of a yin journey, and the ascent is more of a yang journey, and both men and women embark upon both...? thank you for inspiring these fun ponderings on this Monday morning as we're about to depart from Monument Valley which sits right on the border of Arizona and Utah, and I wish I could share a photo here as it's quite spectacular. I'll just have to write a post♥️🔥🙏
Camilla, sorry I missed responding to you! I have read Murdock and descent (though not always the milestones and path Murdock traces) does seem to be part of the feminine journey. Hope you are having a wonderful trip!
No worries, Priya. Thank you for your good wishes, we're on our way home now. I feel like we've been on Ten Thousand Journeys😉 Hope you're having a wonderful summer! xo
This was a deep, meaningful read. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you, Michael, looking forward to reading more of your work!
Thanks so much.