On Seeking Balance
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Hello friends, When I was a teen, one of my favorite films was Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi. With a score by Philip Glass, it portrayed a world that moved too quickly, a human made world that had become too mechanized, too out of control. The title was said to mean “life out of balance” from a compound Hopi word that roughly translates—or so my research shows—corrupted or chaotic life or existence. That film made a powerful impression on my young self. I sat in the dark theater as the credits rolled, unable to get the image of the fuselage from an exploded rocket ship—tumbling over and over through the air, as a poignant refrain played—out of my head. I’m thinking of that film because this week was the equinox. Equinoxes are usually times in which I pause, take a breath, take stock, and welcome a sense of equilibrium. Not this week. This week I felt pulled between opposing poles. My sleep was disrupted by visions of immigrants being dragged from their homes. Of tourists stopped at the border. Of brutal prisons. Of cruelty beyond measure. A cruelty that I was keenly aware of as that teen... What’s the contrast to this cruelty? Spring flowers bursting everywhere. Birds calling to each other. People reaching out to help each other around the world. But the more jarring contrast? My personal excitement at the novel I just sent to my editor. At the new covers I’m designing for an older, beloved series. At my plans. Other people are not able to make plans right now, so my joy and excitement at my own feel like some sort of betrayal. Intellectually, I know that is a lie. I know that joy and plans and creativity are needed during the cruelest of times, because to give those up is to let the architects of cruelty win. As I immerse myself in a story from another author each evening, I feel in my bones how important it is to create right now. And to take solace in the creations of each other. But that doesn’t mean the juxtaposition doesn’t rest uneasily upon my shoulders. All it means is that I’m here, and I’m not giving up. I hope you’re not giving up, either. I hope you are finding ways to reach out and to create this week. I hope you can pause and enjoy some flowers, too. We counter cruelty with love and creativity, together. And we do it over, and over, and over again. Best wishes - Thorn My fantasy novel By Wind is free this month on retailers if you need a magical escape where community triumphs. You can also request it at your library.
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T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, There is magic in this world, if we remember to listen for it. To look for it. To allow ourselves to experience it. I don’t know what it is like to live in a war zone. I don’t know what it is like to live in daily terror. I do know what it is like to escape into books from a violent and unpredictable home environment. I have experienced chronic pain. Chronic illness. Heartbreak. All of these human things. And I know you have your own experiences, too. I also know what it is to...
Hello friends, As a person who creates things for a living, I need to set boundaries around energy, attention, and time. Even from myself. That last might seem funny, but when you think about it, it’s very true. How often do we say something is important to us, but fail to make it a priority? That could be health, family, enjoyment, financial stability, creativity, spiritual practice, social justice work, or spending time with friends. How often do other things creep in, crowding out the...
Hello friends, I wrote about collective power for my Patreon supporters this week. I wrote about the importance of having each other’s backs, and protecting our neighbors. This was inspired by recent events in the US, of course, but the thing that coalesced my thoughts was a bit of sidewalk stencil graffiti. This is another reminder that the marks we make on this world are important. They invite thought, and conversation. Sometimes they keep a person going, when we don’t even realize it....