Claiming Your Space in the World

Came across this quote the other day and thought it quite apt for any creative, moving in new directions and leaving their old lives behind. My late Babushka used to adore Jack London so this has special meaning for me. She also knew only to well the true essence of these wise words when she, my grandfather and my mother left their home and possessions in Russia during World War II to head to Poland and then to Germany – destination Switzerland – to eventually to find a new life in Australia.

When a man journeys into a far country, he must be
prepared to forget many of the things he has learned, and
to acquire such customs that are inherent with existence
in the new land; he must abandon the old ideals and the
old gods, and oftentimes he must reverse the very codes
by which his conduct has hitherto been shaped.

Jack London, "In a Far Country”

Sigh. Lest we forget.

Dream on Fellow Dreamer Whether Ye be Believer or Athiest

Speaking of inspirational quotes, I finally got to finish James A Owen's accomplished fantasy novel Here, There Be Dragons on the weekend after many many interruptions (including hunting for a missing person at midnight in freezing conditions) to my reading momentum. The book has a wonderfully original premise which will add to the reading pleasure of the literary ones amongst who have extensively read both fantasy and children's classics. One of my favourite sections from HTBD was on page 218, 

"A little prayer?" said Jack. "To a constellation?"

"To what it represents," said Aven.

"But I don't believe in what it represents," said Jack.

"Prayers aren't for the deity," said Aven. "They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe."

"Can't you do that without praying to a dead Greek 

god?"

"Sure," said Aven, "But how often would anyone do that, if not in prayer?"

Mr Owen – methinks there's more to you than meets the eye in any bio I've read about you 

Soul Manna from Heaven?

Synchronicity, a sign, mere coincidence or random pain-in-the-bum spam? I received an email this morning that unlike the other spam which is trashed immediately, caused me to bolt upright and take notice – it was an inspirational quote that was quite apt for what I was pondering and the agitation I was feeling from operating in the realm of no-man's (or woman's) land of not knowing what is going to happen in my immediate future when a creative project is finished but yet unpublished:

Not being tense but ready. Not thinking but not dreaming. Not being set but flexible. Liberation from the uneasy sense of confinement. It is being wholly and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come. Bruce Lee

The email address was Angelwingspan.