I shocked myself by watching, and actually loving, the Station Eleven limited series on HBO. And during a pandemic, no less. I totally understand having a somatic reaction to it, and respect people who just don’t wish to put themselves through that. But I found it so fundamentally humane, maybe even kind, that I stuck with the subject matter. I adored it. I think I even did a Blue Room podcast about it ?
That’s awesome. I really loved the book, so I’m glad the show was able to communicating that kindness/humanity to you. I don’t think I made it far enough past the desolation to see it 😂
I can’t do dystopian shows/books either at this point, with our reality feeling eerily similar to some of the dystopian fictions 😣 I’ve also stopped reading the vast majority of the news, even though I was obsessed the last couple years! It feels a lot better internally and that lets me be more present to the actual people in my life.
Love what you said here: “I’m focusing on things that can make my home and my street and community as safe as can be. I’m painting and making music and reading poems because the only sword I’m willing to wield in this fight is my infinitely creative imagination.” Fight on!! 💜
Thanks Christine! 💛💛🗡️ I know you’re fighting the good fight too. I’m realllly being drawn to DLs latest podcast with Kelly Nikohenda but I’m still not sure if I can handle it right now. 🤯
I’m so glad you’re reading Psalm! And I’m not surprised that we have such a similar taste in books overall, either. Parable of the Sower is a book that changed my life (and spirituality) forever, but yeah - it’s heavy and not a book I’m always going to be ready for a re-read through.
Psalm for the Wild Built also changed my spirituality forever and I experienced the same reaction - an unclenching and peace that I had been needing for a while. I’m starting the sequel next week with my partner - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.
Ooh yay I didn’t even know there was a sequel! Thank you for the recommendation. And I’ve also heard her wayfarers series is excellent so those are going on the list too. Makes my heart happy to have so many gems to look forward to.
I’m re-reading the most recent two books in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive currently (very early preparation for Book 5 publication in December), but the Wayfarers books are in my list after that, too.
Have you watched Princess Mononoke ? Miyazaki’s worlds are so full of dystopian themes but always end in a note of personal ownership, a sense of freedom to take controls in one hand and change the narrative of how we experience our reality no matter how deeply buried we might be under the weight of a dystopian reality. There’s always courage, there’s always agency, there’s always beauty. And beauty will heal the world as Dostoevsky said.
I love creators who can shine light on all that is wrong with the world but also bring their readers or audience into the light of acknowledgment of their individual agency to change things. That’s the whole point of writing, isn’t it ?
I have seen it and I love miyazakis work - I wish I would’ve thought to add some of his themes! But now that you mention it, maybe I should have a studio ghibli marathon! 😍
Yes. The practice of putting down our swords, even while the terror and rage are still present in our bodies. Of turning toward hope—picking up that golden thread. In the existential despair that followed leaving the church, I discovered the sacred necessity of wanting what I want. When i talk myself out of my deep seated desires—because they’re idealistic, or impractical or there are all these constraints on community building that necessitate tuning out certain needs—I lose my will to live pretty quickly. So I decided to make wanting what I want my starting point. Talk about it. Invite others to want with me. (I’m reminded of Antonia Malchik’s writing, where she’s like “I want a world without borders. I want a walkable world. So I’m going to write about that”—and now we her readers are invited into wanting what she wants). These desires shape the stories we tell and the possibilities we create.
Yes! I love that. Writing welcomes others into the story 🤍🤍 as I’m reading nonviolent communication he frames everything from the place of “needs” and this resonates with what you’re saying too. In church I was told to suppress all of my wants and needs - and now as I tap into them I realize that my needs were good all along. And that leaning into them now leads me to greater goodness AND good for the people around me too.
I feel called to say chi-miigwech, Lindsey, a hearken to Chris La Tray and hearts scorched with both personal experience and love for the world. (Also, Parable of the Sower is the most terrifying book I’ve ever read, a constant reminder to me that not much matters more than building connection and community.)
A lot of headlines (like an unaffordable housing market) that used to provoke a “that really sucks” now hit notes of terror after reading Parable of the Sower. But I love how community and spirituality as a necessity for our animal-existence comes into such clear focus. In addition to building connection, I feel compelled to develop a spirituality that actually *works* in the actual world. The book sort of gave me the courage to say “hey, this isn’t working. I have an idea that I think will actually work”** and not be afraid that I’m just inflating my ego. (Because Christian spirituality really really isn’t working, and it’s also not going away, so why not be like “I have an idea that might not kill everyone!!”)
**mostly referring to pieces that are deep in progress and will probably not be published for another month or so
I absolutely loved the idea of the book of earth seed - how she wrote it out of desperation and practicality. The faith of her father just wasn’t working. I honestly think if I ever get a tattoo it might be the “god is change” line. I think you would enjoy psalm of the wild built, Shaina. Faith is woven throughout and the main character has a spiritual calling, but also there is a reverence for nature. And the robots ideas about consciousness are fascinating too.
I very much enjoyed that book. I like her other sci fi better--a little more conflict, but that's purely for the entertainment value; this is much more "a better future is possible!" value. The whole concept of humans giving up most of the world to nature and the pleasant robots is so fascinating!
I’ve heard that her other series is a fan favorite, so I will check those out too. These plus a return to some classic studio ghibli should could my creative heart happy for a while!
I really enjoyed the first one in Wayfarers but not enough to read more until a friend of mine who works at the local bookstore described the premise of the second to me. I LOVED it. The second is so much about identity and “what is a person?” in very subtle ways—a question that’s one of my minor obsessions (also one of the reasons the Murderbot series is a favorite).
They really do. And Butler makes them so clear. I think you've kind of nailed it here, "compelled to develop a spirituality that actually *works* in the actual world."
It would be great to have more ideas that are creative, generative, and nurturing! I like science fiction and dystopian stories as much as many people, but we need far more storytellers with the capacity to envision something else.
Both of you might like Waubgeshig Rice's "Moon of the Crusted Snow," along those lines. That's a book I think about a lot. It is a post-apocalyptic story, but you never find out exactly what happened to cut off electricity and supply lines and so on and it's definitely not dystopian. Complicated and difficult, but not dystopian.
Cormac McCarthy's The Road is a book I'd love to revisit but I'm not sure I can right now. For me, the scariest kind of horror has always been what human beings can do to each other. But, like you, I am never far from hope, birds, love and sunshine. I have to believe in the goodness of people 🧡
You're right about the feeling of dystopian pessimism. A friend recommended the Rebecca Solnit book "A Paradise Built in Hell" about a community coming together after an earthquake in Alaska as an antidote. How are you liking "Nonviolent Communication"?
I did start that book, but I think I had to return it to the library before I finished. Should try again.
Just finished nonviolent communication - I really liked it. So much of it comes down to “needs” and being able to get underneath the feelings/emotions/reactions to the need that isn’t being met. I resonate strongly when it comes to parenting, but it’s much hard to imagine using it easily with other adults. I think it will be a good way to practice on myself though when I’m feeling reactive - to pause and get beneath the surface of things. 💙 thanks for commenting.
Those pictures 💓💓💓 especially the fog and snow! I have been a staunch anti-dystopian ingester my whole life. Always felt like lazy writing to me (“of course you can think of the worst-case scenario! But can you think of a BEST case scenario? And make that entertaining??” these standards of course make writing compelling fiction challenging because fiction wants drama, and drama is so readily available with catastrophes…but don’t let me go on so publicly about my writers block lol) Anyhoo, love hearing about your crucibles of creativity. 💞💞 Meet you in that beautiful land 🌾🪿🦉
There’s a lot of resonance here for me! Hopeful sci-fi and fantasy, and gentle but not fluffy realistic fiction is my favorite thing to read, and I’m always looking for book suggestions in this vein! It’s probably why Becky Chambers is one of my favorite authors!
The other one that not as many people know by her is a stand-alone novella called "To Be Taught, If Fortunate." I've read it twice and whew, it's amazing! A smidge heavier, but still hopeful, and it raises fascinating ethical questions.
Love the switch to community focused living. All we can hope to do is positively impact our own circle of influence, the ripple effect will be worth it! I love this so much. Thank you for sharing your words with us, Lindsey!
"Any maybe like a tiny seed on Imbolc, I can let the sun warm my heart. Maybe I can courageously extend compassion to myself and those around me, to create ripples of care out into the gray, desolate world." - SO, SO GOOD. Sending love and positive energy your way!
I shocked myself by watching, and actually loving, the Station Eleven limited series on HBO. And during a pandemic, no less. I totally understand having a somatic reaction to it, and respect people who just don’t wish to put themselves through that. But I found it so fundamentally humane, maybe even kind, that I stuck with the subject matter. I adored it. I think I even did a Blue Room podcast about it ?
That’s awesome. I really loved the book, so I’m glad the show was able to communicating that kindness/humanity to you. I don’t think I made it far enough past the desolation to see it 😂
"I’m painting and making music and reading poems because the only sword I’m willing to wield in this fight is my infinitely creative imagination."
✊🏽
I can’t do dystopian shows/books either at this point, with our reality feeling eerily similar to some of the dystopian fictions 😣 I’ve also stopped reading the vast majority of the news, even though I was obsessed the last couple years! It feels a lot better internally and that lets me be more present to the actual people in my life.
Love what you said here: “I’m focusing on things that can make my home and my street and community as safe as can be. I’m painting and making music and reading poems because the only sword I’m willing to wield in this fight is my infinitely creative imagination.” Fight on!! 💜
Thanks Christine! 💛💛🗡️ I know you’re fighting the good fight too. I’m realllly being drawn to DLs latest podcast with Kelly Nikohenda but I’m still not sure if I can handle it right now. 🤯
Not sure what spell check did there 🤣 Kelley nikondeha
Psalm for the Wild-Built has been on my list. I'm moving it up now!
I’m only about halfway but I’m really enjoying it. It goes perfect with a cup of tea 💛
Just ordered it fir pickup at my favourite local independent book store. Thanks for the recommendation!
Yay! I hope you love it 🫖💙
I’m so glad you’re reading Psalm! And I’m not surprised that we have such a similar taste in books overall, either. Parable of the Sower is a book that changed my life (and spirituality) forever, but yeah - it’s heavy and not a book I’m always going to be ready for a re-read through.
Psalm for the Wild Built also changed my spirituality forever and I experienced the same reaction - an unclenching and peace that I had been needing for a while. I’m starting the sequel next week with my partner - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.
Ooh yay I didn’t even know there was a sequel! Thank you for the recommendation. And I’ve also heard her wayfarers series is excellent so those are going on the list too. Makes my heart happy to have so many gems to look forward to.
I’m re-reading the most recent two books in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive currently (very early preparation for Book 5 publication in December), but the Wayfarers books are in my list after that, too.
Have you watched Princess Mononoke ? Miyazaki’s worlds are so full of dystopian themes but always end in a note of personal ownership, a sense of freedom to take controls in one hand and change the narrative of how we experience our reality no matter how deeply buried we might be under the weight of a dystopian reality. There’s always courage, there’s always agency, there’s always beauty. And beauty will heal the world as Dostoevsky said.
I love creators who can shine light on all that is wrong with the world but also bring their readers or audience into the light of acknowledgment of their individual agency to change things. That’s the whole point of writing, isn’t it ?
I have seen it and I love miyazakis work - I wish I would’ve thought to add some of his themes! But now that you mention it, maybe I should have a studio ghibli marathon! 😍
Yeah and I crave some too now. Howl’s moving castle is my comfort movie 🥰
So good! ❤️
Yes. The practice of putting down our swords, even while the terror and rage are still present in our bodies. Of turning toward hope—picking up that golden thread. In the existential despair that followed leaving the church, I discovered the sacred necessity of wanting what I want. When i talk myself out of my deep seated desires—because they’re idealistic, or impractical or there are all these constraints on community building that necessitate tuning out certain needs—I lose my will to live pretty quickly. So I decided to make wanting what I want my starting point. Talk about it. Invite others to want with me. (I’m reminded of Antonia Malchik’s writing, where she’s like “I want a world without borders. I want a walkable world. So I’m going to write about that”—and now we her readers are invited into wanting what she wants). These desires shape the stories we tell and the possibilities we create.
Yes! I love that. Writing welcomes others into the story 🤍🤍 as I’m reading nonviolent communication he frames everything from the place of “needs” and this resonates with what you’re saying too. In church I was told to suppress all of my wants and needs - and now as I tap into them I realize that my needs were good all along. And that leaning into them now leads me to greater goodness AND good for the people around me too.
I feel called to say chi-miigwech, Lindsey, a hearken to Chris La Tray and hearts scorched with both personal experience and love for the world. (Also, Parable of the Sower is the most terrifying book I’ve ever read, a constant reminder to me that not much matters more than building connection and community.)
TERRIFYING.
Absolutely loved your missive on writing & stories 🤍
Thank you, Lindsey! You always give me something new to pause on and think about and love, too. Cross-seeding inspiration ...
A lot of headlines (like an unaffordable housing market) that used to provoke a “that really sucks” now hit notes of terror after reading Parable of the Sower. But I love how community and spirituality as a necessity for our animal-existence comes into such clear focus. In addition to building connection, I feel compelled to develop a spirituality that actually *works* in the actual world. The book sort of gave me the courage to say “hey, this isn’t working. I have an idea that I think will actually work”** and not be afraid that I’m just inflating my ego. (Because Christian spirituality really really isn’t working, and it’s also not going away, so why not be like “I have an idea that might not kill everyone!!”)
**mostly referring to pieces that are deep in progress and will probably not be published for another month or so
I absolutely loved the idea of the book of earth seed - how she wrote it out of desperation and practicality. The faith of her father just wasn’t working. I honestly think if I ever get a tattoo it might be the “god is change” line. I think you would enjoy psalm of the wild built, Shaina. Faith is woven throughout and the main character has a spiritual calling, but also there is a reverence for nature. And the robots ideas about consciousness are fascinating too.
I very much enjoyed that book. I like her other sci fi better--a little more conflict, but that's purely for the entertainment value; this is much more "a better future is possible!" value. The whole concept of humans giving up most of the world to nature and the pleasant robots is so fascinating!
I’ve heard that her other series is a fan favorite, so I will check those out too. These plus a return to some classic studio ghibli should could my creative heart happy for a while!
I really enjoyed the first one in Wayfarers but not enough to read more until a friend of mine who works at the local bookstore described the premise of the second to me. I LOVED it. The second is so much about identity and “what is a person?” in very subtle ways—a question that’s one of my minor obsessions (also one of the reasons the Murderbot series is a favorite).
I added it to my Libby holds today! Thanks for the recommendation!
They really do. And Butler makes them so clear. I think you've kind of nailed it here, "compelled to develop a spirituality that actually *works* in the actual world."
It would be great to have more ideas that are creative, generative, and nurturing! I like science fiction and dystopian stories as much as many people, but we need far more storytellers with the capacity to envision something else.
Both of you might like Waubgeshig Rice's "Moon of the Crusted Snow," along those lines. That's a book I think about a lot. It is a post-apocalyptic story, but you never find out exactly what happened to cut off electricity and supply lines and so on and it's definitely not dystopian. Complicated and difficult, but not dystopian.
(Also, Shaina, on a nuts-and-bolts level, especially regarding housing, you might like some of Christine Schudde's writing in Neigh*bor*ing: https://neighboring.substack.com/p/the-market-wont-save-us)
The Moon book looks excellent - adding the audio to my library now. 🩵
The second just came out so I’m waiting for my turn to read it. I have a feeling you’ll enjoy Rice. 🌕
Cormac McCarthy's The Road is a book I'd love to revisit but I'm not sure I can right now. For me, the scariest kind of horror has always been what human beings can do to each other. But, like you, I am never far from hope, birds, love and sunshine. I have to believe in the goodness of people 🧡
Oh yes, another classic that is difficult to re-read. Thanks so much for reading ❤️
You're right about the feeling of dystopian pessimism. A friend recommended the Rebecca Solnit book "A Paradise Built in Hell" about a community coming together after an earthquake in Alaska as an antidote. How are you liking "Nonviolent Communication"?
I did start that book, but I think I had to return it to the library before I finished. Should try again.
Just finished nonviolent communication - I really liked it. So much of it comes down to “needs” and being able to get underneath the feelings/emotions/reactions to the need that isn’t being met. I resonate strongly when it comes to parenting, but it’s much hard to imagine using it easily with other adults. I think it will be a good way to practice on myself though when I’m feeling reactive - to pause and get beneath the surface of things. 💙 thanks for commenting.
Those pictures 💓💓💓 especially the fog and snow! I have been a staunch anti-dystopian ingester my whole life. Always felt like lazy writing to me (“of course you can think of the worst-case scenario! But can you think of a BEST case scenario? And make that entertaining??” these standards of course make writing compelling fiction challenging because fiction wants drama, and drama is so readily available with catastrophes…but don’t let me go on so publicly about my writers block lol) Anyhoo, love hearing about your crucibles of creativity. 💞💞 Meet you in that beautiful land 🌾🪿🦉
Meet you in the fog & snow ✨✨
I admire your effort, Lindsey, to contribute to peace by being peace, living peacefully. In tumultuous times beyond our control, what else can we do?
I am close to finishing Butler's Parable of the Sower--brilliant but unsettling reading because it isn't much of a stretch from the present.
Yes, exactly. Her words feel unsettling and prescient.
There’s a lot of resonance here for me! Hopeful sci-fi and fantasy, and gentle but not fluffy realistic fiction is my favorite thing to read, and I’m always looking for book suggestions in this vein! It’s probably why Becky Chambers is one of my favorite authors!
I just discovered chambers and I’m so happy to know there are so many more gems of hers to read!!
The other one that not as many people know by her is a stand-alone novella called "To Be Taught, If Fortunate." I've read it twice and whew, it's amazing! A smidge heavier, but still hopeful, and it raises fascinating ethical questions.
Thank you!! Just finished Psalm this evening and my 13 year old was like, “mom, are you crying??” I’m going to make them read it next!
Love the switch to community focused living. All we can hope to do is positively impact our own circle of influence, the ripple effect will be worth it! I love this so much. Thank you for sharing your words with us, Lindsey!
"Any maybe like a tiny seed on Imbolc, I can let the sun warm my heart. Maybe I can courageously extend compassion to myself and those around me, to create ripples of care out into the gray, desolate world." - SO, SO GOOD. Sending love and positive energy your way!
Thanks for reading, and for your kind words 🩵 keep rippling!
Thanks so much for the shoutout! Spring is coming!