I admit, I have always had some type relationship with the creative word . . . off and on that is. As I've said before on other platforms, I've had a adulterous love affair with this thing called storytelling for almost two and a half decades now. Yet, I've just found the essence and ease of being a member of the profession. Maybe it came from me taking time to read just about everything I could from fantasy and historical fiction. Or, maybe it came from me attempting to complete many manuscripts when I should have been learning how to break apart a story. Either way, I've now learned enough to know that I can settle down and grow old with my lover and this time my vow real. This time it's forever, really. Writing has become fun again. I listen to music while writing, taking breaks to dance, and this new software, Scrivener, has made it where I can keep up with my ideas no matter how complete or incomplete they made be. With the right tool, you can do anything. Now listen, last night I was so excited about writing that I couldn't sleep. You heard me- I couldn't sleep. So, I got up and started working until I got tired. I now know that at this point in my life I'm just writing, eating, sleeping, and walking for an hour in the fresh air. Yes, Virginia, I'm getting outside daily. But writing comes first. It feels good, it feels right, and this time there is no running from creative self. I'm coming together in a way I've never before meaning my creativity is off the chain. Can I say that? Off the chain? Well, my writing is creative light and I am no longer walking in the dark. I have a steady source of illumination showing the way. Thank God, I'm seeing more than just my hand before my face. That, my friend, makes this whole trip called life a lot easier. -Thanks for listening Sabrina-Louise Andielle WIP: Lady Agape & The New Dimension
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In the spring of 1968, Joseph Campbell learned that a mental disorder that affect more people than we would like was also an inward journey that could be closely associated with the hero journey as he so deemed the process. The illness I'm speaking on is Schizophrenia. I know a thing or two about this illness that affect the thinking as well as produces audio and visual hallucinations. It is a disease that can be related to the shaman's initiation and for some stricken with the dis-order it presents a chance to give something to the world, if it's just a well adjusted child or a friendly face that knows there is more to this world than what meets the eye.
In Lady Agape & The New Dimension, Agape has to deal with the illness on both sides of the spectrum. First her father is in the mental hospital due to schizophrenia and has been in and out of them since his wife died. Agape was just a child of 12 when this all started; so she know no stigma around the illness that affect her by handle. In the first chapter I have her visit the mental hospital where her father is dealing with visual hallucinations and I show how a loving family member interact with the dis-eased one. I wanted to show the family's side- even if just briefly. The rest of the story Agape has to deal with the antagonist, Nancy Stone, who is triggered by the illness after killing her entire family (as in parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews) and two voices arise to help her navigate through the mess she's created. My dealings with Nancy is more in depth with the illness as she is separated from her self and decide to continue walking with her illusions. I mean this was a strong young woman that had everything going for her until greed convinces her to murder. If coming too (as all with the dis-ease does from time to time) and realizing what you've done to that which you love and knowing that you must now deal with the consequences doesn't make her you separate from yourself again I don't know what will. That is, unless you're a natural born killer which Nancy is not. Afterwards she is initiated. Her initiation involves the conflict between her and the protagonist, Lady Agape, who is an unseen ancestor in this dimension- another voice, another shadow. Nancy makes it through on the other side, even with the voices and the sights. And like it or not she becomes Queen; which is her return. (But that's not the end of Nancy's Journey.) When I was brainstorming the story of Lady Agape, I knew that I wanted to deal with this mental illness and show at least two of the many sides of it. As the story continue to manifest from a private idea to a thing that can be shared, I see that even with a antagonist that has schizophrenia there is still much wiggle room left. But I can only put so much into one story. The thing I hope most is that I do the illness some honor and explain what it's like for some to the best of my ability. I see them as the brave ones who are called to take the journey of the hero by having a mind considered to need medicine in order to operate when in reality the medicine only present an obstacle at best and prevention of potential at worst. That is until the patient becomes stabilize and the medicine makes no difference because the journey has been taken, the lesson has been learned, and chemicals have been altered. For the shaman that means acceptance of who they are, that is the ultimate return that is the ultimate healing. You go shaman! In an era when all journeys are inward, maybe we all suffer from schizophrenia or at least the lucky ones. -Thanks for listening If I haven't mentioned it yet, let me take the time to say that for my Protagonist of Lady Agape & The New Dimension I am taking her through the journey of the Major Arcana Cards of the tarot deck. This is a decision that I'm not regretting but it is one that I'm having to use my creativity in ways I've previously ignored. Besides her story is just one layer of the project, the other main characters are using the traditional hero journey, so I really can't overthink this . . . can I? I think I may be because Agape's story line is causing me to stand near the edge of the pool debating whether I'm going to jump in or not. In the current location of my manuscript, Agape is on her way to talk with Pastor Gideon. Now Gideon isn't a Hierophant, no pope or pope-like character to say the least. Gideon does however represent the person who is about to acknowledge that Agape is divinely prepared to accomplish her upcoming journey to the cradle of Africa. I mean after all she did win her trip to the middle east, to walk the lands of the Christian Bible, with divine timing. But like me, Agape deep down doesn't have a clue what shes doing, how could she, she's never done anything like this before. Meaning her self-appointed side quest on the television station's dime cannot go as she plans because, again, she doesn't know what the hell she's doing. But like most of us when in the fool's position, she's following her plan and minding her own business until she meets a young avatar ( a man who happens to looks like an actor she's dreamed of meeting since they were children) who happens to convinces her to just walk in the beach water for one last time before she leaves Cleveland. Agape, following her her, goes in and is pulled under the water moments after a little splashing by this man. When she comes back up she's in a different dimension (you know the New Dimension). In other words she never makes it to the middle east; but the things that Gideon gives her are relevant. They play an important role in her journey of saving the incarnation of herself known as Connor Stone. Anyway all this, this planning one trip and having to take another because Spirit brings you in the waters of transformation, got me thinking- am I ready? This manuscript transmutation has been quick and none stop. In other words I'm stuck on the cycle of change and I know that I must get off. I know that I have what I need, that I have been blessed. But for the life of me I can't stop going in circles. As soon as I think I know where the story is taking me I discover something new and have to pause; and the thing is I know that it's my control drama that's keeping me on this proverbial wheel. At this point in my life and in my career, chasing my tail shouldn't be the case, at least not this long. My inner magician as well as my magical people have gifted me with my sword, cup, walking stick, and runes (stones) and that's all I need. It took me getting to the place where I continued meeting Gideon again and again and again before realizing that I have to tell the magician "Boy, bye". I have to leave the warmth of his magic shop and carry on to meet my inner High Priestess so I'll have the will, the way, and the why when I'm confronted by the Emperor and Empress. So, that's what I'm going to do and tonight I will get pass the transporting scene and have Agape meet Connor. That's my goal. That's my story. And I'm sticking with it. I'll let you know how it went in my next posting. -Thanks for Listening Sabrina "Andielle" Holloway The Magician Card above is from the Angel Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine There is one thing that has been a constant in my life since I was a young girl and that is story.
I've just gotten to the point where I can recognize the parts, you know, seeing the steps to a books creation. With the formula memorized and assimilated, I figured I would only have to plug in my original parts (as original as I can get in today's era) thereby producing a good piece of story; but eve with this information there was still something missing . . . heart/passion or as JC call it divine bliss. Well, the more I read of Campbell the more I understand why a writer of myth does what she does and how the finish product is to look if it's done correctly. Meaning, I have my bliss now thanks to him and my window to the world of creating myth/story has been opened wide. That's why I have to give a shout out to Joseph Campbell. There are others with their theory of the hero's journey, but no one did it like Campbell. In all respect I had to bless my website with a mention to him. -Sabrina Holloway |
AuthorOne of those writer folk telling stories, reviewing the writer's adventure, and presenting the hero's journey. All wrapped in Spirit, the Kingdom of God, the Sanatana Dharma, the Tao, the Way, or the Absolute. Archives
February 2020
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