What About Wednesday?

Once a week I ask the same bleary-eyed question: “What about Wednesday?”It’s my day to post whatever the hell I feel like, with no regard to fashion, eco-consciousness or, occasionally, even coherent thoughts.

Little Warrior by www.Indig.hu

This week, the Universe has been challenging me to stretch my perspective. (Strange how it doesn’t lose elasticity.)

ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς / Ē tan ē epi tas / Either with it, or upon it. This phrase (a version of which can be heard in the movie 300) has been a motto of mine since I first read about it. Before her son went into battle, a Spartan mother would tell him to return either with his shield or dead upon it, to remind him of his bravery and duty to Sparta and Greece. The shield was heavy and cumbersome, so there was no way to desert in battle without tossing it aside. To retain your shield showed a strength of commitment to Sparta; a pride for one’s family and community. Whenever I’m feeling trodden down, persecuted or misrepresented, this phase reminds me that everything worth its passion is worth fighting for…and everything worth fighting for is worth the pain it brings. (Read more here and here.) Right now, that phrase is showing up in many parts of my life, and in ways I’d never thought it would. Ē tan ē epi tas…

People never stop surprising me. Last Thursday, I babysat two boys that I haven’t seen in a year. They’ve both grown up a little and, living in New York, they’ve developed some habits that threw me off. As a native Seattlite, hearing a five year old respond to all of my requests with, “A’right, a’riiight…” was a bit disconcerting. Add an unexpected $100 bonus from my boss, an awkward interaction with a deaf and blind man(mostly because people kept trying to speak louder and wave their arms at him – huh?!) and an in-depth conversation with a Baby Boomer stranger, and you’ve got a smorgasbord of unfamiliar cultures and experiences. Adaptation may just be the most important skill we humans can possess.

Last, but not least: I normally don’t do things like this, but Wednesdays are all about breaking the rules: I’m going to show you my horoscope (from Free Will Astrology, emphasis mine) for this week. Even though it’s a “Gemini thing” (greedy but cute? on some days that is so me) this horoscope hit home for me in a much wider way. Check it out, take it to heart, then go read your own horoscope (and others – they’re all inspiring) here.

Having discovered I can read the minds of animals, I’ve started a new sideline as a ghostwriter. Here’s an excerpt from an interview I did with Prestige, a potbellied pig born under the sign of Gemini. Brezsny: What do you like best about being a potbellied pig? Prestige: I’m greedy but cute. I get to eat like a pig, yet not be victimized by the negative judgments people usually project onto pigs. Brezsny: Is there anything you’re worried about? Prestige: I need to make my caretaker understand that for the next few weeks we Geminis will need more than the usual amounts of food, love, presents, praise, attention, everything. Brezsny: Anything you’d like to say to my Gemini readers? Prestige: Don’t let anybody make you feel guilty for wanting what you want.