The Wellspring of Good
Well, Hello There :)
Hello and welcome to the first issue of my newsletter, Wellspring. In this newsletter I’ll be talking about the writing life, including news regarding my writing and publications, and various topics dealing with writing and the arts.
To get started: why the title, “Wellspring”?
Looking to the Past . . .
Around 2,000 years ago, the Roman philosopher and emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote a text called Meditations, a collection of personal notes and philosophical thoughts. One quote from Meditations which has always resonated with me is the following:
Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig.
Beautiful idea, right? The image of a rich, resplendent wellspring buried deep within the spirit, just waiting to bubble up if you dig deep enough, is alluring to say the least.
. . . To Face the Present
I think the idea of the inner wellspring is precious during the best of times. It becomes even more so during times of despair, suffering, cruelty, and uncertainty. When you’re lowest is when you’re most in need of that inner wellspring of good, but that may also be when it’s hardest to dig and discover it.
With the recent U.S. election and politics going on around the world right now, we’re seeing a lot of uncertainty. We’re also seeing a lot of despair, suffering, and cruelty. Authoritarianism and fascism are on the rise globally, and people are rightfully afraid of losing their rights and liberties.
Helping You Survive
It might be apparent how an inner wellspring defends against the normal crap life deals us. Drinking from our inner wellspring nurtures and sustains us during dark hours, providing comfort and sustenance. The good, sweet waters that bubble up are there to quench our fears and reassure us that it’ll be ok, even when things are really awful.
It’s less obvious, however, how your inner wellspring prepares you to deal with things like an unjust government. It can’t shield people from being falsely imprisoned, for instance, but discovering and being nurtured by an inner wellspring can hopefully help survive imprisonment or other dehumanizing treatment.
How to Dig
But how do I find my inner wellspring? you might ask. How do I even begin to dig within?
These are good questions.
Finding your inner wellspring is a process that begins by going inside yourself, such as contemplation or meditation.
I’m a personal fan of daily meditation. Even just five minutes of quietly sitting and acknowledging three things you’re grateful for every day is a meditation practice that can be positive and bring new insight to one’s life.
Yet contemplation or meditation doesn’t have to be sitting still and thinking. Contemplation could be working with your hands such as crafting, knitting, painting. It could be writing, composing music, playing an instrument. It could be taking a walk in the park with your dog. It could be savoring a glass of wine, or watching a beloved TV series and reflecting on why you adore it so much. It could be gardening, taking a hike, surfing, cooking, maybe even cleaning.
In a nutshell: contemplation and meditation are active acts where you have the time and opportunity to think and be with yourself, and to enjoy that. As you do so, you’ll find yourself digging within naturally and discovering things like your desires, deeper thoughts, and what nurtures you.
The Power Within
And that’s why I named this newsletter, “Wellspring”. I wanted to write about the small, nurturing things that can sustain the spirit in our too often scary, inhumane, and even cruel world. To offer a little wellspring of hope to my readers every other month or so, in addition to the usual publication news and other authorly fodder.
The power of discovering your personal wellspring of good is immense. It’ll give you the strength to withstand suffering and despair, and discover reserves of resilience you never knew you had. Plus, it’ll help you remain true to yourself – your heart, will, and desires – no matter what happens.
There’ll be some bleak and challenging times ahead of us, especially for those facing authoritarianism and fascism in their countries. But when you dig within and taste the delicious, wonderful waters of your own inner good, you can find the power to overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
Where to Find Me + Some Short Stories of Mine
You can find me on BlueSky and on Facebook. Add or follow me, or just drop by to say “Hi!”
If you want to check out my writing, head over to my author website.
If you’re in the mood for some angst and humor, I recommend my short story, “The Greek Boy”, which about Lord Byron, his recurring childhood trauma, and his inappropriate crush on his 15-year-old page boy, Lucas, who is a handful. You can read it in Issue One of Bosie Magazine, here. Content warnings for childhood sexual assault (Lord B does not assault anyone, just FYI).
If you want something serious yet sexy with some cowboy vibes, check out “Man to Man” in Cactus Heart Issue #1. Content warnings: thoughts of suicide.
And finally, if you’re hankering for a queer rewrite of Scandinavian folktales, “Ghost Girl” follows a young woman’s journey from victim to survivor, and loss to love. You can read an excerpt of the story here and buy a copy of the anthology it’s printed in here on Amazon. Content warnings for sexual assault and child death.
That’s all for now. Until January, I hope you keep digging for your inner wellspring and find ways to be refreshed and rejuvenated by it, even on challenging days.