Astrologer Rob Breszny says that despite believing in the power of the stars, ancient Romans likely never asked “What’s your sign?” That idiom is a more modern invention, fitting for the times in which it emerged.
Using that as a jumping off point, Brezsny suggests updating any popular ideas or symbols we rely on. This makes sense. After all, I’m no longer the same person who attached meaning to that idea or symbol in the first place. A fresh take on personal mythology could ensure the concepts continue to serve me in the future.
Putting my own spin on this, I find myself asking: What do I believe?
If you’re following me here, it should be clear that I believe in the power of the written word. When I was a young writer, I embraced writing as a sacred act of communication – with myself and with the world. Writing is how I explored my questions about life and shared what I knew with someone else who might be facing the same conundrum.
When I wrote, I felt less alone in the world and less insignificant. If anyone read what I wrote, I hoped they would feel some connection. I wanted to reach people like me to let them know they weren’t alone and I wanted to reach people unlike me, so that we could find something in common and better understand each other.
I don’t feel that same urgency these days. I write to please myself, but have given up on ever understanding the world. It would be great to have readers, but I hope they are a lot nicer and better centered than the train wrecks who populate my stories.
Perhaps rather than a refresh, I need to look back at the meaning I used to attach to my writing. Instead of reinventing the wheel, maybe I should dust off the old one and see how it spins. The old boy might have something worth saying yet.