Edition #53: Weaving Webs and Turning Over Stones

Creating The Webbd Wheel: Deep Truth

I’ve long been aware how unfriendly we are to the truth. We soften, prevaricate, deny, and are indirect. We try to protect others and ourselves. Because we have such a hard time admitting and telling the plain, simple truth, we’re outraged when others do. Those who tell the truth are frequently bullied, deplatformed and silenced; targets of hatred and violence, and recipients of death threats.

We live in a culture where it is not safe to tell the truth, especially if it’s a personal truth that goes against current political correctness and “wokeness,” which is just another name for social tyranny.

For example, here are some of my personal simple truths:

• I am a carnivore.

• I am not a Christian.

• I am not a good consumer.

• I believe in science.

• I am a woman, by which I mean my anatomy and physiology were organized around the production of ova during my reproductive years.

• I am proud to be color-blind, by which I mean I focus on a person when I interact with others, not their skin color, religion, etc. (Please follow the link to an excellent piece about this issue.)

• I am not on social media.

• I am fascinated with magic and the occult.

• I am not interested in adhering to social conventions regarding my age, my status as a woman, my writing, the way I eat, or anything else.

• I put my own needs first (most of the time).

• I question authority. A lot.

The ability and willingness to tell the truth are strong threads running through several of my characters, most notably Baba Yaga herself. The Baba is out to make a sensation with her revelation of the truth, but don’t forget I’m writing fiction, and the truth, even if unwelcome, does not have to be bizarre or presented in a dramatic manner.

Part of truth-telling is responsibility. Both Rose Red and Kunik had reasons for breaking with their tribes and families. The fact remains, however, they each made a choice to abandon their previous lives. We immediately judge abandonment as negative, but to abandon means to cease to care for. In some situations it’s the most appropriate thing to do.

Weaving Webs

I’m inspired by those who tell their truth, especially women who challenge the social status quo and have the courage to reveal their private struggles. It doesn’t matter whether I agree with them or not; what matters is their courage in speaking up for themselves. Some women just won’t sit down and shut up. They’re not out to silence others, and they demand a place at the table. J.K. Rowling is a good example.

However, most of us are not famous, or infamous, as the case may be. Still, every one of us willing to speak our personal truths can influence and validate others who are silently struggling and wondering if they’re all alone. Lani Diane Rich of

Dear Writer

is an example in this post:

Inappropriate

Another newsletter I follow is

Confessions Of A Terrified Creative

by Louise Stigell. The title always makes me smile. Me, too!

Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

Turning Over Stones

• Will you share one true thing about yourself you’re afraid to say in public?
  What scares you about being authentic and honest?

• Do you encourage others to be honest and open, or do you encourage them to stay safely concealed?

• Do you have people in your life with whom you cannot be authentic? What do you think would happen if you allowed them to see you as you really are?

  Introduce yourself and leave a comment below!

Image by Russell Smith from Pixabay