Crescent Moon

There are two roads that we choose to take upon our awakening in this world. One is Leah, she is the exemplar of the Active Life. The other is Rachel, the exemplar of the Contemplative Life.

Beyond our desires of an Active Life and despite the steps we take towards one, the Life of Contemplation is undeniably one of superior form due to the reflection and ability to use high-wisdom in our greatest asset: the rational soul. This rational soul of love and will is so great as it is not infused by semen, but infused by God. To exercise this spiritual self is to be most God-like. As He is our origin, it is to be the most like ourselves.

I am slouched over, an old raisin of a man in the little corner of my room. I do not play much, not nearly as my peers. Instead the joints of my fingers ache in the morning and the right side of my neck becomes unbearably heavy midday. But never have I felt so involved in Life and what I could possibly discover. How could I be judged by the physical context or locale of the body in the world of matter. Rather, I be judged by the strength of my spirit, the shine of my light. My passion to understand the truly real, the world of mysterium.

And this is something I am still raw to, this understanding that applies to the literary realm. The unacceptable use of catachresis in man’s language (the lake of fire). How is that possible as water douses fire and fire dries up river? It may sound absurd, but it does not when describing the mysterium. How do you describe the indescribable with man’s mundane language? One must break the barrier, say there is a place where fire rises from the water, existing with perfect harmony in the heavenly world. You must be able to see that this is possible and envision it in your mind as fire and water carry only their identity and can exist without clash. This applies to Kogawa’s relationship of the Avenues of Silence existing on the Avenues of Speech. I am a firm believer in breaking past Literary Priority and Rules of Decorum, to me, there is no such thing as indescribable.

How can I connect this concept to Arithmetic? Does not the spiritual world also question what man knows in these terms? But then how can there be three in one God. Three does not equal one and one does not equal three; there is no two and one in one and one is not of two and one. IT IS A SCANDAL! And so we must constantly challenge ourselves to go beyond this world and what we know. The lateral world into one of the vertical order, it is our greatest challenge and our greatest adventure. It is the most magnificent mountain we can conquer.

Writing is not to be taken lightly. It is an excruciating task of inner discipline and constant reflection, one of pain and tears. It is a great journey that takes years of life. And like all things, it cannot be carried out alone. I begin my novel with a prayer and as I pour my energy and will into this journey, everything I know and everything my subconscious needs me to know. I may not have my Beatrice but I know that one would surely reveal themselves to me. I feel as though I am Dante, having stepped foot at the gates of Hell, my spiritual self ready to declare hope before I enter. And when I return, I would be worthy to wear the imprint of the crescent moon, having mastered my higher impulses and having conquered the hindrances of the lateral world.

To Professor Chiampi, for your inspiration
and your contagious passion