You’re walking on an overgrown forest trail, or you’re driving down a lonely dirt road, or you’re lost in the maze of identical looking corridors in a badly designed shopping mall which was built in the 1980s and was recently upgraded but not, apparently, with any budget for signage.
Thanks Diya! It's been a little while since I set out on this journey, but your comment made me reflect on how I really have pursued the things I write about here.
And Sleeping At Last is always a gift to listen to.
LOVED "Into the Wild". Have you seen "Land" with Robin Wright? Equally impactful. While you find the waymarkers, I look for the joy droplets each day - the little gifts and blessings that often go unnoticed. In my sixth decade, I continue to open, to let go, to observe and listen. We may be kindred spirits. Thanks for your writing! :)
Finally someone puts some respect on the Into the Wild soundtrack! I listened to that over and over in 2008. The movie still makes me cry every time.
As for waymarkers, one time I went Randonauting and stumbled upon a lion statue guarding a homeless encampment in the middle of the woods. It seemed sacred, somehow.
Loved reading this - looking forward to what is to come from you. Saturn is an incredible song, in fact most of Sleeping at Last! Can’t wait to begin pairing music with books too.
I love the way you write. Your gentleness with words encourages me back to being a pilgrim. Looking forward to sharing the next part of your journey
I love this concept (and Saturn by Sleeping at Last—all of his music is such a gift!). Thank you for sharing your work!
Thanks Diya! It's been a little while since I set out on this journey, but your comment made me reflect on how I really have pursued the things I write about here.
And Sleeping At Last is always a gift to listen to.
Hope you enjoy what you find here at Waymarkers!
Oh wow love your writing! This resonates so much, thank you 🙏
Thanks! Based on your user name, I think we are interested in the same things. Glad to have you here.
wonderful trip through this tale; vibrant words and lovely and evocative imagery.. forest alive.. just adored this:)..
Sleeping at Last and Mumford and Sons!! Love both of those artists. Also, am getting more and more convinced that I must read East of Eden…
Awesome Maddie! Yes you'll enjoy EoE if you like Mumford, some of their songs are directly inspired by EoE.
You might discover more waymarkers you enjoy if you subscribe here, check it out!
Oh really? If you can recall the songs off the top of your head, I’d love to listen to them while reading.
Timshel is the most obvious, and then Dust Bowl Dance. Rose of Sharon is from Grapes of Wrath, another classic.
Cool beans. Will have a listen!
LOVED "Into the Wild". Have you seen "Land" with Robin Wright? Equally impactful. While you find the waymarkers, I look for the joy droplets each day - the little gifts and blessings that often go unnoticed. In my sixth decade, I continue to open, to let go, to observe and listen. We may be kindred spirits. Thanks for your writing! :)
I have not seen Land - but I'm adding it to my list because it looks great!
Sounds like we're drawing from the same well, glad to have you here Ellen
Beautiful
Thank you! Great to have you on the trail with me
I was always so bad at inukshuks.
Ah but maybe your talents lie in constructing literary inukshuks...
I can hope!
Nice! Discerning waymarkers (both their existence and meaning) is challenging indeed, but very important.
Agreed. Sometimes they're easier to recognise in retrospect...
Finally someone puts some respect on the Into the Wild soundtrack! I listened to that over and over in 2008. The movie still makes me cry every time.
As for waymarkers, one time I went Randonauting and stumbled upon a lion statue guarding a homeless encampment in the middle of the woods. It seemed sacred, somehow.
Also I wrote an essay on Into the Wild in more detail here, if you're interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/waymarkers/p/its-only-real-when-its-shared?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3h3ksq
Definitely interested! Will check it out. Thanks!
I listen to Eddie Vedder's songs from the soundtrack a lot, they are so good.
Fascinating experience with the lion statue. What do you feel that signified or directed you toward?
At least to me it seemed to signify that the most vulnerable among us were protected.
Loved reading this - looking forward to what is to come from you. Saturn is an incredible song, in fact most of Sleeping at Last! Can’t wait to begin pairing music with books too.