Introducing the Stars - Part 1
‘Told in darkness, told in light, the story continues on, she bores her eyes into one then the other. It’s not important that what she says lands . . . She knows, that what they do, how they play, is being observed. She must select her words, and be clear in her directive. The desired outcome depends upon it. The great collision breaks the spell, she booms, accompanying a surge of light bursting out of her. Both of them are dazzled, while the watchful room holds its attention over everything taking place.’ ~ from the newest chapter of my book, Ace Egos
Storm at Sea
This book has just kicked into another gear. It has been a few good months. I’d finished ten solid chapters. It concluded spectacularly. As the reader, you are projected into the amusement of Callum’s worldview. A drumming rockstar. With grander visions set upon him by the universe, all playfully wrapped up in his naive idea of ‘conquering the world.’ Then he meets a love interest. Their tension smoulders and breaks into flame.One of my dear friends and wise advisers, had proposed to me this: Now you have the reader begging to see what happens next, you have to introduce something completely new. Bam. Like a moment in life you never can fully prepare for, my book-writing flow, and hence, approach to life timelines, priorities, perspectives, was shattered. But he was absolutely right. So what would it be? Finding what to write has felt like being stranded at sea. Fortunately, that ‘something completely new’ has finally landed. I have attempted writing it for weeks. Rewriting. Analysing. Sleeping on it. Reapproaching the theme. Now it has set its own course, and I am to ride the wave and keep up. Into the wild ocean, the dense jungle, another ‘no more energy to give’ step scaling the mountain. Folks, you will have to wait and experience the jolting change the book takes. But for now? Let’s introduce you to some primary characters. The first one I will share in this article. His name is Magoa.
The Rock-Throwing Guitar-Twanging Giant
‘A little baby that screams, then laughs, then cries,’ Magoa raised his finger, ‘never at any stage to harms you. And you hold that baby in your arms. How sweet it looks. Then little goat makes poo-poo in your arms!’ He let out a chunky barrage of laughter. ‘Sí, sí. Life is crazy. Sometimes-a stinky and messy, but always beautiful.’
I don’t know what my book would be without Magoa, an adoring, enormous mountain of a man. He hails from the jentilak, a race weaved into Basque mythical legend. They are hairy. They are so tall they can stand in the sea. They throw massive boulders for fun. They build megalithic monuments. Basically, they are super-metal beastly awesome dudes. ‘Magoa’ is a word in Basque that means ‘Magician.’ When I was creating this character, I pulled a Tarot card to help me name him. I pulled the ‘Magician.’ In a lot of ways, Magoa is a magician. He is able to hypnotise people with music. He also has a humorous and honest way to make you see life differently, which he shares with Callum, especially when Callum is seeking answers.
How Magoa and Callum meet is one of life’s strange serendipitous encounters. It is based on a real-life event I had, when my sister and I were touring in our ‘84 VW kombi through Europe. If I tell the real-life story at this stage, it will spoil the book. But even with all of the shows, the famous rockers we partied with, the awe-inspiring places that we camped in (Mt. Blanc, old-town Prague, and the Isle of Wight being standouts), this moment when we ran into this special someone, someone magical, for the briefest of moments, I remember more than most.
The Master and Magician
The one lesson I took from my moment meeting this person: Do not pass up opportunity. Don’t be afraid to go back on your word. For those moments that you can sense, you can feel. That you know will mean so much. Yes, we put in place parameters, and encircle ourselves with community; with values, with accountability, but even that, even that, is subject to scrutiny. Be forever watchful. And break all of your rules. Go beyond yourself. Unset limits on yourself. And you know what? Noone is watching you and judging. They are too busy concerned with their own world. Step out onto the dance floor. Ask someone on a date. Spontaneously make dinner for your family. Pick up the magazine and read it. Settle in and watch a movie. Who the hell knows what window it will open.
The masterful path is one of monotony and tedium. And reaching the peak is glorious. While the master relaxes at the top, what can you do that is like that? Every step toward the path – that is the peak. Your current peak. Because every step demands our full, joyful attention. The wind in the trees shake the branches. The dried earth and its inimitable cracks. It is the wabi-sabi of life. As Magoa says, life is sometimes ‘stinky and messy, but always beautiful.’ Why wait to be the master to experience that? In fact, in doing it, mastery is in your immediate grasp, just not in the way you planned it. But since when has reaching the end of our plans given us much long-term satisfaction? The delights of life are right here where you are.
I wrote a recent article focusing on ‘Hypnotic Diligence’ – about how adhering to the daily routine brings us toward mastery. I will throw a slightly divergent point into the mix right here: that we are masters with or without mastery. What separates us from masters is freedom. I am calling this the ‘Magoa Interlude.’ Be open to instantly redirect your attention. On something you feel compelled to do. And then do it with the full craziness of your being. Scream wildly as you go, knowing right here and now, you are living life like there is no tomorrow. And if there is tomorrow, then the routine of mastery can be picked up from where you left off. But really, there only is all that we have today.
Commissioned pencil drawing by Ganna G. Reworked into a design by me. Visit the artist on Fiverr 👉 click here
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