Let's Talk Longing
An Interview with Lisa Anderson Schaffer and Mimi Young
The following is an article transcribed from a conversation between myself (Mimi Young) + Lisa Anderson Schaffer - artist and founder of Zelma Rose, author of These Three Things, and host/therapist consultant of Joy is Now Podcast. We shared recorded two juicy interviews, and the excerpt below is from episode 53, titled Let's Talk Longing with Mimi Young. (Note, since this originally was a verbal interview, some of the text may have been lost in the transcription).
Happy Friday the 13th!
The thing with working with spirits and the Unseen in general, is that some days, I am drenched with unspeakable longing. I am left unreasonable and crazy-eyed. Yet, rooted into an unperturbed knowing, emitting pheromones of radiance. Happy Friday, the 13th. Celebrating the Mystery, the Lucky, the Magick in you, with you. The part of you that cannot be shaken by challenges, the fickleness of public opinion, trends, mimicry, or co-opted originality. Celebrating your rootedness in the Integrity of the Unseen.
WHY ONLY HONOURING THE DIVINE FEMININE IS NOT ENOUGH
In a recent session with apprentices from my Mystery Mentorship program, while we were discussing the qualities and medicines of the Elements, I went on one of my tangented rambles, this time being about the Divine Masculine. I received an overwhelming response for sharing it, and hence why I am sharing here, too.
THE DEATH MOTHER AND MY SELF IMAGE
There was a time when I believed I was so unattractive, that I avoided looking in a mirror and being photographed at all costs. The reminder of how I felt I looked was untouchably painful. This was my reality for all my adolescence and twenties. It had nothing to do with my waist size as I have always been slim, and I say this because while some may think that thin women have less to work through with their self image and self confidence, it was certainly not the case for me.
IT TOOK ME 40 YEARS TO BUY MY 1ST TUBE OF RED LIPSTICK
I am a Taiwanese Canadian woman. The colour Red in traditional Taiwanese culture symbolizes good luck, celebration, distinction, joy, and prosperity. It is the bridal, birthday, and new year's colour. When a womaan dresses in red, it is a sign of respect to her elders and spirits, her ties to honouring her ancestors and tradition, and a symbol that she embodies luck herself. Contrasting this, Red in the West is associated with sex, desire, seduction, menstrual blood, romance, courage, leadership, and danger (but mostly sex). The West deems sex as dirty, and thus, White is very much a preferred colour for a woman to wear, since it signifies purity and on a much more subtler level, obedience, though culture has disguised obedience as elegance. Think of those cotton white sundresses or the bridal dress of the West.
WHY WOMEN STRUGGLE MAKING DECISIONS AND WHY THEY SHOULDN'T CARE
What do these questions have in common?Do I study XXX or YYY?Do I relocate to LA / Tokyo / Shanghai / Paris / quiet place in the middle of nowhere?Do I have a baby? Or a subsequent one?Do I marry this person?Do I quit my office day job in a cubicle that pays fairly well and begin a new career in permaculture?
THE GODDESS WEARS MANY DIFFERENT FACES
The “Goddess look”, long, flowing hair, supple skin, round-breasted, full hips, ankle-length dress, gracious with flowers in hand, maybe a wild beast nearby, sunlight peaking through — You know the ‘look’...