The truth was, I didn’t know if I could do it. I didn’t know if I was as strong as Aunt Lillian. I found myself remembering one of those stories of hers, the one about folks crossing over, how they came back either poets or crazy, and I sure couldn’t rhyme more than the odd verse or two of doggerel.

Charles de Lint, Seven Wild Sisters: A Modern Fairy Tale [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library]

Hermetic quote de Lint Seven Wild Sisters truth know could do strong remembering stories folks crossing over back either poets or crazy rhyme odd verse doggerel

Consider also:

  1. “That’s right, just get rid of me you weirdoes, so you can talk about your stupid make believe stuff,” he replied. “Don’t be ridiculous Angus we’re only going to talk about you,” Sue laughed at him. “Well off you trot then.”
  2. “The other possibility is that Gardner was following his formula for composing spells”
  3. “Some believe any and every thing is symbolic, and can be transcribed, and explain the occult, but of what they do not know. (Great spiritual truths?) So argument a metaphor, cautiously confusing the obvious which developes the hidden virtue. This unnecessary corpulency, however impressive, is it not disgusting? (The Elephant is exceeding large but extremely powerful, the swine though odious does not breed the contempt of our good taste.) If a man is no hero to his servant, much less can he remain a mystic in the eyes of the curious; similarity educates mimicry. Decorate your meaning, however objectionable (as fact), after you have shown your honesty. Truth, though simple, never needs the argument of confusion for obscurity; its own pure symbolism embraces all possibilities as mystic design. Take your stand in commonsense and you include the truth which cannot lie; no argument has yet prevailed. Perfect proportion suggest no alteration, and what is useless decays.”
  4. “Our society doesn’t prepare people to deal with most of the challenges we actually end up facing. Stress, overwhelm, constant worry, the breakup of meaningful relationships, death of loved ones–these are just a few of the aspects of life that our schooling never addresses.”
  5. T Polyphilus posts a banishing for the young