WELCOME TO
CHAPTER TWELVE
Strange Self
MANIFESTO—
Strange Self
‘We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.’
— May Sarton
With the shift of seasons now upon us, we are reminded of the cyclical nature of things. ‘Return to yourself,’ Mother Nature seems to be saying. Embrace vulnerability (with fierce boundaries). And rest (without apology).
‘If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak,’ writes Japanese author and pseudoscientist Masaru Emoto, ‘return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.’
What does it mean when we return to the self? When we wade through that muddy pond until we uncover the lotus flower in full bloom.
Modern life can leave us feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and under-nourished. But through cultivating a sense of self-awareness (and humour), we can learn to slow down and tune in. To honour the act and art of creative living.
This September, we take you behind-the-scenes of JANE Issue 13, with a series of inspiring works from our Open Call to creatives. Editor-in-chief Annika Hein and I delve into Jane Birkin’s diary entries with a Book Club conversation on her intimate memoir Munkey Diaries, in the wake of the singer’s recent passing. And creatives from the JANE community share the quote, lyric, or piece of advice that they keep coming back to—their notes to self in service of the soul.
‘To sell your soul is the easiest thing in the world’ writes Ayn Rand. ‘If I asked you to keep your soul - would you understand why that's much harder?’ It isn’t always easy to nourish the mind and body (with gentleness). To cultivate courage (and compassion). But the work is often worth the reward.
So this month we invite you to open your mind, as you open your heart. To return to the Self, no matter how strange it might seem.
Rosie Dalton
