Hello, Tina! How are you? It's been a while since you brought me to tears in a Zoom breakout room. 💜 So lovely to see you here, and thank you for reading and watching the video. It was such a fun project and evening.
Ha! Your love of doing this shows through. I hadn't watched the video before responding and did that today. It is so touchingly beautiful - thank you for sharing it! Continuing your theme of death, have you read "Death with Interruptions" by Jose Saramago? I read it years ago and enjoyed it. You can read a summary at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_with_Interruptions.
I love this piece so much. I am always touched when I encounter an animal that has lost its life, and if I can I give it a little burial. So much beauty in honouring these moments, and so much of life to discover through our relationship with death 💙
Thank you so much, Vicki. I am glad to know what I am not the only one who has those feelings. Those moments are sad, but also remind me how connected we really are to everyone and everything around us. Thanks for being here, and for sharing your thoughts. 💜
Your exploration of death as a 'rightful belle of the ball' is both intriguing and thought-provoking. It challenges our conventional fears and invites us to consider death's role in the grand cycle of existence. But it also raises THE question: If we embrace death as a natural and even beautiful part of life, how does that change the way we live our lives today?
That is the question, isn't it? I think, in the tradition of memento mori, that paying attention to death is one of the most effective ways to enhance life - by reminding ourselves just how beautiful and fleeting it is in the hopes that such knowledge might make us slow down to appreciate what we have.
Wow. The writing in this was just😍😭 i can’t wait to read more of your writing. The way you weave words together is gorgeous and I wish I could write better so I could describe it better, how much I love the prose.
I’m also fascinated by all the different versions of Death and the afterlife people have created—yours is stunning. It’s like we need to create stories and make art from Death to cope with that uncertainty. I’ve never really experienced a major loss either. But I’ve struggled with suicidal thoughts/ideation in the past, and I feel like it’s given me an interesting relationship with Death which I won’t elaborate on otherwise I might accidentally write an essay here
It is interesting how many artists feature death - as a concept or a character - in their work. Telling stories is certainly the human go-to coping mechanism for dealing with uncertainty, so it makes sense that we'd tell ourselves stories about the things that frighten us most, including death.
I especially enjoy the contemporary takes that are a bit irreverent.
I am glad you are here, and I am glad you are making art. 💜
I adore Terry Pratchett! My first intro to his work was his collaboration with Neil Gaiman on Good Omens, and earlier this year I read the entire Tiffany Aching series, which I loved. I’ve also read some of the witches series. And I just discovered yesterday that there is a short series, live action film of the Hogfather story. Which involves Death quite directly I believe. I can’t wait to watch that. 😁
Wow, Jamie! A breathtakingly beautiful piece. And the costume is incredible. I think you are so right about so much. Those memento mori skulls and paintings that people used to hang on their walls served a vital purpose. Life is short and we need to remember that every single day.
I have always been drawn to those paintings, which struck me as odd since I'm not a particularly Gothic person. But your reminder of their purpose makes sense of my affinity for them. It's hard, isn't it, to really feel how precious life is when we are constantly running and running?
Your costume is inspired. I love the feral cackle from the child.
I had a couple synchronicities while reading. I wrote about my friend passing this week and I almost didn’t post it bc it’s too personal. Instead I planned to publish some Charles Dickens Christmas Carol blackout poetry but then decided to save it for a few weeks. Also in my post about my friend I wrote about a movie actress but didn’t say her name - it was Aubrey Plaza. I do believe there are synchronicities happening with this bc I needed to see it for a reason. Sorry to make it all about me. 🤦🏻♀️
A very special post and video that could not have been more meaningful to me. I am sobbing. Thank you.
Hello. Synchronicities, indeed. I listened to your post about your friend early this morning, just after I'd sent this out, and - although I did not know about the Aubrey Plaza connection at the time - felt like there were some common threads between our two posts. It's funny how that happens. It's like there's something in the air that just sweeps through, touching different people in different ways.
You already know how much I loved the piece about your friend. So touching.
You know what else is funny? I almost didn't mention Aubrey Plaza by name. I literally wrote it, deleted it, and added it back in. Had no idea why at the time, but now I do.💜
Yes and the Charles Dickens synchronicity too. I was just thinking we don’t have any good holiday ghost stories, that was the only one I could come up with so decided to save it for closer to Xmas. I got some courage and went ahead and submitted the one about my friend.
That’s bananas about Aubrey Plaza. I actually initially wrote her name and then deleted it. So this comment is also in sync. What the hell? Anyway sorry I keep making your truly transcendent post all about me and my post. You did a phenomenal job with this and it clearly spoke to me on a spiritual level. Thank you.
No! That sounds lovely, but I’ve never heard of either of those books. I have to admit it sounds a little like Lisa Frankenstein! 😍 checking the library now.
P.S. Saw two pictures of dead rabbits later today, one was going through old paintings I had stashed away when I last moved before deciding what to put up (I’m macabre as hell - I’ll DM you a picture). Another was in a Substack post email I randomly opened just now before bed. It’s a weird day…
I also just came across a book for my TBR list, and it instantly made me think of you. It's by Peter S. Beagle (author of "The Last Unicorn"), but I'd never heard of it before: "A Fine and Private Place" ... about a love story in a cemetery. Are you familiar?
Thank you so much, Marcia. That makes me especially happy coming from you. And I’m glad you were touched by the video. It always makes me cry too, but I’m never sorry I watched it.
Thank you for such kind words, JT. As with my original post of the rabbit to Instagram, I hesitated to publish this piece here on Substack. Your understanding of it is very much appreciated.
Ravens can always be counted on to help with the dead. Where I live, we have mostly crows, and only a few ravens. There is a local murder that frequents my yard for the peanuts I leave them. They often call out to me softly from the trees as I'm leaving the house, using the low cooing tones they use to speak to each other. I do not mistake their vocal entreaties for conversation, knowing full well that they are merely reminding me that I have yet to put their daily ration of peanuts out on the stones in the yard.
Beautiful reflections on Death. Your Lady Death is spectacular! Thanks for sharing the video too.
Hello, Tina! How are you? It's been a while since you brought me to tears in a Zoom breakout room. 💜 So lovely to see you here, and thank you for reading and watching the video. It was such a fun project and evening.
I love your creativity and artistry, Jamie - and your ability to walk on stilts! You have set the bar high for next Halloween!!
Thanks so much, Cathy! I LOVE building and working the costumes. The hardest part of the whole adventure is finding places to store then afterwards! 😆
Ha! Your love of doing this shows through. I hadn't watched the video before responding and did that today. It is so touchingly beautiful - thank you for sharing it! Continuing your theme of death, have you read "Death with Interruptions" by Jose Saramago? I read it years ago and enjoyed it. You can read a summary at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_with_Interruptions.
I’m adding my own tears to the floods already in the comments, Jamie. My god. That animation. And your words.
Beautiful piece. I’ve got to go and pull myself together now. See you in a few hours 🙂
This was beautiful, Jamie. And as often happens with your essays, it showed up at just the right time.
Thank you, Marisa. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and that it found you in the right moment. xo
I love this piece so much. I am always touched when I encounter an animal that has lost its life, and if I can I give it a little burial. So much beauty in honouring these moments, and so much of life to discover through our relationship with death 💙
Thank you so much, Vicki. I am glad to know what I am not the only one who has those feelings. Those moments are sad, but also remind me how connected we really are to everyone and everything around us. Thanks for being here, and for sharing your thoughts. 💜
Your exploration of death as a 'rightful belle of the ball' is both intriguing and thought-provoking. It challenges our conventional fears and invites us to consider death's role in the grand cycle of existence. But it also raises THE question: If we embrace death as a natural and even beautiful part of life, how does that change the way we live our lives today?
That is the question, isn't it? I think, in the tradition of memento mori, that paying attention to death is one of the most effective ways to enhance life - by reminding ourselves just how beautiful and fleeting it is in the hopes that such knowledge might make us slow down to appreciate what we have.
What do you think?
Wow. The writing in this was just😍😭 i can’t wait to read more of your writing. The way you weave words together is gorgeous and I wish I could write better so I could describe it better, how much I love the prose.
I’m also fascinated by all the different versions of Death and the afterlife people have created—yours is stunning. It’s like we need to create stories and make art from Death to cope with that uncertainty. I’ve never really experienced a major loss either. But I’ve struggled with suicidal thoughts/ideation in the past, and I feel like it’s given me an interesting relationship with Death which I won’t elaborate on otherwise I might accidentally write an essay here
Thank you so much, Nico. And nice to "meet" you!
It is interesting how many artists feature death - as a concept or a character - in their work. Telling stories is certainly the human go-to coping mechanism for dealing with uncertainty, so it makes sense that we'd tell ourselves stories about the things that frighten us most, including death.
I especially enjoy the contemporary takes that are a bit irreverent.
I am glad you are here, and I am glad you are making art. 💜
Thank you ☺️ I like those takes too, especially stuff like Terry Pratchett!
Oh no way! I really need to read the Death series, especially the Hogfather, which I’ve heard is excellent.
I adore Terry Pratchett! My first intro to his work was his collaboration with Neil Gaiman on Good Omens, and earlier this year I read the entire Tiffany Aching series, which I loved. I’ve also read some of the witches series. And I just discovered yesterday that there is a short series, live action film of the Hogfather story. Which involves Death quite directly I believe. I can’t wait to watch that. 😁
Wow, Jamie! A breathtakingly beautiful piece. And the costume is incredible. I think you are so right about so much. Those memento mori skulls and paintings that people used to hang on their walls served a vital purpose. Life is short and we need to remember that every single day.
Thank you, Christina. 💜
I have always been drawn to those paintings, which struck me as odd since I'm not a particularly Gothic person. But your reminder of their purpose makes sense of my affinity for them. It's hard, isn't it, to really feel how precious life is when we are constantly running and running?
Absolutely. But we must.
Jamie this hit me hard. I’m at a loss for words.
Your costume is inspired. I love the feral cackle from the child.
I had a couple synchronicities while reading. I wrote about my friend passing this week and I almost didn’t post it bc it’s too personal. Instead I planned to publish some Charles Dickens Christmas Carol blackout poetry but then decided to save it for a few weeks. Also in my post about my friend I wrote about a movie actress but didn’t say her name - it was Aubrey Plaza. I do believe there are synchronicities happening with this bc I needed to see it for a reason. Sorry to make it all about me. 🤦🏻♀️
A very special post and video that could not have been more meaningful to me. I am sobbing. Thank you.
Hello. Synchronicities, indeed. I listened to your post about your friend early this morning, just after I'd sent this out, and - although I did not know about the Aubrey Plaza connection at the time - felt like there were some common threads between our two posts. It's funny how that happens. It's like there's something in the air that just sweeps through, touching different people in different ways.
You already know how much I loved the piece about your friend. So touching.
You know what else is funny? I almost didn't mention Aubrey Plaza by name. I literally wrote it, deleted it, and added it back in. Had no idea why at the time, but now I do.💜
Yes and the Charles Dickens synchronicity too. I was just thinking we don’t have any good holiday ghost stories, that was the only one I could come up with so decided to save it for closer to Xmas. I got some courage and went ahead and submitted the one about my friend.
That’s bananas about Aubrey Plaza. I actually initially wrote her name and then deleted it. So this comment is also in sync. What the hell? Anyway sorry I keep making your truly transcendent post all about me and my post. You did a phenomenal job with this and it clearly spoke to me on a spiritual level. Thank you.
No! That sounds lovely, but I’ve never heard of either of those books. I have to admit it sounds a little like Lisa Frankenstein! 😍 checking the library now.
P.S. Saw two pictures of dead rabbits later today, one was going through old paintings I had stashed away when I last moved before deciding what to put up (I’m macabre as hell - I’ll DM you a picture). Another was in a Substack post email I randomly opened just now before bed. It’s a weird day…
Yes! I forgot about Dickens!
I also just came across a book for my TBR list, and it instantly made me think of you. It's by Peter S. Beagle (author of "The Last Unicorn"), but I'd never heard of it before: "A Fine and Private Place" ... about a love story in a cemetery. Are you familiar?
This was a lovely piece, but wow, that short made me cry so hard...
Oops! But I still always want to watch it. 💜
Sorry! I maybe should have included a better warning. 🥹 It makes me cry every time too, but
lol, it's ok - I was unprepared, but it was lovely!
Oh my God, Jamie. This is a beautiful essay, and the video made me cry. xoxo
Thank you so much, Marcia. That makes me especially happy coming from you. And I’m glad you were touched by the video. It always makes me cry too, but I’m never sorry I watched it.
i love it :)
Thanks 🥰💜
Amazingly outstanding Jamie! Creativity, beauty, and a theme to be explored in all its layers. xox
Thank you so much, Rhaine. The hardest part of writing this one was not going too far down any rabbit hole. So much to be explored, indeed.
Thank you for such kind words, JT. As with my original post of the rabbit to Instagram, I hesitated to publish this piece here on Substack. Your understanding of it is very much appreciated.
Ravens can always be counted on to help with the dead. Where I live, we have mostly crows, and only a few ravens. There is a local murder that frequents my yard for the peanuts I leave them. They often call out to me softly from the trees as I'm leaving the house, using the low cooing tones they use to speak to each other. I do not mistake their vocal entreaties for conversation, knowing full well that they are merely reminding me that I have yet to put their daily ration of peanuts out on the stones in the yard.