beginnings
I hope to use this space as a place that I can tell my story, and all my stories. I actually started another, now-defunct blog with this same name about a year and a half ago, but never seemed to get around to posting in it. So, I'll transfer any pertinent information from that one over here (which isn't much), and continue on with Livejournal.
Here is what I wrote as the introduction of my former blog:
"In doing a web search for the word "anchoress" in order to provide a definition for the sidebar of this site, I have discovered that there is a movie, a record company and an alternative rock band by this name. I am not affiliated with any of these, but just a person who is seeking after God, and at times (especially when ensconced in my apartment), feels very much like a hermit of old. When I was formulating the idea (and the name) for this site, I very smugly felt that I possessed knowledge of a word that few people knew the meaning of. Compared to other words that I have done net searches for, this could be said to be the case--there were only 5501 matches as opposed to tens of thousands for most searches, and most of these (I only checked the first 500 or so) pertained to either the movie or to the most famous of the historical anchoresses, Julian of Norwich. Even so, I was somewhat humbled to realize that I am not quite so unique as I'd like to believe. Others in this era apparently have the same longing to draw apart and contemplate the things of God, or maybe just "things". It is a difficult accomplishment in these days, to truly withdraw from society, if even for a few short hours at a time. I commit to myself to attempt to do just that, as often as I can."
Wow. How much of a pompous ass did I sound? Anyway, I did finally locate a definition for the word "anchoress"--it means "a woman who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion, or hermit". I guess it's kind of an ironic name for me now, since I've sort of given up my seclusion for a late-life college career. I still think the concept is appealing; being a hermit and just hanging out by myself making art and having other people contribute to my support. However, I'm coming to realize that, not only is that a lonely prospect, it's never, ever gonna happen. Not on a long-term basis, anyway. And it's probably not (OK, definitely not) healthy in the long-term. We humans are designed to need other people. I'll still keep the name for the blog, but it looks like this is the only place I can be The Anchoress. Oh, I should point out that my avatar is not really me :^) but St. Brigid of Ireland. I am fascinated by the Celtic way of life and all things Irish.
Here is what I wrote as the introduction of my former blog:
"In doing a web search for the word "anchoress" in order to provide a definition for the sidebar of this site, I have discovered that there is a movie, a record company and an alternative rock band by this name. I am not affiliated with any of these, but just a person who is seeking after God, and at times (especially when ensconced in my apartment), feels very much like a hermit of old. When I was formulating the idea (and the name) for this site, I very smugly felt that I possessed knowledge of a word that few people knew the meaning of. Compared to other words that I have done net searches for, this could be said to be the case--there were only 5501 matches as opposed to tens of thousands for most searches, and most of these (I only checked the first 500 or so) pertained to either the movie or to the most famous of the historical anchoresses, Julian of Norwich. Even so, I was somewhat humbled to realize that I am not quite so unique as I'd like to believe. Others in this era apparently have the same longing to draw apart and contemplate the things of God, or maybe just "things". It is a difficult accomplishment in these days, to truly withdraw from society, if even for a few short hours at a time. I commit to myself to attempt to do just that, as often as I can."
Wow. How much of a pompous ass did I sound? Anyway, I did finally locate a definition for the word "anchoress"--it means "a woman who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion, or hermit". I guess it's kind of an ironic name for me now, since I've sort of given up my seclusion for a late-life college career. I still think the concept is appealing; being a hermit and just hanging out by myself making art and having other people contribute to my support. However, I'm coming to realize that, not only is that a lonely prospect, it's never, ever gonna happen. Not on a long-term basis, anyway. And it's probably not (OK, definitely not) healthy in the long-term. We humans are designed to need other people. I'll still keep the name for the blog, but it looks like this is the only place I can be The Anchoress. Oh, I should point out that my avatar is not really me :^) but St. Brigid of Ireland. I am fascinated by the Celtic way of life and all things Irish.