These widely different stories have one thing in common. In each, the protagonist is following his or her own deep promptings. Joseph Campbell’s catch-phrase “follow your bliss” entered the lexicon long ago. But following a deep calling is not always bliss. In following her passion for service, Varsha Mathrani contracted malaria. As she writes about her experience, even this ordeal seems to have opened doors to new understandings.
Reading her account, one may sense, as I did, that her story has just begun.
Barbara Ganzkow was among the first women in the U.S. to pilot large commercial, jet-powered aircraft. As a flight attendant, sometimes she would visit the pilots in the cockpit. On one flight, while watching them at work, the thought came to her:
I could do this. It's a long way from a thought to a reality and there were plenty of hurdles that stood in her way, beginning with her own anxiety once she set out in earnest. She talks about
her amazing journey.
Anne Veh, a contributing editor for the print magazine, introduced me—with keen enthusiasm—to the writer, Jane Wodening. What to say about this remarkable woman? “Doors of Perception” is the title that came to me for the interview we did with Jane. Wodening writes about the particular birds and insects and critters she meets—and all of nature, really: nature in the particular. She is a close observer. If it helped get closer to the truth, I’d say that she’s a
very close observer. Jane Wodening is a
door of perception—as are we all, in theory. But through Jane's eyes we meet wonders unseen by the rest of us.
Anne Veh also introduced me to photographer John Upton. John has had a full career as photographer, a teacher of photography and as an author of books on photography. I wanted to learn about his own journey and especially about his experiences with his famous teacher, Minor White.
This is the story of how looking at a portfolio of Edward Weston prints sent an 18-year old on the journey of the rest of his life.
And we meet Tim Sessler and Autumn Brookmire, not yet thirty years old, and passing through the Bay Area. Talking with them, I couldn’t help thinking they were indeed,
following their bliss—that they were on an early leg of the journey. Tim, a native of Germany, is traveling through the U.S. and filming the people he meets. It’s his way of discovering the real United States. The two of them talk about their journey.
None of these are sugarcoated stories and yet I think you’ll find each is inspiring it its own way. Welcome to issue #27. —Richard Whittaker
Share Your Comments and Reflections on this Conversation:
On May 20, 2013 Claire Schrader wrote:
Dear Richard Thanks so much for making this important point. From my engagement with Campbell's work in my own life and in helping others find a pathway to their own bliss, this is an area in which this marvelous man has been much misunderstood. He never said it was going to be blissful... or easy. Indeed he said there would be obstacles and there would be helpers - who would help you to move through those obstacles, if you will let them - and that you will have to confront your deepest fears. He said that when you follow your bliss, doors would open - but he didn't say what those doors would be - but even the doors that feel so challenging and in some cases destructive, can open up as you have demonstrated through the lives of these people.. a pathway to an even deeper and more profound journey and in the end will reap great rewards and a deeper bliss.... that will illuminate your life. Not everyone is willing to confront such huge obstacles as every one of these people have.