Hungry Month
It’s February now and I think of the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, in which the author, Barbara Kingsolver, refers to February as “the hungry month.” This, as Kingsolver explains, is what the Cherokee Indians called the current moon cycle, referencing the lack of food sources in the deep dregs of winter. Hungry month. But I also think of a cavernous internal hunger, and a month to get comfortable with what’s uncomfortable. Hunger is an edge; edges feel prickly. Yet, they also act as invitations into deeper contemplation. It’s not spring, though every warmish day hints at what is coming. We just can’t have it, yet. To sit with deep desire and anticipation is akin to sitting with a hibernating bear in a cave, waiting for it to stir. When we observe our own hunger, what do we feel? Excitement, anxiety, fear? What do we yearn for —more connection, love, passion, dreams? Hunger is our body’s primal communication. What is your hunger telling you?
Hunger seeks attention.
Hunger demands action.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
Hungry Art
I listened to this interview with New Orleans musician Erica Falls. Erica’s demeanor is low key, calm, and interestingly enough, opposite of her dynamite stage persona. “It’s Caroline who’s up on stage,” Erica explained, and my ears perked up to listen closely. “Caroline is my alter ego. Caroline does everything that Erica is a little shy to do, but the energy is the same.”
Alter Ego. Alter Identity. I love how beautifully Erica explains the different aspects of our selves. We have our dominant personality, the one that is comfortable and familiar. And we also have different selves, the ones we can shine forth when they are called. The energy is the same. Does your hunger bring forth an alter ego?
Journal Prompt: The Hungry List
Hunger begs us to act boldly. What are the things that make you come alive? What stirs you out of hibernation? Access your hunger and ask it what it needs. Make a list; bring it all into fruition, and let your alter ego out to play.
What are you waiting for?
I went out for a ride and I never went back….
The alcohol ink is just beautiful!
The idea of regarding hunger is wise. It is so multi-faceted. Hunger can mean imbalanced desire. Hunger can mean the way in-as per fasting. Our interaction with hunger across all that is us makes life interesting. Examining our relationship to hunger tells us a lot about how we navigate.