Thought that was Aldhani for a second there! 🤩🤩🤩

This live version of their greatest song has it all--spare arrangement, writing by Willy Vlautin that is better than anything you think Raymond Carver wrote, Amy Boone making you want to hurt someone but you're not sure who.

youtu.be/dHNryT4N6lU

So excited to hear your reactions and receive your thoughts on it all! Thank you so much for what you bring to the book.

Aaaaaand I'm ready to read your dissertation now! For real -- that's the kinda analysis that answers relevant questions and blows minds. I'm here for it.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...in Ray Bradbury's hometown.

I'm on board! You're making lotsa sense!

Toooootally -- and Empire doubles down on it so hard:
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa."

Yup -- something's gotta be said for aesthetics, for sure!

Totally -- this is what you made me think of in bringing up Batman. Different personas, different conduct -- as well as different expectations from others. How would the citizens of Gotham react if Bruce Wayne was openly vigilante? There'd be trouble at Wayne Manor, right? So safety is part of it?

*cough, cough* There's totally an academic essay in this point you're making!!! Brilliant! *cough, cough*

Most kind of you. I say the same about listening to the podcasts crafted by people who get it. (yeah, yours!)

Oh my gosh -- thank you so much for getting it! It's a rare honor to have an esteemed colleague jump into one's work. 🦋

And little kids have always loved Vader. That mask has appealed to children for decades. Could we say shadow work potentially begins in that kind of childhood play? Jungians see play as sacred.

It's a thought. I dunno. I'm just glad you asked. And interested in your insights into it.

There is something about identifying with masked characters though. It's totally a thing, enlivening our own fantasies. Masking is also such a big part of ritual, too, down the ages. So there's something human about thrilling in a masked character's exploits, whether good, bad, or ugly, right?

We can paradoxically hide *and* show aspects of our psyche with masks. Is this because we don't feel free to show these parts unmasked - or is a mask enhancing our regular appearance? It's got to be unique reasoning for each of us.

I'm just riffing because it's such a great question.