Three Things: The Phoenix, rebirth from ashes
Today’s an auspicious day for everyone in America, to be sure. There’s a welcome changing of leadership at hand. Considering the state of our nation, described presciently in 2017 as “American carnage,” it indeed appears that we’re primed to re-emerge from the ashes of the last four years into something of a rebirth.
This brings me to today’s fun topic: the Phoenix. Here are three things about this fantastical bird of fire that apply to my own life.
Mythology
I’ve always had a passing interest in ancient stories like Greek and Egyptian mythology. They were a big focus of my history and social studies classes growing up. And considering I was a big D&D nerd in school, OF COURSE, I got wrapped up in these stories of mythological heroes and beasts. This was better to implement terror and challenge in the custom campaigns I unleashed on my friends.
The Phoenix was one of these beasts. Its roots lie within Egyptian and Greek/Roman myths and often symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and resurrection.
Through a recent playthrough (obsession?) of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, the game’s inclusion of myths and legends from the Mediterranean area reawakened my interest in these stories. I’ve been inspired to re-read Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey,” which is a great resource for writers looking to hone their storytelling craft.
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
I can hear you now. “Whaaaa?” It’s okay.
During my formative years in the late 1970s, a cartoon came out a year after Star Wars called Battle of the Planets. It was amazing to my 6-year-old brain. (I didn’t realize it was actually a heavily edited version of a popular Japanese anime until I saw the originals during an anime showcase in college.) The kooky characters, stupid humor, and eye-catching space ships are what sparked my imagination, propelling me along the creative path I enjoy today.
It’s arguably one of the foundational influences on my love of more ‘pulpy’ science fiction and space in general, along with Star Wars. So why do I include it here? Because the main badass ship of the team was the Phoenix. The look of it (to young me) was the stuff of imaginary space legends. It carried the rest of the team’s cool vehicles. It fired TBX rockets. And it was a solar-powered blowtorch. (Because, phoenix!)
The series was goofy (still is) and fun, and a staple of my Saturday morning cartoon ritual. My (really) early LEGO creations attempted to copy these amazing vehicle designs’ looks, and even my later attempts at sketching often incorporated similar style looks to the Phoenix. Fortunately for my parents (and now my wife), I have not (nor will ever) attempt to mimic the costume designs depicted. Though, honestly, I really did adore Mark’s cape…
Rebirth
In 1993 and 1994, I attempted suicide; the second foiled only because a then-friend happened to stop by to check in on me. Those nights are not great memories, but still significant because they represent the lowest points of my life. For various reasons, my life felt as if it was ash. Rebuilding from those mental states has been a very long road.
Fortunately, I’ve reached many mountain tops since then, and those dark days are well behind. The turning point really came when I met, then married, my wife. Her support, love, and strength sparked my own rebirth of sorts, and so many of my successes in the last 26 years has come from my relationship with her.
1994 was a turning point year of rebirth for me. The ashes of my life at the beginning of the year brought about profound changes by mid-year, and at the end of the year, I was on a completely different trajectory.
Rebirth is painful, requiring death to self, but the glorious emergence continues to shine forth.
So there you have it: three things about the Phoenix that have impacted my life. From legend to inspiration to rebirth, it’s pretty cool how such a symbol can have a multi-faceted impact on one’s life choices and direction.