“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel…is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.”
– Ursula K. LeGuin
“We read to find ourselves, more fully and more strangely than otherwise we could hope to find.”
– Harold Bloom
Hi friends,
Some of you first connected with me six years ago when I taught a workshop called Unearthing Your Story. This six-week course centered on the idea that through exploring our inner worlds, communing with the natural world, and revisiting the stories that have most influenced our lives we can weave these threads into our personal mythologies and discover much about ourselves and our life purpose.
In one of the first modules of this course, I asked you to revisit childhood and remember the stories that called to you at that time. The books, tv shows, and films you shared with me were incredibly varied. What struck me most was how the characters and themes from these stories really did help to shape you into the people you are today.
As an example, a few of you connected with orphan characters and realized that this was because, if not an orphan yourself, you felt somehow estranged from the family you were born into.
I was impressed with how dedicated each participant was, and how each one of you found a connection between the stories you love (or remember years later) and your life path.
In the spirit of fun, I wanted to share a few characters from the books I read as a child who have somehow shaped me into the person I am today. And if you are interested in learning more about Unearthing Your Story, send me a message! A couple of you inspired me to think about opening registration for this course once more. If enough people are interested, I will offer this course again next month.
I am bits and pieces of the following characters….
Dickon from The Secret Garden. Do you remember Dickon? He is the gentle boy who talks to animals and has a way with plants.
Juniper from Wise Child and Juniper. A green witch who works with plants, makes healing remedies, and casts spells.
Cassandra Mortmain from I Capture the Castle. I cheated a bit on this one. I didn’t read this book until I was at least a teenager, but I recognize myself in Cassandra. The book is written as if you are reading her diary. She is an introverted writer, an old soul, a romantic (but entirely practical), and someone who dearly loves the English countryside. She is also a bit pagan at heart and creates a midsummer bonfire ritual every year.
Betsy Ray from the Betsy-Tacy books. I think of Betsy as a social introvert. She’s always a part of a large crowd of friends, and is very friendly, but she is also a writer who needs plenty of time to herself to daydream, feel and name her emotions, and think through her thoughts. And like Betsy, I found myself with many beaus as a teenager and twenty-something, enjoy writing letters to dear friends, traveled around Europe, and had a dad who encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
The two girls from the picture book When the Sun Rose. In this book, a sun goddess comes to visit her friend in a cottage. The two girls create art, have a tea party, and make the space truly beautiful. The sun goddess visits with her lion who enjoys a bowl of blueberries and cream. This was one of my favorite books when I was a small child. I’ve realized that my inclination towards making my surroundings beautiful, my way of connecting with wild animals, and my need to work on creative projects with loved ones stems from this book.
The princess from Many Moons by James Thurber. Just like this princess, even when I’m ill I remain hopefully optimistic. If I want the moon, as she did, I believe it can come to me. She received the moon in the form of a beautiful moon shaped necklace the court jester was wise enough to obtain for her, and I received the moon when I participated in a drawing down the moon ritual.
Think back to your childhood. Which characters from books, movies, or tv shows feel like old friends? Did these characters help shape your personality? If you feel like sharing with me, either as an email reply or in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Bio: Caitlin Gemmell is a writer, published poet, and witch. You can read her poetry in The Winter 2022 issue of Capsule Stories, the Autumn 2022 anthology by Querencia Press, The Wistful Wild, and forthcoming in Issue 37 of Bella Grace magazine.
This made me want to pick up Wise Child, which I've never read :)
Ronja - From Ronja the robbers daughter. - I loved her wild nature, and how in spring she would go outside and scream into the forest, welcoming the new season, releasing all of that pent up energy from the long, cold winter. Wild and free, in love with nature.
Isn't Many Moons gorgeous? I love that story.
Beautiful post. I shall have a muse as to what my bookish muses have been.