Notes to the Otherside 076

Diary entry as of 12:21

It is time for ice cream and soft bread with creamy filling and melted dips 💜

For the darling departed

Notes to the otherside 075

Diary entry as of 4:16

Where's my popsicle? I am thirsty and is it clean?

Diary entry as of 10:18

Ouch?!

The time when phoenix needs to make itself scarce

 "It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."

- Albus Dumbledore

***

Harry Potter: "Professor. Your bird — I couldn’t do anything — he just caught fire —"

Albus Dumbledore: "About time, too. He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on."

— After Fawkes burst into flames

***

I was doing a brief meditation on the story plot of Harry Potter Chamber of Secret, where Harry started being the center of trouble or even origin of problems and being followed by hell everywhere, it was maybe a difficult time for him especially since he was becoming a teenager. To be blamed when you are sincerely innocent and honestly not even lifting a finger would feel terrible. It would erode any sense of self-security or assurance that a pre-teen might have painfully built over time. 

The highest story point where Harry might really feel the ultimate blow into his self-esteem (believing himself to be a good boy despite troubles chasing him) was when he was called in the Headmaster's office. He was scared but at the same time amazed that he is finally inside the office of Dumbledore, exploring every nook and cranny, and eventually spotting Fawkes. But as we have learned, Fawkes is already in the days of getting a move on. Fawkes being a phoenix has the power to burn itself and emerge as a baby from the ashes, sadly Harry was not aware of this yet. 

So when Harry was looking at Fawkes, admiring its plumage and its immaculate presence, the phoenix suddenly burned into flames and immediately was reduced to dust. The red-handed Harry once again blamed himself for the madness of the situation - malus nigra - and somehow searching his brain to create an alibi or to take the blame. I could only imagine his helplessness in the situation, I liken this to the series of bad incidents plaguing the young protagonist in The 400 Blows (Traffaut, 1959). These are childhood wounds that would proceed to haunt the adult in the future. Fortunately, Harry has found a spiritual guide in the person of Albus Dumbledore and patiently if not gently explained to him the natural life cycle of phoenix.

Hence, the highest plot point in Chamber of Secret is also the reaffirmation of Harry as the seeker, someone who patiently endures the curses of dark hand of fate for a spark of light in the middle of darkness. Both magic and redemption were bestowed upon Harry when he witnessed Fawkes shot into mid-air consumed by fire, and ashes fell down in the place where once the majestic mythic animal was perched.

The story indeed reminds us that to be a seeker, to be a witness of such divine spiritual fire, we must first go through the blinding darkness of the night.

Notes to the otherside 074

Diary entry as of 5:01

Wet for the dear darling shadow, I want cuddles and rubbing 😘

Diary entry as of 20:14

Headache, heartache, rebirth of connection, unboxing, emotional upheaval, acceptance and new life

Diary entry as of 17:22 (20241006)

Giving some loving to my dead dark shadow

Notes to the otherside 073

Diary entry as of 5:50

So the dear darling shadow nightmare is going to have a busy weekend, maybe the underworld is preparing for the busy season of halloween 😇

Diary entry as of 10:24

The numbering was weird, just corrected them all

Notes to the otherside 072

Diary entry as of 21:10

I want a hug