Lets start with the words themselves. After reading the Tibetan book of the dead, I imagined caring souls hiding behind the terrifying masks of Buddhist wrathful entities. These grotesque representation’s of demons are only intended to jar the consciousness of lost souls. In fact, they are desperate, last ditch attempts at salvation. We are all struggling to comprehend our human existence. You know how difficult this can be. Imagine your soul, suddenly cast into a bewildering eternity. Its always been there but we can only just perceive it at the point of death. It is imperative to finally see yourself for what it truly is. No longer a material being but something itself eternal. Wouldn’t it be comforting to have a guidepost to find your bearings?
The 2nd Raid on Harpers Ferry contains such ferocious monsters. Its characters represent our own struggles to survive as eternal souls. Both John Brown and Alexander Solzhenitsyn are referenced for a reason. William Blake’s poem “America, A Prophecy” is the framework for my story. That explains the weird names. History and geography help me set scenes. Its all very real.
You must self awaken. Riddles must be solved. Seek the answers in the right place. I am angry that a powerful force is working to obscure people’s path to truth. I am empathetic towards those strenuously hiking in circles. I want to help those stranded at the edge of a swamp. Wrathful Empathies is a lamp in the darkness signaling a way back onto the trail.
I have been where you are going. Everything will be alright. Just keep walking.