Who Am I?

 Its a fascinating question isn't it? Who am I? When I was young being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (colloquially known as Mormons) I would have said a Son of God and left it at that. While I still know that is true of me, it is also true of everyone else in the world. I believe we are all Children of Deity. That means that it is also kind of a non-answer as it doesn't differentiate me from anyone else. 

Now that I am older I have found that labels mean less than the media and social groups would have us believe. If I just wanted to run through labels that could apply to me I am a Christian, Reiki Master, Lightworker, Energy Worker, Tarot Reader, survivor, abuse victim, writer, artist, gamer, reader, Diviner, cook, housekeeper, divorcee, son, brother, uncle, and so many more. The problem with these labels is that each one is only a facet of who I am. They only provide a single method of looking at the greater whole and are often tainted with preconceived ideas that allow others to look at me as an object in a box instead of a living, breathing human being. Labels inherently lend themselves to the objectifying of the labeled.

Because of this, now when I am asked who am I my response is to sit the questioner down in my kitchen, start making a meal and ask them how much time do they have. To know someone requires looking past the labels, skin tone, political ideologies and to talk often and long, to become friends. 

My mother saved cards throughout her life to send at the right time. After she died my father felt prompted to send one of her saved cards to me. The front of the card has a quote by George Eliot which reads: "Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person having neither to weigh thoughts or measure words." I believe this is what it means to truly know who someone is. I'll also note that this applies to knowing ourselves as well. Until our internal dialogue is free of measured words and weighed thoughts we don't truly know ourselves because we are still hiding things. 

Long story short, I can't answer who I am in anything less than a book. That is why I am writing this blog. To know and be known, to share and share alike. It is my hope that others will find this corner of the internet to be a place where they need not "weigh thoughts or measure words". I know it will take time to build that kind of trust and relationship, but I'm willing to put that work in if you are. Until then I pray you will see the light in every darkness, the hope on the other side of despair, and the joy after the storm - Iri Stormlight