This piece is incredibly atmospheric and beautifully written. While it carries an air of mystery, I experienced it on a much deeper level—as a story of profound acceptance of Life itself, represented by the forest. Here is how I saw your ritual:
The Forest as Life: I see the table as the journey of existence. There are eight places but only six chairs are upright, while the other two have sunk into the ground. Since eight is the symbol of infinity, this tells me that those who 'sank' haven't disappeared; they have simply become the very ground we walk on—the foundation of Life.
The Presence of the Past: The warmth of the chair suggests someone who still holds a place in one's heart. The 'unsettling' intimacy of the first names feels like a confrontation with the raw essence of people we've loved or lost, stripped of all titles and masks.
Ritual as Confrontation: These repetitive actions are not a retreat, but a test. Staying in that chair while the roots tighten is an act of courage; it’s a refusal to run away from the discomfort of memory. It is not giving up—it is facing it head-on.
Memories as Skin: Perhaps these 'roots' and 'bark' are memories that eventually merge with our body and soul. We don't just pretend to be in the past; we allow the past to become our spine, our very skin.
The Relief of Awareness: Ultimately, there is a sense of relief here. Being a 'witness' means accepting that nothing truly disappears. If one name has passed, every new name will eventually pass too, and there is a strange, eternal peace in being part of that cycle.
To me, this is an absolute surrender to the truth of what is.
Sometimes I get so immersed in a piece of work that I can't see it any other way than analytically. I break everything down exactly as I understood it, and then leave a comment about how I experienced it.
Love this so much. Also I have a back pocket screenplay, I’ve been working on where the trees absorb outsiders into them. Just gave me a little spark of inspo to pick it back up. Can’t get your imagery out of my head.
That was creepy as hell. I love the ending! This is a terrific piece!
Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Creepy. Joined them.
Ooooof.
Definitely creepy.
You must indeed.
Absolutely excellent. Great work!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read it!!
You are most welcome. Thank you for writing it. 😊
Love love love. And yes, Labyrinthia does great work sharing her myths and magic and giving us inspiration. Well done 💜👾
She is magical indeed! Thank you again, truly❤️🔥
This piece is incredibly atmospheric and beautifully written. While it carries an air of mystery, I experienced it on a much deeper level—as a story of profound acceptance of Life itself, represented by the forest. Here is how I saw your ritual:
The Forest as Life: I see the table as the journey of existence. There are eight places but only six chairs are upright, while the other two have sunk into the ground. Since eight is the symbol of infinity, this tells me that those who 'sank' haven't disappeared; they have simply become the very ground we walk on—the foundation of Life.
The Presence of the Past: The warmth of the chair suggests someone who still holds a place in one's heart. The 'unsettling' intimacy of the first names feels like a confrontation with the raw essence of people we've loved or lost, stripped of all titles and masks.
Ritual as Confrontation: These repetitive actions are not a retreat, but a test. Staying in that chair while the roots tighten is an act of courage; it’s a refusal to run away from the discomfort of memory. It is not giving up—it is facing it head-on.
Memories as Skin: Perhaps these 'roots' and 'bark' are memories that eventually merge with our body and soul. We don't just pretend to be in the past; we allow the past to become our spine, our very skin.
The Relief of Awareness: Ultimately, there is a sense of relief here. Being a 'witness' means accepting that nothing truly disappears. If one name has passed, every new name will eventually pass too, and there is a strange, eternal peace in being part of that cycle.
To me, this is an absolute surrender to the truth of what is.
I really appreciate this in depth analysis!! Thank you for taking the time to read it!!
Sometimes I get so immersed in a piece of work that I can't see it any other way than analytically. I break everything down exactly as I understood it, and then leave a comment about how I experienced it.
That’s beautiful!!
Love this so much. Also I have a back pocket screenplay, I’ve been working on where the trees absorb outsiders into them. Just gave me a little spark of inspo to pick it back up. Can’t get your imagery out of my head.
That screenplay already sounds amazing, I’m glad you found inspiration from my words, truly.