‘What did you mean by saying that you were psychic?’
‘What did you think I meant?’
‘Spiritualism?’ ‘Infantilism.’ ‘That’s what I think.’
‘Of course.’
I could just make out his face in the light from the doorway. He could see more of mine, because I had swung round during that last exchange. ‘You haven’t really answered my question.’
‘Your first reaction is the characteristic one of your contrasuggestible century: to disbelieve, to disprove. I see this very clearly underneath your politeness. You are like a porcupine. When that animal has its spines erect, it cannot eat. If you do not eat, you will starve. And your prickles will die with the rest of your body.’
~ John Fowles, The Magus
Notes:
- Photo: A porcupine curls up in a garden outside of Moscow on Wednesday. (Yuri Kadobnov, Agence France, September 21, 2017)
- Prior “Lightly child, lightly” Posts? Connect here.
- Post Title & Series Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
- Today, this post was inspired by LouAnn: What About Us?
