On Mermaids and MiGs

understanding understanding: letter 2

Image: Sebastian munster

On February 24th, amidst wet, gray skies, while a new war waged below and brothers and sisters left offices and corner stores to take up arms against invading forces, the high altitude specter of a MiG-29 Fulcrum howled its war cry. Early reports claimed that the anonymous combat pilot took out six Russian planes on day one. Subsequent days would share news of more Russian fighters scattered by the unnamed ace. Amidst the bomb shelters and occupied basements and makeshift depots and overloaded train stations, enthusiastic talk of the "Ghost of Kyiv" poured hot courage into Ukrainian hearts. This momentary David and Goliath story steeled civilian-turned-solider nerves and gave the trembling eyes of children, their ears covered while bombs blasted, a rare glimpse of hope. For nearly a week, this single pilot, driven by their will to bravely fight for their homeland, unified a nation.

But the Ghost of Kyiv never existed.

Weeks later, Newsweek would report that the fighter could not be identified, and reports of shot down Russian planes could not be confirmed. But nevertheless, the Ghost's mission was a success. The story was whispered, and shouted, and shared by Ukrainians who needed hope at moments of despair and ultimately, it brought them back to themselves. Toys and merch began flooding the internet. People needed something to believe in and the Ghost of Kyiv delivered. Fictitious or not, we humans derive strength through story and our uncanny ability to persevere in the face of innumerable obstacles, in myriad, often surprising ways, is a decidedly charming aspect of our shared incarnation. 

Since childhood, I've been enamored by beings known to me as "borderland creatures." Our books of fiction have given them names like elves and fairies—mystical entities who wield special powers and reveal secrets to us when we need them most. Other beings, like unicorns and mermaids, whose images have been depicted by cultures for eons, take the familiar (a horse, a woman, a fish) and infuse them with mystique and other-worldliness. In doing so, these beings suspend our sense of reality and give us the ability to walk in the liminal land between the known and unknown. In these borderlands we find the spaciousness within ourselves to transform and grow. 

Albrecht Classen writes in "Imagination and Fantasy in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Time" (a page turner), "Fairies, mermaids, sirens, elves, and other strange female creatures, as they appear in all of these texts, belong to archetypal figures who intervene in human lives, mostly as helpers, but often also as uncanny individuals who originate from a disturbing, maybe chaotic origin, and who regularly have to return to that world again because of the male protagonist's transgression or because they aren't permitted to stay in human society for a variety of mostly mysterious reasons."

Putting aside the unnecessarily gendered position in Classen's summary, his broader point cannot be overlooked. We humans dig the borderland. We yearn for something to give us the preternatural chutzpah to pull ourselves up from our bootstraps. Working with these beings and the myths that carry them into our psyche, we are able to let the structure of our self soften. And in that softness, that permeable milieu, we can often find the missing pieces we need to sturdy ourselves for what's to come.    

Working in the gossamer space that borderland creatures are apt to do, they stoke the flames of imagination and give us the ability to transcend our known reality. Tales of mermaids and sirens undoubtedly fortified the delirious, scurvy-addled spirits of otherwise adrift sailors of the high seas. Medieval artists turned our gaze toward the wayfinding direction of the unicorn's horn to lead us out of the everyday and into a more curious, more mystical land. Even modern Icelanders can still be heard speaking of the mythical aspects of a port town called Hafnarfjordur, known to locals as an elf capital in the hills and rocky fields, where sprite, underground homes ensconce their tiny brethren. They don't do this simply because it's cute (it's cute), but also because these stories fill Icelanders with a connection to their ancestry and the history of their special, fjordy place. 

Throughout the world, and for millennia, Indigenous Peoples have built long-held relationships with animal spirits and borderland beings that guide them through rites of passage and amidst times of loss, need, or gratitude. The modern non-Indigenous appropriation of the phrase "spirit animal" has unduly diluted the importance and sanctity of this belief. Let's stop doing that. 

In some Native American traditions there's talk of "skin walkers"—half-human, half-animal hybrids that walk the land and embody the strengths and traits of the animal they embody. Skinwalkers are revered and feared in equal measure, but are uniformly accepted as a part of ancestral and modern lore for their ability to convey and teach lessons of what we are capable of experiencing and embodying at the edge of reality. 

Mermaids, unicorns, spirit animals, and MiG pilots. Each of them, in their own way, and in the time and place where their story belongs, have helped shape us into different versions of ourselves. They are givers of hope. Illuminators of our nobler, higher self. Galvanizers of connection for our wayward souls looking for answers in the vast expanse.

Back in Ukraine the stories of the Ghost of Kyiv have all but stopped. The contrails swirling in Slavic skies have soften their edges into a memory of what once was. But in the hearts of brave humans for whom this story touched, their resolve remains; steadied by the power of what sits in the liminal space between today's known and tomorrow's unknown. 

Finding yourself at a crossroads, when the answer you're seeking feels just out of touch, walk closer to the borderlands of your life. Look for the beings that present themselves. Find the myths and stories they've left for you. Feel into them for messages and inspiration. For it's often within those half-born realities, those squishy spaces where what is and what will be commingle, that a new you is waiting to be discovered.

Take good care,

MV

Happenings

Events, talks, workshops, retreats…

Things I’m doing and things others are doing that you might find interesting.

NEUEHOUSE RESIDENCY
Starting May 2022

I’m happy to announce that this month starts my residency with Neuehouse where I’ll be bringing monthly programming, workshops, and talks to the community. During May, I’ll be holding intimate conversations with members to understand what sort of discussions and experiences would serve the community most. If you’re a member, or know a member, please feel free to get in touch to chat more. Programming will start in June 2022. 

GOOD FRIENDS DOING GOOD THINGS
All the time

In the past few months, some of my pals have launched amazing new businesses and books. Here are a few of them:

Lauren has taken her deep experience in community building and technology to help make an impact in changing outcomes for women’s health. Check out Conceive to learn more. 

Greg somehow managed to fit his nearly 20 years of experience at Nike, leading design and brand teams through massive transformation, into a powerful, understandable, and adoptable approach. His book, Emotion By Design, is a must read for any human centered designer or empathic brand builder.  

Colu is one of the chefs I love to follow the most. She makes everything look easy, but actually shows you how to not screw it up when you do it yourself. True to its name, her new cookbook, Easy Fancy Food, will make your life both easy and fancy. Mangia.

MANDALA LAB
Ongoing at the Rubin Museum

Mandala is the sanskrit word for “circle.” These geometric depictions have been used for millennia as a means to focus your attention and aid your shift into spiritual and emotional contemplation. The Rubin Museum’s Mandala Lab has built an amazingly immersive experience where you can go deep into this artform and learn more about yourself in the process.

OFFICE HOURS
Wednesday, May 11th from 12-1pmET

The first one of these was a success so I’m going to keep doing it. We had visits from people across multiple geographies sharing their experiences, new work, and getting a chance to ask questions and share in conversation and connection. Join me for the next one and we’ll see how the conversation evolves.

opportunities

Talent, jobs, investments, collabs, and more…

If you or someone you know is interested in making a move or if you’d like to share a need in this section on a future letter, drop me a line. It takes a village.

Extra is the first debit card that is helping people build their credit score. To me, this is the sort of innovation that’s helping to shift people out of old, oppressive economic systems. They are on a hiring blitz right now so if you want to be a part of the revolution, get involved. 

I’m proud to be on the board of Data Protocol, a progressive organization that’s building educational content to help companies and their teams create products with an ethical approach to privacy and security. The company is growing fast and launching new trainings regularly. If you and your team need help skilling up, drop me a line and I’ll connect you with the fine folks at the front lines.

The ACLU’s work is never done. My dear friend (and communications wizard) Becky Edwards is looking to add some additional strength to her team. If you’re an equal parts left-brained planner and right-brained creator, and you care about creating a “more perfect union” (you should), check out this role.

Need a new full-time or fractional CMO? I have a handful of good pals looking for new moves. Email me to get more info.

ephemera

Workplace culture, jellyfish, rocks, retired old men…

Things I’ve picked up while meandering around the internet.

Milo The Artist is a 7-year old Brooklyn-based wunderkind. He’s already had his first exhibition, auctioned work to raise funds for important charities, and has some of the best darn parents around (Hi, Matt and Laura).  

In “I’m not crying, you’re crying” news, Dove has done it again with their new work called “Detoxify.” This campaign utilized deep-fake technology to show mothers and their daughters the toxic beauty content that permeates the social web.  

This long-form read from The Atlantic explores how the animal spirit is alive and well (and now, at long last, being better understood by science). 

Earth as we know it will one day cease to exist. A group of scientists are building a planetary black box to tell our story. 

Hobby tunneling is apparently a thing.

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