There are few personalities that can compare to Whitley Strieber. He is (for good or for bad) an intense dude! And he brings out strong opinions in other people.I met him and he was nice to me.
I'll add that he's a big guy, over 6 feet tall and an impressive presence in a room. When I met him (at Chet Snow's SECRETS conference in 2007) he had on a suit and tie in a room full of flowery new-age people at a UFO conference, making him even more imposing.
He was standing in a line for coffee and I introduced myself. Without any niceties, I jumped right to the issue that was deeply troubling me. I spoke about how I was trying to come to terms with my own set of experiences, which seemed to point to a series of ongoing abductions.
I said, "Looking into this, I'm really - well - really freaked out."
Whitley said, "I should say so!"
Here's what he told me next:
"You know how when you look at a lake at that moment of a beautiful sunset, and the light is reflecting off the surface of the water. What you are seeing is the color of the sky, and the dazzling display of the sunset."
He made a melodramatic hand gesture to visually describe the flat surface of a lake out in front of him, and then he continued.
"But at the same time you may get a glimpse what's under the surface of the water, but you can only see a distorted refraction. I feel that's what's going on here. We see something that we can't quite perceive, it's hidden from us - and what we DO see is distorted and refracted. There is a LOT going on under the water."
That is as good a definition as I've ever heard about this entire mixed-up quandary.
That's indeed a good analogy.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, right now I have three images of Whitley Strieber at the top of this page.
ReplyDeleteI offered to put a small "advertisement" for his dreamland event in Joshua Tree California. He was happy to have me post it on my blog.
I realize he seems to create controversy with almost anything he does, but I find him endlessly fascinating. I will add his book THE KEY is truly mystical in its depth and importance.
I <3 The Key! It was very difficult to acquire, but once I did I found a lot of it resonated in me.
ReplyDeleteI specially like the phrase "The Christian searches for God. The Muslim submits to God. The Buddhist finds God". It made me realize that maybe someone decided to leave bits and pieces of the puzzle scattered all around.
~ Lucretia here:
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had the chance to meet him in person. His analogy fits very well.
I met Whitley in the mid-90s during the time that I now know he was struggling with severe depression. His demeanor was so monotone and his eyes so flat-- I knew it was more than jet lag. I said hello, but could say no more while I had similar struggles of my own. I didn't want to make any demands of a man I could so clearly see was already pushed to his limits.
I'm glad he's come through all that and is plugging along. I know he's controversial, but he's also courageous and he'll always have my respect. He's doing what so many of us wish we could and can't.
I love the way you describe Whitley gazing out at a lake and running his hand over the virtual top of the water.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a time I woke up to see a veiled form to my right, something standing near my bedside, something short, something quite animated and focused on me.
And whatever it was I was perceiving it like little geometric prisms of light that dance around on a swimming pool's bottom when the sun is shining in and the water's a little choppy.
Every time I see light reflecting in water that way, I'm reminded of that hidden visit. I wonder if one day I'll catch a glimpse behind that veil...
I never actually met Whitley but was at one of his book signings and have heard him speak more than once.
ReplyDeleteAnd I used to follow his dreamland interviews. He is very articulate about this topic. The analogy to the surface of a lake sounds very much like him.
I have thought in the past, with the experiences he has been through, he must have unravelled at least some part of this mystery.
At some level he has I think- his lake metaphor suggests many things. It is equally obvious that he still struggles with these experiences.
Something from one of his books I remember is that he has learned how to live with this 'redoubtable' uncertainty.
I also think he has learned to cope with the idiocy of modern media —you know, all the lame 'anal probe' jokes. It must have been really depressing to him to realize this was as far as the TV networks and movies would carry out what he wanted to say.
ReplyDeleteI suppose he finally understood that what he has to say is only meant for a very small amount of people willing to listen —as it always has been, I guess.
"I suppose he finally understood that what he has to say is only meant for a very small amount of people willing to listen —as it always has been, I guess."
ReplyDeleteAint that a fact! I tend to agree with Lucretia as well- to have put himself on the line the way he has you have to have some real courage. I have a great deal of respect for him too.
There is a dimension and poetry to his work that most of the stuff touching this subject matter doesnt have and I think will insure his words will be read many years from now- of course I also think we are on the eve of mighty changes and am not at all sure I know what that means in this context.
James wrote:
ReplyDelete"There is a dimension and poetry to his work that most of the stuff touching this subject matter doesn't have..."
Mike replies:
That poetic skill as a writer is a double edged sword. Because he is such a good writer (and I mean good story teller, and he is) that people use this against him.
He can create a very rich drama in his writing, and I think too many people see it as something else rather than his truth.