Writing

Visionary Fiction: stories for growing minds

01/12/201509/06/2019 Jessica Davidson9 Comments

Visionary Fiction became a recognised fiction genre around the turn of the millennium, but stories using visionary elements have always existed. In fact, Visionary Fiction (VF) might be the oldest genre of storytelling. I first heard of VF when I was trying to decide which genre my debut novel fell into. Addled: Adventures of a… Continue reading Visionary Fiction: stories for growing minds

Addled

Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 2

27/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson

I slammed the front door behind me, swept through to the living room, and flung myself on the sofa. Jonah was composing on his synth at his computer in the corner, headphones clamped to his ears. He slipped them off and spun his chair to face me. ‘What happened?’ he said, looking worried. ‘He’s a… Continue reading Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 2

Addled

Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 1

24/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson

As soon as I walked through the supermarket doors I wanted to turn around and walk out again. I was still feeling jangled from my latest encounter with weirdness, like my skin had been pulled off. It was early, so Morrisons wasn’t too busy, but the light still hurt my eyes and the vacuous music… Continue reading Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 1

Buddhism

Does a Dog have Buddha Nature?

20/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson30 Comments

There’s a well-known Zen koan that begins with this question. Reams of words and scholastic papers have been written about Joshu’s Dog. The koan sounds like the start of a bad Buddhist joke: A monk asked Joshu, a Chinese Zen master: ‘Has a dog Buddha nature or not?’ Joshu answered: ‘Mu!’ ‘Mu’ means No-thing, but… Continue reading Does a Dog have Buddha Nature?

Addled

Addled Chapter 7: Thumbprint of God

20/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

Fragmented images flashed and swirled about me, none of them lasting long enough to decipher. It was the tail end of a convoluted dream that had confused me even while I was having it, and I wanted to wake up and get back to reliable, linear reality. At last, I struggled into consciousness and lay… Continue reading Addled Chapter 7: Thumbprint of God

Addled

Addled Chapter 5: Maya

13/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

I was walking into Heaton, my backpack heavy on my shoulders, when my mobile rang. I knew it was Danny without looking and braced myself for the onslaught. Reality had penetrated the fug in his head and he wasn’t happy. ‘I’m not abandoning you, Dan. You’re not a child.’ I hung up feeling guilty. Then… Continue reading Addled Chapter 5: Maya

Addled · Dark Night of the Soul

Addled Now Out in Paperback!

09/11/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson13 Comments

Addled: Adventures of a Reluctant Mystic is a novel about spiritual awakening in a crazy world, and how the crisis of spiritual emergency can become an awakening. The story follows reluctant mystic Zoe Popper on her quest for inner peace and self-knowledge. Addled explores the line between mysticism and madness using the philosophy of Zen… Continue reading Addled Now Out in Paperback!

Awakening

It Starts Now

17/08/201526/06/2020 Jessica DavidsonVideo3 Comments

I’ve shared this fantastic video from Alan Watts before, but it bears repeating as a little reminder of a basic truth: you can’t blame others for the world you’re living in. Wake up and remember who you are!

Awakening

Shadow and Light Source Both

30/07/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson3 Comments

How does a part of the world leave the world? How does wetness leave water? Don’t try to put out fire by throwing on more fire! Don’t wash a wound with blood. No matter how fast you run, your shadow keeps up. Sometimes it’s in front! Only full overhead sun diminishes your shadow. But that… Continue reading Shadow and Light Source Both

Awakening

Pooh Follows the Honey of Intuition

27/07/201526/06/2020 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

In which Pooh teaches us how to listen to our intuition and not the rabbiting of our egos: On a foggy day, Pooh, Piglet and Rabbit were trying to find their way home, only it wasn’t going to plan… “The fact is,” said Rabbit, “we’ve missed our way somehow.” They were having a rest in… Continue reading Pooh Follows the Honey of Intuition

Health · Spirituality

Yoga Pants: A Day of Yoga (and swearing!)

19/06/201504/03/2023 Jessica Davidson19 Comments

I dream of being a flexible yogini. To balance with poise and grace, and wrap my feet around my neck. Such strength, such self-mastery. I can’t even touch my toes! There are many kinds of yoga, but my kind involves a lot of swearing – not exactly the spirit of the thing. Years of bad… Continue reading Yoga Pants: A Day of Yoga (and swearing!)

Mythology · Psychology

Going Dark: Stalking the Predator

25/05/201524/02/2022 Jessica Davidson7 Comments

“One does not become conscious by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” – CG Jung There’s a demonic creature that stalks us through our nightmares. He targets the innocent and the hopeful. He squats in the dark, hidden until he attacks. He wants to destroy us, to stop us from growing… Continue reading Going Dark: Stalking the Predator