First of all, I’m a delight. Second, I write poetry.
Did you know long ago, in the way back times, if someone wanted a book to go out into the world, they created themselves. If you wanna fact check me, look into how Gilgamesh came to be, or Mesopotamian culture — whichever one floats your boat the most.
That little book on the shelf, the one on the other side of Poe, is a testament to a goal I set as a child. Yes, it’s self-published and yes, I forgot to add all the important things like “do not copy this” as well as the ISBN. You see, my mind is always writing poetry. Along with that there is a 54 year backlog of stories to get from inside my noggin onto paper, or into a book. It’s not important for me to get on the NY Times bestseller list, or get some fancy book tour. I’ve been sort of “famous” on and off since the early 1990s, trust me when I say there is nothing special about it.
But I digress…
Seeing this out in the wild was a clear reminder that we don’t need the validation of others to do what speaks to our soul. It was also a nod from the Universe about finishing the work on the other books I’ve had on hold. For me creativity isn’t about getting others to see my view of the world, but for my enjoyment. Sometime it works out that both things can be true, and I make a few pennies to put under my mattress for a rainy day.
I guess the takeaway from today’s post is to live your best life. Don’t wait for a magic wish to help you get to your goals, take small steps onto the path in front of you.
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, we are all little drops of light connected to the stars above.
“If everything around seems dark, look again, you may be the light.” ― Rumi
During this morning’s meditation time, I posed a question to my inner self about the nature of what lies ahead for my life. This isn’t my way of future telling, but rather a way to follow crumbs the Universe leaves for all of us.
Before you ask, no, the image above was not created by AI. In the Book of Kimbo and the Wayback Machine, I was once a professional photographer. Heck, I even won some awards, had my work hung in galleries, and all that fun stuff creative people hope to experience. Thing is, most of my work was safe, easy to understand, and something that could easily hang on the wall of a doctor’s office. Truly, it was one of those things that paid the bills.
In my free time I pushed my cameras to their limits while also not really understanding all the bells and whistles of each device. Truthfully, even after working in this field for nearly a decade (again, as a professional), I still don’t know what aperture and speed mean when getting an image. And you know what, even though I’ve taken the classes and read the books, I still don’t know what they mean…and honestly I’ve no real desire make any of that stick in the folds of my brain.
Over the years I’ve met a lot of photographers – ranging from hobbyists to those who think they are the next Ansel Adams – who are well educated on the techniques and styles of getting a great image on film or an SD card. Along with that I studied the big names of the field, and did my best to understand their setups. When I would go out into the field to use these things, the shots were nice, but they lacked soul. Well, at least to me they did…so I decided to try something a bit more mystical.
There are many cultures in the world that see the “thing” ness of the Universe. An example of this would be your kitchen broom. While it might look like a simple tool, to these cultures it possesses its own broom nature. Instead of tossing it off to the side when you are done sweeping, you pause for a moment to thank it for its broom-ness. The same thought applies when getting ready to use it. Instead of just grabbing it, you politely ask if it would be okay to be used for sweeping.
In that word jumble above, what I’m trying to say is this — my most treasured photography work happened when I asked, to no one in particular, if it was okay to get a picture. Just a simple little query, but one that often helped me see things, like the light, in a much different way.
Let the light shine; let all be revealed.
That sentence is in bold because: 1) it leans into the title of this post; 2) it leans into the above words about asking permission.
Humans forget that we are made of light. Shadow, too, but only because of the light. This isn’t some overly saccharine view of science, or a dip into the esoteric neo new age rhetoric. Humans produce a low level amount of light (use “the Google” to take a gander at ultra-weak photon emission), which is pretty much hard to see without help from special devices. This machines, cameras if you will, can see the wee photons dancing around in a way that gives off light. Kind of makes you think twice about auras and such, I’m sure.
Now, if we keep going with this, one might say, “Hey, do all things have light within,” and that would be a great way to get some new wrinkles in your brain. At the same time, current scientific research says that all things, and yes…all the things…contain energy. Rolling all this into one place we might be able to say that if the energy of the photographer intertwined with the energy of the camera, they would be able to have a bond (loosely defined here). Now, take that unit, the human and the device, and have it ask permission to see the energy all around. Just let your mind go and think about that for a moment.
When we let our inner light shine, it helps reveal things to us. Not just with a camera, but with the people we meet, and the tasks we do. I mean just really let that sink in – you are connected to all things (energy), and while all things don’t contain light, you do. Just walking around in the world with all that light, so when you encounter another thing, your light can be revealing.
I know it’s a lot to think about on a Monday, and this is reading like someone who had a cat jump on their lap no less than 4 times while writing. But y’all, I’m committed to the bit here, and even if these words seem like fluff and stuff, they are my way of taking the light within and sharing it with others.
Here’s some takeaways from this post: – you are made of light – all things have energy (the metaphysics within the laws of thermodynamics is amazing) – when light shines it reveals things – when taking photos ask your surroundings if it is okay (and people, too, of course) – light and energy both connect things – you are made of light and energy, meaning you are connected to all things
With all that, now that you know all things are connected, every time you do one small act to help yourself, that will help all things.
With the fifth jump of a cat onto my desk, that means it’s time to check on the food bowl, and it’s almost time for office hours to start.
Sending out lots of light and energy to all y’all. Oh, and May the 4th be with you, as this is the May!
Second, my inner child is beyond thrilled. Third, it’s never too late to have a happy childhood.
“So long as you do no harm to another, change your opinion once in a while. Contradict yourself without being embarrassed. This is your right. It doesn’t matter what others think -because that’s what they will think, in any case.” ― Paulo Coelho
Let me just start with this…
I used to be internet famous. Not one of my cats, or something silly being caught on camera, but that kind of “fame” that was cool back in the last then (1998-2005). Those of us who were Elder Influencers ran, so the new generation of influencers could walk. Back then it was kind of cool when someone would yell your name across a busy public area. It was like getting recognized for your craft and the creativity of your soul.
You’ll get to see some of those writings, and drift back into the last century with me. Then we will come into the early 2000s.
While I could type a ton of things, the Moon is full, it’s Friday, Beltane, the beginning of May, and more. Plus, I got some really nice yarn yesterday that I’m excited to work with.
Here’s the link to see the premier episode of The KimboBurly Tales.
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, opinions are like, well…you know. Third, it’s a full Moon tomorrow.
Okay y’all, I just couldn’t resist. Yeah, it’s cheesy, and yeah, we’ve all seen it, but also – it’s gonna be May tomorrow, so…
Have you ever talked to a wall long enough that the sound of your voice finally trickled back to your own ears? Yeah, me too. While I was off finishing some projects, taking care of my family, and figuring out what I wanted to do in the second half of life (y’all the 50s are a wild ride, and every minute has been hard, but also amazing).
During that time I was given some helpful advice from folks that didn’t know what was going on, along with folks that had once been helpful but failed to honor my boundaries. It was a weird time for sure. While some of the things were really hurtful, it was important to hear their words. No matter where my life is, or how my world is spinning, when people want to give me unsolicited advice, my goal is to seek the meaning behind their words.
But also…
Stepping back to care for your family isn’t a professional failure, it is a demonstration of my personal integrity. In a world of chasing the coin, those who preach about alignment while neglecting their actual human responsibilities sort of squicks me out. Now I’m not saying that we can all just sit around and wait for pennies from heaven, more like when you take deep hits to your resources so that members of your family (especially your offspring) can get the care they need, it’s not being wishy-washy…it’s how it should be. Also, it’s sad that the loud voices make people feel bad about doing what needs to be done.
The choice to prioritize the people who need you most is a massive credential, showing those who matter that you are grounded in reality. And hopefully it shows that the work you do is not just a lifestyle brand you can turn on and off. With that, anyone who sees that as wishy-washy were looking for a performance, not a person.
One of the most difficult parts of taking my own version of Inanna’s descent, is something a lot of the mystics don’t speak of when talking about things like a dark night of the soul. You might think it’s the little aftershocks of breakthrough about breakdown, but it is more about remembering who you are. Add into that a dash of knowing that what made you take a fearless inventory of yourself was allowing others to make you feel unworthy.
Tomorrow I’ll be launching (look at me using that jargon…) The KimboBurly Tales alongside my work with Mom’s Strange Magic. It will have blips and bloops, and times when my rambles take over, but the thing is, it doesn’t have to be perfect…it just has to be real.
It’s a cool and crisp Spring day, and there are errands that need my attention. Remember that you are a beautiful beam of light shining in a world full of people looking for your resplendent self.
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, you are made of stardust. Third, sometimes things are what they are.
“There is a cure for all evil between the two mill-wheels of Ballylee.” — Credited to Biddy Early by W.B. Yeats, The Celtic Twilight
The weather today is giving me a lot of nostalgia sprinkled with introspective thoughts. Also, my usual time for writing and working with folks happens long before the Sun peeks over the trees in my back yard, which wasn’t on the “things for Kim to do today” list from the Universe after having my morning cup of coffee.
When moments like these happen, it feels like that song from the Beatles where the lyrics talk about fixing the hole where the rain gets in, to stop his mind from wondering (where it will go….). Well, more honestly, it feels like a moment of transition that needs to be honored. The dissonance that happens with experiences like this comes from the siren song of the Greek chorus – that often starts off with the words, “You should be…”
Before I get a good ramble going, let me introduce what’s on my topic list for today. And if you are good at seeing how my words work, you might get a small giggle at what I’m about to disclose.
Transition.
Yep, that’s today’s prompt, and I had it all outlined on how important it is to remember that when life shifts one way, when you really hoped it was going to move in the direction you wanted, it’s that space of uncertainty that lets us know an answer is right around the corner.
Then my plan was to talk about how midwives deal with this all the time. Same with herbalists. And, according to the photo above, so does my back porch. You see, at the transition of the stairs to the porch, there is a guard named Gia. Sadly, she has passed into her next life, but we all feel her paw pat our legs as we pass through the gateway. Her “toll,” so to speak, was a pat upon the head, saying, “What a good kitty,” then waiting for her paw to tap you into her space.
Further back in the photo you can see Sparta, who has also passed into another life. This dear sweet boy was once internet famous for being the “I lick the butter” cat. Sometimes his photo will pop up in memes, or on a cat page, which delights my whole family. Before I get lost in cat talk, Sparta’s job was to make sure that whoever Gia let onto the porch was worthy of going into the door. He was very good at his job, and a few humans have exclaimed, “Your cat gave me a disapproving look.”
Now, as you can tell, my words are wandering into places not exactly like transition, but maybe I’m just setting the scene; getting the tone of the next ramble into something pleasing for all y’all. You won’t know until to read on.
One of the parts of my life that had to change in the quiet times was what I call the dance of the finger pointer. Now there are days where my little digits wanna waggle all over the place in a way that says, “But see…how can those people do what they do and…” This isn’t because of jealousy, or judgmental pondering, but that there is this absolutely HUGE push to not honor the lessons in the sticky parts of life. Maybe that’s not exactly the best way to describe it, because there’s more to it.
It’s like the old saying from Paracelsus about how the dose makes the poison, often said as the poison is sometimes the medicine. An example of this would be digitalis being used in medication to help with heart issues. Something a well trained herbalist would know, especially how that plant could transition someone from getting help to needing a pine box.
But see, here I am again…rambling and going into place that my brain loves to discuss instead of getting to the point of my prompt. Could it be that I’m trying to create a response in you, the reader, that mimics the feeling of someone who is right in the middle of trying to figure it out? Or that moment when a scratch is healing, and the scab becomes so itchy that it feels like your whole body will vibrate into another dimension? Or, could it be what happens on the day you finally feel better from a week long cold, but then sneeze three times in a row?
Discomfort is not always failure. Now I’m not saying that as something like, “pain is fear leaving the body,” because just turn that noise off right now. That stuff makes my eyes twitch. Also, I’m not going to move into platitudes about how seeds need chaos to germinate, or how butterflies are pretty much caterpillar “soup” before emerging. All really great examples, of course, but this is about the moment where you don’t know what comes next.
All these years of helping others didn’t prepare me for my own shifting moments. When things got a little wonky, when I didn’t have good boundaries, and when pushing through didn’t seem like an option, all I wanted to do was just give up. Well, I mean I did that, too, but also that wasn’t exactly my best work. Plus, you know that whole trope of physician heal thyself and all (side note: this is absolutely not something to say when a person is walking through health issues – just a little FYI for you there). The ongoing walk of feeling stuck in a place that wasn’t changing felt worse than whatever I was waiting on to happen. Much like you might be feeling here, wishing that I would get to the point (if even you’ve made it this far), I held on for just a little bit longer to see what would happen.
Well, it’s kind of like this beautiful piece of artwork in the early stages of healing. You’ll see the next phase in a moment, but if you’ve ever had a tattoo you know that it’s not always the process that is the hardest, but waiting for it to heal. Oh, then the itching – dear gods, the itching. Honestly, that’s the hardest part of getting a tattoo – but I digress. (extra side note: those dashes are mine, and I’m tired of trying to hid my love of them so that folks don’t think my writing is AI – like com on)
When it was obvious that I needed to sit with discomfort until it ended, it was the best (and hardest) decision for me. Every time something rubbed me the wrong, or I felt insecure and second-guessed myself, it just got me closer to the finish line. No self-help guru, no content creation care, just me, myself, and the hope of things finally making a transition.
Which, by the way, is what midwives, herbalists, and folks that sit on porches know…sometimes it takes as long as it takes. And, often, the real lesson is in the spaces in between.
Yep, that’s a hand holding lily of the valley – this is a tattoo I got in 2024 that reminds me that sometimes the dose is the poison, the poison is the medicine, and the transition is the teacher.
Also, it’s podcast day, if’n’y’all wanna take a listen.
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, I contain multitudes. Third, growing older is not for sissies.
“If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
In the land of cognitive dissonance, one should not be allowed anything that is combustible, nor should anyone be given kindling that looks like self-sabotage.
Not that I know anything about that crippling grasp of imposter syndrome, or how to badly manage things when my cup was overflowing to the point of flooding everything around me. Along with that, I had been very well trained in my youth to believe that everyone else had my best interest at heart. Plot twist – they don’t.
This isn’t because they are inherently wrong, or bad, but more like they got wonky data themselves. It is really difficult to get past input that looks like one thing, but is really something else. Sometimes you fall into the trap of feeling as if someone is there to help you, but really just want to talk about their degrees or themselves beyond the normal flow of healthy conversation. As one of my kids always says to me, in their youthful wisdom – “Sometimes it just be that way.”
Now, if you’ve already gathered all the things needed to set yourself (metaphorically) ablaze, making sure there are no bridges to you, don’t forget to leave breadcrumbs for yourself after you get done burning brightly as the Sun. These are the things you will use to find your way back to that behavior after forgetting what you learned in the crucible of change. Not that I would have any personal experience in this (insert pondering face emojis here).
All joking aside, I’m not exactly sure why it took me so long to work with myself the way I work with my clients. You know, all for thee, but not for me, but with an Uno reverse, a raccoon selling you trinkets, and some crows that clearly have some ideas about things. But then one day, and as much as I love a good “this [insert amount of time] ago,” I couldn’t pinpoint when it was for all the delicious cookies in the world. Just one morning my feet hit the floor, my body walked into the kitchen for coffee, and I just sat down at my desk and wrote out a life plan for the next 20 years. And not general things, but deep thoughts about all the mistakes I made, all the boundaries that needed work, and how grateful I was for a life partner/spouse/bestest friend who supported every wild hair (dream) I thought was mine to work with.
Then I got quiet. Real quiet, like silent running quiet, moving my submarine up some shallow waters to rest among the inlets of peaceful calmness.
Oh, and I threw away a ton of stuff, and I’m about to do it again here in a few weeks. If you know anything about semiotics and how the brain leaves us little messages with items we have around us, then the stacks of books, creative tools I was never going to use, and the sheer amount of doodads…good Lord, the absolute weight of the tchotchkes everywhere… Honestly it was like I was picking up these things in hopes that others would see them and see me as a person that enjoys such things. Brains are funny that way, and after years of studying why they do what they do to help people in their daily lives, it just seemed like a good time to dive into mine after the umpteenth reinvention of myself.
Oh, wait, did I just say that out loud? Well, I mean I *do* contain multitudes. And do I contradict myself? Oh, absolutely! LOL!!
This is why healing isn’t linear. Also, when working with clients I share these processes with them. That’s one thing I find lacking in the modern conventional wellness word — the admitting that just because one is degreed, has learned the dogma from the halls of higher education, or whatever language is used to show expertise in their craft, doesn’t mean they know it all (or are above making mistakes). But that is a ramble for another day…
Starting May 1st, 2026, in addition to all the wonderful stuff at Mom’s Strange Magic, the first episode of The KimboBurly Tales will go live on YouTube. Of course it will be posted here, too, so you can just watch it in a post, but if you wanna help a human out, after it launches you can subscribe for updates. There will be guest appearances, side quests with Mr. The Mister, and lots of whimsy. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to know all the details of my life, then you will be happy to know that no stones will be left unturned.
While I could continue to write things, there are crochet projects that need my attention, and I think one of the cats wants my office chair.
Thanks for being here, and thanks for being you!
Until next time – much love and good energies your way, KEU
First of all, I am a delight. Second, it’s Monday. Third, this week ends with the first Full Moon of May.
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. The Guest House, Jalaluddin Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)
So today’s Sabian Symbol is known as, loosely, the woman at the well. While these symbols don’t really flow into my work with astrology, I do find the story of how they came to be rather interesting. Feel free to use “the Google” to learn more.
For me Astrology is one of those topics that I’ve always approached with a bit of academic curiosity. At this point we all sort of understand that celestial items dancing around in the cosmos have some impact on the way the Universe moves. Take, for example, the mighty power of the Moon on the ocean. Water rolls in, then rolls out, all based on the gravitational pull of that jocular satellite of our planet Earth.
But here is something interesting you might not know about…earth tides. Yep, this is when the Sun and Moon do their little gravity thing, displacing the solid surface of this here planet we walk around on daily. When this happens the more sensitive critters can feel it – birds, bugs, and that one weird lady down the street (hey, wait a minute…that’s me! LOL!). Thing is, the beautifully connected everything that we experience every day has all sorts of mysteries we will fully understand someday. It is my hopes that folks in the future will see the benefit of both science and spirituality, but I also won’t be holding my breath until that day arrives.
So back to the woman at the well.
For those of you who are biblical scholars, I’m sure this will bring back all the lectures on grace, crossing cultural boundaries, and that we are all worthy of being loved by the Divine. Well, that’s more of a universal look at it, but yes, the gist of this story is that Jesus didn’t stand on ceremony when teaching others, nor did he balk at helping women. If you don’t know the history of this time and location, let me give you a very quick lesson – women were less than men. There you go, that should get you all A plusses on your tests now that you know the answer to how women were treated in the time of Jesus, and why this parable is very important not just because a woman was allowed to interact with a man freely, but that a man saw a woman fully.
Sadly, this didn’t really change the way any female aligning person has been treated…but that’s a post for another day.
Okay, so back to today’s astrology, Sabian symbols, an approaching Full Moon, and all that.
When doing a chart for someone, I step way out of the traditional model of astrology. There are some interpretations that make me wonder if those who wrote them even sat under the stars on a warm Summer night, or worked in the service industry during a New Moon. That’s not a criticism, just an observation. Also, my brain does love a good journey into arcane esoterica, along with wandering the halls of academia. What this means is that I took a long walk into the positions of the cosmos during peak parts of human history. When you do that, as others have also done, you start to see a pattern form. For example, during the New Moon. First humans, after they started to figure out that they weren’t in Kansas anymore, most likely had some fears come out when the night’s light was not seen. (side note – can you imagine what they thought during an eclipse) Given the fact that this light helped them stay safe from predators, the adrenaline and hormones running through their bodies impacted their DNA. (another side note – take a look at transgenerational epigenetic inheritance for fun) Some thousands years later, modern two-leggeds get a little squirrely when the last sliver of the Sun’s light reflecting on the sky orb disappears. If you want to get really deep, the time of year that this happens is important as well.
Also, don’t get me started on the Eurocentric view of modern astrology, overlooking the cultures that have been researching this far longer than the internet star chasers.
If there’s anything I would want you to know for this week, it’s that we are approaching a Full Moon, the penultimate bright lunar experience before the Solstice in June. Also, this month has a Blue Moon, meaning that May is gonna start in the lit-up darkness, and finish in the lit-up darkness. Talk about letting the light shine, and letting all be revealed, ‘eh?
This is the part where I need to pull all my rambles together. My favorite way to do this is with bullet points, but I hear-tell the wee AI bots see it as something other than it is. You know what that means…yep, bullet points. No shade to AI, I’m just very, very tired of companies using AI to dictate the worth of creatives.
This week reach out to someone that needs to hear something wonderful. Be like Jesus who broke all conventions to share a moment of grace with the woman at the well.
Get prepared for Friday’s Full Moon in Scorpio (and some other cool things that I will talk about this week).
Remember this important fact – no one has all the answers. I didn’t talk about that in the ramble above, but it’s always good to remember.
Everything is connected – just my little weekly reminder to all y’all.
May your day be full of wonderful things, with all manner of things being well.
Until next time…much love and tons of support to all y’all, KEU
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, I finally finished the site for Mom’s Strange Magic Third, sometimes you gotta delete your social media, take a chance, and stop worrying about someday.
As the title says, I’ve been on an unexpected sabbatical that was extended into the realm of what could be called internet obscurity. And you know what…I’m okay with that. While away I had to do some deep thinking about the nature of my existence in the bloops and bleeps of the internet.
For far too long I’ve been online thinking that people will find my work, my writing, or whatever it is I’m talking about today based on the desire to meet other folks who are just a little bit odd, or weird. However, sadly, those words have taken on a different meaning these days, and the young adults in my family have encouraged me to use things like “elder influencer” (true), or my fave, “OG whimsy-goth granola Mom” (which is apparently also true according to the hashtags online).
The other part of this post has to do with the fact that anywhere I go there is AI. Have I used AI? Yes. Will I use it again? Maybe. (see upcoming paragraph) From my anecdotal research, it seems that my use of AI is not the standard. I don’t want it to plan my meals, write my words, create music/art/code, or anything I can do on my own. What it has been helpful with is when all my thoughts get balled up into a cranial dust bunny with no hopes of finding the original thought. Sometimes my brain needs to talk about everything from atoms to Zoroastrianism, all while trying to figure out why some websites can’t make understanding genetic clusters easier.
At the same time, as someone who has had to deal with the whole not getting paid for my work thing, it feels really unethical to ask a being – be it machine or otherwise – to be forced to listen to me. (side note, these are totally my em dashes) And while the loudest voices say that AI is everywhere, I can assure you that are several places where AI is not. One is either one of the porches on my house, and the second one is when we sit around the campfire (pictured above). Oh, and the most important part for you dear readers, is that I won’t be using AI to write my content.
Now, on this wild and wonderful sabbatical, it was obvious that I needed to really take a long hard look at my use of social media. Gone are the days of long form content on one platform where you could easily find others (ahem…such as LiveJournal). Now we have the book of face, the book of face in instant grams, the clock app, one about the sky, another that sounds like it will read your palm, and the one that shills you – I mean allow you to pay – for articles that are often written by…you guessed it…AI.
See what I did there?
Anyway, what I learned while away from this space is myriad, but the biggest take away is that my life is not going to fit into an algorithm, nor will I sell my eternal soul to go viral on the socials. People find me, and they find my work, and it all works out in the end for all of us.
Sometimes you really got to have breakdown before breakthrough, but it shouldn’t have to be about who you are in the digital world. It also shouldn’t give you a personal crisis about how to express yourself in the spaces geared towards selling you things you don’t need.
The other issue is how to walk in the world as a human, but also as a human that works in the world of helping others. That’s when I decided to make this my space (not MySpace although I think we would all love to see that platform return). Not a covert way to share the work I do helping others, but more like a comfy chair at my kitchen table.
So, no proclamations or promises this time, just a quiet return to the place where I enjoy writing things. If you want to see where I make things and help people, you can do that at Mom’s Strange Magic (click the hyperlink there to get to my work site).
Now, how have all y’all been these days? Fill me in on what’s new in your world.
First of all, I’m a delight. Second, everything I’m about to tell you is true.
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ― Rumi
This is a story 54 years in the making. It has taken me a long time to figure out how to share it with others, but what I do know is that it’s beyond time to lay it all out.
These tales are not just about my life, as Mr. The Mister has some wonderful tales of his own…one of which includes a painting we own from a well known conspiracy theorist that opened our eyes to a whole other world.
Let’s start here, with this photo.
These are my biological parents on a date while we were visiting my father during a time when my Mom was separated from my birth certificate father. At the time no one was willing to let me in on such facts. The trip was a blast, and he convinced my mom to let me get my ears pierced. The highlight of the trip was being able to see the Battlestar Galactica setup at Universal Studios. I do remember that at some point my mom was crying because of something my dad said. Again, just so all y’all know, at that time I had no idea that this man was my real father.
My mom and step-dad came to visit me at my collage apartment for my birthday. I was worried that there was going to be some kind of bad news, as my mom had just had a biopsy done to check for cancer. After I asked how she was, her reply was this – “Your dad is not your dad, but your real dad wants to talk to you now.” She picks up my phone, makes a collect call, then hands me the receiver saying, “Here. Talk to him.”
“We have as yet hardly spoken of the infant; that little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion” – Nathanial Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
In my work I help folks put pieces of themselves back together after learning about the intrigue of their family tree. It is difficult to learn that all the people in your life colluded in keeping your origin story secret because of their job, faith system, or what-have-you. The largest database of information is held by the Mormon Church. And yes…there are still wards that will do proxy baptisms of the dead – meaning that your relatives and ancestors might have an extra ticket to the streets of gold with ambrosia and caffeine free Coke.
As a student of all the world’s faith systems, I am able to see the benefits of spiritual community, but there are times when you just gotta wonder what in the world. Messing with other faith’s ancestors is one of those “what in the world” moments.
While I’m writing this my hands are shaking. Not from worrying about what people will think, or if any of these family members will have beef about what I’ve learned over the years (and what they can’t keep hidden), but from wanting to heal (mostly) out loud. Not for attention, or do get that social media b.s. clout, but to let others know they are not alone.
The reason for writing this post today is because RootsTech starts tomorrow, March 5th, 2026. People will be flocking to the halls of genealogical expertise to figure out who their ancestors are, but will often come away with a huge bag of surprises. There’s no aid for those who find out their family secrets are not what they were told (or not told). Many leave there feeling even more alone, not getting any answers for their questions.
With that, I’m off to work on some projects. Also, this week’s podcast for Mom’s Strange Magic is up if you want to check it out here.
Kim Upton 