Lit Chat

Inspiration for being human.

Revival, Agency, Creative Alchemy

Thursday July 23, 2026

Happy Thursday humans! Here is this week's literary inspiration for being human...

Let's consider revival...

Last week I attended a literature seminar titled "Love, Loss, and Lucidity." Our discussions explored how individual grief influences social interactions in a democratic society. As we engaged with several texts including Antigone, I thought about how suppressing grief can eventually result in suppression of our ability to care deeply for one another. Some people speak of feeling "dead inside" or feeling disconnected from humanity. For others, unresolved grief can lead to rage. 

In Woman Outside the City, Sequoia and Zane are each grieving the loss of their status as valid citizens. Their grief responses are different, and it's interesting to consider how one can possibly have a "healthy" grief response when faced with the loss of their home, their possessions, and the only world they've ever known. But one must grieve, and if one intends to thrive, there must be ways of helping people revive themselves once again.

How do you grieve? And how do you "revive" yourself when you have to carry on? How have you been changed by grief? How has it influenced your interactions with others?

Let's discuss agency...

"Why should I ask a question? Why should I question the way things are? Who's in charge of the algorithms? Why don't you ask them?" 

—"Zane as Ismene, Antigone, Too" in Woman Outside the City

As our world changes, how do we revive our sense of humanity? What questions can we ask to begin the process of healing our economic, technological and social divides? 

Let's listen to creative alchemy...

This video of "The Wolves" by Watchhouse includes the band's discussion of their inspiration for the song, and it's a great example of creative alchemy, or "the transformative process of turning personal experiences, emotions, and challenges into meaningful, authentic art." Examining (and not ignoring) our love, loss and grief can help us confront the call to alchemy and agency. Rather than shrug their shoulders and live in despair about social and political injustice, Watchhouse recorded "The Wolves," a song which brings me to tears and also helps keep hope alive that we will be able to make progress as a society that cares for humanity. Not only do music, art, and literature allow people to practice creative alchemy, they also raise awareness and inspire others to make a difference. 

How might you practice creative alchemy to transform your grief into meaningful, authentic art?