Solstice Status Updates

Hey there folks, it's been a while. I've had a busy, busy past few weeks and have had precious little time to sit and write. Truthfully, I should be out working right now instead of sitting at my kitchen counter on my laptop updating a handful of relative strangers and a smaller handful of relatives and close friends on the goings on in my life, but the kid and I can use a break for the day before we get back to the grind tomorrow.

Shelter life means that when school is out, where I go, the kid goes. That burden is somewhat alleviated by the modicum of amicability maintained between the Doob's father and I during what would otherwise be a contentious and acrimonious split. In other words, the kid goes to Dad's house off and on as needed to make things easier, but our day will start at 2:30am tomorrow. Further, today is one of the few days this week I am supposed to get a respite from radio contact with my now-ex-partner, soon-to-be-ex-husband.

I won't drag the preteen out to DoorDash late into the evening with such an early start on the horizon, nor will I break radio silence to drop the kiddo off instead. The Pixie (my sociopathic persona—the who I become when I flip my empathy switch into the "off" position) is nothing if not practical, and the most wins come from taking the day to catch up on catching up. Thus, here I sit, tapping away on my keyboard and getting excited about the prospects my future holds.

In the interim since my last update, I have reconnected and re-disconnected from the Ghost to whom I wrote "what i'll never get to say" pending the return of my conscience to its rightful place in my psychic makeup. In fact, the Ghost is the one who let the Pixie out of her very tightly locked cage in order to deal with the coming battle of wills that is preparing for a separation. Hopefully, however, she will be able to be re-caged before the subsequent divorce and the Ghost returned to my life for good.

You see, the Pixie is a mask. She is not my natural state: she is simply who I need to become to deal with other sociopaths and come out alive and on top. That's why, when she bit the Ghost as pixies are wont to do, we decided to part ways until I can put her away again. To pursue a kind-hearted single father while in a sociopathic masking state would be irresponsible. Instead, I'll be getting the companionship I need during this era of my life from my best friend and alleged partner in crime, another sociopath and a reformed narcissist: the Squirrel.

We're working on taking over the world, the Pixie and the Squirrel. Between our tandem marketing agency and the metAlchemy cult, we're making moves and taking steps to make measurable improvements in the daily lives of literally every person we encounter. To that end, I have started on a new project: a book called "ChristiAlchemy: A Metaphysical Framework for Becoming Christ-Like" on which I plan to collaborate with a local inclusive church to ensure due deference is paid as I explore the cross-section of meta-alchemy and Christianity.

I plan to include a section for using my playlist augury guided introspection technique for prayer by combining the three targeted techniques into a new, faith-centric configuration. My housemates have benefitted from the playlist techniques, especially since I decided to offer my $50 personalized playlist introspection prescriptions to other domestic violence survivors free of charge if they're referred to me by a vetted source. I even created a code word to distribute to shelters and other DV/SV resources. Interested in sending referrals my way for self-led low-stress EMDR music therapy tools? Shoot me a message at [email protected] and I'll get into the details.

Speaking of shelters, I'm trying to start a peer-to-peer women's advocacy program at the shelter in which I'm living. The program would include peer-led skill transfer activities such as gardening and cooking groups, one-to-one planning and life-skill advocacy with staff support, a housing pipeline with a local transitional housing program, and a stable part-time income for women with exceptional professional skills who need help getting back on their feet and want to help others do the same.

I'm mirroring most of the program after the co-occurring disorder counseling program at Compass Health Network, but with modifications for domestic abuse survivorship. Funding is the fun bit; I want to hold a benefit concert headlined by one of three major artists in exchange for including a reference to their name in the name of the program: Maia & Nina's Peer-to-Peer Advocacy Program. I'm using my pseudonym because the point is that it isn't about us, it's about doing the work.

So, as we head into the solstice and then the new year, these are the things that have me excited for the fresh start I richly deserve after a decade and a half of hell. Stay tuned for more fun, like my NMS magnet collection on Threadless and the genesis of Rabid Squirrel Marketing's A.I. powerhouse program—both coming sooner than later to a post in your feed. Until then, stay weird, space orcs.

XO - Maia