Embers - One Ojibway’s Meditations by Richard Wagamese.

“We carry the embers of all the things that burned and raged in us. Pains and sorrows, to be sure, but also triumphs, joys, victories and moments of clear-eyed vision. People give us those. People cause flames to rise in our hearts and minds and spirits, and life would not be life without them” (174). Richard Wagamese’s Embers is a beautifully rich collection of poetic thoughts and meditations. It is a small book that can be consumed easily, but can also be enjoyed one or two pages at a time. His writing is lyrical and trance-like, and there is an honesty that invites the reader to really focus on every word, and every sentence. Wagamese’s command of language is magical, and he encourages his readers to re-examine the world through new eyes. His life experiences and Ojibway heritage offers him a grounded perspective on his relationship with others, our Earth, and the Creator (She). His beliefs and meditations may inspire people to re-evaluate our relationship with the world around us. I tried to absorb every word, to allow his words to soak into my skin, to wash me clean so that I could revisit the world afresh. This book was like a gorgeous crackling bonfire, one that I couldn’t turn my eyes away from because I was adamant to watch every ember burn until it faded away. I found so many wonderful treasures inside this book, gems that sparkled bright with unlimited wisdom. Wagamese’s meditative thoughts prove that he writes from his heart, and in that moment, he means exactly what he writes. His purity is enchanting. I found it extremely difficult to limit myself to my favourite quotations. I will admit that I have underlined, starred too many passages to count, but I decided to pick specific quotes that can apply to this special feature, to our lives as global citizens, as readers, and as humans. “I want to question deeply enough that I am made more not by the answers so much as my desire to continue asking questions” (23). When I write the novel reviews for this blog, I start by focusing on what questions I want to ask. It is not that we should always be searching for concrete answers or absolute Truths, but that we should foster critical minds. The younger generations should be taught to adopt a critical lens, so that they can question and critically analyze what they see, what they read, and what they are taught. To foster change, the world needs critical citizens who are conscious, so that they can be active citizens instead of passive or submissive individuals. “Unity cannot exist when exclusion is allowed to occur” (40). Prejudice, discrimination and other oppressive ‘isms’ (ie. sexism, racism, classism, etc.) still exist. As global citizens, activists and feminists, we must fight against these forms of exclusion. In a world where there is so much hate and violence, we need to spread messages of love and peace. Activism can be peaceful. Feminism is not man-hating. We should not hate those who cling to different opinions, but instead engage with them thoughtfully and critically. Ask why they believe what they do. Question, but do not attack. We aim to engage in conversations. If you attack your ‘opponent’, you shut down the opportunity for dialogue, they will go on the defensive, and you will not get anywhere. The definition of progress means moving forward. To move forward we must have open dialogues that allow growth to happen. “I no longer want to be resilient. I don’t want to simply bounce back from things that hurt me or cause me pain. Bouncing back means returning to where I stood before. Instead, I want to go beyond the hurts and the darkness. The first step toward genuine healing from my mental illness was when I came to trust and believe that there was a beyond” (108). Things can never go back. The only constant in life is change. We should always push forward. I had never really thought critically about the saying ‘bounce back’ even though it has been said to me throughout my life, but Wagamese is right. We need to allow our experiences to shape us, to affect us, so that we can learn from them and grow. Mental health and self care are often neglected in our fast-paced society. As humans, we must acknowledge that it is time to heal, and there is no shame in that. ‘Bouncing back’ suggests moving on quickly, pretending to be just as you were ‘before’. This does not encourage growth as an individual. Allow yourself to heal at your own pace, and focus on the idea of progress, moving forward and past whatever hurt you. You will be stronger for it. “Raise through art the gamut of our collective humanity, our burgeoning spirit, so that Creator might see Herself in everything and smile” (169). Wagamese discusses his beliefs throughout his meditations, and acknowledges the Creator often throughout the book. His relationship to the Creator is heart-warming, and I found the idea of a maternal force to be comforting. Wagamese suggested that we come together through art. The arts allow us to explore, to question, and to engage with the world around us. Art and activism often have close ties, and we must not underestimate the power of it. Art also allows for self-reflection, for healing, and for self-expression. We can learn about each other and come together through art, which is the message that Wagamese reminds us of. “We’re all storytellers… That is our power as human beings. Not to tell people how to think and feel and therefore know - but through our stories allow them to discover questions within themselves” (172). We cannot tell people how to think. As feminists and activists, we cannot and do not have the right to tell people that they are wrong. We must engage with them thoughtfully and carefully, to allow them to discover potential problematic beliefs that they hold onto. Every person has room to grow, and every person can change their mind; it is what makes us human. We must remember that our life is shaped by our experiences, and our beliefs are affected by our experiences. To be a progressive person, it takes a lot of time and energy spent on self-reflection and critical engagement. No one is perfect, but it is the effort towards growth that counts. The themes of growth and (positive) change can be found in Wagamese’s meditations. As feminists we must also focus on and encourage growth and change not only in the world, but also in ourselves. We must engage in self-reflection to learn about ourselves, our thoughts, our habits, our instincts, and our subconscious minds. Self-discovery is a continuous process that must be revisited throughout your life. You can never go back, so you should always push forward. This book is a set of tools that can coax and coach the reader to engage with thoughtful, caring self-reflection. Wagamase asks questions of himself, and in turn of the reader. He does not give or suggest answers, but prompts the reader to question how they view the world. Self-reflection is the key to fully engaging with this text, and Wagamese invites you to think.

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