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Wednesday, September 23, 2020Witchy Tea Time--The MummyIt's once again that time of year when I re-watch classic monster movies--and I always begin with The Mummy movies (as it is much easier to get in the proper frame of mind for a warm-weather monster when the weather is still warm and wretchedly sunny). We have a rich tradition of storytelling that's suitable for spooky season, and I like to embrace both our ancient and modern heritage.Say what you will of the shortcomings of any film in which The Mummy appears, as much as you may root for the heroes to win the day, there is always a place in your heart that sympathizes with the monster and wishes to rewrite the stars for a more agreeable outcome for all. The Mummy gets to me at the visceral level because of it's literal bandages that keep it bound and the story around The Mummy in which the plot and other characters act in a way that ensures The Mummy remains bound metaphorically as well. I think the emotional impact of this character is most significant for people who have felt trapped or bound or unable to achieve their goals.No matter mistakes or wrong turns we may take in life, there is a limit to how much we ought to properly suffer. There comes a moment when it's time to put that down and leave it behind. Eternal punishment is nonsensical--but you don't have to look far to see people who gleefully seek to inflict that on others. Attempts to keep people bound to their mistakes is cruel and unjust--and it represents trying to maintain the status quo without regard to what the cost of that status quo is or even if it's of benefit to anyone involved. This is a very ugly aspect of--if not human nature, but a manifestation of poor character. What of the occassions when the binding of the spirit if self-inflicted? This is more difficult to address, because we're wrestling with our own sense of remorse as well as cringey memories that have a way of preying upon the mind. The solution may involve making what restitution that is possible, attempts to rebuild relationships if possible and proper--but in the end it does come down to forgiving ourselves and knowing that we will do our best in the future. Easy to say--often difficult to do. There's no short cuts--however much we might wish that there were.The cruelest part of The Mummy--in all his incarnations--is the loss of the dream of what could have been. What if his beloved had lived and he could have lived out his natural life with her? What if he had been shown mercy in his grief and allowed to atone and go to rest? What if he had pursued his goals in a rational and moral manner? What if, what if, what if!It may be the most torturous phrase in any langugage--what if. It does not focus on what has actually occurred and what to do next. It does not address itself to the task of allowing yourself to heal. It doesn't let you move forward--and that is the true lesson of The Mummy; never permit "what if" and grief to blind you to that which is still possible and enables your journey to continue.