Amor Fati

What we behold in the image above are the words of Friedrich Nietzsche. There’s so much there, but I’ll pause over amor fati to note that it refers to something like love of ones own fate. The concept has been granted a Wikipedia entry, and it’s also the subject of an especially wonderful episode of This Jungian Life. I bet there are seasons and circumstances in which an appeal to amor fati is catastrophically unhelpful, but I find the whole passage inspiring. Maybe it’s a little like “Grow where you’re planted” or “Get curious about your own privilege” or “Make the most of the particulars of the accident of your own birth.” The “Yes-sayer” part reminds me of the concluding part of James Joyce’s Ulysses as well as Charles Williams’ description of the way of affirmation. To me, it isn’t about resignation. It’s about looking hard and humbly and honestly and perhaps even lovingly at the available materials of your own life. To love a person is to love a process. Amor fati involves loving yourself by loving—minutely and particularly—your own process, including the unseemly bits. Holding them tenderly and truthfully. Maybe this is how transformation occurs.

And if beauty prepares the heart for justice, maybe there’s something in amor fati about finding my own life—all the parts—beautiful. I mean…look at this guy:

That lovely thumb belongs to my sister, Liz. The image was captured by my father, Joel Dark Sr.

That’s about it from me as the year draws to a close, but…please report back if you’ve read my book. I’ll share images from the ongoing book tour sometime next week (I think). Thanks, in the meantime, to all the lovely people who’ve posted images like these on God’s internet.

I also thank the person who said this: “David Dark Cancelled Himself. 200+ pages of David Dark whipping himself for being born a white male. It’s not your fault, David. You’re trying your best.” All publicity is good publicity?

Also…today is the day I clicked on a Substack button which gave me access to the names of (and personal messages from) those of you who’ve pledged money as subscribers to my free Substack. Serious thanks, all of you! There’s….a chunk of change there. I’m somewhat undecided, but….I can see a future in which I might accept that money. I say this to say that anyone reading this should feel free to unpledge or contact me to let me know you want me to give you your money back if I end up accepting it. Make sense? I apologize for the awkardness.

Thank you, everyone, for tuning in and helping me feel less alone.