Christopher Mannino
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    • School of Deaths
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Stars

2/25/2017

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With the recent discovery of seven Earth-sized planets around a star, I've been thinking a lot about space. My current work in progress, an adult high fantasy series, was inspired by walks at night with my dog, when I'd gaze at the stars. I started thinking about how different people can view the same image in different ways...
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Stars are ancient. Light from the nearest star, our sun, is already several minutes old when it strikes us, and most of the other stars are years or even centuries old. If a star supernovas tomorrow, we might not know for a millennium. Yet, who really thinks about that when looking up? Do you look up and see what's there, or do you see an impression of something different? Do you dream of things to come, or do you simply pause, wondering what's going on far away... 
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Cupid and Psyche

2/6/2017

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It's February, a month often associated with love, and in MythicMondays, I mentioned the story of Cupid's most famous love affair.

​Psyche was a mortal who was so beautiful, people started worshiping her as a goddess of love. Jealous, Venus sent her son Cupid to force her to fall in love with a monster. Cupid accidentally scratched his leg with his arrow, falling in love with Psyche himself.

Psyche's father consulted an oracle, and decided to sacrifice her, to avoid the wrath of Venus. Cupid convinced the west wind, Zephyr, to abduct Psyche for him, saving her from being sacrificed. She awoke in a magnificent palace. Every night Cupid visited her, but remained hidden in shadow and darkness, since he wanted her to love him for himself and not because he's a god.

Psyche fell in love with Cupid, but she became terribly homesick. Unable to refuse her anything, Cupid granted her a visit with her sisters. Zephyr brought Psyche's evil sisters to the palace. Jealous of her opulent life, they convinced her she's been loving a monster. Under their advisement Psyche used a lamp to illuminate Cupid while he slept and find out the truth of her sisters words. She startles him awake. Angry that she didn't trust him, he cast her out of the palace and returned to Olympus. 

​Psyche wandered the world, suffering from love sickness. She went to Venus and begged her to intervene and convince Cupid to return to her. Venus doesn't believe that Psyche is good enough for her son, so she sends her to complete impossible tasks to earn her blessing. Psyche meets every challenge, determined to win back Cupids love.

Cupid, upon watching his loved one struggle to win back his love, saves her from the disastrous last task in the underworld that nearly takes her soul. He begs Jupiter, King of the Gods, for help. Jupiter grants Psyche immortality, and a great wedding for Psyche and Cupid is held in the heavens, with all gods present. Their love became a symbol for the first "soulmates" for artists and writers for the rest of time. ​


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Cupid and Psyche, by Bouguereau
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Wedding of Cupid of Psyche, by Raphael
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A World Turned Upside-Down

2/1/2017

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Every time I look at the news, it seems the whole world is a bit crazy lately. Yet, for me personally, my world is also drastically different. Last month, after a lot of careful deliberation and many discussions, I left my job as a theatre teacher. I am now writing full-time, and am also taking care of my son full-time. 
New Boss
My new boss, pictured to the left, is very enthusiastic.
I enjoy working with him, but there are a few difficulties.

For starters, he really likes to throw his weight around. Once he gets on a roll, there's no stopping him. He also drops the ball a lot. I try to pick up the slack, and the ball, and everything else.

The new boss sleeps on the job, and even makes a mess in the office. He's lately got me confused with one of my fellow co-workers ("Mama") and can really throw a fit if we don't listen to his ideas, and sometimes even if we do. 

The best thing about my new job situation is inspiration itself. When the news seems too crazy, a few minutes of playtime make everything else seem far away. Besides, he's taught me the most important lesson in life: when everything else fails, try a nap.
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