CONSILIENCE
A Companion Blog to The Ash Girl
Consilience is a scientific method of validating a hypothesis across multiple disciplines. The biologist E.O. Wilson reclaimed the root of the word, which means “a jumping together” in his book of the same name. In it he posed the radical notion that the arts and social sciences might be invited to that auspicious table. This blog, and The Ash Girl, is a bit of an homage to E.O. Wilson’s proposal. Each post offers a deeper look into the story, the symbolism, the science and the themes from the author’s point of view (by chapter) and welcomes you to add yours.
In this way we might come to some expanded understanding and shared awe of our half-known worlds.
Flying Lessons
“Teach me to fly.”
Chapter 9 is a flying lesson; wherein Asmeret and Charlotte (and Frieda) are ‘leveling up’ their own ‘powers’ (been hanging out with my nine-year-old nephew who uses this language daily), and learning to hear and use their gifts with the help of their teachers coaxing them into experimenting, taking risks, and trusting their instincts.
Muck
They landed in the muck at the bottom of the sea, arms sprawled on wings, where they all feel asleep.
For many years, that first scene I wrote was the first scene in the book. Asmeret stands on the cliff and Asmara runs to her, tries to reach her in time. Now it’s in Chapter XIII. The end of the one who was once Asmeret.