6 Mood Prescriptions to Change Your Vision.
{Photo: photobucket.com}
By Jessica Pritchard.
I discovered something rather special. I can manufacture moods. Sometimes they catch me by surprise, but there are other strange and fantastic times where I can choose them.
I try them on like clothing and stitch their fraying edges with care. I pick them out like puppies in windows, choosing the scruffy and shy. I coax them out of their cozy caves or delicate seashells for my own enjoyment. Sounds rather sick, doesn’t it?
If you would like to partake in this wonderful sickness, please read on. I have six mood prescriptions here for you to choose, free of charge.
1. “I want to feel like a kid again.”
“So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.” ~ Gaston Bachelard
Time to collect cicada shells and reconvene with the ladybug. You may also like to build villages out of sticks or try your hand at mud pie making. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch your beloved childhood films.
My inspiration: Hook (who doesn’t love an imaginary food fight?), The Goonies and The Labyrinth. Warning: David Bowie in tight pants may ruin your child-like feelings. Get your grubby hands into some Play-Doh too.
You may even like to taste it and remember what a disgusting surprise it was to find that the flavor didn’t match the scent. As the cherry on top, I suggest drinking red fizzy and feeling really naughty about it.
2. “I want to feel lovely.”
“Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of woods before sunrise.”
~ George Washington Carver
Tea is a must. I think Lady Grey has loveliness written all over it. Whilst drinking said tea, why not read some romantic poetry? William Blake is an excellent choice. Alternatively, listen to the kind of music that makes you want to float: Imogen Heap and Bjork turn me into bubbles every time.
If the juices are flowing, grab some art materials and dance them onto the page. Pastels or watercolor pencils are best suited to the mood.
Next, take a wander through the woods if you live nearby (a garden will do), and watch dew drops cling to branches or the breeze conduct the leaves to whisper lullabies. If you’re lucky, you may be circled by butterflies. Use lace doilies and if you own a bonnet, you should definitely wear it.
3. “I want to feel sexy.”
“Where you from, you sexy thing? Sexy thing, you… ” ~ written by Tony Wilson and Errol Brown, performed by Hot Chocolate
Firstly, this depends on the kind of sexy you want to feel.
Sexy #1:
This kind of sexy is best kept at home. It requires Al Green. You could go all out and Barry White the night, but this is a risky choice as laughter may ensue. In fact, laughter is practically guaranteed. If you have an open fireplace, lay in front of it, preferably on a furry rug. The ladies love that.
Now that you’re set up, it’s time for hot chocolate, a hint of chilli will, needless to say, add a little spice to the occasion. Another beverage option is a giant glass of red wine to swirl. Skivvies may or may not be involved.
Sexy #2:
This sexy is best lived out on dimly lit city streets. Red lipstick, complete with pout or one loose tie. Sexy music suggestions include Franz Ferdinand and Beck. This mood works very well after a bold new haircut. Shiny tights reminiscent of Danny or Sandy in Grease also work brilliantly.
Now add a long jacket you can unbutton, and perfect the powerful strut.
4. “I want to feel like a traveler.”
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” ~ Jack Kerouac
Besides actually traveling, there are three ways we can do this.
Way #1:
Get a travel guide of your own town and see the sights with fresh eyes. Take a journal with you and write down all the magic that hides within the mundane. While you’re at it, try wandering down paths you’ve never been. A newly discovered park can be just as exciting as a holiday.
Send Wish you were here postcards to your friends.
Way #2:
Want to go to France? Well, buy a baguette, my friend! Sport a beret and drink Champagne whilst reading Sartre. Pick your culture and completely embody it. Maybe you want to go to India, so cook delicious curries and decorate yourself with henna and bindis.
Perhaps Italy is your destination of choice, time to eat spaghetti and watch La Dolce Vita. Okay, so I may be stereotyping here, but find a way to immerse yourself in the culture, perhaps even learn the language. If all else fails, get on to some quality documentaries.
Way #3:
If you want realism, then wander around the streets aimlessly and fall asleep in airports. Carry around a ridiculously heavy backpack and watch people be friendlier to you. Be confused about signs and pay extortionate prices for taxi cabs.
Get frustrated at your companion over train times, dodgy food choices and expensive souvenirs.
5. “I want to relish my epic heartbreak.”
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~ Rumi
The first step is, fairly obviously, to cry into mirrors. Oh, the delicious melodrama of this little trick! Next step involves sliding down walls (if you can slide down a wall in view of a mirror whilst crying, then, my friend, you have something special).
Music-wise, you want to listen to Radiohead’s How to disappear completely or, if you’re surpassing all self respect, it better be Boyz II Men. Drape yourself in black and write aching poetry that you might very well cringe at later. Remember, cringing means you were brave with that bursting heart of yours.
6. “I want to feel grateful to be alive.”
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Ah, my favorite mood of all. The thankfulness for purely existing. One certain way of achieving such a state is through contemplating the Universe and how we came out of it. The fact that we get to be here now, breathing and thinking, is rather astonishing.
Another way is to reflect on all the small pleasures that you enjoy. Perhaps it’s the tears that form when you’re laughing or the smell of old books. Maybe it’s the sound of children giggling or a smile shared between strangers.
You can also achieve this gratitude through walking outside during a sunrise or sunset, or by dancing under a full moon. Dearly loving someone or seeing a sky full of stars may also inspire awe at your ability to live. Lastly, I highly recommend finding an old-fashioned lamp post to swing around.
There are many moods we can create if the current one doesn’t satisfy. I am about to walk out to the stars with peppermint tea to see what new states I can find under rocks and twigs.
May you relish in your own discoveries.
*****
Avid journal writer and eternal student, Jessica has a BA in English and Philosophy, and an ‘in progress’ diploma of Art therapy. She is consistently astounded by the wonders of the world and can happily spend hours reading myths and folklore. Born with an outstanding inability to lie convincingly, Jessica lives life with her heart on her sleeve and will use any opportunity to gush about Harry Potter, Doctor Who and her husband.
{Choose your Happiness}
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