Rescue

Truth is at the Bottom of the Well (1895) by Jean-Léon Gérôme, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

The Dialogues are plays that come from the Unconscious. In Jean-Léon Gérôme’s painting, the naked Truth sits at the bottom of a well. 

Journal entry 6/18/25

I’m lying on PF’s massage table. As part of the bodywork, he works on my neck at the base of my skull. The music he plays matches the rhythm of his hands, and I feel myself slipping into a state of relaxation. I’m not sure how long I’m there, but eventually, I start to cry. When I come back to myself, I keep my eyes closed and tell him I feel a deep sense of gratitude. With my eyes still shut, I see the faint shadow of a woman who, for some reason, I sense is irrational. The session ends as I wipe away tears, wondering who or what this irrational woman was.

Truth Coming from the Well to chastise mankind (1896).

Hours later, I write this:

“Phosphorus/Lucifer’s significance in relation to women/Nymphs lies with the cult’s connection to the moon and Night worship. Phosphorus/Lucifer, the light-bearer, lit the way to mysteries connected with Isis and her sister Nephthys. Of these mysteries, a fair amount is known about the cult of Isis, but almost nothing remains of the cult of Nephthys’ practices. They must be inferred from those of Isis. Nephthys, goddess of the House of Ra and wife of Set, is a sky Goddess. In her benevolent state, she is the irrational, naughty sister. In contrast to Isis, she represents death and rebirth, as well as night and rain. As a sex goddess, she is Anuket, the goddess of sweat and a yearning desire. The goddess Aphrodite.”

Bringing her to the surface and understanding what she needed took courage I didn’t know I had.