A Tale of Geekers & A Dream of Love
T(h)oT Issue 001: A Myth Reimagined for Modern Life
Lord, Today Drained me.
I’m beat.
Words matter…I know..but… still.
Every night feels like a battlefield—no REM, no peace, no cylinders firing.
Just a constant low hum of exhaustion.
And, of course, Mars (how we take action / strategize) is retrograde in Leo, which isn’t helping. Normally, Leo, as a fire sign, keeps me blazing with energy. But during retrograde?
It’s like being put on house arrest. I’ve got all this fire inside me, and life is telling me, “Sit down and rest” (I’d rather swallow a denim jacket whole >:/ )
But in these moments of forced stillness, clarity does come—though only in glimpses. It’s like the fog lifts just enough to reveal fragments, puzzle pieces, or tiny clues of what’s ahead.
Yet, those fleeting moments of clarity always seem to bring along their unwelcome counterpart: doubt. And let me tell you, and boyyyy do I’ve got a bone to pick with it.
Got Me Tweakin’…Geekin’…for no reason
They usually bring out the geekers—those rogue beliefs and spiraling thoughts that sneak up and hit a nerve. Geekers are the kind of thoughts that make you go, “Nah, you’re really tripping now.”
They’re not harmless, though—they’re booby traps, setting off chain reactions of overthinking and doubt.
When I’m caught in these traps, I try not to fight them. Instead, I turn to curiosity. If a geeker is taking up space in my mind, it means it struck a chord—something soft, unhealed, or in need of care.
Stories become my escape and my guide in these moments. They help me make sense of my own labyrinth.
Riding these emotional waves, I follow threads of thought that lead me to new perspectives.
Today's Thread for Thought:
What if those traps, those moments of doubt, aren’t signs you’re lost but signals to pause, reflect, and find the love you’re searching for—starting with yourself?
That’s what I’m sitting with today.
Let’s unravel it together.Poliphilus’ Dream of Love:
In the Renaissance tale Poliphilus’ Dream of Love, Poliphilus wanders through a labyrinth, chasing his beloved Polia. Along the way, he encounters mythical guides, cryptic symbols, and challenges that force him to confront his own fears, desires, and purpose.
His journey isn’t just about finding Polia—it’s about finding himself.
Now let’s bring Poliphilus to 2024.
Meet Polly. She’s a 30-year-old woman living in New York City.
Her labyrinth isn’t a stone maze but the pressures of modern life: the grind of her career, endless dating apps, social media comparisons, and the weight of trying to “have it all” by 30.
Like her mythological counterpart, she’s searching for something—love, purpose, or maybe just clarity—but she feels stuck, unsure of which path to take. This reimagining of Poliphilus’ journey pairs mythology with modern life, showing how the lessons of her story still apply today.
Step by step, we’ll compare the mythological journey with her contemporary one, offering actionable lessons for navigating your own labyrinth.
1. Lost in the Labyrinth
In the Myth:
Poliphilus wakes up in a vast and confusing labyrinth. The pathways twist and turn, and every direction feels like a dead end.
He’s searching for Polia but has no idea how to find her or even where to start.
In Modern Day:
Poliphilus wakes up in her Brooklyn apartment feeling just as lost. Her life feels like it’s on repeat: wake up, scroll Instagram, hate her job, overthink her future, and go to bed wondering why nothing is changing.
She knows she wants more from life but doesn’t know what that “more” is or how to get there.
Key Similarities:
Disorientation: In both timelines, Poliphilus feels trapped. She’s navigating a maze of societal expectations, like landing a dream career, finding love, and living a picture-perfect life.
External Pressure: The labyrinth represents external forces—the invisible rules of success, love, and happiness that don’t reflect her own desires.
Lesson to Take Away:
The first step to finding your way is to recognize the maze you’re in.
Ask yourself: Am I chasing something I actually want, or something others expect of me?
2. Meeting the Oracle
In the Myth:
Poliphilus meets an Oracle in the labyrinth who tells him, “You don’t need to solve the entire maze. Just focus on the next step.” This advice shifts his perspective, giving him the clarity to move forward.
In Modern Day:
One day, while spiraling about her life over a coffee, Poliphilus overhears someone at the next table say, “You don’t have to figure everything out right now. Just take the next right step.”
For the first time, she realizes she’s been trying to “solve” her life instead of taking small, intentional steps forward.
Key Similarities:
A Wake-Up Call: Both Poliphiluses experience a moment of clarity that pulls them out of their overthinking loops.
Recognizing Patterns: She begins to notice how often she reacts impulsively to stress—quitting jobs, ghosting people, or making big purchases—not because it’s what she wants but because it’s easier than confronting discomfort.
Lesson to Take Away:
Start observing your patterns.
Ask yourself: What triggers me? How do I react? Is this reaction helping me or keeping me stuck?
3. The Thread of Intention
In the Myth:
The Oracle gives Poliphilus a thread to carry with him through the labyrinth. It’s a simple tool, but it helps him stay grounded and find his way back when he gets lost.
In Modern Day:
Poliphilus creates her own “thread” by building small, grounding practices. She sets reminders on her phone to pause and breathe. She writes sticky notes that say, “What’s the next right step?” and leaves them on her bathroom mirror. These intentional habits help her interrupt her spirals and make more thoughtful decisions.
Key Similarities:
Anchors in Chaos: The thread, whether literal or metaphorical, represents something to hold onto when life feels overwhelming.
Small Steps Over Big Solutions: Neither Poliphilus needs to solve the entire maze at once—they just need to take the next step.
Lesson to Take Away:
Find your thread.
Maybe it’s a morning ritual, a playlist that calms you, or a sticky note that reminds you to pause. Use it to anchor yourself when life feels overwhelming.
4. Mapping the Labyrinth
In the Myth:
With his thread in hand, Poliphilus starts to map the labyrinth. He notices patterns: paths that loop back on themselves, recurring traps, and hidden shortcuts. Slowly, he learns how to navigate the maze more intentionally.
In Modern Day:
Poliphilus begins reflecting on her own life. She journals about what drains her and what energizes her. She sets boundaries with toxic people and activities that feel like dead ends. She starts creating a “map” of what works for her, one small choice at a time.
Key Similarities:
Self-Reflection: Both Poliphiluses pause to reflect on their experiences and learn from them.
Pattern Recognition: They realize that understanding the maze—what paths feel good and which ones don’t—is key to navigating it.
Lesson to Take Away:
Track your patterns.
What brings you joy? What drains your energy? Use these breadcrumbs to guide your next steps.
5. Waking from the Dream
In the Myth:
Poliphilus eventually reaches the center of the labyrinth, where he finds Polia. But the journey wasn’t about the destination—it was about the transformation he experienced along the way. The labyrinth didn’t change; Poliphilus did.
In Modern Day:
Poliphilus realizes that the perfect life she’s been chasing doesn’t exist. The maze of societal expectations isn’t going away, but she doesn’t have to be trapped by it. She stops trying to escape the labyrinth and starts navigating it with intention, trusting herself to make choices that align with her values.
Key Similarities:
Inner Transformation: The journey isn’t about “escaping” the labyrinth—it’s about learning how to live in it with clarity and purpose.
Empowered Choices: Poliphilus no longer reacts out of fear or external pressure. She moves forward with confidence and alignment.
Lesson to Take Away:
Let go of the need to escape the labyrinth.
Focus on living intentionally, one choice at a time.
Why This Journey Matters
Relating to Today: Like Poliphilus, many of us feel stuck in a fast-moving world. Her story reminds us that clarity comes not from doing more but from slowing down and reflecting.
Lessons from History: This story is timeless. By turning to history, we see that the struggles of love, identity, and purpose are universal and that their lessons can guide us forward.
Empowering Action: Poliphilus’ story proves that small, intentional choices—pausing, reflecting, and choosing thoughtfully—can transform your life.
Actionable Steps
Pause Daily: Set a reminder to ask yourself, What do I need right now?
Track Your Patterns: Journal about what triggers you and how you react. Look for recurring loops.
Find Your Thread: Create a ritual or reminder that grounds you when life feels overwhelming.
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge every small step forward—they build momentum.
Redefine Your Goals: Write your own definition of success. What feels true for you?
Poliphilus’ dream of love isn’t about finding perfection—it’s about waking up to your own life and learning to navigate it with intention.
What’s your next step?
‘til next time,
2mannymoves