The Liberal Lens: Finding Life in the Moment

I took this picture about a year ago, during the warmer months if you couldn’t tell. This is on the bridge between Lambertville, New Jersey, and New Hope, Pennsylvania.

New Hope and the Delaware River have been places where I think I’ve matured as a person and come to terms with the negativity that comes with being alive. I think of both the town and the river with comforting fondness. And, you can always find an adventure in New Hope, or at the very least — a life-changing experience.

Let me tell you all about it:

The Bridge between Two States

One of my favorite spots in the town is on the bridge itself, on the walking path of course. There is a line on the path that denotes where Pennsylvania ends, and where New Jersey begins.

I’ve passed over the line many times going from town to town, and just enjoying the peace that the river underneath exudes.

I took this picture on the line, actually, or somewhere near it. I forget where exactly I took the picture, but I know it was near the line if not on it.

I’ve done many things on that line. I’ve stood on it. I’ve sat on it. I’ve shouted on it. Laughed on it. And I have lived on it.

Haven’t kissed on the line, my aromantic identity has no time for that nonsense.

Aromantic | a·ro·man·tic | ārōˈman(t)ik

adjective: experiencing little or no romantic attraction to anyone; not having romantic feelings.
“I identify as an aromantic man”

noun: a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to anyone.
“I don’t think he’s the type to date, I heard he is an aromantic.”

But, what I can say is that I’ve taken some damn good pictures on that line.

Fireworks, Offerings, and Sacrifices: Oh My!

I’ve also done some pretty crazy stuff on the river as well.

I remember the night very well. To set the scene, I fell into a Wiccan group and had been invited to a bonfire gathering to give an offering and sacrifice to Hecate.

Wiccan | Wic·can | ˈwikən

adjective: relating to Wicca, a form of modern paganism.
“the Wiccan services are planned in connection with the phases of the moon”

noun: a follower or practitioner of Wicca, a form of modern paganism.
“some Wiccans practice in covens, some solo”

Not that I had much of a say in the matter, I had a huge life experience with the group about a month before and ended up impressing the leader, Nick. He is a great guy and I hope to write about him on the site. For now, just picture your everyday tall punk with a neck tattoo that’s as unreadable as my handwriting, and a charismatic personality that could charm the pants off Nancy Pelosi. Yeah, he’s that good.

I was on a rock island on the New Jersey side of the bridge, on what I was assured was a plot of land on the river that was owned by a friend of Nick’s.

“Yeah, he’s pretty awesome. He came by on a canoe with supplies for the fire. I’m thinking of opening a cafe with him.” – Nick, July 2023.

The sun had set for a while, and the moon rose into view over us. It was a full moon. Nick called us all to order and set the circle. We had already passed around a notebook and pen and wrote down our intentions, so we each were holding a paper with a rose we have picked up from a basket. All the while fireworks blasted in the distance.

Nick lead us through a gathering with his friend, Anne, who guided us to sacrificing the rose and paper with something we wanted to let go of.

Mine was my personal grief.

After we all had burned our roses and papers, we did a few more chants and Wiccan rituals before opening the circle.

It was a magical night. I left it feeling so light. I left a lot of my grief behind.

The Magic of New Hope

That was the whole thing about New Hope, Pennsylvania. It is a queer little town on the side of the Delaware where a lot of people meet up. It’s one of those places where, if you’re a writer, you title the chapter, “Delaware River experiences.”

I met Nick and the gang at MagiKava, a tea bar that serves incredible drinks that are out of this world. I’m actually friends with the owner, and if you mention my name, he might tell you about the time he got “anally probed” by some aliens.

Love ya, DJ Mesh.

I had originally gone to New Hope a month before the full moon gathering to visit the river. I was not in a good head space. I had been through probably the hardest year of my life, and it only seemed to be getting worse.

I had dealt with the death of my only living parent a year prior, and I had recently been robbed and had my car stolen. My ex dumped me because of I had withdrawn into myself, and it felt like I was failing all of my friends. My family seemed to estrange me. And I really just hated how I looked.

I had been planning on visiting the river.

But, I got pulled into the tea shop, and met Conner, John, and Nick. We ended up going on an adventure that night into the middle of some random woods at 3AM, and I felt truly alive for the first time in my life. The spirit of adventure awoke in me, and the whole group truly supported me in my personal growth and healing.

I wouldn’t be here today without them. Truly.

I’ll be using this blog to document my life and how these people in a random town on the Delaware river changed my life. Of course, I’ll blog about other things too, but I’ve been through a lot with them and I want to share my experience with you all.

And if they happen to be reading this… hi!

Thank you. 🙂