Understanding Fear: The Journey Toward My First Graphic Novel
Star Wielder, original character art
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
– Marianne Williamson
What does it mean to be afraid of our own power, to be blinded by our own light? First, I think it’s important to understand fear and the unique role it plays in our lives. Through Williamson’s famous quote, people have concluded their interpretations based on their unique relationship with fear. Some believe it must be fought, a villain to be vanquished. For me, though, it’s a bit deeper than that. I believe each of us is a sum of parts and that our higher self, or core (hero) self is what guides these parts. If you’re familiar with internal family systems (IFS), you’ll know this directly correlates with this belief. According to the IFS Institute, IFS is a transformative tool that conceives every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts lead by a core Self. So what does this mean about fear?
It means that fear is only a part of us, and it serves a purpose. Although, when we feel fear, it’s easy to succumb to the misbeliefs it whispers in our ears about our deepest insecurities and doubts about our worthiness and value. But fear is not meant to harm us; it’s meant to protect us from danger. Its just sometimes fear is conveyed from a wounded part. Once we can see past the cognitive distortions that fear and anxiety inspire, maybe we’ll see that our fears should not be met with adversity but, instead, with compassion and an open hand, ready to listen and receive whatever this terrified part tells us to learn what it’s protecting us from. Sometimes, because of psychological or emotional barriers such as trauma, we don’t allow ourselves or sometimes lack the emotional capacity to engage with fear in this way.
But what if we permitted ourselves to do that? What if we decided not to let fear destroy or overwhelm us and make space for it instead? What if we decided walk in our power, despite our fear of the uncertainty and accountability that comes with that? What happens when we exercise radical acceptance of this fear, not trying to eliminate it, but understand it?
My work-in-progress graphic novel, Star Wielder, is a story that explores those themes and how fear can hinder us from embracing our highest self.
However, before diving head first into such a monumental commitment, I’ve decided to explore these themes through short stories first, based in the fantastical world of Star Wielder. The first of these stories is Burning Courage.
“Star Wielder: Burning Courage” is a short story about Kiara Kelly, a 14-year-old Black girl from the west side of Detroit born with an overwhelming fear of fire. However, after discovering that she can control flames, her life becomes even more challenging. As she questions her humanity, her mysterious alien abilities, and the responsibility that comes with them, Kiara must choose to face her fear to save a family in a burning home.
This story will debut in a Black LGBTQ+ fantasy anthology called We Belong and will be published by Prism Comics this December.
As I continue on my creative journey towards the creation of my first graphic novel, Star Wielder, I invite you to join me in challenging your core beliefs about fear. Let us walk hand in hand with our fears, embracing compassion and understanding. For it is through this transformative journey that we can uncover our true power and refuse to let fear diminish our greatness. After all, who are we not to be great?
Star Wielder: Burning Courage promo art by Jay Hero
