By the second lesson, I knew something was changing in me — the alchemy of body, mind, stillness, and breath was already at work.

Noir upends the American dream — no more promises of a new day. Instead, we live by night. But live, we do.

Perhaps worse than death is being forgotten. That’s why loneliness and isolation are treacherous places to inhabit.

While my intention was to just “get fucked up,” my hallucinations and euphoria undulated with intense spiritual themes.

Photo by Alejandro Linares Garcia

We visited Parque Mexico many times, but that first night, the heightened awareness of a new place intoxicated me like a strong mezcal.

And so it goes with passionate people, Kahlo and Trotsky had a brief, steamy affair.