I'm in the land of Equestria, where people evolved from horses, not apes. We have rather flexible hooves--not as clever as hands, but we get by. Life is good. Was good. Until recently.

Maybe that herbivorous herd thing explains what happened to me.

Certain gods of my land are a bit whimsical--now and then, without warning, they partly fuse half a dozen souls or minds together. Individual consciousnesses are retained, but can access the memories of others in the group; and a shared unconscious develops, subtly prompting the members to coordinate their actions. It's called a Friendring.

One day, I wake up to find I've been dumped into a newformed Friendring. Disorienting, and not just because there are other ponies in my head! It's what kind of ponies. I'm a shy, very private intellectual type; and a couple of my new alter egos were beggars and homeless crazies. Though now, backed by the rest of us with relatively secure lives and minds, they're suddenly stable; moving quickly to get themselves off the street.

Their new confidence, stability and long-term goals are great, I'm glad for them, but I feel ambivalent about their effect on me. In a way I do feel stronger--I get their street smarts--but craziness, even diluted and partly healing now, hurts. I'm not glad about my new, instant... family. Imposed by the gods.

On My Little Pony, the goddess Celestia had to push that profoundly solitary scholar Twilight Sparkle pretty hard before she made any friends. So maybe the gods are right to force me too.

So far, though, friendship is divine--but no fun.

NOTES

• Equestria, Twilight Sparkle: instead of teaching math/reading skills like Sesame Street or Odd Squad, the feminist kids' TV show My Little Pony methodically teaches kids social, emotional and relationship skills. Skills I still struggle with as an adult. Skills a lot of Americans lack.
• Pushed by the gods: The show's star, Twilight, is, like me, bookish & solitary; her teacher Celestia orders her to go make friends and report weekly on her lessons in friendship. Twi does need a push! And maybe I do too. I really don't use the resources offered by the group I'm in. My friend Cory's been trying to drag me to social events for weeks.
• ACTION: Get a bumper sticker asking "What would Celestia do?" Or set myself to write a weekly report in my journal of steps toward happiness through friends, lovers... and play. Don't kid myself--I want all three. And my ambitious creative side needs stuff too. Don't neglect him so much he sabotages!

  But take some concrete action, or the gods are going to intervene. And believe me, you don't want that. Ask the Greeks. Ask the Norse. Oh, divine intervention will help you grow as a person.

  So will an earthquake. Or a war.

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