KJ , Dahlia, I read Rielle’s interview and immediately thought of many yoga teachers I’ve met, the acolytes of Marianne Williamson and other devotees of what they call “Eastern” religion. The blossoming New Age/Buddhism lite that populates yoga classes talks about the toxic nature of the Western “ego” (you know, we work too hard, we value ourselves above others, etc.) But then it replaces this ego with something like a supreme inner deity residing in all of us whose dictates can never be ignored. Dahlia , you call it silly but to Rielle it’s so profound-divine, even.
I had never experienced anything like what was flowing between us. I sat on the other side of the room. I wouldn’t go near him . And he kept saying [she mimics his southern drawl], “What are you doin’ over there? Come over here. I can’t even see you. Come closer. I won’t bite you.” I was just-there was sooo much attraction and sooo much… I want to say love, but it wasn’t love at that point. You know, it was just this, this magnetic force field like I had never experienced. It terrified me. Absolutely terrified me.
A lesser mind might call this lust or even fatal attraction, but to Rielle it’s destiny, ordained by the gods.
Rielle does not really mention his other children or even Elizabeth except as an object of pity or someone going through a “process” of her own, because what are mere mortals in the face of such a supreme force? She will never accept that she did anything wrong-probably she’s never considered it-because she has convinced herself that she and Johnny exist on a higher plane.
Everyone talks about how Johnny has fallen from grace. In reality, he’s fallen to grace. He is integrated. He is living a life of truth. He has grown in awareness and humility. He had all these things within him, but they weren’t the guiding, leading principles of his life. Now they are.
Even her pregnancy, news of which came as Johnny was renewing his wedding vows with his wife and about to announce his candidacy, she attributes to “divine timing.”
And I just felt like Quinnie needed to come into the world and this wasn’t our timing, this was divine timing and he needed to get on board. And figure that one out. And it’s interesting, because it’s not over yet. That’s the other thing. Everyone has such judgments about “He’s lost everything.” But you know, life isn’t over. He’s gone through an amazing transformation. And who knows what’s gonna happen.
And then there’s the matter of her “business” card. Apparently it did not say “truth -seeker” on it. It said “Rielle Hunter: Being is free.” I’m really glad she cleared that up.
Photograph of woman by Photodisc/Getty Images.
