Then I was flying down the hill, with Jamie just before me, arms flung wide, the two of us flying together on that same wind. – Diana Gabaldon
I hardly have time for novels, but like countless others, I got swept into Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series…
I picked up the first book of eight on vacation in Scottsdale about six years ago. Given that each book is an opus, I indulged in about a book a year, until I just had to read the last few back-to-back. I looked forward to each book eagerly, relished it, and felt forlorn when it was complete.
And then the TV series started, and again, I got swept in, but this time I started to reflect on what exactly makes Outlander so engaging? I know why I love this story and these characters, but this series is much beloved by many, especially modern women.
In a time when men in general seem to be in the midst of an identity crisis as a consequence of patriarchy’s unraveling, modern women are truly finding their power. In Claire Fraser, their efforts are reflected and validated. And in Jamie Fraser, they’ve discovered their equal masculine counterpart…a counterpart many of them are still searching for in reality.
Gabaldon has written characters that we all aspire to be, to love, and be loved by…
These characters are each in their own right self-actualizing human beings. They’re aware of and utilize the skills, talents, and gifts that they possess: body, mind, and spirit. Both Claire and Jamie demonstrate their particular strengths individually, but again and again, the seemingly insurmountable challenges they face together reflect that they’re greater than the sum of their parts, and let’s face it, their parts are pretty great too! (Big shout out to the gorgeous and talented Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan for making each episode of the series swoon-worthy!)
Nothing is more inspiring than characters that powerfully affirm the value of cultivating all our potential…
This extraordinary couple highlights what collaboration can look like between equal partners who each embody their fullest potential and connect with each other on all levels: body, mind, and spirit. Diana Gabaldon has masterfully written a sweeping historical tale that challenges Claire and Jamie to the depths of their being; they don’t always succeed, but they never fail to show up personally and together, the result being a more actualized version of each and a stronger bond between them.
We can be quick to dismiss the story as fiction and the characters as unattainable ideals, but the appeal of Outlander is that it touches our hearts and it does so, because it’s relatable; we all know in our hearts that we too have latent potential waiting to be empowered. And who doesn’t want to have an epic love story, set to mythic adventure, all their own!
