Where do you turn when you seek solace, insight, and sources of truth?

When I need solace sometimes I go walking in nature, especially at dawn, dusk, or night.

When I need insight or truth, sometimes i can speak with a friend. I like friends who don’t just tell me what I want to hear, but give me their own perspective.

And rarely, in fact I wish I did this more often, I ask my imaginary council. I appoint members to my council from people I know, famous people living or dead, even sometimes a character from a book. I pick them because I respect them, because they have knowledge or expertise, and for variety, which helps me to see things from a different perspective. So on the council I have my deceased mom, dad, and uncle, and a man I used to work for who was exceptionally kind and diplomatic and did a lot of charitable work, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis Gates Jr., Benjamin Franklyn, and many others. And when I need them, I sit in an imaginary room with them and have conversations.

I know it sounds nutty, but it works surprisingly well for insight and comfort.