The Regulator of Atmosphere

16 February 2026

It isn’t rebellion I’m after.

I wanna be a cowboy. Not a cowgirl.

It has nothing to do with gender performance.
Everything to do with archetype.

A couple of weeks ago, I reintroduced the AuthorKind Archetypes. Your responses were generous and thoughtful. And the truth is—archetypal thinking isn’t leaving me anytime soon.

My longing to be a cowboy is simply an acknowledgment of where I stand right now: a hybrid state. Part Guardian (protector of herd and territory). Part Wanderer (edge-walker). Part Offerer (risking self for the group).

For me, the Cowboy symbolizes:

• Self-reliance without spectacle

• Competence in solitude

• A moral code without institutional scaffolding

• Intimacy with land and risk

• Emotional restraint paired with quiet loyalty

Not the rebel. Not the drifter.

The regulator of atmosphere.

It’s the trail I seem most steady on lately.

You saw less of me last week, though I did stop in with Why is DNA So Sexy? Behind the scenes, I’ve been building something that’s been on my list for a long time: JLTooker.com.

It won’t replace Substack. This is my home. But the site may serve those who are reluctant to venture here.

You, however, have ventured here. And I’m grateful.

This week:

• Tuesday: a new poem, Egg Nebula

• Thursday: Archetypes – A Lineage (working title)

• Wednesday: yes, as usual

• Friday (or soon): Mongolian Steppe Warriors and Cowboys—you knew that was coming

As always, thank you for riding along.

—Jennifer
JL Tooker

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