In the midst of overwhelm, I sat. I moved gently to and fro upon my porch swing, gifted to me many years ago. Closing my eyes heightened my hearing. The drone of the insects singing their summer songs, and the calling and bantering of the birds, as they trumpeted the approaching evening, back and forth across the meadow, captivated me. Opening my eyes after awhile, I was greeted with the golden glow of the setting sun, bathing all it touched with warmth and promise. The very air seemed to pause as the magical dusting of dancing pollen ignited everything, as well as the child within me, and the artist that was straining to capture this moment. I remember smiling…I remember the feel of the curving of my lips…my breath moving easier. I turned back around in my swing, and caught my reflection in the window, startling me. The reflected woman looking back at me was serene, wearing a small smile, that promised whimsy, along with croning wisdom.
Tuning in to our inner realm reveals perhaps what we knew all along…
I find it so very interesting that perspective will shift and morph, depending on what lens we move with it. When I find myself suddenly in a place of fatigue, orneriness and/or doubt, I believe it’s heightened by viewing what I am dealing with, when looking thru the lens of my inner critic. This critic often delights in shaking me up, thus skewing my perspective, and subsequently, interfering in my desire to create! She croons to me at times, insidiously lulling me into despair…and I find myself starting to “play cards” with her. You know the card game “War”…that can go on and on and on and on…and it eventually becomes apparent that this is simply not fun? So, after grappling with said despair for awhile, and sitting on that sun drenched porch swing, and sinking into that birdsong, and soaking in the joyous cacophony of the insects, hawk announced itself, screaming defiance. Reminding me that hawk encourages change, and upon opening my eyes, and locking gazes with my reflection, the change needed, and soul felt desire…was gratitude.
“Look to this day for it is life,
in its brief course lie all
the realities and truths of existence,
the joy of growth, the glory of action,
the splendor of beauty…
today well lived makes every
yesterday a memory of happiness
and every tomorrow a vision of hope,
look well, therefore, to this day…”
(ancient Sanskrit proverb)
When looking and living through the lens of gratitude, it allows an opening of our hearts and an opening of our souls. This gentling perspective allows our creative self to rise up, and wield that pen or paintbrush, or that camera, or in the preparing and blessing of our meals, our gardens, or for those that garden for us…that guitar, flute or drum that has been silent can now burst into joyful expression…the care in how we touch our children, family, friends and lovers….the new uncovered well of patience for our co-workers, the cashiers we interact with, the drivers on the roads, even the red lights that allow us to slow down. Most especially, the patience we can have with ourselves. Embracing gratitude and expressing our inherent creativity, can help us move, with grace and ease, as we experience life in its myriad twisting turning pathways.
When we bring into form through creativity that which arises from the song of our inner voice is nothing short of magic…
Our individual muses long to be heard, acknowledged and applauded. Sometimes it can take time, which may be needed to tempt, cajole, coax and woo that brilliant being forth. When we do, and gaze through our muses eyes, and dance our pens or paintbrushes with gratitude and joy, our previously skewed perspective on life erupts in laughter, or even a quiet sigh, and we can feel whole, and holy, as we then become a conduit for the Divine to move through us and imprint love, or beauty, or peace…healing us. As we heal and continue to create in whatever we are drawn to do, a light is released, drawing others to ourselves, or our creations…thus stirring curiosity, or an “aha” moment. How grateful then, and thankful can we be, to be given the privilege of sharing on such a personal level? Behold this intense earth journey we all share, and again be thankful for the opportunity to witness one another as we grow into our creative selves.
As creatives, we are given, by the Divine, the ability to transcend, experience and express form. Form in whatever matter we are moving through or within. Form rising from our creative imagination, form rising through emotional release, or form, very simply rising from the joy in the process of creating. When we are in that place and space of creating, we become vulnerable, like a child, and through this vulnerability, we dance with the very Creator.
Allow gratitude to infuse your being. Listen to and honor your muse, your own divine spark. Release the CREATIVE within you, that we may touch others on a soul level. For we too, are the Makers. So I invite you to please: MAKE express, RELEASE, share and DELIGHT . Growing further into your unique creative self.
In closing I wish to breathe a heart filled prayer for you and yours:
“May the blessing of light be on you-
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire”
(an old Celtic blessing)
Wendy C. Hassel, aka Weaver, is a joyful weaver of words, images, life experiences & observations. Graduating from the inaugural class of the Color of Woman Teacher Training taught by Shiloh Sophia McCloud has sparked her desire to share…
The seasons of my life have all offered up deep learnings along with creative yearnings. The maiden and mother seasons of my life brought forth creation, birthing and nurturing my four glorious children. Even then, amongst the sticky kisses and exuberant hugs, below the surface of utter exhaustion, my dreams were still there…quietly simmering and shimmering patiently, as I was doing important work, mothering my babes…occasionally stealing time for some sort of stitching; needle and thread, crochet hooks and knitting needles…or creating small alters of the treasures that the children found outside.
I know now, that there was beauty and creativity bestowed in the meals prepared and shared, in the harvested foods that I washed for freezing, or cooked for canning. My energy, my essence was given in the making.
Embracing the crone season of my life, I become reflective. I look back and sift thru memories, recognizing the karmic value in each rich experience. Even through the most excruciating pain of loss, I eventually rose again to joy…with the deep knowing that I can move forward. From this wealth of experience, I have been given the gift of empathy and thru this well of empathy, can connect with others on a deeper level…that place beneath the surface that we wear in this world.
It is from here, that the artist arises, that I come forth, at first so tentatively and hesitating…and I gaze and dream ahead. How nice to look forward and within, instead of backwards and within. It is from this place again, that my muse, my legendary weaver and my spirit guides come together, singing songs of celebration every time I write, every time I paint, every time I look upon my creations with delight.
I’ll be painting, writing and sharing from this heartsong, instilling all I do with my own unique energy and essence. I offer classes, exploring intentional creative expression, and delight in the sharing of this heart/soul enriching practice.
All Artwork 2012-2013 by Wendy C. Hassel
www.indigomusings.com and http://wendy-hassel.fineartamerica.com
