I’ve been strapped in and riding an emotional rollercoaster since November 3rd, 2020. The ups and downs! Good grief; at various moments they’ve caused my stomach to lurch up into my throat and in others my heart to drop to my toes. In spite of all the remarkable victories that were achieved for so many who believe in democracy, justice, and the essential goodness of people, the rumors and rumblings I heard emanating from Washington D.C. were starting to take a toll. But then: a ray of hope. Actually, a brilliant, shining, beam of hope.
The first major hill of the most recent rollercoaster ride was climbed in that slow, click-click-click crawl, as we approached Election Day. So to be clear, I’m not even referencing what it’s felt like to live through most of the past four years. No; I’m starting this ‘ride’ just before the election.
We all knew Election Day was fraught with potential opportunities for disaster, sabotage, violence, or other shenanigans. So the days leading up to the election were experienced through the lens of an undercurrent of dread. We were all just trying to hold ourselves and our country together while ‘expecting the unexpected.’ Not an easy task, especially with so much at stake.
Cresting the Hill
We crested that first major incline of the rollercoaster and started tearing down the other side. DT claimed false victory in the early morning hours of November 4th, but about five days or so later, with almost all of the mail in votes finally counted in states that weren’t allowed to begin counting them until after in-person voting took place, a different result was ‘called.’
Over the next couple of weeks we were whipped side-to-side as onslaught after onslaught was waged on our system. Some states were subjected to outrageous accusations and my emotions, I’ll admit, were especially attenuated, as I took great umbrage at people (both inside and outside my state) wielding lies about Pennsylvania in particular.
Then there was the Georgia run-off election of two Senators in early January. The fact that both the first Black man and the first Jewish man ever were elected to represent Georgia was a great and miraculous day indeed. What a message of inclusion and power-to-the-people those results conveyed.
Whip-Sawed Senses
And then there was January 6th, 2021: a day that will truly live in more infamy than even Pearl Harbor because this attack on our country, on our republic, on our sacred halls of democracy, and our sense of democratic principles was perpetrated by our fellow citizens.
Following the horror of what transpired for all the world to see, I started hearing rumblings of ‘power sharing’ with the Republicans. I heard rumors that Mitch McConnell was up to his old tricks of outrageously abusive manipulations of Senate rules and norms. And worse, it sounded like the Democrats, in spite of their (albeit slim) majorities in both Houses of Congress and the White House, were going to roll over.
To be honest, this is when I started feeling a sense of abject hopelessness. My roller coaster ride was making me feel nauseous.
It was as if the skies parted and I heard some voices singing. So…in case you missed it, here’s an interview that I encourage you to watch in full, especially if you’ve been feeling the way I was feeling.
I’m also attaching the transcript, in case you don’t want to watch the interview. But I have to tell you: the idealism and fire emanating from Senator Schumer is almost intoxicating. It’s definitely a beam of hope.
We’ve all heard the adage that we should never judge another until we’ve walked a mile in their shoes. And of course it’s an adage because it’s a truism, an expression of a common experience. The sticky part of this is that you just never know what shoes another person has worn. Nor do most of us know what anyone’s shoes are made of, where they’ve been, whether they were designed for how they’re worn, or how many times they’ve needed to be resoled.
I happened to have a couple discussions today with some people I care a lot about. Two main conversations took place with individuals who do not know each other, whose paths I don’t believe have crossed. If you were to meet them at a party or in the grocery store, you’d imagine their lives to be ones of relative good fortune. You wouldn’t be wrong in that assessment, and yet your conclusion wouldn’t be entirely accurate, either. Not by a long shot.
Photo: L. Weikel
Details
I’ve listened to the details of a lot of lives over the course of my own, and it never ceases to amaze me just how much some people are asked to endure. Whether the challenges consist of professional surprises that batter and smack them against rocky shores, the utter despair of comforting a child whose physical body seems incapable of finding peace or healing, discovering that the voices of a relationship blow past each other, unheard or misunderstood – most of these issues can be devastating in their singular experience. What’s astounding is realizing that a shocking number of people are, especially now, reeling from the experience of multiple traumas to heart and soul at one time.
We are living amongst the walking wounded. We’re also living amongst the bravest and most courageous of souls.
I imagine every single person reading this post is holding up their end of probably at least two or three deeply troublesome and thorny burdens. Attempting to compare them serves no purpose. The true point is that all around us our friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and loved ones are dealing with ‘stuff’ that threatens to grind us down to emotional nubs.
Different shoes. Some more worn down than others. Some may have lost any semblance of ability to protect the wearer from the road they’re traveling. And yet they – we – carry on.
It seems we’re all being pushed by forces far greater than us to face our challenges. To change if we must. To exercise compassion. To walk beside each other and not compare our struggles but support each on their – and our – own unique path.
What an exceptional capstone to a remarkably challenging and unconventional Democratic Convention. I can honestly say that even four years ago, I don’t think I would’ve believed I’d hear so many politicians use the concepts of love, hope, and light, as the fundamental and most powerful arguments for their case to the American public.
Most shocking of all, to me, is the unabashed hue and cry for more love. Love for our country. Love for each other. Just typing these words makes my heart quicken and my breath catch in my throat.
I’ll admit it. I was a little nervous that Joe Biden would falter or come across as lackluster or perhaps lagging just half a beat off this evening. Perhaps this was because I heard him speak in Philadelphia back in September at the first ever Workers’ Presidential Summit, and while his sincerity was unquestionable (and his experience unassailable), he seemed tired. And maybe he was. I, for one, do not know how any of the candidates managed to criss-cross the nation and maintain the energy and enthusiasm called for to address tens, hundreds, and thousands of people day in and day out.
Clarity, Courage, and Fire
But when all was said and done, Joe got it done. And I guess that’s what being a leader for the times is all about. It’s doing what needs to be done when the moment presents itself. It’s seizing the opportunity when the gauntlet is thrown and coming through not only for yourself but for everyone who yearns for clarity, courage, and the fire to fight for all of us.
Speaking of clarity, courage, and fire, I doubt there was anyone who watched 13 year old Brayden Harrington metaphorically walk on a bed of hot coals in front of the entire nation (and probably not a small part of the entire world) and was not blown away by his unbelievable courage and grace. That segment spoke volumes about the character of both Joe Biden and Brayden Harrington, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the powerful impact it made on me.
Rays of Hope and Light
I don’t have words that can improve upon this evening’s final speech. So I just want to leave you with this quote:
“Let us begin, you and I, together. One nation under God, united in our love for America, united in our love for each other. For love is more powerful than hate; hope is more powerful than fear; and light is more powerful than dark.
This is our moment. This is our mission.
May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here – tonight.”
It’s not a stretch to figure out what the title of tonight’s post is referencing. When the announcement was made today that Joe Biden was selecting Kamala Harris as his running mate, I’d say my first reaction was a subdued, “Wow.” Not subdued because I was less than enthusiastic. My “wow” was quiet because it contained a surprised admiration that Biden had actually selected her.
There’s no question that she is absolutely qualified to both hold the position of vice president and step into the position of president should the need arise. But she has many other outstanding qualities that complement Biden and will combine with his strengths to create a formidable governing team. And boy, do we need a resurgence of good government.
Most of all, my “wow” was subdued because it surprised me. I was impressed with Biden’s self-confidence and maturity. And no, just because he’s 77 years old does not by any means translate into wisdom or maturity. Mere age alone does not confer self-confidence. Nor does it confer wisdom. And it sure as heck does not confer maturity.
Our Current President
Let’s face it. I don’t even need to write anything under this heading – it is self-explanatory. We’ve all been living (and dying) at the mercy of the whims of a person who lacks these very qualities that Joe Biden just exemplified in his choice of running mate.
The reason I was pleasantly surprised by Biden’s choice is precisely because so many men in his position (and yes, white men in particular, sad to say) would have been both intimidated by how roundly she scored points on him in that early debate and then vindictive as a result. Indeed, I seem to recall some relatively has-been male politicians (Ed Rendell springs to mind) recently being quoted as counseling Biden against choosing Kamala “because she was too ambitious” or “rubs people the wrong way.”
What a bunch of garbage. But when I heard that there were men, the Old Guard, so to speak, of the Democratic party weighing in on the danger of choosing a powerful, God-forbid ambitious woman, my heart sank. There it was again. That same old trope.
A Stellar Field
Let me be clear: I felt that the field of candidates from which Biden had to choose was extraordinary. And those candidates were all stellar in their own ways because he’d promised he would choose a woman as a running mate. And for ever (so far), especially in this country, for women to compete with men they’ve had to jump higher, be smarter, have thicker skin, be more creative, and do it all for less money. So I challenge anyone to honestly tell me they were surprised when it was obvious that the ten or so candidates he was vetting were all superlative candidates.
Given this state of affairs, he could not have made a poor choice. He could’ve made a safer choice – safer as far as his ego goes. He could’ve chosen someone thought to have a more deferential temperament. Or perhaps even more saliently (especially to some of the small men counseling him) he could’ve punished that uppity chick who chastised him on national tv using her own lived experience of being a child who benefited from the busing he failed to support.
Joy and Hope
After my initial, “Huh, wow,” response to hearing the news, I started watching the coverage of the selection on tv. The reactions expressed by so many commentators, activists, and politicians honestly made tears roll down my cheeks. For the first time in so long, I saw joy on people’s faces. I saw hope and heard a renewal of faith in the true nature of our country being expressed.
It felt like when we elected Barack Obama. For me at least, I was seeing an expression of unity and inclusion, a celebration of diversity and an expression of self-confidence that doesn’t require subservience to feel powerful. I was seeing an expression of our country and its values that so very many of us have yearned for and were perhaps beginning to despair of ever seeing again.
It’s overwhelming to consider how many people in our country feel invisible, disposable, voiceless, and worthless.
Which is why it was incredibly powerful to hear so many people interviewed this evening, including those who often do the reporting of our news say, “I feel seen.” Over and over, I witnessed the tears in their eyes. Saw the joy written all over their faces. Heard the hope tingeing their voices.
The election isn’t won yet. Not by a long shot. But the spontaneous expression of joy and hope I witnessed this evening was like a steady, yet gently soaking rainstorm on a vast landscape of parched cracked earth.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’ve received the coolest gift from Spirit on my last two birthdays: the unmistakable appearance of a bird that I felt was bringing me a message about a potential theme in my life for the coming year. Themes and messages, they’re all around us.
Before last year’s appearance of a pileated woodpecker right outside my bedroom window on the morning of my 60th birthday last year, I don’t recall ever having a bird (or any other emissary of the natural world) make a point of showing up in my life on my birthday. And the manner in which the woodpecker showed up last year – hammering me awake, hauling me from the dreamtime – made the bird’s message seem all that more compelling.
I Lost Track
I’ll admit it; while I didn’t forget that the pileated woodpecker had dramatically appeared on the morning of my birthday, I did neglect to check in on whether there was any applicability of the bird’s message as my year unfolded. I hate to admit it, but I lost track of the pileated theme.
Last night, when I reread my post from last year, I immediately noticed the use – twice – of the word ‘wary’ in the quote I included from Animal-Wise*. That, in and of itself, should have been a concept I highlighted in my own consciousness as a watchword for my year.
I don’t know. If I’d exercised vigilance in revisiting the pileated’s message would I have made other choices or picked up on the motives or actions of others before getting blindsided? Would I have allowed myself to become so sidetracked by the needs and desires of a few others that I set aside my own sense of the rhythms and ways in my life? I don’t know.
But I do know I could’ve – and probably should’ve – been more wary.
A Second Chance
Imagine my delight when I awoke yesterday morning to the squawking and incessant voice of a blue jay – again – just outside my bedroom window. Truly, I was delighted. I confess that when I went to sleep the night before I wondered if the pileated would show up again as magically and unmistakably as it had last year. (I have heard it – or them – hammering relentlessly in the small stand of woods on the edge of our property.)
But Blue Jay’s birthday morning wake up call was such a confirmation! I’ve found at least a dozen Blue Jay feathers over the past couple of weeks, probably since the beginning of March. And it’s not as if some poor bird got nailed by a car (or an owl) leaving a pile of feathers. No, it was a couple here and a couple there. Several singlets. And all along at various points along our two and four mile walking routes. Blue Jay has been present.
I feel this is a second chance for me to notice and continue to pay attention to this theme being set for my year.
Joining Heaven and Earth
I’ve looked up the meaning of Blue Jay many times over the years, but I must confess, I only retain a cursory recollection of what many birds and animals represent. Since I’m working with them for others so often, I try not focus on specific characteristics because I don’t want to have any pre-conceived notions when I journey to find power animals for others.
The last time I’d probably looked up Blue Jay for my own edification was when two pairs of blue jays nested above both of the doorways to our home. That was about 15 years ago at least, possibly 20. And all I remembered was that the feathers of blue jays signify the sky (blue) joining heaven (white) and earth (black). Beyond that, I just generally enjoy their somewhat pugnacious attitudes, even if they can be a bit annoying.
Audubon.org
A Different Perspective
So when I looked up Blue Jay again last night, I felt a bit of a chill ripple through me. The message feels like it is much more specific than just some random application of the three colors of its feathers.
“KEYNOTE: The Proper Use of Power CYCLE OF POWER: Year Round
(…) For those to whom the jay comes as a totem, it can reflect lessons in using your own power properly. It can also reflect lessons in not allowing yourself to be placed in a position in which power is misused against you.
(…) It has the ability to link the heavens and earth, to access each for greater power.
The black and white markings found on its blue wings also reflect this same ability. The sky (blue) separates the Heavens (white) and the earth (black). This is a totem that can move between both and tap the primal energies at either level. The jay is aware of this innate ability, and this is reflected in its blue crest – higher knowledge that can be used.
The bright blue crest of the jay should always be a reminder that to wear the crown of true mastership requires dedication, responsibility, and committed development in all things in the physical and the spiritual. The blue jay is a reminder to follow through on all things – to not start something and then leave it dangling.
The blue jay reflects that a time of greater resourcefulness and adaptability is about to unfold. You are going to have ample opportunities to develop and use your abilities. The jay does not usually migrate, staying around all winter, so look for there to be ample time to develop and use your energies to access new levels. It will stay around and work with you as long as you need it.
The blue jay is actually a member of the crow family, and most crows have no fear. Crows and jays alike will gang up to harass and drive off owls and hawks. The jay is fearless, and it is because of this that it can help you to connect with the deepest mysteries of the earth and the greatest of the heavens.
(…)
(…) If the jay has flown into your life, it indicates that you are moving into a time where you can begin to develop the innate royalty that is within you, or simple be a pretender to the throne. It all depends upon you. The jay has no qualms. It will teach you either direction.”
Gauntlet Thrown
Obviously, I’ve excerpted here (and it was still a long post!). And if experience is any lesson, undoubtedly the parts I’ve left out will be the ones that end up having the most significance.
But all in all, I tried to include here the paragraphs that hit me hardest when I read them. In other words, “Yeah, I need to commit. I need to be courageous. I need to do the work.”
I’d say the gauntlet has been thrown. Blue Jay has come knocking and is ready, willing, and able to kick my ass if I don’t develop and use my abilities, apparently in a new or different way than I have so far.
And quite frankly, I feel this relates in particular to developing or offering who I am in service to others in the face of this utterly unique challenge our entire world is facing.
Finally, it’s not lost on me that blue jays are corvids. I’ve known that blue jays, crows, ravens are all corvids, and every time I’ve written about the pandemic I’ve had to stop and make sure I was writing COVID-19 – not corvid. Somehow or another, that feels relevant. Or at least noteworthy.
So Blue Jay’s been showing up in my life for weeks. Insisting on gaining my attention. Now I know it’s going to be pushing me – as a theme and a messenger – all year. I better buckle down.
abcbirds.org
*affiliate link
**Pretty cool: today’s post is #505, leaving 606 remaining to be written!
The lonely figure loping across the field strikes terror in the hearts of those who catch sight of it. Seeing it directly or out of the corner of the eye, it causes gooseflesh to rise without warning.
Mothers clutch their babies to their breasts, terrified that the beast, be it chupacabra or dingo, might randomly turn its ravenous, amoral gaze in their direction, stealing their child and dooming them to a life of despair and lamentation.
Their blood runs cold. They’re nearly paralyzed with fear. They sense stories of this encounter will be handed down for generations – if they, and their loved ones survive, that is.
Check It Out
While this reaction is understandable, it’s essential to step up, check things out personally, and make sure what’s being seen is real. A lot of times, our minds leap to conclusions, causing us to interpret what we see as something far scarier than it really is. Indeed, our imaginations can run wild if we let them, especially if we’re prey to the stories we’ve heard from others.
But investigation can sometimes feel daunting and scary. If we take a chance and get too close, perhaps it’ll turn on us. Maybe it’ll even savage us!
Yes, it takes courage to stand up to the fear that might overtake us and cause us to either freeze in terror or run the other way.
Not This Time
Not in this case, though. It wouldn’t take a lot of courage to sniff this baby out.
This time it was remarkably easy to stop for a moment, take a breath, and engage in one’s ‘due diligence.’ All you had to do was take a few steps back, shift your perspective, and follow the leash.
Karl and I watched the Super Bowl tonight. Like a lot of people in our area, we were rooting for Kansas City.
One of my nephews lives in the KC area, so that would’ve been excuse enough. But actually, it was the fact that Andy Reid, the former Eagles’ Head Coach, is now the Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs that made us want to watch the game and root for the Chiefs.
Super Bowl Stuff
I have to say, the commercials this year were better this year than they’ve been for the past several Super Bowls. For quite a while, it’s seemed as though the commercials were just getting dumber and more obviously targeting the lowest common denominator. Overall, this year’s crop had the right mix of those that touched the heart strings – most with an appropriate balance and one or two that took the emotional appeal too far – and those that were amusing.
And the half time show was excellent. While I knew her name, I had no idea Shakira’s music sounded the way it does. (I know, I know. I shouldn’t be admitting this out loud.) And both she and J Lo were eye-poppingly astonishing in their athleticism and choreography – not to mention their voices.
The Main Event
Of course, the main event was the football game itself. And wow – these two teams did not disappoint. Competitively, this was hands down one of the most entertaining football games I’ve seen in a long time. Besides the amazing rally KC dug down and produced in the final six minutes or so of the 4thquarter, I think my favorite part of the game was in the 1stquarter (I believe), when Andy Reid made the call not once but twice to “go for it” on fourth down.
I can remember so many games in which the conservative, “cautious” tack was taken that demanded punting on fourth down. Ugh. So boring. This time, it felt, Andy and his team were here to win. They were going to lay it all out there, take the chances they needed to take, and believe in their ability to convert their plays successfully and get a first down.
While I realize this is ‘just’ a football game (albeit the literal ‘be all and end all’ to most fans), it was inspiring and exciting to see them take those risks – and even better, to succeed at their endeavors!
Perhaps my delight in watching KC take those risks was because that type of courage stands in stark relief against the utter cowardice we’ve been forced to witness in the Senate over the past two weeks. Didn’t it make you wonder even for just a fleeting second what it would feel like to witness our representatives standing up in unison to the bully in the pulpit (so to speak) and just saying, “NO!?” How would it feel to have the honor and integrity of our country defended by those who’ve actually taken an oath to do so?
Yeah, I wonder too.
The Reactions of So Many
The best part of the amazing comeback orchestrated by KC’s extraordinary quarterback (I can’t believe he’s only 24), Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of the team was the palpable affection and respect shown by absolutely everyone toward Head Coach Andy Reid. Even 49’ers fans, it seemed, couldn’t begrudge Andy the win.
From the announcers to the players to the fans both at the game and interviewed on the news later, everyone almost seemed to get a little teary-eyed over “what a great guy” Andy Reid is, how profoundly he deserves to finally have a team of his put it all together and achieve the highest honor in the sport.
Watching and listening to the love and admiration so many have for Andy Reid, with nary a snarky word or begrudging attitude offered, was like a balm to my heart. We’ve been forced to witness some really horrible stuff lately. We’ve been asked to condone behavior that has debased us and the principles and values upon which our country was founded – all perpetrated by those who are ostensibly ‘leaders.’
They are the furthest thing from actual leaders.
There is no question that whatever it is that Andy Reid brings to his teams and the people who work with him, it engenders love, affection, respect, and admiration.
Oh, to have those feelings spring forth for those who represent us to the world…
Late this afternoon, Friday, January 24, 2020, the new moon occurred at 4:42 p.m. EST. Because it was the first new moon to occur after the first full moon (which means it must be occurring between 21 January and 20 February of any given year), that means today is the start of the Chinese New Year.
As you may recall, last year I waxed rhapsodic about the Chinese New Year because I was born in the Year of the Boar (Pig), and thus felt a particular affinity for the year that was arriving.
Year of the Rat
In Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rat is the first sign of a 12 year cycle. I must confess to knowing very little about the qualities of people born during a Rat year, and thus found this link quite interesting. (Thank you, Marie!)
Given that the Year of the Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiacal Calendar, it just seems to add momentum to the energetic heft of the times we’re experiencing right now: new year, new decade, and new 12 year Chinese astrological cycle. Combining all these new beginnings with the Saturn-Pluto conjunction that was exact last week (but because both planets are so slow moving, the influence of this conjunction will last longer than most), as well as a couple other challenging aspects thrown in and you can see how everything we’re experiencing not only in our personal lives, but also as a country and, indeed, on a planetary scale, is so momentous.
There are a lot of old paradigms, institutions, ways of thinking and being that are being challenged and, in fact, appear to be crumbling under their own weight.
Aside from this new moon being the harbinger of the Chinese New Year, it’s also sounding like it’s bringing in a lot of energy that’s shaking things up. I find Chani’s take on it interesting.
It’s fascinating to me when I read these various interpretations of the planetary influences and cycles and I watch events unfold in our nation’s capital. These are most definitely incendiary times. The decisions our Senators will be making in the coming days will impact our lives in extraordinary ways – for good or for ill.
While it boggles my mind to contemplate it, we are actually on the brink of entering a time in our country’s life when everything we’ve stood for: the rule of law, our system of checks and balances, the concept that no one is above the law, the sanctity of our elections and peaceful transfer of power (just to name a few) may crumble because a majority of Senators are not willing to stand up for these fundamental principles.
Worries and Hopes
My worry, I guess, is that we’re going to have to go through the pain and agony of losing it all before realizing just how much we’ve relinquished. And then? I guess we’ll have to wait and see if or how we ever reclaim what we’ve so willingly allowed to slip through our fingers.
My hope is that enough Senators will dig deep and find the moral courage to keep us from teetering over that brink. So very much pain can be avoided if they choose to set aside those ugly whispers of greed and fear and stand united against corruption.
Whatever happens over the next several days is going to be momentous. I’m pretty sure we can all feel it percolating just under the surface. So much is written in the stars – except our choices. Ultimately, those always remain ours and ours alone.
The other night I entitled my blog post “Phoning It In.” At the time I wrote it, I was beyond tired, and it felt like anything I might write would be rote and vapid.
But as soon as I started writing, I knew the post wouldn’t be boring or average. (Short, yes. But that’s because it was after 4:00 a.m. when I started writing it.) I’ll admit it: I was giddy.
I was buzzing – literally – from giving myself permission to try something new and just diving right in. As I described in that post, I was sorta kinda pressured into trusting my friend Luz. She swore up and down that I could create a painting I’d be excited about – and she could show me how, if I would only trust her. If I would show a little courage and just immerse myself in the experience.
Immersion Theory
If I really think about it, it was this immersion in the experience that really juiced me. And what’s also intriguing is the connection between what I’ve taught Luz and what she taught me: I do believe that the skills I’ve honed in learning how to journey, as well as the further practice of cultivating the ability to take notes during my process of straddling the worlds, have cultivated my ability to immerse myself in a task.
The process of journeying takes a great deal of focus and attention – especially when receiving a lot of specific information or guidance. And I’ve found through the years that if I doubt, if a significant enough portion of my consciousness stands outside of the work, observing with arms folded and skepticism (and doubt) coloring my experience, my perceptions and ability to receive and process information from other realms is seriously compromised.
As Above So Below
Or in other words, trusting myself and just surrendering to the experience almost assuredly makes any such experience itself exponentially richer. As a result, I figured, “What the heck?” I could feel it. I needed to either be ‘all in’ or not do it at all. That’s because I could very easily have allowed a huge part of myself to stand slightly aside as I painted, with arms folded and ego fully engaged, criticizing and worrying about every single stroke I made on the canvas. And I knew, I could feel, that would buckle my ability to create.
But Luz had asked me to trust her, to trust her process – a process she’s developed and practiced herself for several years. So it was only fair.
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve asked Luz to trust me many times. To trust my description of the process of journeying and to trust her ability to see, receive, and perceive other realms.
So I went ‘all in.’ As she assured me over and over, “Lisa, you can always paint over it and start again. Don’t over-think it.”
“Just go for it.”
So I did.
Beginner’s Luck
My very first creation was “First Owl,” above. I could barely believe my eyes.
My second creation, below, I call BearWolf, perhaps for obvious reasons, depending upon your perspective, perhaps not. While I don’t feel it’s nearly as amazing as First Owl (which I still attribute a bit – OK, a lot – to ‘Beginner’s Luck,’ much to Luz’s annoyance), it’s still a piece I will enthusiastically hang in my office.
Wider Application
I’m getting a feeling that there’s a lesson here, a wider application for this Immersion Theory. I need to ponder it.
In the meantime, I offer you the fruits of my courage and trust. Thank you, Luz. Worthy investments – and a ton of fun.
I’m not phoning this in. It’s actually ridiculously early in the morning (4:10 a.m. or thereabouts) (shhhh – don’t tell Karl!) and I’m only just now getting to bed. But I am not phoning it in. Nope. I’m sitting here perched on the covers of my bed writing this and will not allow myself to fall asleep until I post something.
As it happens, I think I’ve been riding a creative high and we got carried away, watching a movie and then even some comedy by Robin Williams. (Damn, he was hilarious. The world really is a darker place without his light.)
I was already running a day late – meaning even though I’ve posted every night (on FB), I was hitting <<publish>> right around 1:00 a.m. and the post wasn’t going out via the email subscription until the next night. So some of you have been able to keep up by reading me on FB and others of you have simply been receiving posts a day late.
That trend is obviously continuing tonight. Or I should say this early, early morning.
Late For a Good Reason
My friend Luz has been cajoling me for days to indulge my inner artist and join her in painting in her garage here at Amadell. Mind you – I do not paint. I do not draw. I’ve harbored fantasies of playing with color, but I’ve always known my focus was best placed on the written word if I were to indulge my creativity.
I have to admit, her enthusiasm is nearly impossible to resist. And how could I deny her this one single thingshe was begging me to do? I couldn’t.
It also felt like a greater test: I ask her to trust me all the time when it comes to listening and journeying and all sorts of metaphysical pursuits. The least I could do is trust her and her undeniable insistence that she could show me how to create a painting I’d love.
Never a Better Teacher
First and foremost, Luz is an incredible artist. Her paintings, which hang on most of the walls throughout the buildings of Amadell, are captivating and heartwarming.
And wow. Let me tell you: this woman can teach. My goodness. I’m simply astonished, not only by the fun I had but even more so by the actual results I achieved. I couldn’t be more delighted or astounded.
Luz: I’m a believer. And I’m completely smitten by the fun we had tonight.
Thank you!
P.S.: I was planning on posting photos of the two – TWO! – paintings I created this evening with Luz. But I am so over-the-moon delighted with the fact that I actually painted these paintings that I do not want to post a photo of either before I sign them. And that – believe it or not – is what’s actually the reason why I’m not going to share my creations with you until tomorrow night.
I’m that excited. I’m that tremendously delighted with my work that I do not want to post a photo of them without signing my name to both of them.
