The Sound of One Hand Clapping

Silence is not the lack of sound.

Listen with more than your ear.

When your heart is awake,,,,,

this is when you will begin to truly hear.

Simple Gestures

of kindness,

of friendship,

of love.

the hands together.

gently in prayer,

clapping with joy,

clasped with the hand of a loved one.

ink on paper,

paint on canvas,

thread on the needle

stitch by stitch and mark by mark.

each one, no matter how simple, begins to create a world.

Love and Uncertainty

Uncertainty is your biggest gift.

Love is what you are. 

 Rest and abide in this sacred relationship and see what surprises await.

 

Tending to the Inner Landscape

photo: Adelaide Shalhope

Excerpt from a journal entry of 30 May, 2010 that I happened upon today and wanted to share:

I feel a sort of melancholy today. A yearning for some sort of connection with my own work and that familiar feeling of separation from myself after so much traveling. I'm happy to be here on my own in the studio. This peaceful place - a refuge from clutter of mind, of spirit. A sacred space. 

I just simply want to be able to replenish and receive today. To both empty and fill the well. To listen and then act. Lots of information comes in and as I sit quietly here it has a place to settle as well as dissipate.

I realize that so much of what I worry about - what is said, done, happens or doesn't - is all completely inconsequential in the long run. Worrying does not create. Worry dampens the spirits. 

Don't let worry dampen your spirit.

The Joy of Being a Beginner

I've been taking an abstract painting class at the Glasgow School of Art for the past month.  Although I've played around with paint here and there over the years, paint is not my medium.

It's exhilarating learning something new, as well as humbling -- experiencing the awkwardness of not knowing what I'm doing and the frustrations this brings up that I must lean into in order to see something interesting emerge. Lots of bad art is being produced. Fantastic.

I love the sense of immediacy of working with paint. You just have to commit and dive in. Don't think too much and don't make it too precious. What is wanting to express itself has waited around long enough and is desperate to get to the surface.

Just get out of its way and let it get on with it.

Heart's Desire

It is my deepest wish to walk through this world one step at a time.

Permission II

You have permission.

to let go. 

to say yes.

to fall.

to roll.

to tumble. to fumble. to fail.

You have permission to succeed.

To see that seed be not one of doubt

but of bigness wherever that bigness must grow.

You do not need to carry the heavy tools with you.

You will know which one to use to trim the hedge.

Seen and Not Seen

 

Let your ideas ebb and flow.

Whatever needs to be is already there

Without you needing to figure it out all the time.