What is creative dawdling? It's PLAY.
It has the ability to shape shift into a multitude of activities that don't have a darn thing to do with any "artistic" or classically creative activites such as drawing or theatre.
It is a worthy thing to do regardless of outcome. Creative dawdling is the permission to do something you want to do because it makes you feel at home with yourSELF. Like fingerprints each person has a unique to them combo of creative dawdles. No one can say there is one and only one way to dawdle.
Creative dawdling is spiritual. You know it by how your spirit comes alive. Sometimes it is mundane and sometimes it is inspired, but your inner spirit resonates with it.
You have permission to play. Permission to do something you enjoy for no reason other than you enjoy it. I say this more for myself, than for anyone reading this, but feel free to take it into your own heart.
You have permission to dawdle.
Remember that it is up to your own heart to give you permission. It doesn't come from anywhere else no matter how much you've been fooled into believing otherwise.
You have permission to _______________________________________ Fill in the blank and try it on. See what comes up to the edge of your awareness. Now give yourself more permission to relax into those edges.
Each day is a new day to give yourself fresh permission. It doesn't just happen once and then you are done. Giving yourself permission is like brushing your teeth. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Like brushing your teeth, permission to play doesn't have to be done only when you find the time to retreat for a week. It can be done in little moments.
This blog for me is NOT about how I make my living. I'm not selling anything here. I'm not earning extra pennies from affiliate links. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that either. At this moment, this blog is place for me to express myself without the pressure of making it into a business. A way to share my dawdles, the things that light up my spirit. To share my creative heart. To scratch my writing itch.
Also this blog isn't about gaining some kind fame or attention. I do crave attention sometimes (what blog writer doesn't? comments - yes please I'll have some of those). It's more accurate to say this blog is about connecting, and about leaving a record of what resonates with meaning in my life.
I sometimes think about opening an etsy shop and going toward a blog that connects my creativity to earning money. I fantasize about teaching. I look at what other people are doing and think I should do that. Should is a big red flag. I forget sometimes and begin to think commerce is the only reason to blog. That gets me into trouble every single time I go there in my thinking. Then the motivation to write lapses.
This blog for me is a hobby. And why is it when I say hobby it somehow demeans it's purpose? Because we live in this culture that says if it does not earn money, then it has no meaning, no worthiness. This makes me sad. It is not true. Unfortunately, it is a message that must be constantly managed and filtered into the do not believe file.
I feel the need to return to writing on my blog. It means something for the quality of my life to share my play, my creative dawdles, my spiritual meanders.
I must stand in solidarity with my blog and it's purpose as a hobby. To stand with it and say it is OK to PLAY. It is alright to write on a blog for no other reason than it feels enjoyable. To stand and say creative dawdling is important. It is as valuable to do as brushing your teeth regularly and often.
To stand and say - I am a creative dawdler. I do not need to explain or wait for someone else to give me permission A minute, two, or five daily might be enough to get going.
Remember permission comes from inside yourSELF.
Creative blessings to all who come here from commentators to beloved lurkers.
Showing posts with label dawdling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dawdling. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sometimes I feel like giving up. It's been one of those weeks for me. I have managed to do a little creative something everyday but none to very little of it involved clay or rusty bits. Well, I did look through some library books about mosaic.
I have had several visions for some of my rusty bits. First it involved learning to weld so I could weld these bits together and make some really strange and cool yard sculpture. This makes me remember I once had a flirtation with rock climbing. I bought shoes and started climbing walls and realized I love the idea of this more than actually doing it. The nearly new shoes went to a sports consignment shop. That was twenty years ago - ugh!
Several years ago I gave up the idea of learning to weld. It occurred to me that I did not need to try it to discover it was like rock climbing for me. I love the idea but I strongly suspect I would not actually like doing it. Then slowly over time my vision morphed toward making clay creations and using my rusty bits with those. This is what I've run up against - my vision doesn't actually match what I tend to do creatively. I see these rusty bits and clay put together in my mind and I just know it isn't my art. It isn't what I create. The vision is based on what I've seen others create. Suddenly this week the committee came in and convinced me to give up. My committee is what I call the gremlins/inner critics. I sort of stopped doing any of the creative things I was doing with clay.
So I'm stuck. And in a bit of funk because of it. Ok, a lot of funk. I am hoping to break through the funk just a little bit. To say hey, committee, I won't give up. I may give up the vision I have for these rusty bits, but that doesn't mean I have to give up creating. Today, I am going to get back with my hands in the clay. I may do some other creative things too, but first priority is to get my hands into the clay.
When I started this Art Every Day Month I thought I will push through and make something with all these rusty bits using clay. I will focus my attention just on that. I learned this week that I really don't want this at all. What I mean is - I am much happier doing a creative dawdle than creating some big dang do. I was trying to take my vision and make some big dang do.
Really what I want is to be enough. To create what pulls me each day. To work in small lumps, small steps. To say one day I will create by writing my blog. To say another day I will create in my journal. To get out clay and form something out of it one day.....but another day paint glaze on the clay. To photograph another day. To not force myself into some kind of mold or vision that is outside of me. Not that there is anything wrong with creating a big dang do it is just that I've come to realize that for me just the act of doing some tangible hands on creating everyday is enough.
So I'm changing my mind mid-month about the rusty bits. I am letting a lot of it go. I still may use a bit or two in something I'm making but I've decided to be creative every day without a forced agenda. Actually, now I can feel my energy rising. I don't feel so much in a funk.
I give myself permission to be enough. And with that I am off to the studio.......
I have had several visions for some of my rusty bits. First it involved learning to weld so I could weld these bits together and make some really strange and cool yard sculpture. This makes me remember I once had a flirtation with rock climbing. I bought shoes and started climbing walls and realized I love the idea of this more than actually doing it. The nearly new shoes went to a sports consignment shop. That was twenty years ago - ugh!
Several years ago I gave up the idea of learning to weld. It occurred to me that I did not need to try it to discover it was like rock climbing for me. I love the idea but I strongly suspect I would not actually like doing it. Then slowly over time my vision morphed toward making clay creations and using my rusty bits with those. This is what I've run up against - my vision doesn't actually match what I tend to do creatively. I see these rusty bits and clay put together in my mind and I just know it isn't my art. It isn't what I create. The vision is based on what I've seen others create. Suddenly this week the committee came in and convinced me to give up. My committee is what I call the gremlins/inner critics. I sort of stopped doing any of the creative things I was doing with clay.
So I'm stuck. And in a bit of funk because of it. Ok, a lot of funk. I am hoping to break through the funk just a little bit. To say hey, committee, I won't give up. I may give up the vision I have for these rusty bits, but that doesn't mean I have to give up creating. Today, I am going to get back with my hands in the clay. I may do some other creative things too, but first priority is to get my hands into the clay.
When I started this Art Every Day Month I thought I will push through and make something with all these rusty bits using clay. I will focus my attention just on that. I learned this week that I really don't want this at all. What I mean is - I am much happier doing a creative dawdle than creating some big dang do. I was trying to take my vision and make some big dang do.
Really what I want is to be enough. To create what pulls me each day. To work in small lumps, small steps. To say one day I will create by writing my blog. To say another day I will create in my journal. To get out clay and form something out of it one day.....but another day paint glaze on the clay. To photograph another day. To not force myself into some kind of mold or vision that is outside of me. Not that there is anything wrong with creating a big dang do it is just that I've come to realize that for me just the act of doing some tangible hands on creating everyday is enough.
So I'm changing my mind mid-month about the rusty bits. I am letting a lot of it go. I still may use a bit or two in something I'm making but I've decided to be creative every day without a forced agenda. Actually, now I can feel my energy rising. I don't feel so much in a funk.
I give myself permission to be enough. And with that I am off to the studio.......
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Clay Play Every Day - The Rusty Bits Update
My rusty bits project so far has been fun and challenging at times. So far I've worked on something in clay everyday. I've drifted a little away from some of my rusty bits. I saw some mosaic work this week and it gave me an idea that I may want to use mosaic to incorporate my rusty bits into art.......that of course opens up a whole lot of mess. I really do not like the process of mosaic that much. I love the effect of mosaics but grouting and the heaviness of the finished product has always deterred me from doing much of it. There would be a large technical learning curve if I was to do mosaics.......so I'm pondering it for now.
Meanwhile I keep working in clay. I think today, Sunday Day 7, I will give myself a break from the wet clay. I may create some sketches and mindmaps about the project. I will finish glazing a piece that I started long before this month began. I have a lot of lingering unfinished pieces that await glaze. I also would like to finish two SoulCollage® cards that are awaiting to be glued.
We've had very nice weather this past week....I know the wind and cold will be coming and snow maybe. On Day 2 of this project I did not save the clay piece I worked on. I took notes about what I liked and what worked but I didn't think the piece was worth the trouble to dry and fire and glaze......so I smooshed it back into the bag. I went outside to walk my labyrinth and took my camera. I had the best time playing in the late day sun......The long shadows gave me some interesting shots....
Here is one of my favorites.....
Day 3 I was inspired by a Brene Brown video. And the day before I'd had a discussion with someone who reminded me that some of the rusty bits I have are in the form of barbed wire. It was left here on our property and I wouldn't let my husband throw it away. So I went out and got a piece of it and created this heart with a saying inspired from Brown. Her blog is found at Ordinary Courage. And the video found at youtube - TedxHouston. I shared the video on my Facebook and it is worth the 20 minutes of time. Many people are now sharing it and commenting they've watched it several times. I have watched it multiple times too.
Day 4 I found myself making angels.....and using my clay and other items to make impressions in them......
Day 5 I loved what I made. I was completely stumped when I started and then I went on to make something that just delights me......but I didn't take a picture of it. So you'll have to wait to see it. I think I may wait until I get it fired and glazed and fired again. All of these clay pieces once they are fired will turn a nice terra cotta color and have some mica twinkles to them.
Day 6, well I was tired. So I switched to my favorite soft low fire clay called story teller. I started by just relaxing and making in a meditative way one of my hearts. Then I played with making a face. I nearly threw this back in the bag - but decided it is so small, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, I will find some use for it. It's over worked but in the end reminds me of the man in the moon. I think the photo is the best thing about it at this point. It's leaning up against a rusty bit.
At this point I feel like I need to leave you with something colorful because this clay is all so grey right now. So here is some color.
Meanwhile I keep working in clay. I think today, Sunday Day 7, I will give myself a break from the wet clay. I may create some sketches and mindmaps about the project. I will finish glazing a piece that I started long before this month began. I have a lot of lingering unfinished pieces that await glaze. I also would like to finish two SoulCollage® cards that are awaiting to be glued.
We've had very nice weather this past week....I know the wind and cold will be coming and snow maybe. On Day 2 of this project I did not save the clay piece I worked on. I took notes about what I liked and what worked but I didn't think the piece was worth the trouble to dry and fire and glaze......so I smooshed it back into the bag. I went outside to walk my labyrinth and took my camera. I had the best time playing in the late day sun......The long shadows gave me some interesting shots....
Here is one of my favorites.....
Day 3 I was inspired by a Brene Brown video. And the day before I'd had a discussion with someone who reminded me that some of the rusty bits I have are in the form of barbed wire. It was left here on our property and I wouldn't let my husband throw it away. So I went out and got a piece of it and created this heart with a saying inspired from Brown. Her blog is found at Ordinary Courage. And the video found at youtube - TedxHouston. I shared the video on my Facebook and it is worth the 20 minutes of time. Many people are now sharing it and commenting they've watched it several times. I have watched it multiple times too.
Day 4 I found myself making angels.....and using my clay and other items to make impressions in them......
Day 6, well I was tired. So I switched to my favorite soft low fire clay called story teller. I started by just relaxing and making in a meditative way one of my hearts. Then I played with making a face. I nearly threw this back in the bag - but decided it is so small, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, I will find some use for it. It's over worked but in the end reminds me of the man in the moon. I think the photo is the best thing about it at this point. It's leaning up against a rusty bit.
At this point I feel like I need to leave you with something colorful because this clay is all so grey right now. So here is some color.
May your creative life bloom......just like this......in beauty.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Pattern Overwhelm
I often say I'm overwhelmed. I wrote about overwhelm before. Then I kind of forgot about it until a friend was saying I'm overwhelmed.......I once had an insight about that so I went to find my writing about it.....this has lead me into writing this new post about overwhelm.
In the last 2 months I've been doing this brain dance. And by gosh it has helped me begin to see a pattern. More dancing is required to fully unmake it and remake a new habit. As a consequence of doing this wacky flailing of arms dance I see a little more clearly my overwhelm pattern. It is so weird that this dance works. (more about that in future posts)
I say I'm overwhelmed, and it's usually on a day when I feel I need to answer emails, plan dinner, drive 50 miles to do the main grocery shopping, pay bills, and there are a million little care of the home tasks like scooping out the litter box and watering the basil.........
What I'm discovering is that it isn't all that, pardon my wording, *crap* that has me overwhelmed. It is that on some level I've reached a point where I've been avoiding my one big thing. Back when I wrote about overwhelm before - I did not put in any links in my post. Nor did I put in the links to the blogs that originally gave me a clue to this insight. So here is the link love to those bloggers....... Third Hands Works mentioned it and she was referring to Mona Grayson's post about it.
But more about my Big Thing......
I'm a creative dawdler. Living a creative existence is what I feel is my Big Thing. Creative dawdling isn't just the name of my blog - it's what I call all my juicy soul nourishing creative activities......In my years of being a creative dawdler I have developed some habits that maybe are not so useful such as procrastination, drifting, exploring all things creative instead of focusing on just one or two. These habits lead me to a pattern of overwhelm.
Sometimes when I am avoiding/drifiting from my creative life or when there is a lot of external responsibilities happening that I feel the time monsters shouting -No Time! No Time for creative! - I start to go into a frenzy of chores and to dos and say I'm overwhelmed. But really it's a clue that my overwhelm pattern loop is happening. The way out is to go back to my creative dawdling. Even a small step is enough to lessen overwhelm.
Sometimes my creative dawdling has me overwhelmed because I love to do soooooooo many things........just a quick list includes, clay, SoulCollage®, journaling, photography, crochet, astrology, rituals, space arrangement, writing for personal pleasure, writing my blog, assemblage art, beading, reading about any of these topics........there's more....but my point is that when I say I'm overwhelmed in regards to my creative dawdling then it is usually because I'm thinking about all of these and more in a monkey mind jumping around in the studio tree's way. I haven't actually taken a concrete tangible action on a one of them.
The way to disrupt the pattern loop is to just pick something within my Big Thing Domain of Creative Dawdling and act on it. Or finish something that is part way done. In this instance, when I'm overwhelmed in my creative dawdling I have to make myself sit down and take an action. Ignore the mind, tell the critic to go take a break(more about that in a future post) and do one creative thing. I do not even have to worry about what that thing is as long as it is a tangible action and not more thinking about it. I also don't have to worry about the quality of the creative act.....only doing - doing badly, ugly,or beautifully but DOING.
This is where Jen Louden's Conditions of Enoughness comes in handy. This process helps you pick a simple action, do it in a measurable way, making sure it is dependent only on you to do, and when you are done you declare yourself satisfied - even if you do not feel satisfied.
Here is a part of my overwhelm pattern I've noticed.....
When I'm in overwhelm I'm very bad a choosing a simple action. As soon as I try to set a simple condition of enoughness (COE for short) I get more overwhelmed. That is because choosing a COE while in that mind boogling moment of overwhelm doesn't work for me. It is too much thinking and not yet an action. So for me, I have to do a preview action before setting a COE. I have to do something creative and not worry about what it is so I might draw -or scribble -or doodle -or list words. I might crochet. I like to use my hands. That action calms me down. Dance of Shiva (brain dance) also gets me out of thinking and breaks the pattern loop.
Once I've calmed down then I can come up with some COE's that help me further along on my creative dawdling path. They help me lessen overwhelm. The COE's help me move forward with quantity. The brain dance helps me notice the pattern.
It isn't that overwhelm is never going to happen.....but it's nice to have a little clue as to what will shift the pattern and what will help move me out of drifting and procrastination.......
Are you overwhelmed? Ever thought it's not the to do list pressing on you but your one big thing saying attend to me? Whatever, your thing is, I wish you creative blessings.....
The bunnies around here love comments......please feed them.
In the last 2 months I've been doing this brain dance. And by gosh it has helped me begin to see a pattern. More dancing is required to fully unmake it and remake a new habit. As a consequence of doing this wacky flailing of arms dance I see a little more clearly my overwhelm pattern. It is so weird that this dance works. (more about that in future posts)
I say I'm overwhelmed, and it's usually on a day when I feel I need to answer emails, plan dinner, drive 50 miles to do the main grocery shopping, pay bills, and there are a million little care of the home tasks like scooping out the litter box and watering the basil.........
What I'm discovering is that it isn't all that, pardon my wording, *crap* that has me overwhelmed. It is that on some level I've reached a point where I've been avoiding my one big thing. Back when I wrote about overwhelm before - I did not put in any links in my post. Nor did I put in the links to the blogs that originally gave me a clue to this insight. So here is the link love to those bloggers....... Third Hands Works mentioned it and she was referring to Mona Grayson's post about it.
But more about my Big Thing......
I'm a creative dawdler. Living a creative existence is what I feel is my Big Thing. Creative dawdling isn't just the name of my blog - it's what I call all my juicy soul nourishing creative activities......In my years of being a creative dawdler I have developed some habits that maybe are not so useful such as procrastination, drifting, exploring all things creative instead of focusing on just one or two. These habits lead me to a pattern of overwhelm.
Sometimes when I am avoiding/drifiting from my creative life or when there is a lot of external responsibilities happening that I feel the time monsters shouting -No Time! No Time for creative! - I start to go into a frenzy of chores and to dos and say I'm overwhelmed. But really it's a clue that my overwhelm pattern loop is happening. The way out is to go back to my creative dawdling. Even a small step is enough to lessen overwhelm.
Sometimes my creative dawdling has me overwhelmed because I love to do soooooooo many things........just a quick list includes, clay, SoulCollage®, journaling, photography, crochet, astrology, rituals, space arrangement, writing for personal pleasure, writing my blog, assemblage art, beading, reading about any of these topics........there's more....but my point is that when I say I'm overwhelmed in regards to my creative dawdling then it is usually because I'm thinking about all of these and more in a monkey mind jumping around in the studio tree's way. I haven't actually taken a concrete tangible action on a one of them.
The way to disrupt the pattern loop is to just pick something within my Big Thing Domain of Creative Dawdling and act on it. Or finish something that is part way done. In this instance, when I'm overwhelmed in my creative dawdling I have to make myself sit down and take an action. Ignore the mind, tell the critic to go take a break(more about that in a future post) and do one creative thing. I do not even have to worry about what that thing is as long as it is a tangible action and not more thinking about it. I also don't have to worry about the quality of the creative act.....only doing - doing badly, ugly,or beautifully but DOING.
This is where Jen Louden's Conditions of Enoughness comes in handy. This process helps you pick a simple action, do it in a measurable way, making sure it is dependent only on you to do, and when you are done you declare yourself satisfied - even if you do not feel satisfied.
Here is a part of my overwhelm pattern I've noticed.....
When I'm in overwhelm I'm very bad a choosing a simple action. As soon as I try to set a simple condition of enoughness (COE for short) I get more overwhelmed. That is because choosing a COE while in that mind boogling moment of overwhelm doesn't work for me. It is too much thinking and not yet an action. So for me, I have to do a preview action before setting a COE. I have to do something creative and not worry about what it is so I might draw -or scribble -or doodle -or list words. I might crochet. I like to use my hands. That action calms me down. Dance of Shiva (brain dance) also gets me out of thinking and breaks the pattern loop.
Once I've calmed down then I can come up with some COE's that help me further along on my creative dawdling path. They help me lessen overwhelm. The COE's help me move forward with quantity. The brain dance helps me notice the pattern.
It isn't that overwhelm is never going to happen.....but it's nice to have a little clue as to what will shift the pattern and what will help move me out of drifting and procrastination.......
Are you overwhelmed? Ever thought it's not the to do list pressing on you but your one big thing saying attend to me? Whatever, your thing is, I wish you creative blessings.....
The bunnies around here love comments......please feed them.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Action Taken
I came home from the writer's spa, and I was finally able to make a SoulCollage® committee card for the artist. I have been collecting imagery for years. It was time to let the imagery I had on hand come together.
I've known since I first started creating a SoulCollage® deck that I wanted to have a card for my artist self. It's eluded me. In the time I've spent doing SoulCollage®, I've learned for me at least, that those parts of myself that I most consciously identify with are the hardest cards to make. It's like the imagery in ones mind's eye can get stuck in what we are thinking and what we think we already know about ourselves. Sometimes the best cards are created by just allowing the images to speak.
One of the workshops at the writer's spa was a non-art collage process. It was intended to be a way to allow our writing project or our writer self to speak with us through visual images. I was glad I attended the class because the collage I made has spoken to me and continues to speak with me. Each day I gaze upon it and it offers me some inspiration or direction. I'm not quite ready to share it here because I want to stay in an intimate retreat like conversation with it longer before I open up the discussion. It is a way I can remember and pull myself back into that space where retreat and magic happens.
What I can say about the process of making my non-art writer's collage is that it was so rapid and quick that I had to just let the images do all the talking. We didn't have a lengthy amount of time to fuss with it. My mind and words and analysis did not have the chance to get in there and get me stuck. It was more like deciding to let an image sit next to another one.........and to say I resonate with this image and it can go here on the page. I wasn't concerned about anything other than pick an image, find a spot, then glue.
When I sat down at home to dawdle in SoulCollage®, I found myself loose and able to let my artist self speak through the imagery. So I did a similar thing in creating my artist card. I let the images speak as my artist self. Instead of thinking about it I worked in a narrow time frame and let the images find their places.
I also created a council card for The Artist archetype. It seemed like images would find their spot. They picked which card to go on and all I did was cut and glue. Some images I collected did not find their spot on either card, but when I was in this process it was easier to determine - no that image is darling and it belongs on another card or collage. In fact, as I worked I realized there are cards to be made for my play in clay self and my photogragher self too.
.jpg)
I have not taken the time yet to write out fully the SoulCollage® exercise called "I am the one who........" I often hear things as I work on cards and it takes me a long while to get words down on paper because I get distracted. Something I hope to get better at is completing a card all the way through to writing about it.
If I was to write anything here initially about these two cards I would say this-
My artist working committee card says:
The council card The Artist says:
I am feeling a sense of accomplishment and completion to have some artist cards join in my SoulCollage® deck. I am grateful when I can enter this temenos (a sacred play space) where the rational mind takes a break.
Is there anything you do that helps you enter the temenos and give your vigilant mind a rest?
*************************************************************************************
Please note: SoulCollage® cards are not to be sold, traded,or bartered; they are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card. SoulCollage® cards may be shared as examples to illustrate the SoulCollage® process, but it is a principle of SoulCollage® that SoulCollage® cards are not for sale, trade, or barter.
Please go to www.soulcollage.com for more information about the process and Seena B. Frost's book SoulCollage.
Last, but certainly not least: Thank you to all the wonderful photographers and artists whose images inspired us to recreate and discover our inner and outer worlds.
I've known since I first started creating a SoulCollage® deck that I wanted to have a card for my artist self. It's eluded me. In the time I've spent doing SoulCollage®, I've learned for me at least, that those parts of myself that I most consciously identify with are the hardest cards to make. It's like the imagery in ones mind's eye can get stuck in what we are thinking and what we think we already know about ourselves. Sometimes the best cards are created by just allowing the images to speak.
Committee card: Artist Working
One of the workshops at the writer's spa was a non-art collage process. It was intended to be a way to allow our writing project or our writer self to speak with us through visual images. I was glad I attended the class because the collage I made has spoken to me and continues to speak with me. Each day I gaze upon it and it offers me some inspiration or direction. I'm not quite ready to share it here because I want to stay in an intimate retreat like conversation with it longer before I open up the discussion. It is a way I can remember and pull myself back into that space where retreat and magic happens.
What I can say about the process of making my non-art writer's collage is that it was so rapid and quick that I had to just let the images do all the talking. We didn't have a lengthy amount of time to fuss with it. My mind and words and analysis did not have the chance to get in there and get me stuck. It was more like deciding to let an image sit next to another one.........and to say I resonate with this image and it can go here on the page. I wasn't concerned about anything other than pick an image, find a spot, then glue.
When I sat down at home to dawdle in SoulCollage®, I found myself loose and able to let my artist self speak through the imagery. So I did a similar thing in creating my artist card. I let the images speak as my artist self. Instead of thinking about it I worked in a narrow time frame and let the images find their places.
I also created a council card for The Artist archetype. It seemed like images would find their spot. They picked which card to go on and all I did was cut and glue. Some images I collected did not find their spot on either card, but when I was in this process it was easier to determine - no that image is darling and it belongs on another card or collage. In fact, as I worked I realized there are cards to be made for my play in clay self and my photogragher self too.
Council Card: The Artist
.jpg)
I have not taken the time yet to write out fully the SoulCollage® exercise called "I am the one who........" I often hear things as I work on cards and it takes me a long while to get words down on paper because I get distracted. Something I hope to get better at is completing a card all the way through to writing about it.
If I was to write anything here initially about these two cards I would say this-
My artist working committee card says:
I am the one who holds her mouth right as she creates. I am the one who focuses her attention on creating. Who grabs hold of her tools and makes a mess. I am the one who explores color and her craft- allows her gaze to flow through her to the paper or the sculpture. I am the one involved in creative dawdling. I am the one who is occupied working on her art projects.
The council card The Artist says:
I am the one who flows inspiration through the makers hands. I am the one behind the urge to create.
I am feeling a sense of accomplishment and completion to have some artist cards join in my SoulCollage® deck. I am grateful when I can enter this temenos (a sacred play space) where the rational mind takes a break.
Is there anything you do that helps you enter the temenos and give your vigilant mind a rest?
*************************************************************************************
Please note: SoulCollage® cards are not to be sold, traded,or bartered; they are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card. SoulCollage® cards may be shared as examples to illustrate the SoulCollage® process, but it is a principle of SoulCollage® that SoulCollage® cards are not for sale, trade, or barter.
Please go to www.soulcollage.com for more information about the process and Seena B. Frost's book SoulCollage.
Last, but certainly not least: Thank you to all the wonderful photographers and artists whose images inspired us to recreate and discover our inner and outer worlds.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Oops....there she ...what helps
It took about two and a half days and I just had an epiphany about what helps my thunkyness.
What truly helps is:
SLOW
I've been getting the nudges and some were not so subtle. For instance, I drew out of my SoulCollage® deck the card that speaks of slow. It has a picture of a sloth. Yet, when I was racing around in my head mostly and so busy grasping at fixes and connection I missed even the most obvious answer that showed up in my cards.
Yes, getting into my body helped a lot. Writing helped when I settled. Connection via email to friends helped but really it would have helped more if I'd taken the time to SLOW way down and not be in such a rush to reply or get replies. Getting into my body could only happen when I slowed down through breathing and resting yoga. Writing was nourishing and connecting when I slowed down a little bit and settled into it and myself.
Laughter I had not really thought about (thanks Karen) but that helped too. Why does laughter help? I think because when you laugh, everything STOPS while you are overcome with laughter. Isn't that space a place where one finds slow in the everyday small moments.
It seems so obvious andkind of very embarassing to be the creative DAWDLER -
helllllllloooooooooo.... I think a dawdler ='s the message to slow down. This is good. This is where a blog helps you. It's a mirror where one gets to see themselves and exactly what one needs to unfold one's patterns.
For another perspective on retreat integration I found this post today by Michelle Lessirard. It reassured me it takes time. Slow down - 40 days or even 3 lunar cycles is normal for integration - click on New Moon Journal
also I mentioned slow before.....maybe it's developing in a theme....huh.
What truly helps is:
SLOW
I've been getting the nudges and some were not so subtle. For instance, I drew out of my SoulCollage® deck the card that speaks of slow. It has a picture of a sloth. Yet, when I was racing around in my head mostly and so busy grasping at fixes and connection I missed even the most obvious answer that showed up in my cards.
Yes, getting into my body helped a lot. Writing helped when I settled. Connection via email to friends helped but really it would have helped more if I'd taken the time to SLOW way down and not be in such a rush to reply or get replies. Getting into my body could only happen when I slowed down through breathing and resting yoga. Writing was nourishing and connecting when I slowed down a little bit and settled into it and myself.
Laughter I had not really thought about (thanks Karen) but that helped too. Why does laughter help? I think because when you laugh, everything STOPS while you are overcome with laughter. Isn't that space a place where one finds slow in the everyday small moments.
It seems so obvious and
helllllllloooooooooo.... I think a dawdler ='s the message to slow down. This is good. This is where a blog helps you. It's a mirror where one gets to see themselves and exactly what one needs to unfold one's patterns.
For another perspective on retreat integration I found this post today by Michelle Lessirard. It reassured me it takes time. Slow down - 40 days or even 3 lunar cycles is normal for integration - click on New Moon Journal
also I mentioned slow before.....maybe it's developing in a theme....huh.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
perspective minding
I wrote this post a few days ago, but didn't post it immediately because I wanted to add some sort of photo. Then I discovered these bugs on the glass outside on a window of our house. I used my camera and got a really micro close shot of them. Talk about a perspective change because what you see there in bugs is probably only about an inch square. These bugs were just hatching out of the little stick thingy. Amazing. My hubby did a search and identified them as seed bugs. They eat conifer seeds.
The post I wrote is below the photo....click on the photo for a larger view.
I'm preparing for a week of retreat in Taos with Jennifer Louden. I attended this retreat in 2007 when it was Jen Louden and Suzanne Falter Barnes leading together. Jen is now working with Havi Brooks. I loved the retreat with Jen and Suzanne but I'm also very excited to meet Havi and her duck Selma. I'm intrigued by the wacky Shiva Nata yogic brain stuff Havi teaches.
I could make a list of the things I'm looking forward for this retreat.... like spending time with Karen, seeing all the other lovely, creative, women who are returning from 2007. I'm looking forward to new women I'll meet (though I'm also a little nervous about that too). The Mabel Dodge Luhan house is a wild and serene artist's haven(yes, it is a paradox) and I look forward to visiting it again. And Taos. I cannot wait for the good food. The laughter and the tears. Comfort given and received from the Comfort Queen Jen Louden. I bet I could make a list much much longer than this.
What I most look forward to is a shift in perspective. We all need that from time to time. On my better days I try to work it into my daily life. Such as when I've been involved at my computer I'll make a shift by going outside. Or doing some kind of exercise. I'm not always successful or mindful about it. Retreat though is something different. It creates a container for a kind of mindfulness which opens up the possibility for all kinds of shifts in one's perspective. I look forward to that the most because I guess it has been a few years since I really retreated in length and width. I'm feeling like it is time.
Speaking of time, today Saturn moves out of Virgo and goes into Libra. This will be a shift in perspective too. I'm not much of an astrologer. But I like it as a creative process and it is something I dabble in and explore. When Saturn moved into Virgo I found myself volunteering a lot. I did a couple of years of service in my homeowner's association. I also became more and more involved with our local library. It's a library run entirely by volunteers. I found I really like the work of libraries. I did not care for the homeowner's association work so much. The other thing that happened in this 2-3 year period while Saturn moved through Virgo was I mostly stopped blogging. My previous blogs sort of lost mojo and I lost mojo to write them. This one - creative dawdling - has been sort of waiting and waiting for me. Sometimes it says to me- "Too much dawdling Kara, come back!"
I have a feeling that with Saturn's move into Libra I will be more inclined to reestablish my relationship (Libra) with writing a blog. I've been noticing the urge to express myself again. Going on a writer's retreat will give me that opportunity to look at it from other angles and feel it out in new ways. My guess is that Saturn may give me a need to create a structure and establish a more regular way of expressing with this blog. Of course, with a shift in perspective there is also the possibility that I will go in an unexpected direction. Yet, I look forward to that too.
I've been on cruise control a little bit these past few years. I like making small steps and I feel I have made progress. Yet, going off cruise control for a little bit and taking a new unknown path - one where I can't just go on auto pilot will be very good.
There will also be creative dawdling involved granted it will be more mindful creative dawdling......more when I return....blessings
The post I wrote is below the photo....click on the photo for a larger view.
I'm preparing for a week of retreat in Taos with Jennifer Louden. I attended this retreat in 2007 when it was Jen Louden and Suzanne Falter Barnes leading together. Jen is now working with Havi Brooks. I loved the retreat with Jen and Suzanne but I'm also very excited to meet Havi and her duck Selma. I'm intrigued by the wacky Shiva Nata yogic brain stuff Havi teaches.
I could make a list of the things I'm looking forward for this retreat.... like spending time with Karen, seeing all the other lovely, creative, women who are returning from 2007. I'm looking forward to new women I'll meet (though I'm also a little nervous about that too). The Mabel Dodge Luhan house is a wild and serene artist's haven(yes, it is a paradox) and I look forward to visiting it again. And Taos. I cannot wait for the good food. The laughter and the tears. Comfort given and received from the Comfort Queen Jen Louden. I bet I could make a list much much longer than this.
What I most look forward to is a shift in perspective. We all need that from time to time. On my better days I try to work it into my daily life. Such as when I've been involved at my computer I'll make a shift by going outside. Or doing some kind of exercise. I'm not always successful or mindful about it. Retreat though is something different. It creates a container for a kind of mindfulness which opens up the possibility for all kinds of shifts in one's perspective. I look forward to that the most because I guess it has been a few years since I really retreated in length and width. I'm feeling like it is time.
Speaking of time, today Saturn moves out of Virgo and goes into Libra. This will be a shift in perspective too. I'm not much of an astrologer. But I like it as a creative process and it is something I dabble in and explore. When Saturn moved into Virgo I found myself volunteering a lot. I did a couple of years of service in my homeowner's association. I also became more and more involved with our local library. It's a library run entirely by volunteers. I found I really like the work of libraries. I did not care for the homeowner's association work so much. The other thing that happened in this 2-3 year period while Saturn moved through Virgo was I mostly stopped blogging. My previous blogs sort of lost mojo and I lost mojo to write them. This one - creative dawdling - has been sort of waiting and waiting for me. Sometimes it says to me- "Too much dawdling Kara, come back!"
I have a feeling that with Saturn's move into Libra I will be more inclined to reestablish my relationship (Libra) with writing a blog. I've been noticing the urge to express myself again. Going on a writer's retreat will give me that opportunity to look at it from other angles and feel it out in new ways. My guess is that Saturn may give me a need to create a structure and establish a more regular way of expressing with this blog. Of course, with a shift in perspective there is also the possibility that I will go in an unexpected direction. Yet, I look forward to that too.
I've been on cruise control a little bit these past few years. I like making small steps and I feel I have made progress. Yet, going off cruise control for a little bit and taking a new unknown path - one where I can't just go on auto pilot will be very good.
There will also be creative dawdling involved granted it will be more mindful creative dawdling......more when I return....blessings
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Quarter speed
Well, Tuesday I was in pain and feeling calm because of it. Yesterday, was a very pleasant day, until my body seized up again. I didn't do that new moon vision board or make a SoulCollage® card. I looked through images.
Overnight, I managed to sleep and to relax my body again. Yet, I'm worn out. I also fear hurting again. So I'm on strict orders to myself to do nothing.
So why am I here writing? Well, to remind myself. I set a heavy duty intention yesterday in the new moon and feel it is important to me to show up....if only briefly.
Also, in order to do nothing I have to slow way down. And how often do we embrace SLOW?
SLOW as a meditation mindfulness practice.
What would happen if you read these words slow? What would happen if you got up slowly from your computer walked at a 1/4 of the speed you normally do and got a drink of water. Drink the water slow. (Go on you can do that, I'll still be here)
What awareness changes when you did that?
S L O W ........ is what I'm exploring today.
After lunch I'm going back to bed for more flat relaxation. I may lie still and read or listen to a relaxtion meditation on my ipod. But I will also be exploring slow and preparing myself for bringing that back into my daily life tomorrow.
Try out a few daily tasks in slow mode. What do you notice? Tell me about it if you'd like.....
Overnight, I managed to sleep and to relax my body again. Yet, I'm worn out. I also fear hurting again. So I'm on strict orders to myself to do nothing.
So why am I here writing? Well, to remind myself. I set a heavy duty intention yesterday in the new moon and feel it is important to me to show up....if only briefly.
Also, in order to do nothing I have to slow way down. And how often do we embrace SLOW?
SLOW as a meditation mindfulness practice.
What would happen if you read these words slow? What would happen if you got up slowly from your computer walked at a 1/4 of the speed you normally do and got a drink of water. Drink the water slow. (Go on you can do that, I'll still be here)
What awareness changes when you did that?
S L O W ........ is what I'm exploring today.
After lunch I'm going back to bed for more flat relaxation. I may lie still and read or listen to a relaxtion meditation on my ipod. But I will also be exploring slow and preparing myself for bringing that back into my daily life tomorrow.
Try out a few daily tasks in slow mode. What do you notice? Tell me about it if you'd like.....
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lost my creative dawdler
On the 18th of January I partially wrote a post, which I never finished and posted. Partly that was due to being interrupted and also my own willingness to be interrupted. January just got completely away from me and my intentions. I sit here today kind of lost. Where was I?
A creative dawdler has to learn to start. To practice starting and even restarting. You see - there will always be interruptions or obstacles or committees.
Do you mind if I tell you a little about what happened to me? See January started off with great enthusiasm. I had a word and focus and a strong desire to get back to my blog and do some other creative things.
First I found out that my shoulder/arm pain was not a torn rotator cuff. Thankful for that. Then I found out a volunteer committee I'm on had come back to life. Then I realized - oh if I'm going to get rid of and hand off my secretary treasurer job for my homeowner's association to the next person I must do a lot work between now and February 1. That first week of January the dominoes started lining up.
Well, then I started physical therapy to help with my shoulder/arm pain. Of course I do NOT live anywhere close to the place so factor in a bunch of extra commuting time. Then it dawns on me that I have to make my schedule possible for accommodating the sudden classes for this volunteer committee that's been resurrected. Okay, no problem I make sure I can do physical therapy and attend these classes and move the cat vet appointment a week ahead.
Notice my creative dawdling time is rapidly disappearing. Then the dominoes all started to fall last week. I started the week with an appointment that had been made in November 09 (wasn't going to try to change that one since this appointment was the first available). I did hours of sec/treas work. Went to physical therapy (which at this point as they added exercises with my improvement it meant I was there longer and longer). The cat's appointment that had been moved ended up in this week. I was going from one task to another and all the details for the homeowner's sec/treas job and the details of this resurrected committee were making me feel as if my life had been swallowed. It had. My stress increased as I had less recovery time. My creative life, which is what I consider is my life, was no where to be found.
So this week I am saying, "Now where was I?" What was my intention at the beginning of the year? Oh yeah, "I choose......" was my theme. I was choosing to become a more productive creative dawdler and to attend to my creative projects. I was going to explore tracking my creative dawdling. Well, one month down and I can say I did very little creative dawdling in January.
This is an opportunity to explore. It seems not okay to say "no I cannot be on that committee anymore because that would take away from my creative dawdling time" I wanted and needed to get my shoulder better. I'd waited two and a half months for that physical therapy. I made the mistake of not recognizing the amount of time I needed to close out my work and train my sec/treasurer replacement. What I had a real choice about last month was this committee. And I just went along. I just said well I agreed to be on the committee last year - then it got shelved. Yet, here it is. Now is the time for it, and I'll make time.
And I admit I didn't choose. I was too embarrassed to say, no I cannot do this now. I really want to help this organization. I thought this is a temporary tightness in my schedule. And it is and was. Except, I feel really sad this week. I just completely abandoned my creative life. Gone. I'll never get that time back.
This week I'm still a volunteer with this organization and I wear a few hats there. I'm still on this committee. I believe it won't interfere too much in the future with my creative dawdling time, but there is a part of me that worries it will because of what happened last month. My physical therapy is going to start winding down. Thankfully, I'm much much better. I did all the work for the sec/treas job and gave it over. There are a few details, but I'm done with the job. So now I have the chance to get back to something creative.
I think this blog of mine is about practicing this muscle that says "No, I cannot do this because I must tend to my creative dawdler." How do you say no to things you care about but are less important than your creative life? Why do we in this culture minimize creativity? It seems only important if you are a bestselling author or painter or musician? I do not really believe that. I believe creativity is just as important to human beings as breathing, loving, eating, etc.... But it still feels wrong sometimes to put my need for creative puttering time ahead of the requests of people I care about.
I am proud of myself for one thing. In the month of January I stayed consistent with my exercise and I cooked meals for my husband and I. I just feel so sorry I neglected my creative life. How do you handle this when your creative life gets swallowed? Do you have any tricks for getting back to it? For starting again?
A creative dawdler has to learn to start. To practice starting and even restarting. You see - there will always be interruptions or obstacles or committees.
Do you mind if I tell you a little about what happened to me? See January started off with great enthusiasm. I had a word and focus and a strong desire to get back to my blog and do some other creative things.
First I found out that my shoulder/arm pain was not a torn rotator cuff. Thankful for that. Then I found out a volunteer committee I'm on had come back to life. Then I realized - oh if I'm going to get rid of and hand off my secretary treasurer job for my homeowner's association to the next person I must do a lot work between now and February 1. That first week of January the dominoes started lining up.
Well, then I started physical therapy to help with my shoulder/arm pain. Of course I do NOT live anywhere close to the place so factor in a bunch of extra commuting time. Then it dawns on me that I have to make my schedule possible for accommodating the sudden classes for this volunteer committee that's been resurrected. Okay, no problem I make sure I can do physical therapy and attend these classes and move the cat vet appointment a week ahead.
Notice my creative dawdling time is rapidly disappearing. Then the dominoes all started to fall last week. I started the week with an appointment that had been made in November 09 (wasn't going to try to change that one since this appointment was the first available). I did hours of sec/treas work. Went to physical therapy (which at this point as they added exercises with my improvement it meant I was there longer and longer). The cat's appointment that had been moved ended up in this week. I was going from one task to another and all the details for the homeowner's sec/treas job and the details of this resurrected committee were making me feel as if my life had been swallowed. It had. My stress increased as I had less recovery time. My creative life, which is what I consider is my life, was no where to be found.
So this week I am saying, "Now where was I?" What was my intention at the beginning of the year? Oh yeah, "I choose......" was my theme. I was choosing to become a more productive creative dawdler and to attend to my creative projects. I was going to explore tracking my creative dawdling. Well, one month down and I can say I did very little creative dawdling in January.
This is an opportunity to explore. It seems not okay to say "no I cannot be on that committee anymore because that would take away from my creative dawdling time" I wanted and needed to get my shoulder better. I'd waited two and a half months for that physical therapy. I made the mistake of not recognizing the amount of time I needed to close out my work and train my sec/treasurer replacement. What I had a real choice about last month was this committee. And I just went along. I just said well I agreed to be on the committee last year - then it got shelved. Yet, here it is. Now is the time for it, and I'll make time.
And I admit I didn't choose. I was too embarrassed to say, no I cannot do this now. I really want to help this organization. I thought this is a temporary tightness in my schedule. And it is and was. Except, I feel really sad this week. I just completely abandoned my creative life. Gone. I'll never get that time back.
This week I'm still a volunteer with this organization and I wear a few hats there. I'm still on this committee. I believe it won't interfere too much in the future with my creative dawdling time, but there is a part of me that worries it will because of what happened last month. My physical therapy is going to start winding down. Thankfully, I'm much much better. I did all the work for the sec/treas job and gave it over. There are a few details, but I'm done with the job. So now I have the chance to get back to something creative.
I think this blog of mine is about practicing this muscle that says "No, I cannot do this because I must tend to my creative dawdler." How do you say no to things you care about but are less important than your creative life? Why do we in this culture minimize creativity? It seems only important if you are a bestselling author or painter or musician? I do not really believe that. I believe creativity is just as important to human beings as breathing, loving, eating, etc.... But it still feels wrong sometimes to put my need for creative puttering time ahead of the requests of people I care about.
I am proud of myself for one thing. In the month of January I stayed consistent with my exercise and I cooked meals for my husband and I. I just feel so sorry I neglected my creative life. How do you handle this when your creative life gets swallowed? Do you have any tricks for getting back to it? For starting again?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Indulge the heart
Hi there blog........I guess I've been doing too much dawdling and not enough blogging. That is one of the challenges of being a creative dawdler, it is easy to slip into doing a lot of nothing and having nothing to show for it.
Lately, I've been getting the urge to come back. And also the urge to keep track of my creative dawdling. Blogging about it seems like the next action step.
I do believe one can be a creative dawdler and be productive. Though, at first glance, the two seem at odds or opposites of each other. I've spent oh.....15 years if not more, minimizing, hiding, putting down myself as a creative dawdler. When you do that to yourself you become less productive and really not very much fun to be around. See, if they are connected that way..... why wouldn't a little celebrating, expressing, and praising creative dawdling have the opposite effect and make one more productive? In 2010 I'm going to explore this question.
So here's a toast to 2009. Raise up your glass of whatever you are indulging in. Still here. Still creative. Still alive with a beating heart and indulging in another year. Grateful for it.
As I turn the page to 2010. I am going to explore and experiment with tracking my creative dawdling. Come along with me.....I invite you to add your voice to mix.
Lately, I've been getting the urge to come back. And also the urge to keep track of my creative dawdling. Blogging about it seems like the next action step.
I do believe one can be a creative dawdler and be productive. Though, at first glance, the two seem at odds or opposites of each other. I've spent oh.....15 years if not more, minimizing, hiding, putting down myself as a creative dawdler. When you do that to yourself you become less productive and really not very much fun to be around. See, if they are connected that way..... why wouldn't a little celebrating, expressing, and praising creative dawdling have the opposite effect and make one more productive? In 2010 I'm going to explore this question.
So here's a toast to 2009. Raise up your glass of whatever you are indulging in. Still here. Still creative. Still alive with a beating heart and indulging in another year. Grateful for it.
As I turn the page to 2010. I am going to explore and experiment with tracking my creative dawdling. Come along with me.....I invite you to add your voice to mix.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
word play
I really need to get some photos in here...........but that's another day...........today is about word play.
When you feel SCARED
take the letters in that word and
rearrange them
until they spell
SACRED
Focus on that. Because what one focuses on expands.
For me dawdling,
dithering,
breathing,
and being are sacred.
When you feel SCARED
take the letters in that word and
rearrange them
until they spell
SACRED
Focus on that. Because what one focuses on expands.
For me dawdling,
dithering,
breathing,
and being are sacred.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Notes from.........
Welcome to my new blog. I love to dawdle, putter, dither, and meander in all things creative. This is going to be my spot that I just drop in and leave notes. Or maybe leave photo evidence of my creative dawdling. I found this little image creator over at ImageChef.com. Here's the link to the candy hearts.
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