Small stones......big picture

Reading last evening* from "As I Lay Pondering" — I came upon a sentence that really struck a beautiful note for me —

........check it out over at diannawoolley.com

Has anything changed?

.......You'll find out over at diannawoolley.com













featured art is 8"x10" mixed media/encaustic collage

Woohoo - Blogging at Dianna Woolley.com

You know by now that I can truly not make up my mind where to blog from one day to the next - yet, today, it seemed clear to me to send you to diannawoolley.com        I hope you click and enjoy!

 8" x 10" Encaustic - "Pathways"

January Collage Winner

 

Artist Dianna Woolley

"The Fine Art of Collage" 

Thank you for visiting my website in January and for joining the email list at

Artist Dianna Woolley

I promise not to bug you too often but will let you know from time to time what’s happening in my art world and specifically in my studio!*  So, that said……

WIN THIS COLLAGE IN JANUARY ……blah, blah, blah, you say – WHO WON?

“Tattoo Tilework”

….. the randomly picked winner is -

Jane Kaminsky

Congratulations Jane and thanks to all of you who participated!

*two of my 24"x 36" pieces are currently  being exhibited at Washington State University's Tri-Cities....

2012 Word for the Year

                   

 CELEBRATE

2012

This year could be comfortably lived reflecting on the accomplishments, the occasions, the joy, the experiences of my wonderful year 2011.  So, rather than placing too many plans on the table in the first month of 2012 in order to outdo my 2011, I plan to CELEBRATE the past, the future and the NOW of 2012.

What word(s) will describe your past, future and the NOW of 2012?

Happy New Year!

  "Tattoo Tileworks" - 16"x20"

Art, 5K, and Easter Preparations

"Will You Make a Difference Today?"

11" x 13" - Mixed Media Collage*

Art, physical, and/or spiritual training -  any immediate connection/reactions for you there?  I hadn't thought of any similarities in the subjects until my daughter, the one in triathalon training, sent me an article entitled "The Lazy Triathlete".   The article poses a quite poignant question to those "in training" about whether or not they are willing to put in the extra effort it takes to be a winner or whether they are just "putting in their training time" as a habit. Marathon/physical training of any sort, and/or preparation for one's growth in spirituality - they might all be compared to the long distance preparation I've been doing in order to prepare for a one woman visual arts show scheduled in June.  

I remind myself daily that if there's not consistent work prior to the show it is unlikely that there will be anything for potential buyer/clients to view.   Switching my canvases from work areas atop a table, on to the floor, on to an easel - viewing the work in progress from a different perspective, making adjustments -  the work is getting done and my inventory grows piece by piece. 

The same way I've been training for a potential 5K YMCA fun run in May and a 13K Seattle Rock 'n Roll event in June - the only way to train is to plan and to execute the physical steps of dedicated exercise for weeks prior to the runs.   For example,  this week I added an additional 1K on to my run/jog/walk track and I felt more invigorated and joyous over the feat than I expected.  Feeling tired at the end of the 6K was a minor consideration, the surge of completion and a planned goal executed far outdistanced any feelings of exhaustion that may have been accompanying me home!

And Lent, let me not overlook Lent, and the extraordinary reality that a dedicated Lenten discipline adds to the festival of good news and Resurrection that I celebrate at Easter!  Easter comes with or without my study, reflection, contemplation and preparation but how much more meaningful that day of celebration is if I have prepared for it in advance!

Lastly, the similarities of physical/spiritual/and art execution narrowed for me in the last few days as I placed what I believed was an almost finished piece of art on to an easel for photographing it - oh my, forget it - the painting screamed at me, "I AM NOT DONE".  Now it was in some ways - "done enough" - but I knew that I could not in all good conscience hang it on a gallery wall for display.  Whether I liked it or not, there was more work to be done....and so the extra effort, the extra paint, the extra applications of layers will make the effort, like the additional 1K (each week) and the Lenten study leading to Easter, into  an invigorating and joyous completion!

So I ask you, in your art, in your physical and/or spiritual training, do you/have you gone the extra K, the extra dollop of application, the extra moments of reflection and contemplation?  Or do you just put in your time and go through the motions and think that that's enough? Are you the lazy triathlete?

Art and Online Sales

"Love is Not Always Black and White"

12" x 16" Mixed Media Collage

As many of you know, MindSieve is in the process of transforming into MindSieve Studio - where there will be online sales, as well as blogging, and sharing with readers how art affects me and many in our daily lives and relationships.  This transitioning has taken me to a whole new world of online workshops, online experts, online colleagues, the world of Twitter, website building, domain names, etc.  You name it, I've been studying it the last few weeks!  ...........and believe me, I've a way to go before I become an expert!!!

You may remember an earlier post here about artists unselfishly sharing their work and expertise with other artists.  That phenomenon I find so rewarding and uplifting.  In that same vein, online, shall I call them friends, colleagues, experts..........share daily their advice for building websites, for marketing products, for enjoying your art, while being swallowed up (if you allow it) by more advice than you'll probably ever be able to use - but it's there for the choosing.  I've been choosing The Abundant Artist, SquareSpace, Fine Art Tips from Lori McNee, Matt LeBlanc Artist, and a couple of newbies in the last couple of days that came across my screen and attention.

In addition, a couple of sites that seemingly would not be all about art, but that resonate with me in the category of self-esteem and accomplishment in life and in one's artwork, as well as in one's art business.  They are -

 

1.  "Diamonds in the Soul" and her "Get Your Shine On" launch - a fabulous outline for bringing the best to everything you live into

2.  "Uplevel Your Business" with entrepreneur Christine Kane

3.  An amazing revelation for me from an article about Triathalon training - no I'm not training for a race - at least not a triathalon - but you'll hear more about the article in tomorrow's post.

At any rate, with this exciting door of online sales opening for me, I feel supported, I feel worthy, I feel creative - and much of my energy comes from the support of the persons, sites, and art  produced by the people I mention here today and who I've noted in my header bar in the Artist Category. Thanks for their positive influence in my efforts - and I'll assume those tips and back slaps keep coming!!

*For sale online June 4, 2011

Artists Supporting Artists

"Pegasus....Flying Lessons"**
Inspiration from the flying horse of Greek Mythology

by Artist Monica Stobie*

"Father Steve in Civilian Attire"**
by Artist Jill Ingram*

I know that networking with business colleagues, volunteer workers, potential clients, and even friends is an important aspect of business development, non-profit sustainability, and social millieus.  Applying this network theory to re-entering the art world after a loooooong hiatus, I don't know why I've been so surprised at the willingness of artists to support and encourage established as well as new artists - but I have been VERY pleasantly surprised and warmed by many displays of support!  None the least, being that of Monica and Jill!

Now there are those artists in all walks of life, after all they ARE human beings,  who will deliver snarky remarks about one's style, one's media, one's subject but they are farther and fewer in between than those artists who truly reach out and support one another.  I believe that the snarky group may be suffering a slump in their own productivity or that they live in a world of fear rather than in a world of joy and possibility - once more after all, they ARE human and the human condition is the position from which we live our lives.

I've a list of artists here on my site (click on the Home Page tabs) who've been generous, curious, supportive, and just down right nice about assisting me in resources, in advice regarding dealing with galleries, setting prices, buying supplies, etc., and by the way, the list is growing.  They really know little about the work that I'm producing here in my studio (although several of them have seen my work already) but that does not seem to hamper them in their positive encouragement of my ability to create.  All of this is to say, we ALL have creative gifts inherent from our own Creator - some of us will use those gifts in what the world considers an "artsy" way and others will use their creative gifts in business, education, marketing, knitting, volunteering, pedicuring, massaging, piloting, gardening - the list can go on -

My point is - I've found that in lavishly sharing one's gifts with others, one's own gifts can grow exponentially.  Before we know it, by exercising a less critical (read that as cynical rather than creative criticism) eye toward the work of others,  the joy in our own work becomes enhanced by the multitude of variety in all persons' creative bents even though they differ from our own. We are not afraid to share.  We know there is enough praise, clientele, creativity in this world that all can be prosperous in their chosen field of endeavor.  The problem I see is that we often live from the fear of "not enough" and become stingy in our praise and support believing we lose if we share.

I thank persons who read my blog, who support my endeavors as a visual artist, who lavishly give of their time and talent to all they meet.  Is there someplace today that you can freely share your praise and support with no thought of what that support will cost or benefit you? I think such praise given freely will bring a clearer mind, a taller stature, and maybe even peace to you as an artist and as a celebration of your free will choice as a created being.

*Artists Monica Stobie and Jill Ingram - two extraordinary artists who have generously invited me to host my one woman show in their gallery for the month of June.    Please enjoy your visits to Monica and Jill's sites.

**Pieces pictured here today are in the personal art collection of MindSieve and her spouse:)  

Art Becomes Focus at MindSieve

"Will You Make a Difference Today?"*

Mixed Media Collage

Image 11 1/2" x 19 1/2"

Today's a big step here at the MindSieve in that I've decided to fly now under the banner of MindSieve Studio.  I believe the "Studio" addition is appropriate as my time is proportionately spent more and more in the creation of collage than in the creation of written articles.  That is not to say that I will discontinue blogging here, only that there's a name change and a slight shift in orientation toward more art centered articles than in the past. 

You may also notice the different layout visual.  I've now stretched or perhaps streamlined the look of the site with tabs across the top of the Home Page to direct you to a chosen subject.  I hope to feature more artists and their work here, as well as highlight great galleries that I've been fortunate enough to visit.  You may even get a peek at our personal art collection (other artists' work, not mine) - which grew by one new 48" x 48" oil painting this week by artist, Kloe Kang - more on that later.....

If you've a mind, please click on the MindSieve Studio Attractions to Come tab for an announcement I make with fast beating heart:)  Thanks for visiting today and give this a Tweet if you feel anyone you know might enjoy visiting the MindSieve Studio either now and/or especially in June!


*Reworked art piece

Will you make a difference today?

"Will You Make a Difference Today?"

Mixed Media Paper Collage

Image 10.5" x 13.5" - w/Frame 16" x 20"

Some of you, like me, may be aware of and "practicing" a discipline during the 40 days of Lent.  Many folks turn their practice into a personal improvement program - which is certainly not a bad thing particularly if you're improving has something to do with your connection with "that" greater than yourself.  Myself, practically perfect already - mmmmm - am thinking in terms of that which I can "take on" rather than give up.  This world is full of tiny places and tiny cracks in its veneer that I as one small creature might be able to store up.  In that vein, I'm thinking this a.m. of what I can do in just an average day of my life during Lent.  How about you?  Any thoughts?  Perhaps --

-A smile to a receptionist/appointment booker whose face that reflects unhappiness?

-An open door for the person moving decidedly slower than you are but who could use some help with the door even if it means you'll be after them in the waiting line?

-While driving - a complete stop before the crosswalk that a mother and stroller have been patiently waiting in to cross the street?

-A donation to Mercy Corps to aid the Japanese in their tremendous burden of loss?

-A donation to Episcopal Relief and Development for their continuing efforts in Haiti?......how quickly we forget.

-A donation to Art for Life in their fight against cancer?

-A renewed membership in your local YWCA who in my hometown run a domestic violence shelter for women and children, as well as host a nursery school, and after school programs.

-A check to the political candidate of your choice as a sign of support from you for their supporting your rights as a citizen - particularly if you live in a country that does have elected political offices. 

-A heartfelt prayer for those people who don't worry about their blogs, their Facebook or Twitter accounts but worry about where they will sleep tonight or what they will feed their children.

-Read with a kid who could use a little help with their homework or their language skills.

I'm certain there are more things that you and I can do for someone else today to ease their burden, calm their fears, or just plain show them a friendly face - I'm in - how 'bout you?

Website or Blogsite?

 Detail of collage entitled - "The Daily News - Vietnam, Continued"

For a while now I've been considering a website as an alternative plan to my current blogsite here at MindSieve.  Over the past week or so and particularly this last weekend, I visited many artists' sites, blogger locations and websites..... delved into an exercise on two fronts - that of SquareSpace and iWeb, iWeb being a Mac.com product.  After screeching about how dumb I can be sometimes, my spouse suggested that I might "enjoy" a couple of tutorials rather than just playing with the programs.  It's always annoying when he's right about something but I must say he was right about the tutorials.  I learned a lot more in a short time by simply sticking with the instructors.  I learned that both of the aforementioned products are excellent platforms for when I truly am ready for a website, and that's just not right now.

The chief idea for the website was to share my artwork with other artists and viewers of interest.  Right now that artwork is limited in scope.  Once I've increased my inventory of completed artwork - to the dozens and dozens of pieces that I believe a website needs, then I'll reconsider the website adventure.  So for now, I've spruced up my blog's sidebar - hope you'll take a look there - and plan, along with my regular personal blogging posts, to feature a few artist friends in the painting and photography categories from time to time here on MindSieve.  If you'd like to be featured here, I'd love to receive your contact information either in the comment section or directly to my email address diannawoolley@mac.com.  I won't necessarily feature every person that drops me a line but I am always eager to see other artists' work and hope to hear from you soon!

"The Daily News - Vietnam, Continued"

Mixed Media Collage 6" x 18"

My work is fab!

"LOVE IS NOT ALWAYS BLACK AND WHITE"*

Acrylic Mixed-Media Collage - 12" x 16"

What a post title, what a bore, what a snob and elitist?!  Well, not really.....I don't think.  This week while sitting in on a conference call with my Life Coach and some of her other clients, I reflected upon a happening that took place earlier in the week.  With an amazing blurt out of joy and almost giddiness I allowed as how my rediscovery in the last few years of my own personal mark of creativity has and continues to give me an unbelievable amount of energy and productivity, along with a peacefulness and sense of spirit-filled work.  My ideas flow from one piece into the next, I have no fear of pleasing others, I'm content with my completed and continuing work...........what artist could ask for more?

The day AFTER I shared that giddiness with my friends, I suddenly felt my "lizard brain" - many of you know about that phrase from authors, coaches, lecturers across the land - kick into gear.  The questions and doubts were tumultuous, convincing, ridiculous!  The LB suggested that "my ideas will quit coming, nobody will want to review my work, or even like it, or consider owning it.  I'll look foolish, feel defeated and who do I think I am anyway pretending to do art?"  Oh my, I was devastated!

And, THEN, with a couple of great Life Coaches in my bag of tricks, I gave the "lizard brain" a kick across the room with the following:

*My ideas are fabulous - they will continue to flow - stop fretting

*My creativity is original and innovative - it makes me smile and others too for that matter

*People will like my art and will travel to see it - they do already

*Viewers will click on my site and say wow - they have and they do

*I love my art and that's a significant detail, this creation is from me, for me and it's all gravy if someone else likes it too - delicious gravy

*The joy of creation and the sharing of it is the purpose and product of my work - what could be better

So, how about you?  Do you have a "lizard brain" from time to time?  Please kick it across the room - the "lizard" will instantaneously feel relieved of its mission and with any luck at all will die a quick death in the corner of your studio.  

Say to yourself right now - my work is fab! - and believe it!


*xoxo to a fab photographer who gave me permission to use his graffiti heart shot in this collage

WRITING WITHOUT PAPER

"PEAR-LY THERE III"
Mixed Media Collage - 9"x 12"

Over at "Writing Without Paper", Maureen continues to offer a plethora of information to broaden one's mind, as well as spirit.  She has so much to offer one could easily "over indulge" and browse days away clicking on her menus.  YET, and this is very important, yet as I peruse her site and marvel at her ability to offer up continually rich resources, I know that I will ALWAYS find a morsel of absolutely marvelous food for thought.  The morsel below is one I feasted upon yesterday and will continue to savor today.  Thank you Maureen - your dedication to providing rich material does make a difference in lives!

Only she who is ready to question,

to think for herself, will find the truth.

To understand the currents of the river,

he who wishes to know the truth

must enter the water.

~ Nisargadatta, Indian Mystic

Life in two parts

"PEAR-LY  THERE II"

Mixed-Media Collage - 9" x 12"

Quote here by Richard Rohr from 

Falling Upward, A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, p.xiii

"The first half is discovering the script, 

and the second half is actually writing it and owning it."

How convenient or coincidental(?) is it that Richard Rohr's quote should come before my eyes this morning?  The subject of NOW has been part of my personal theme song for the past couple of years in that I'm very alert to the fact that I'm firmly ensconced in the second half of my life (that is if I expect to live until I'm 136!.....you can do the math.)  At any rate, I repeat I'm definitely in the second half.

I'm eager to read the Rohr book that I've quoted from above as he obviously writes from a spiritual point of view about the two halves of life.  Yet, I too, speak of spirituality when awakening myself to things done and left undone, experiences I've always wanted to have in my life, people to meet, friends to make, travel to distant places, physical strengthening, reading, writing, painting; the list goes on.  I think my point is thinly veiled - I'm working at achieving and experiencing my bucket list NOW.  I'm not making excuses about no time to write, no time to read, no time to run a mile, no time to begin yoga, no time to say I love you to all my friends and family.

How about you?  Are you waiting until the pantry is full, or you've been to the cleaners, or gotten to the library, or washed the kitchen sink or bathroom bowl?  No matter your age as you read this post, you could possibly be in the second half of your life right now - don't wait, don't put off improving your mind, honoring your body, tending to your spiritual self - go for it today!!!  

**Collage from One Woman Show - Opening Reception - June 3, 2011 
Gallery at the Weinhard
Weinhard Hotel - Dayton, WA

STAR TREK

"STAR TREK"

Mixed -media Collage 16" x 20"

In producing one's own art there are many aspects of preparation prior to the work actually hanging on a wall in a home or in a gallery or museum.  In a strange sort of way, creative preparation - such an amalgam of detail (today I'm leaving out the aspects of study/practice/craftsmanship/etc.) - perusing galleries, comparing styles, media, subject matter, producing one's own art -  the creative work or should I say play,  is a bit like television viewing.  Huh?

I'm not much of a tv viewer in that I don't have favorite shows that I set the clock to watch nor do I remember the actors' names or their history on stage, movie screen or theater.  However, I DO have favorite shows that find my computer screen via Netflix or ITunes -  a few of them I'm rather hooked on - but that's another post.  The point is that the shows I choose to watch and sometimes actually adore are probably not the shows that you would adore and vice versa.  My seeking out the latest PBS special to learn how apples originally migrated around the globe from Kazakhstan or Masterpiece Theater to find what the well dressed English Lord and Lady are wearing to dinner in their well-appointed abbey might not be the kind of television that you'd prefer - perhaps Monday night or Sunday afternoon football is your choice, i.e., .....the Super Bowl played in Dallas by teams from Pittsburg and Greenbay?  Oh well....there's something for everyone!

This is all to explain that when I finished the above piece of art and suddenly named it "Star Trek" I had to laugh as I never, ever watched a "Star Trek" television episode and the movie?.... forget it! I can identify prominent members of the cast but I never gave a hoot about becoming a "Trekkie" nor had the interest to sit for even half an hour with the show.  Yet, that's the name that came to me.....how strange.

But further, the television versus art - we ALL have our television favorites, our tastes, our selections, our utter disgust with one selection and our utter delight with another.  So it is with art.  We that produce it would be happy if everyone loved our work but that seems extremely unlikely doesn't it?  What one person proclaims a masterpiece, another proclaims a piece of junk.  With that huge upfront generality in their minds, artists have been drawing, chipping away, smearing oils, charcoal, and  even elephant poop and heaven knows what else on walls and canvases for centuries - fully delighting part of their public and frightening or at best confusing the rest.  Yet, no one asks us artists to put ourselves out there on the end of the diving board of public opinion - we just bring that on ourselves.  Why is that? Perhaps because we must - because we feel that part of us needs to speak, part of us needs to create, part of us wishes to be adored, applauded, and just plain ol' we do it for ourselves.

In June I'll be displaying my work in a true first "one woman show" - such an exhilarating thought for me as I prep with cutting, pasting, selecting, sifting, painting, prepping, framing, wiring, hanging, and starting over again on another piece.  It makes me happy to envision a body of my work in one place, at one time, with invitations and publicity surrounding it all.  I think briefly about those who will arrive at the show with loving support, those who will lie through their teeth saying they love the work, and those who will sincerely find themselves inexplicably drawn to colorful and unique pieces of artwork that I've created.  I dwell on the first group and the last group mentioned and on the mere fact that the work is from my heart, from my soul, from my call to create - so, today's work entitled "Star Trek" may be completely apropos to the journey that artists make when declaring to the world I am a creative talent, please join me in my exhilaration and sincerity in bringing these works to life.

The journey you're on?  Is it a "Star Trek" adventure - open, unbelievably exciting, something you've yet to share with others?  Give it some thought and consider that perhaps there are other "creative trekkies" out there just waiting to share in what you  consider worthwhile and life expanding.

Waiting for creation

Does the creative womb

stop in time

stand still.....

Or is it ever active

nourishing the gift

even as the artist waits impatiently for the birthing

God's season of darkness,

of patience, of wombs,

of nevertheless prolific stirring

The womb of holiness 

does not cease to nurture

even in the silence

It works with the whole of creation,

awaiting the birth

ready or not, it will come

The Versatile Blogger?

The "Versatile Blogger Award" allows the recipient(s) to sport the pretty little green badge seen in my right hand column today.  Thanks from me to Contemplative Photography for gifting me with this honor! I hope you'll visit Contemplative Photography yourself for a view of her lovely  photography, a read of her always challenging and thought-provoking posts; don't miss the constant newness in the site's left-hand column - gifts to yourself in prose, photography and daily poetry!

Part of the fun of this Award is that I'm allowed to gift or present it to 15 of my favorite versatile bloggers.  Bending the rules a little I'm bestowing it upon 10 of my blogger peers - they are not in preferred order or even alphabetical - just bloggers I always enjoy visiting:

1.  Christine Kane
2.  Diamonds in the Sky with Lucy
3.  Country Parson
4.  Anchors & Masts
5.  A Seat at the Table
6.  Seedlings in Stone
7.  JustBLiving
8.  Contemplating the Moon
9.  Textures Shapes and Color
10.The Whole Blooming World

Finally, as an award winner, I am to share seven things about myself that my readers/followers might not know - you already know I'm a Christian, a spouse/mother/retired person, exercise and travel lover.............hmmmm, things you don't know - here goes!

1.  I enjoy waking as many days as possible without an alarm sound of any kind ringing in my ears
2.  I'm hooked on the Netflix (no commercials) version of "Grey's Anatomy" - I'm into Season 3 now
3.  I'm going to have a one-woman art show in June 2011
4.  I've lost 8 lbs in the last 5 months and in the meantime,  added a number of lbs of muscle (BTW - they're lost and there is no reward for your finding them and returning them!)
5.  My current record of push-ups is 25 in a row
6.  I have a Life Coach with whom I adore working and would unhesitatingly recommend
7.  My birth year is 1942

Thanks again for the nice award from one of my fellow bloggers and to my readers for commenting or just viewing as you feel called to do:))

What do I see?

During a recent Soul Collage Event in my home, the beautiful face* featured here along with the photo of the white Cockatiel begged to be placed on the small collage card which I was creating. For me, the "call and the culling" of myriad paper images is a rather mystical, perhaps whimsical part of the Soul Collage process. Continually surprised at the random selection of images finding their way to a small, personal card, I am truly taken to another place when the images speak out from their pasted surface revealing the card's relevance to my life. 

The decorated face had a lot to say to me on the evening of the event and this a.m. in contemplation, I unraveled the bird's voice to me.  (BTW - the Cockatiel "insisted" on being placed on the card during the last moments of the pasting process - I had no idea why the bird had to come to rest on the card until today!)

To a specific set of questions from the SC Leader, this is what the card answered to me in my own words - first the question to the image, followed by my own response -

-Who are you? I am the one....who is confident with whom and with what I am.  I am the one comfortable in my own skin whether others love my image or not.

-What do you have to give me? What I have to give you is...confidence, creativity, and youthfulness.

-What do you want from me? What I want from you is...trust, respect, and friendship. 

And as mentioned above, in contemplation and reverence this a.m. the "Cockatiel" spoke to me revealing yet another aspect of the card for my reflection.

-Who are you?  I am the one.....who endorses your positive traits and image.

-What do you have to give me? What I have to give to you is - blessing, assurance, and spiritual fulfillment.

-What do you want from me?  What I want from you is.....love, steadfastness, worship and thanksgiving.

The Cockatiel?......perhaps THE essential voice echoing an affirmation of things seen and sometimes unseen but there nevertheless.

*the beautiful face - I first encountered this face via a YouTube video sent to me from an artist friend.  Within days of the first encounter, I came upon a coffeetable book of these faces and bodies.  The book featured the work of Hans Silvester in the book "Natural Fashion/Tribal Decoration from Africa."  So charmed by the images, I then purchased a copy of the book for myself and my artist friend.  When the image reappeared in the random images for use in the Soul Collage Workshop, I picked it up thinking it was only a beautiful picture.  I had no idea how Mr. Silvester's images were speaking to me.

The Ashes - Maui

Stepping onto the ancient paths of my being

what mystery awaits me there

footprints of the sea, of the stars, of my ancestors

Ancestors of the outrigger,

the Jordan, the valley, the font

Ancestors on the sea, across the plains, across the light

Will I see them as bright as the evening star

understanding their existence as I would recognize it

has already burned and flown to yet more distant galaxies

Will I recognize their presence in the ashes marking my forehead this day

and carry them into my own desert, my own Iao Valley,

my own sandy shore or constellation

With the ashes of your fire on my forehead and heart

grant me the power to reveal ancient paths to those after me

those yearning for their own ancient paths of love and redemption

Photo of amazing work by Monica Stobie - Tree of Life - Nature Song 30" x 20" available www.monicastobie.com/available.html 

Check out Christian Century Blogs for thought-provoking, meaningful posts throughout the season of Lent 

This poetry was inspired by a sermon from the Reverend Moki Hino's book Pa'a Kai, comments from Barefoot Toward the Light, Abbey of the Arts, Jeremiah 6:16, and a personal tour of the Iao Valley-Maui led by Country Parson.