Art as a spiritual path

"The Creative Source welcomes the engagement of everyone, not merely some privileged class of artists. It is mother & father, nurturer & supporter of all beings, & welcomes all of us to wake up to life's abundance. Our engagement with art leads us to engagement with our bodies, spirits, and with each other." -Pat B. Allen

Joy lent me this wonderful book call "Art as a Spiritual Path." In true Hope-fashion, I have been slowly working my way through the book and am enjoying the process.

The author talks about setting an intention with your art and how the images that you create are manifestations of your inner wisdom. The way you connect with this inner wisdom is by connecting with the "Creative Source." She also talks about letting a piece of art run its course. In other words, don't rush your art work but rather let it be a process. If that means the process is one hour, one day, or one year, let it be a process. In light of that, I came back to a poem I wrote one night when I was in Portland this past fall (on of the nights I couldn't sleep). It still really resonates with me and I realized that there is more there than just a poem. I've had this painting sitting in my living room for about a month now. It's half finished and I haven't been able to quite figure out what else to do with it. Now I think I know it has something to do with this poem I wrote. We shall see.

I would like to share my poem with you but first, a quick comment on the quote at the beginning. I find it very warm and welcoming to read, especially the part about art not being merely for some privileged class of artists. It opens up the possibility for art to be so much more than just a painting on a canvas. Art is more than the end product. It is about the process, the connecting with the "Creative Source" and finding you inner wisdom, being nurtured, supported, welcomed, and connected to yourself and to others.

I love you both and hope you enjoy my poem! It has no name so I'll just launch right in.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Never before has there been a more
ripe time for creation.

Never before has there been a
re-surgence of life.

Fly. Dance. Drive (Drive fast!)

Do lo que sea para hacerte sentir-
esa libertad del alma. De tu corazon
Aunque lo hagas 'mal' o lo hagas
'bien'-hazlo.

The world cannot, should not tell you how
to contain yourself, how to create yourself.

Open those doors of your soul that have
been closed for so long.

Move-through-the-rain. With or
without the Umbrella.

New Movement

My dear sisters! I wanted to share a little about my recent 'fitness' 'exercise' experience. As you both know, the past few years have been a struggle/challenge due to back/hip pain, and most recently, getting sick a lot. Well, I have to say that, over the past month things really have been looking up. I'm elated that I can run a couple miles and not be in pain/stiff for a week after. (Thank you Joy for encouraging me to go to a chiropractor). I'm excited to be able to move again without pain (most of the time!).

In light of my increased ability to move, I've had new movement Epiphanies! These epiphanies are related to listening skills and then applying said listening skills to body movement. Its amazing to me how I can think I hear someone/understand what they are saying but then realize that I'm not because I'm SO focused on what I think is going on and what I think is the answer. Example; Joy was helping me with some math questions for a job application while I was in Portland, and I remember one question in particular she was trying to explain something to me. I was so determined that she didn't get that I understood/knew it already that I didn't really listen to what she said. Ok well, eventually I did ;)

I've had this experience multiple times since, but there are two distinct instances that I wanted to share. One instance happened while Ann was here in Tucson. We took a basic yoga class and the instructor helped me with cobra. Cobra has always been a little confusing/challenging for me anyhow but I thought I had figured it out. But when the instructor helped adjust me, there was this little moment of 'aha this is how its supposed to feel,' followed by 'ahh shit, this means I have to start from square one.' Which I'm doing and it means my cobra does not look as impressive as I was thinking it was ;) (hopefully as cute as the little doggy though!) but the movement feels different-like something is starting to click and fall into place in my body.

The other experience I had was a few days ago at the gym with Eugene. I finally got around to doing dead lift again and Eugene was refreshing my memory on form. He watches me do my first set and then proceeds to tell me what he saw and explain the movement. He tells me 'move your knees back first.' Wuh?

So, if you look at the image below, 1. is the starting position, and in order to get to 2. I was using all back strength to get there. This created an awkward movement because my knees would get in the way.

Instead, you're supposed to straighten your knees (or move them back) to get to fig 2. This is something he told me maaaaaany times before when training me, but for whatever reason I just didn't get that the movement starts with your knees moving 'back' and the rest of your body holds still.

After Eugene instructed me again, and was finally able to get through my pre-conceived this-is-what-deadlift-movement-is, I did another set and what a difference! All of the sudden the movement felt SO much more natural and not awkward like before. (No worries if my explanation is confusing about the dead lift movement :P).

Sometimes its the little things, and the little adjustments that make all the difference. Like learning that cobra is about upper back and relaxing the low back/glutes and that deadlift is about a small movement of the knees going back first. Of course, this can extend to every day life such as; taking a shower first thing when I wake up so I feel like I'm actually starting my day, instead of staying in jammies and feeling unmotivated. Here's to small but powerful changes!