star-bits and wind-threads of grit | {altered book art journal re-peek}
what is needed
is not always something new
or distant from Here.
what is needed
to be inspired,
to discover, remember, revive,
and to share...
is {perhaps}
to remember to breathe in the brightness, aware
and praise every lent pulsing moment.
what is needed {perhaps}
is to release the reigning emphasis
on prolific generation,
on measures-for-others and self-medication,
on urgent conversions of pleasure and profit and clever proof
without pause.
the soul cannot speak that language, that speed, that separation.
and she says only, always,
Please, listen closely, look here now and see….
instead {perhaps}
what is needed
is to catch the threads of life on your fingers in the wind
and hand-dance along their unraveling trails intertwining
in time you cannot pause
anyway you try
instead {perhaps}
let lightning illuminate what you thought you could not bear to see
and tears fall and thunderous laughs rise, and fade
into tender silence permeating two clouds, once split
now merging into One.
instead {perhaps}
reach deep(er)
beyond knowledge and notions
into pockets of lineage, raw feeling and prayer, so full
of unknowing and fumbling, breaking and mending,
dying and waking, losing and finding and loving…
and gather up star-bits and wind-threads of grit
to hold gently
and lead you back home
when you forget
for a time that what is needed
is within.
I wrote the above last night, playing with that ever meaningful thread metaphor, and then woke up to this in my inbox this morning from CAC:
There is a thread you follow. It goes among
Things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
—William Stafford
Yep. What he said. ❤︎
The cosmic dreamscape spread above was a meditation with color, a dance with making magic out of 'mess' in my creative process, and one of my favs in this mixed-media altered book.
It was also part of my lessons for Make A Mess MAGIC in the workshop Color, Color, Color (for 21 Secrets). There is a three day flashback sale happening for 5 editions of 21 Secrets right now, when you use code: FLASHBACK.
21 Secrets is always stellar for art journaling. Tons of teachers, themes and lessons to choose from and receive, to rejuvenate and inspire your creative practice, plus you get that good feeling bonus of supporting working artists, too.
