Hand-build clay wall hanging, The Heart is a Bird, by Tammy Vitale of Tams Originals.

I just erased this whole posting.  And I’m up against the clock.  Monday continues…..or wait!  this is Wednesday!

This will be shorter and possibly say exactly what I should have said the first time since the imps gave me the space to erase that.  I always look at that as a sign something better is waiting in the wings.  Like the time my computer shorted out and erased the 1st 10 pages (footnoted) of my master’s thesis.  Nothing a bottle of wine and a bit of wailing to the universe couldn’t overcome.

Yesterday Laurie posted a wonderful comment here to my post and reminded me about (and quotes from) a book by Tillie Olsen, Silences, on  creative space and noticing that our culture doesn’t make room for it. 

Instead of squinting at the bottom of posts here to see if someone comments, note that comments are posted in the left side bar.  You can click there to read.  I urge you to read Laurie’s post because it has good information to share.  And also because it is the kind of conversation I love to see here – think of it as teatime, or afternoon coffee (or in my case morning coffee which I have about 30 minutes to get myself ready for and be out the door or be late…but you see what’s important here?  You are as important as my non-cyber morning coffee and I guarantee I’ll fit both spaces in because they fit in under my "passion.")(which can stretch time when necessary).(or maybe I just type faster).

I believe that if you want to follow your passion you have to make your own space.  Our culture is so wrapped up in goals and objectives that the thought of any time that is not "productive" (i.e., making money or moving toward making money) is anathema.  Even as my own boss and as a creative person, I have to stop myself on the wheel of retail and breathe and make some room for playing with the "what ifs" of clay and glaze and nevermind that it will not be successful in the nearest art showroom.  It will open possibilities that will lead to new places in my work, but only if I take a breather and let the breeze flow through.  Otherwise it is as by rote as a spelling lesson in 2nd grade.

Dare:  take 48 hours for yourself to do whatever you want to do, including cloud-watching and star gazing.  Flop down in the grass (done that lately?  Mosquitos aren’t out here yet in So. MD. – good time for being outside anywhere, I imagine).  Look up and see what the clouds are painting.  Look down and see what’s moving in the grass.  Take a walk and listen to what’s awake and happy in the trees.  That’s it.  You don’t have to write about it unless you want to.  You don’t have to think about it ever again.  Unless you want to.

Fun:  gather magazines, scissors (not necessary), glue and a page from the newspaper.  Spend 5 minutes going through the magazines and tearing out pictures that make you feel good, whose color appeals, whose idea speaks to you.  Lots of pictures.  Think abundance of pictures.  Tear them out.  Lay them in a pile.  Next 5 minutres go through pictures and be a bit more discriminating – which one feels better?  Which one whispers louder?  cut it out (or tear it out) and paste it onto your newspaper page.  Order is not important.  Placement is not important.  DO NOT THINK.  Respond to what feels better, warmer, cooler.  There you go.  Hang it up.  Your heart is speaking to you.  What is it saying?

Thought for the day:  (from my notes from Tama Kieves workshop):

Don’t think:  what am I going to do forever?  Think, what will I do just for now, just this very moment.

Your intuition is not compartmentalized.  You never know where it is heading. [nor do you need to.  Trust the process. Go ahead:  follow]

You cannot plan an inspired life.