Power

connector electrical 054

I have been absent from these posts and my inner critic has been merciless-pouring on the guilt, making me feel inadequate. Here I am in defiance, a stance I perfected over the course of writing my book. I could list ALL  I have been doing over the past few months, defend my absence to you all but I would rather talk about empowerment since that allows facing our inner critic.

Power is on my mind. We have just experienced our first walloping winter storm in years: roads flooded, schools closed, trees down, power outages. We flick switches habitually even when we have no electricity. This gesture made me consider all we take for granted and how important change is to awaken awareness. So often we neglect to be grateful for the gift even an unwelcome change or alteration brings.

What do I take for granted?

Each morning I wake up, turn on a tap that brings me water with no effort. I realize I have the power to walk, to wash, to dress, to eat-all in a comfortable, warm space. I can make choices as to what to wear, what to eat and on some days, what to do. I have the power to boil water, cook, wash clothes, run a vacuum-all tasks more laborious without electricity. I turn on music, my computer without thinking. So I am very grateful for all that P G and E enables (or, during this storm, a generator.)

But what about personal power? How do I generate that; keep that juice flowing?

I realize I have to connect to something bigger than myself. A walk by the ocean or into the forest takes me out of my small world and allows expansion. I have to be still, slow down, quiet my restless mind. I have to sit at my art table or desk and begin. I have to trust that I can reconnect to the grid-the creative grid that powers us all. Just as a blackout contracts our world, taking away the light needed to see further than our flashlight beam, so too, a shut down of our creative spirit limits our perspective. We feel stuck, immobile, tentative, trapped, a prisoner of our own “can’ts.”  We have yielded power to the inner critic. When we stand up to that voice we are turning on our power, enabling ourselves to act, make choices. We reconnect to the world of possibilities, to the world of “can.” We will be flooded with ideas, inspired, enlivened, enLIGHTed.

Wishing you a year of can-do power.

Play time

Think of what you take for granted and then do a gratitude exercise, eg: Thank you for these legs that take me where I need to go; Thank you for these eyes that allow me to see; etc.

Consider the on/off switch for your creativity. Write or make art about what turns it on and what shuts it down.

Picture a generator that you can access when your main power source fails.  What fuels it? How do you activate it? Represent this with art.

Consider terms associated with winter weather: storms, blackouts, floods, closures, live wires, downed trees, huge ocean waves, hail, gale force winds. Or blizzards, whiteouts, treacherous roads. Think of metaphors suggested. Do some word association poems or collages or other art.

Imagine a safe, comfortable place that can provide shelter in a storm. Create a representation with assemblage, collage or other art project.

Have fun!

Comments · 2

  1. So glad I found you, on my friend Lisa’s FB page. I have been looking for and did re-order at my library, “The Artist Within” but since I had previously owned this book, I am reluctant to buy it again. So I decided to wait my turn at the library (33 holds) and have faith that it or something else would turn up for me and as usual it did; you did. I’m thankful and ready for your suggestions. Thank you very much. Suzanne, BC, Canada

    1. Thank you! I am so glad to hear this. Maybe your library may want to carry my book! I do hope you find it inspiring. Hope to hear how it goes.

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