Cultivating Silence, Rest and Simplicity
January asked me for silence, and I yielded to its request. I wrote daily but most of the ideas, references and words didn't make it into the first 13 Moons book. I craved silence and simplicity and although searches and synchronicities yielded lots of ideas to pursue over future cycles, what I needed most for myself was quiet and reflection. So I rested.
I began February with a small celebration of Imbolc, the pre-Christian Celtic festival celebrating the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. - a time when the earth is beginning to emerge from winter. The festival honors the goddess Brigid, lighting lamps and bonfires in her honor. Celebrants invited Brigid to visit their homes and bless them. They created cloth dolls made from small bundles of wheat and oats and set them outside their doors in a basket. People also made small woven crosses to hang in their homes to invoke her blessings.
My ceremony helped me set my own intention and ask for goddess Brigid and St. Brigid's blessings to restore an abundant natural habitat for birds and pollinators on the seven-acre lot we own next door. Our area is primarily crop fields and my desire is to create an oasis here that can help inspire others to become part of a pollinator pathway across the country. There are groups like Wild Ones that are teaching people who are concerned about helping nature to transform part or all of their lawns into native plant havens for bird and pollinator populations. I am committed to doing what I can to take restorative action for the natural world.
As this lunar cycle unfolded over the past few weeks, I decided to free up a bit, to work on all kinds and sizes of paper, to fully abstract the arctic winds, snow, and contrasts I am seeing all around me outdoors - and most of all, just let go! I was trying so hard to record of my experiences and insights for this project that I forgot to just enjoy it.
"Inquiry requires that we remain playful and open, noticing our energy and following it wherever it leads."
As Pat Allen writes in her book, Art as a Spiritual Process, "A consumer society demands that a product be consistent. The Creative Source pulls back and lets us proceed but without the fire and light we had before. We have stepped out of a gift economy and into a commodity economy...
Inquiry requires that we reman playful and open, noticing our energy and following it wherever it leads."
A Shift in Attitude
So I still love the idea of making a book for each lunar cycle, but I am going to put things in this month's book more spontaneously. Less measuring or cutting or trying to be precise. I started ripping papers and making small sumi ink drawings with sticks and hake brushes and mono printing on a sheet of vellum, pressing tissues into that to create patterns and letting those dry - and suddenly I'm happy and motivated again and excited to be sharing this all with you.. Below are some of the samples I've been creating since the full moon, which feel quite in sync with the arctic-like wind gusts sweeping across our acreage.
The past few days have brought snow and ice covered tree branches to our area, always a beautiful sight, even when the sun isn't shining. So let me share a few photos of those with you, trusting that following this bitter cold, snowy weather some warmer days are soon to follow.
I invite you to celebrate your own playfulness as the winter winds and snowfall move past and more signs of spring begin to arrive. May ease and joy accompany your creative practice.
And of course, here is your invitation to say the Metta Prayer with me each day. It is often the simplest acts that have the most powerful impact.
May I be peaceful. May all beings be peaceful.
May I be happy. May all beings be happy.
May I be safe. May all beings be safe.
May I awaken to the light of my true nature. May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May I be free from suffering. May all beings be free from suffering.
So may it be. Namaste.
Peace and love,
Jeanne
This is a beautiful and heartfelt post. I love the way you so freely talk about your inner life, your art life.
Your altar to Brigid is beautiful and meaningful. I am familiar with St. Brigid but did not know about this other Brigid. So once again, I learn so much from you.
I love your winter sumi ink drawings. I find that I am also working in black and white these days due to the cold and the ice we are having here in Ohio, as well. I love the loose quality of your pieces. I often start with a loose pour of ink but end up with more realism than I want. I am working on letti…