#122 - Clarity and Manifestations for the new year

Let's get clear here.

It's almost that time again.  It's actually one day moving into another but because we have this fascination with a "calendar" which follows the ancient changing of the seasons, it's the time of emergence back into the lightness.  The slow sluffing off of the past and the dreams of renewal for the future spring, when we can emerge anew.

It's time to manifest.  I've always been a great believer in that Manifestation 101 as my dear pal the sculptress calls it.  In order to properly manifest what you want, you need to be clear in your intention.  You have to know what it is that you want, and put it forth into the universe.  That sounds remarkably easy, but it's actually pretty hard to have that kind of clarity.

The original Vault Goddess has been making noise. She's in the background wanting me to be very clear.  And I agree:  it's time to release that which no longer holds purpose for me.  That includes the Vault Goddess' inventory, as well as the ImperialMan's stuff.

That's my clarity of focus for the new year.  Release.

Things coming to my etsy/ebay store soon!

#121 - It's not consumable

The holiday week is upon us.  It's so odd being on the outside of the noise and decorating and shopping and gifting.  I'm actually quite fond of it.  But it doesn't dispell the desire to bake, bake, bake. I have gingerbread dough ready to be cut and then decorated.  I made some gluten free pecan puffs for the holiday gathering we're off to over the weekend.  And tamale fillings are current being prepared.

BUT:  I'm just going to go paint.

It's strange to be on the other end of the consumption chain.  I mean, I have paintings I'm doing that I will want to sell and send off into the world, and in order to do so, I need someone to decide they want to consume them for themselves.  I think we're being very thoughtful about what we bring in to consume, whether its food, drink or other tangible items.

LATER THAT WEEK...

The intention was to get this posted earlier in the week.  It's Christmas day and I feel a sense of relief that all the consumption comes to a close today, and then it's on to "the year in review" bombardment for a week, followed by the "resolutions for the new year" week.

I just look forward to getting back on the regular hampster wheel, which for ME is no longer a grind of work, but a pathway of art.

That's ultimately what I want to consume.

#120 - Football fever

Ok, I admit it.  I officially have become obsessed with football.  Wait, not the NFL type (which I've been obsessed with since the original 49ers Super Bowl win after the 1981 season;  but that's another story).

I've become obsessed with the rest of the world calls Football: the FIFA World Cup.  I've never been a big fan of football/soccer, at least not since my son stopped playing it in elementary school.  I don't understand all the rules.  I don't get when it's officially "offsides" or what officially constitutes a foul.  BUT, I'm not sure why, but since both my sons have been avid fans, I guess we started to watch over the Thanksgiving break when my eldest was here.  And, unbelievable to my own self, I'm hooked.

Today's quarter final matches were the best ever, according to the pundits.  And oh boy, what matches they were, ending with penalty kick shootouts.  Two more quarter final games tomorrow and then there will be only 3 games left, but I will relish watching each one even though getting up at 7 am to watch is a bit much.  But I'll be doing it.  And I understand that the next World Cup in 2026 will be in North America.  My son tells me he thinks there will be matches at Gilette Stadium in Massachusetts, as well as likely here in the Bay Area and LA.  Good excuse to play a trip somewhere.  I would love to be there.

Until then:  Go Argentina.  Go Messi!

#119 - What does it mean to be prolific?

I've started to get back to painting again, but my dreams seem to be all about theatre these days.  Last night, I had an amazing dream not just about being in Italy, but going to see a play (in English).  And I saw the complete thing in my dream.  

I was just reading an article yesterday in the Sunday NYTimes Style Magazine about Adrienne Kennedy, a prolific black playwright who is finally getting a Broadway debut. And even though I rarely watch any awards shows, I did tune in last night and was so proud of Lizzo accepting the People's Champion honor by calling up 17 female activists and naming each one and what they support.  It was brilliant.

What does it mean to be prolific?  Is that really a subjective definition?  Am I prolific because I've finished 41 painting in just over 40 days?  Or would I be prolific if I did that while simultaneously completing some other body of work?

I've spent time this week doing more organizing of art materials.  I swatched all the colored pencils I have, first separating them into brand and then making small boxes of color.  Did the same for the oil pastels, and then the water soluble pastels as well.  I have a prolific amount of art materials.  I'm going to begin the process of creating scrap journaling packets to sell.  I think I'll find some archival plastic envelopes, and get appropriate sized ones so I can put together packets.  We will see what we can do to lessen all that prolific material.

#118 - The attitude of gratitude

Though Thanksgiving is now finally over (after a brief but wondrous visit with my MIL and FIL), I have been feeling this attitude of gratitude a lot.  The realization that, even with things now being right all the time, or flawed in many ways, I am so very, VERY lucky.

Now that my little man has returned home, and we have returned home as well, it's time to get down to brass tacks.  Or, more aptly, take off the brass tacks and let things go.

I did manage to get some watercoloring done during our northern visit (actually, not much more to do except chat, eat, and imbibe).  I feel I am becoming freer in my art, and don't think as much as just do. And I'm grateful for that. Now I want to figure out how to move forward in releasing these creations into the world.  And get back to writing.  It's been weeks since I looked over the play (no word from either bro on that one), and so I feel the world is a fertile ground for me now creatively.  

I'm oh so grateful for The Creativity Suite I have.  

Back to keep on keeping on.