After thinking constantly about my art and what direction I should go with it, I found I was thinking way too hard. So much so that a good friend told me I am so busy thinking that I am not allowing inspiration to come through. He was absolutely correct. He counseled me to take an hour every day and just ponder and meditate. Let my mind be quiet so that inspiration has a chance to reach me.
So now for the last two weeks I have been getting up in the morning and pondering. But I found an hour was just a bit too long as the last 15 minutes of it I began to feel anxious which kind of defeats the purpose. So now I ponder for 45 minutes. It works for me!
The most amazing things are happening. I am getting direction, and having faith in the inspiration I receive, it takes away confusion that I have been known to bring upon myself. I am finding a lovely peace that makes me feel confident in my daily journey.
The second verse of one of my favorite hymns 'Be Still My Soul' expresses so perfectly my feelings:
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697;
trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
The day I started pondering, I got a call that a painting of mine was selected to be in a Disney movie that will come out this year during the holiday season. It's based off the Disney channel series Good Luck Charlie. The painting is one that I posted here before, a Santa Claus and it's titled 'Twas the night Before Christmas'. Anyhoo, the film company rented it for a week for $200! Cool huh. So how does that tie in with my pondering? Well when something good like that happens, I consider it a blessing and a sign that I am on the right track.
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6 comments:
Hello Cathy! I've missed seeing your stuff on ebay but I am happy to have found you here. I still love your art!
Hi Peacecat,
thanks! I will still do ebay, just reorganizing myself and trying to figure out what my direction is going to be. Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love your name 'peacecat'!
Too cool about the Disney moving. I'm glad you're taking time to "ponder". I like to do that when I'm working out and I really think these times of reflection are so important. Plus, I think we live in an age, where most of our time is in fast forward. I think God will reveal things if we slow down and listen a little bit. Congrats again on the Disney thing!!
Hi Cathy - I am sure you must have heard about Julia Cameron & her 'Artist's Way' books. I have two of her books - they are in most libraries. She has exercises to help people in all the arts to sort out what they want to do... See the web site at: http://www.theartistsway.com/
I SO know what you mean - I am all over the place artistically most of the time - I relate to your feelings and know I need to do some pondering also... Awesome about the Santa painting!
Kimberly, So perfectly said. I love what you said about God will reveal things if we slow down and listen abit. Sounds like a good subject for a painting!
Hi Patricia, I have the Artist's Way. I need to revisit it and implement it into what I am doing. I think right now I am taking more time getting my act together than I am painting, but I think in the end it will all be more productive.
Thanks everyone for your interest in my work. :-)
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