Month: September 2022

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Blocking the Blessing

A friend just shared with me the phrase, “Don’t block my blessing.” I had been offered a ticket to something I felt I could not afford and I’d declined, feeling like I should have been paying my own way. I am okay being a little bit extravagant now and then for things that I really really want; but I’m also okay sitting out if it’s a stretch for me. So I thought, it’s nice of her but I am okay with not going.

But. “Don’t block my blessing.” It actually took me a moment to let this sink in. I’m offered a gift–a blessing–and by not accepting the gift, I’m blocking a blessing that she wanted to bestow. That’s an interesting way of looking at receiving generosity.

So here’s that word, “bless,” again, used in a beautiful, non-religious way. Or maybe it is religious. It’s the religion of Us. Ordinary people blessing each other, without hierarchy or rank, in an everyday way, by offering gifts, favors, kindnesses, gentleness, a helping hand now and then. No one stands above, in robes and beads. These are blessings among equals, neither person more important nor better than the other. One half of the blessing is the giving, one to another, things that we lovingly want to give. The other half is accepting the gift. If we don’t accept it, the gift lies unopened.

Acceptance, too, is a gift.

Left on my porch last winter by two lovely friends

Acceptance and gratitude are part of the religion of Us, too. These are faiths in which I want to participate. I am grateful for the blessings of words, offered to me by everyday teachers–friends, family, even strangers. Around any corner, in any conversation, there’s wisdom to be found.

“Gracious acceptance is an art – an art which most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving . . . Accepting another person’s gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.” ― Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland

“Giving feels fantastic and for there to be a Giver, there must be a Receiver, so allowing yourself to receive is an act of love.” ― Rebecca O’Dwyer

“Because we idealize Giving so much, we ignore the ability, blessing, and duty to Receive.” ― Ashlecka Aumrivani

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Process Painting

I just tried something I’d never heard of before. It’s called Process Painting, and it’s a combo of meditation and painting. I watched a brief demo by Patty Ripley in my online art group and I couldn’t wait to try it. It’s a process whereby you meditate and then paint, letting whatever comes up within you lead you. The aim is not to make a painting–but spiritual, personal growth. Well, this hits my two biggest things of late. As we all know, carpentry is not one of those. No, dummy! Meditation and painting!

Patty states: “I devote to the healing power of art. It isn’t about making the final product yet more about the process. It’s about connecting with the spirit within and channeling that. It’s about allowing the narrative to be fueled by emotion, sensation and landscape. All is welcome here.” It might sound woo-woo and it is. Right up my alley!

I bought some kids’ paints and poster board, taped two pieces together to make a nice big surface on my wall, and began. First, I listened to her meditation and then I let loose. I should say that my painting is normally fairly free to start with. But here, there is absolutely no imperative to show what you make or to make a pleasing painting or to follow any rules at all. The idea here, though, is to let anything at all come up from within you. Emotions, thoughts, reactions to the meditation, reactions to the colors and the paints, responses to whatever you’ve just put down. And then just follow.

I started with brushes, even skinny ones, which I normally avoid because of my shaky hands. But the paint was a lot like finger paint, so I started using my fingers. Much more fun and freeing.

And then I shut out the little voice that says one should not make the same mark again and again in a single painting, so I just went all out with circles. Circles circles circles! I love circles and I put them into my paintings all the time.

Why? Hmm. I had to think about this. Circles are unending, symbols of life and infinity. They seem to float, like bubbles, which are perfect and ephemeral (thank you, Lynn) and therefore precious; a treat; a gift. They are happy, simple shapes. They represent love (xo). They are happiness.

And there was more that I won’t go into because it was really just for me. Just as when you try it, it will be just for you. I will do it again. It was a beautiful, opening experience for me.

“Devoting to your energetic being will help you reconnect with the pure essence that you are.” – Patty Ripley

“This true essence is beyond the ego. It is fearless; it is free; it is immune to criticism; it does not fear any challenge. It is beneath no one, superior to no one, and full of magic, mystery, and enchantment.” – Deepak Chopra

“Magic happens here.” – Patty Ripley

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Play to Your Strengths

This is just one of the many piles of pieces I cut, sanded, and polyurethaned THREE times.

I am the lucky one who will be showing my work in a small solo exhibit at a bank downtown, coming up in November. Woohoo!! I’m planning to hang my acrylic abstract paintings–a new-ish medium for me–and I have been working very hard towards getting them done.

I have 24-25 paintings finished! That is, they are painted. Many have even been varnished. So I set out to frame them. Because of the cost, I had decided to frame them myself, with simple slat board frames. Simple, she says. So very funny!

But I measured! The replacement pair were 1/4″ too long.

Measuring, cutting, and any kind of precision work are skills that do not live in either my body or my personality, are not found within my skill set, and frankly, are not even things I aspire to cultivating. I do not like power tools that could take off part or all of a finger. I like my fingers! I dislike sawdust and sanding. I abhor getting sticky polyurethane on my hands and do not like breathing in the fumes of mineral spirits. I have Essential Tremor, i.e., my hands are not particularly steady. I am currently in need of new glasses. I am clearly unfit for this type of work! And yet I set out to do it. So, bully for me, right?

First mistake: going into production mode before seeing one frame all the way through. I take that back. First mistake: thinking this would be an easy project or even doable by me. But had I put together one, before cutting so many pieces, I might have seen the error of my ways much sooner. Second (third?) mistake: failing to ask anyone exactly where to lower the blade of the chop saw in regard to my (clearly poorly marked) line until I had cut half the pieces. I could go on, but why? The only joy I had in this project was riding to Menard’s for wood with my friend who has a truck. But why agonize over this any longer? Suffice it to say, I am regrouping. I shall buy frames and use the many pieces of slat board cluttering my studio to build yet another funky Christmas tree for our house. Stay tuned.

Hmm . . . What are these three pieces for??

One simply must consider one’s strengths and weaknesses before taking on a project. Ask yourself, Who am I? and answer carefully, before beginning. Am I precise and meticulous by nature? No!! One must not go off willy-nilly without doing any research beyond watching an overly simplistic YouTube video of a man working in his well-appointed wood shop with exceptionally fine tools. Remind yourself that the man in question does not show himself measuring and cutting the boards. Nor does he ever address the issues of clear eyesight and perfectly steady hands.

Ugh. This project seriously disrupted my studio and prevented me from doing the thing I love, which is painting. Many bad words were uttered. But I have learned some things about myself and about life, one more of which is: Pay others for work at which you suck.

“Always remember, your weakness is somebody else’s strength.”― Vinaya Panicker

“Knowing your weakness is a strength.” ― Dr Toyin Omofoye

“Not necessarily what’s tough for you is tough for everyone.” ― Sarvesh Jain, The Awakening Wisdom of Life

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Magic Hour

The first time I heard the term “Magic Hour” I was with my son at Central Park in New York City. It was twilight. People were out walking with kids or dogs or partners; playing catch; throwing frisbees. The light was particularly beautiful as it slanted through the trees and my son commented, “Magic Hour.”

Now I’ve looked it up I see that it’s also called the Golden Hour, particularly by photographers and cinematographers. I like magic better. It’s the kind of light that seems possible only through magic. Of course, Wikipedia explains it scientifically and that is well and good. Science is good. But my eyes glaze over as I try to make heads or tails of the explanation. Why try? I ask myself. I mean, you should certainly feel free to try. But I’ve tried (a little) and I am okay with limited knowledge, especially when it comes to natural phenomena. Plus, my brain is getting old and I’m not sure what else will fit in there.

I feel the same about the moon, dew, frost, shooting stars, rainbows, murmurations and migrations of birds, and many other amazing things. I could read the science about all of these–and I have, fruitlessly, about some–but the thing is, I feel that my particular brain is not wired for that kind of understanding; and anyway, I find it far more fun to think of the more beautiful aspects of our world as mysteries I will never fathom. Correction–mysteries I do not need to fathom.

Let me just love them. Let me just feel things. Awe, wonder, luck, gratitude.

I do understand that Magic Hour is just about a half hour of actual time, the half hour after sunrise and the half hour before sunset. It is definitely a gorgeous time to be outdoors, looking, seeing, and/or as I did recently, taking a bazillion photographs. It will make you feel very lucky to be alive and on Earth.

“It was the Magic Hour, the moment in time when every leaf and blade of grass seemed to separate, when sunlight, burnished by the rain and softened by the coming night, gave the world an impossibly beautiful glow.” ― Kristin Hannah, Magic Hour

“They always stayed at the beach to enjoy the golden hour, that hour when the sun sank low enough to spangle the water.” — Elin Hilderbrand

“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” ― Anais Nin

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Wish Making

Crystal Bridges Art Museum, 2012

I just celebrated my birthday. I woke especially early on the day, to a bright cool morning, one of those that I think of as magical. And Miles wanted to go out, so my early waking became an early Up Time, too. Perfect. I stood out on the balcony while Miles putzed around in the yard. I was thinking about what I want in my next year, my life. Many things. I have many things with which I want to fill my days, my life. In my mind, standing there, stretching luxuriously, in that cool, pre-dawn air, I began making a list.

I want to see a fox again. More than one and often. I haven’t seen one in awhile. I want foxes to live close at hand. I want to go to New York again . . . to have at least another good year with both of my dogs . . . to see that gorgeous Caribbean water again, soon. I want a really good piece of cake.

I continued my list the next morning.

Curiosity Here I Am

LIST OF THINGS I WANT

To bring forth magic and passion in my painting and my writing

To deepen my friendships

EQUANIMITY

Adventure . . . travel . . . gentle daring

To be kind

To manifest innocent mischief

Lightness

Openness

Magic & passion in everything I do and touch

To savor everything

Connectedness

Joie de vivre

To be like a hot air balloon–full, airborne, colorful, adventurous, rising, floating.

I did not see a fox on my birthday or the next day. I am okay with that. I have seen them around here and I will again. Many of these other things on my list, however, are up to me. And isn’t that the best kind of wish to have, anyway–a wish that I, myself, can make happen? These are the sorts of things that put me in the driver’s seat, so to speak, of this shiny red moon-roofed, zippy, road-hugging, responsive yet thrilling car we call Life.

What’s on your list?

“If you are a dreamer come in

If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar

A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer

If you’re a pretender come sit by my fire

For we have some flax golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!”

― Shel Silverstein

“We often confuse what we wish for with what is.” ― Neil Gaiman, MirrorMask

“Wish on everything. Pink cars are good, especially old ones. And stars of course, first stars and shooting stars. Planes will do if they are the first light in the sky and look like stars. Wish in tunnels, holding your breath and lifting your feet off the ground. Birthday candles. Baby teeth.”― Francesca Lia Block

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. And if you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”