I am writing this column in the middle of a fierce winter storm. The heavy rainfall and tree limbs dancing in the strong gusts of wind perhaps mirror my mood. I hanker for solitude at this moment. I want to find the space for a little breathing room, to wander afield...
There is a remarkable passage in Tim O’Brien’s book,“The things They Carried”. It is worth quoting at length. “I feel guilty sometimes. Forty-three years old and I’m still writing war stories. My daughter Kathleen tells me it’s an obsession, that I should write about...
This week’s posting is all about developing confidence in the work. We are reaching the end of a season and I hope that it has been productive for everyone. We will be shifting gears in a few weeks, once autumn rolls around. We will enter a more reflective place in...
Find some time this week to connect with an environment that speaks to you creatively. It doesn’t have to be a museum gallery or a library, where artistic wares are housed and displayed. Save those venues for when winter weather makes such places inviting. The waning...
The crows protested when I let out the dogs. It was early morning – actually less than morning – still night. But this is the time when I feel the most productive – in the early morning hours before the sun lifts above the ridge line to the east. So, the dogs and I...
A friend gave me some valuable advice this past week. He was reading through some pages of fiction I have written over the past couple of months. He had a notable observation. My friend asked me if I had ever taken a hot yoga class. Although it has been a while, I...
But if you sit still for long enough, then something strange begins to emerge from this engagement with the mind. What was once myriad thoughts can be observed to encompass only maybe eight to ten notions that keep cycling through your awareness. read more...
But we desperately need new models, new and esteemed texts need to be uncovered that take us away from the terrain of war. There should be texts that speak to our moment – where our delicate equilibrium of climate is being upended daily. read more...
Your expectations shape your reality. I have had the opportunity of connecting with every one of you over the past year in one form or another, whether in person or online. I believe in your potential. Spend a few moments with yourself in a quiet space and remind yourself of why you began this project in the first place. Remember how exciting it was when you first captured its essence in your mind’s eye. read more...
Over the years, I have established a relationship with this patch of land. I have traversed the terrain well enough to easily recall each of its inclines and slopes. I use this landscape in my meditation most every morning. read more...
I have put together a short list of books that have been in my orbit over the past couple of months. These books have spoken to me – and you could do far worse than to pick up one of these books to read while the dog days of summer drag along, when disappearing into a different space altogether is essential to preserving your sanity. read more...
So, I decided to give into their calls this morning, to reckon with what they were trying to tell me. Why were they hovering about my land – and such a specific patch of it? read more...
Have the courage to stay in the room, no matter how hot it might feel. That discomfort means that you are getting at something meaningful and powerful. Let the sweat gather on your brow. read more...
You may have lost the thread of this conversation over the past few months. It is time to refresh the acquaintance. You should dive a little more deeply into the dialogue, as you now have amassed considerable hours devoted to your work. How does the creative path that you have been walking down respond to aspects of the other artist’s work? read more...
Just take a moment to relax into the reality that your artistic project is seeing the light of day. You have worked hard. All the various strands of thought will coalesce, for you have already established a track record for yourself. Do something today to congratulate yourself. read more...
The subconscious will attempt to claim a place at the table of our creation, clamoring for our attention. While its presence may be insightful, it can also be challenging to integrate those subconscious stirrings into our work. read more...
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