Neary Geary, Oklahoma © 2011 Michelle Basic Hendry
I have been fighting a rather stubborn infection and I am on my third course of antibiotics. I am being forced to slow myself down after the business of the last six months and I find it hasn’t been easy. Inertia. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. This object needs some stillness. The threat of the infection spreading to my kidneys was enough to force me to pause.
Nature is the place where the Divine becomes visible.
~ John O’Donohue
Slowing down meant some time looking for something that might help me lift my focus from my discomfort and to raise my Spirit. Nature herself is not so accessible to me at this moment, so I downloaded this wonderful video “A Celtic Pilgrimage” by John O’Donohue, Irish poet and philosopher. He shares some of his thoughts and feelings on Celtic Spirituality while the West Irish landscape creates the backdrop. John connects much of his spiritual philosophy to nature and landscape, which resonates with me. According to O’Donohue, our dreams and our voices mark the landscape. Ancient places or the ruin of a church can carry the echoes of our prayers;
A ruin has an ancient aura about it. It also has an imprint of the presence of those who lived there once.
~ John O’Donohue
The markings on the ancient landscapes of North America are less obvious because less is left behind for us to see, so one must listen and feel more closely to become aware of their aura. This aura affects us all in different ways and we express it through our gifts. O’Donohue feels that longing for the Divine is what makes us creative.
As I wander around this new place, I see with the fresh eyes of a traveler. I suppose I am somewhat animistic in my philosophy because I believe that everything has a Spirit. I love the landscape and all things in it. I tend to populate my landscapes with characters whose stories are carried in the space in between.
Because of my status down here, my focus is turned from the ‘career’ and marketing of painting back to the roots of the art and the experience. At first I was bothered by the restrictions, but now, I see it as a gift. I am going to turn my full attention to the creative experience and find a way to share fearlessly.
John O’Donohue passed away in 2008 in his 50’s.
Hello Michelle,
Sorry to read about you health problems but really happy to see that you found some nice landscapes in your new place.
Best wishes,
Patrick
Thanks, Patrick. Hopefully this is just the beginning….
Here is a cool video I found a while back, relates somewhat to what you are talking about. The love of the craft, regardless of what life throws at you.
http://vimeo.com/astrayfilms/darksideofthelens
Hope you feel better.
A
That was fantastic! Thanks for sharing that, Al. And nice to hear from you…
First, get well soon, and am really sorry to hear about you having problems. If you mentioned them before, I am clueless and sorry. Rest well.
Two, I’m kind of excited about your creative journey.
Thanks Ingrid. I am excited too…. 🙂
really hope you get better soon! never good being ill :/
everything does have a spirit, and things are more connected then people think
I came across this Emerson quote yesterday “Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience.” A lesson for us all?
Looks like you have lit in a beautiful place. The adventure has barely begun.
Michelle,
take care of yourself. I know from a personal experience how hard it is to stop sometimes when you have been on the treadmill, be it personal or professional, for a long time. Sickness is our bodies’ way of saying: stop, and listen to me! Listen to you and your heart. Look around and just be.
Sending you lots of healing vibes,
Fellow artist from Ontario.
Hope you have recovered a bit by this time. Just stopping by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, your first in OK! Enjoy a peaceful respite, and all the best for a full recovery, Michelle.