Where for art thou, ART?

I have yet to figure out the ways of creativity or how it flows through me. I am often at a loss.

I have evolved and transitioned in my passions over the years.

At one time in my life, performing was my passion. I craved the theatre, immersing myself in character and story and taking the audience there with me.

Then... it was nothing but song, to channel the rapture of music with my voice.

Another shift ~ and I was channeling poetry. I couldn't focus for all the verses dancing in my head.

And then ~ my soul journals, sixteen thus far! Hundreds of pages filled with colorful visions!

Once consumed by a passion, the former one loses its hold. I cannot believe I ever gave up the theatre. I loved it so much. It was my life! But I have no craving for it now.

The singing! I was sure I wanted to do it forever, but when watching Mattea sing, I wonder where my envy is.

My obsession for my journaling was a serious addiction. I could not go a day without paint on my fingers. Lately, I find myself going several without withdrawals ever setting in.

I am unsettled by this. I feel like I am letting something go that I once loved so much. But it isn't feeding me the same way anymore. It is like saying to a lover, "I love you, but I am not IN LOVE with you."

Yet I still feel creativity roiling within me seeking expression.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations", Rome episode. I was overcome with a craving for Italy! A sudden, ravanous desire to create a pasta perfection called Cacio e Pepe! I want to savor a freshly cut wheel of parmesan cheese while I sip red wine!

I realized that there is art in everything!

I could be an artful cook and create that pasta!

I can be an artful traveler and immerse myself in another culture!

I have been devouring books lately. I have 10 books that I am concurrently reading right now. No lie! I am being an artful reader!

As I study and write for my Holistic Theology degree, I am an artful student.

I was an artful mother the days I spent with my daughter in San Francisco.

I am an artful blogger when I craft these little posts.

When I crawl into bed, luxuriate in my sheets, snuggle into my pillow, and find my husbands feet, I am an artful dreamer.

At any time, when we are fully engaged in crafting the living of our lives...

we are artists!

Namaste,

C H E Z

Comments

[Rita Ackerman]

What a wonderful message. I have felt the same way as I moved on from one passion to another. It is so hard especially if you have a large investment. I feel guilty about not being interested in something I invested so much time, energy and money in to. But I'm moving on. I'm kind of in between now. Loosing some of my art journaling but haven't found the new passion. It is nice to know I'm not alone and to have my feelings put so well.
Thank you.

[Shannan Sinclair]

It IS nice knowing we are not alone in what we are going through. It is weird being in limbo mode! Wanna go to Italy? ;-)

[Barbara Shallue]

So true - our lives are just artful journeys! I've gone from artful parenting to artful writing to artful blogging to artful photographing... who knows what's next? It's impossible for me to leave one behind for the next, though, so I'm not much of an artful sleeper, alas...

[Hybrid J]

A powerful and beautiful message. I understood what you mean.

For most of my adult life, I identified my creative self as a writer. But since last Oct when I discovered (or re-discovered?) I can draw, I'm now totally emerge into the world of art. It's as if a new ME was born. How strange!

All these changes of passion are telling me that writing or drawing is just an art form, the undercurrent and the core of our beings is our creativity. Hence I tend to call myself a creative rather then writer / artist. Make sense!?

Thank you for sharing such fantastic post! :)