Lately...

Hello Everyone,

Lately, I’ve focused on trying to feed my artist. I’ve asked myself, what does that mean, exactly? And, of course, I’ve overthunk it to the point of feeling completely stuck. So I did what I always do when I’ve twisted my mind into so many knots that I’m floating in inertia: I consulted the cards.

I chose 3 different decks and asked each one the same question:

How do I feed my artist?

The first card told me not to get stuck looking over my shoulder, romanticising the journey that brought me here. It asked me to use the gifts I have as the person I am now. I need to tell you that I’ve sat with this card for a few weeks, and its message is still unfolding for me.

The second card told me to trust myself.

The third card told me to spend time with Spirit and trust them.

Not the message I was expecting, but the one I needed to hear. So, in response to the messages from those cards, I’ve slowed right down, pausing my creating for a while and giving myself time to feel and notice.

This letter is an account of what I have noticed.

Lately, my garden has changed. If I were a witch who observed the wheel of the year, I would say the wheel has turned. Spring is making her presence felt. It is too soon, but it is what it is. There are buds on the cherry trees, the nettle is showing her beautiful face everywhere, and she is very welcome. My neighbours’ gardens are full of jonquils and daffodils, and so many trees are already smothered in spring blooms. The birds are not yet frolicking, but the sounds of parrots and lorikeets fill the air. Their joyful chatter thaws my winter heart on cold winter mornings.

Lately, in an effort to feed my artist, I’ve been observing other artists. This past weekend we visited the Hadley Hotel to view the finalists in the Hadley Art Prize. The hotel itself is a work of art.

All the pieces of art hanging in the exhibition were a feast for the senses, but one of them held me transfixed. It wasn’t the painting itself; in fact, I was walking past it after giving it a cursory look, but as I breezed past, something grabbed me and held me in place. Friends, I felt that painting. The energy came off that canvas in waves, softening my edges and opening my heart. I was rooted to the spot for a long time, convinced I was experiencing an energy healing. When I was finally released, I checked the artist statement and followed the QR code I found there. What I discovered was that the artist was an Indigenous elder and a respected healer in her community. The painting itself was called “Healing Country.” As a Reiki master, I already know that energy is not bound by time or distance, but now I understand that everything I make has the ability to heal whoever is willing to receive the healing. What that says to me now is to slow down, create with more intention, sit with Spirit as I create, invite in my guides and ancestors, let everything I create be imbued with the healing energy that passes through me, let everything I wish to create bubble within me for longer so the healing can become stronger.

Lately, I’ve been having trouble walking. I’ve injured my left foot, and while it’s slowly healing, I seem to be forever overdoing it in the garden (of course), setting my recovery back.

This Sunday, as is my custom, I went to the local farmers market. As I’m quite unsteady on my feet, I was walking slowly, which is perfectly fine here in Hobart; we’re not really about rushing. Unfortunately for me, though, there were many tourists from the mainland, where rushing and jostling people is de rigueur. I was nearly knocked over so many times that I turned around and walked back to the car, frustrated with myself and with people.

With my market visit cut short, hubby and I instead went to the community garden, where he kindly offered to do my digging and weeding while I sat in the winter sun and supervised. Once there, we discovered a special market was being held at the arts precinct directly behind the garden.

Now, this market was very much a fringe affair. No brand-name clothing in sight (none that I recognised, anyway), many piercings, lots of funky op-shop outfits, edgy haircuts, tattoos, and happy, relaxed, smiling faces. I wandered slowly and unsteadily through room after room of stalls filled with artisanal, handmade products.

There was even a clay-and-keys room, the sides of which were lined with potters selling their wares, while in the middle stood a large table covered with clay, where people were invited to sit and play for a while, all while listening to the gentle keys of the live piano. It was magnificent.

And not a single person jostled or pushed past me.

I guess the people here were living what many would call an “alternative lifestyle.” If this alternative lifestyle means people are calm and inclusive, make room for those who are struggling with things we take for granted, create spaces for quiet creativity, and consume with thought and love for the planet and each other, then where do I sign up?

It reminds me of the permaculture principle: “Use edges and value the margins.”

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the work I want to do, and how I want to earn an income. My mind often wanders back to when I was holding women’s circles and how fulfilling that work was. And, because of my foot injury, I’m often reminded of one of the ladies who showed up to every circle. She was an artist, suffering from more than one chronic illness brought on by her childhood trauma. She taught me so much about making room for people who couldn’t move as well as I could, for giving people space, and showing care by simply acknowledging their presence. And about persevering. Those women’s circles made me a better human being, and that’s the sort of work I want to do again. Work that offers me a stable income, while giving others an opportunity to be seen, heard and understood, and nourishes me in the process. I want to do work that feeds my artist, and yours. Work that feeds the creation of love on our unwell planet. I’m not interested in making more content; I’m interested in creating art that heals, art that makes a difference, that aids creation rather than destruction. At the moment, I’m creating that for the Wise Women in my paid portal here on Substack, but behind the scenes I’ve been crafting other offerings to share with you. It’s a slow process because every idea I have I take back to Spirit for refinement, so it may be a while before I can share it with you, but when I do, I know it will carry the depth that only time and careful tending can create.

With Much Love,