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Wild Wisdom

Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? Reverb10: Reflect & Manifest


Focus. 
Jettison.
Wild Abandon.
And it's all still in process...


Consciously releasing what I don't need, letting go of energy drains, taking the value of my time seriously, and honing, precisely, my creative life.


Liberating!

Community

Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Reverb10: reflect & manifest)

I continue to discover community through my work as a performing artist and with the people who are supportive of me, supportive of my colleagues -- and each of us, all supportive of each other. Through performance making we are building community and that is super exciting. 

The looping reciprocity of energy is what drives creativity... it's what makes the arts possible, what makes the arts relevant. It's not really what the work is, but who I do the work with and my passion for sharing my artistic vision with others... and that is what builds community, slowly, one relationship at a time...

My most intimate community consists of close friends and inspirers I like to exchange yummy energy with on a regular basis.

I've also discovered a new community of brilliant creative folk, by having started my MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College.

I want to continue to cultivate creative, engaging, powerful relationships with inspiring peers...

Be creative

"Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use?" (Reverb10, reflect & manifest)

Besides these blog posts of late, I'm in the midst of creating some luscious new translations inspired by late 19th and early 20th century French poems, for an upcoming art song program at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. What materials?: My noggin & computer. 

I made baguettes from scratch for Thanksgiving. They turned out ok, even if they were a bit too crunch-ay. Flour, water, yeast, elbow grease. It was super fun and now I'm obsessed with perfecting the recipe.

I made an opera with my company. I wrote the libretto and an amazing composer set it to music. Dreamy.

Ingredients:

passion vision vision vision practice practice practice practice practice music words commitment disciple planning laser focus 2 singers a dancer 2 actors a lighting gal a set created by a sculptor costumes from a pacific northwest designer & headpieces inspired by victorian sea fairies paper ribbons plastic wrap fellow artists who believe boundlessly in you friends supporters sharers in the experience before during after and along the way blood sweat tears and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of love...

Divergence Vocal Theater, "Selkie, a sea tale" November 2010

Let go...

What did I let go of this year? (Reverb10: reflect & manifest) 


...The need to "belong"
...Energy vampires

What nourishes me?

...Commitment to my creative vision
...Commitment to nourishing relationships
...Commitment to the value of my time
...Release what I don't need
...Release what I don't need
...Release what I don't need...

Wonder

Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Reverb10) 


What I practice, sometimes with great success and sometimes with seemingly insurmountable challenges:


PresencePresencePresence
     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude
PresencePresencePresence

     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude

PresencePresencePresence

     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude

Compassion. Now that's a hard one for me

ExpansionReleaseLettingGo

     Compassion. Yep, that's still hard

           ExpansionReleaseLettingGo
Wait, Oh, yeah, breathing. Lots of breathing
       Don't forget to breathe

PresencePresencePresence

     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude

PresencePresencePresence

     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude

PresencePresencePresence

     Gratitude GratitudeGratitude

Compassion. Houston's 610 loop road at 530pm teaches this. Still not really getting it

ExpansionReleaseLettingGo

     Compassion. Now that's a hard one for me

           ExpansionReleaseLettingGo:

The cultivation of wonder...

Just being alive...

"Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year..." Reverb10


Lofoten Islands archipelago top of our world sun ocean glass waters burst with granite peaks fjords swooooooosh easy through glacier sea ferry rides tangle my hair holding hands salt on my fingertips stretch of Nordic beach my love finds a bracelet of knotted cords with little blue and white heart glass beads I wear for the arctic circle sculptures pop from the landscape in an unexpected pilgrimage discovery of reflective arc wall: its vain mountains and distorted field lost all its leaves from holding winter closecloseclosecloseclose baby sheep another day in May 


------------------------------


"Just being alive 
"It can really hurt 
And these moments given 
Are a gift from time" 

- Kate Bush

On creativity...

Daily creative prompts from Reverb10, in reflection of 2010 and manifestation of 2011. I changed today's from:

What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? to:

What do you do each day that contributes to your creativity?:

One word...

...for 2010...and one for 2011...