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| Hello - Ink on Paper - 11"x14" - 2014 |
At this time of year, it’s
fun to read forecast for the year. Astrology it rarely tells me anything
horrible. The mystics write of areas that will be good and tend to gloss over
the struggles. It gives me hope.
In 2012 I
made a friend who was obsessed with the predictions of 2012. He wondered what
would come after the Mayan calendar ended. His first obsession was crop
circles, then the Mayan calendar. Now it’s the core of the Earth where he is trying
to convince me that certain beings reside. We don’t talk much anymore. Laugh.
But we
spent many an evening talking about the supernatural over dinner. I read TheMystery of 2012, so that I was able to converse with him at his level. The
end of the Mayan calendar had a lot of people dumbfounded. Did that mean the
world was about to end… again…?
A quick
google search didn't produce a book for this year. We're all still here. I
guess we just keep going, right? The earth is still round. We still have to
work on the environment so that we leave future generations with fresh water
and soil rich enough to produce healthy food. We need to ensure that the air is
clean enough to breathe and that people are good to each other. We still have
to work to save up for our mansions, luxury cars and international travel. My
dream vacation is to visit Antarctica, despite the amount of times tourists are
rescued from that expanse of ice.
This year
is supposed to be fruitful for me according to Astrology.com. I look forward to
it. I think I’ve struggled for long enough. Speaking of struggle, I recently
watched two films, which have stayed with me, 12 Years a Slave and Lee Daniel’s
The Butler. I habitually see every slave and Holocaust film released. I
remember the first year I found it important. I was seventeen years old. I went
to Blockbuster Video, remember that place? And I rented several slave films. I
watched them alone. I felt a need to know more about slavery. It inspired me
and reminded me that it was important to ensure that history was not repeated.
Then in my twenties, Holocaust films peaked my curiosity. I see every one
released. These films help me to realize, in times of woe, that things could and
have been a lot worse.
My pal,
R, argued. ‘I don’t see those films,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to walk around all
pent up after seeing something like that! Why would you want to do that to
yourself?’ R is American. He spent his youth in libraries reading about his
culture and knows it. I feel I still have much to learn. My friend, A, says
that watching a comedy is better. The world is depressing enough, he says. He
too knows his history better than I. I find it important to stay informed if
not via the media, then via film. But it does make my world a bit more gray.
The one
thing that stayed with me from my reading on 2012, is that we create our
realities by our language, our actions, our choices. Nothing new, just
underlined. So, although I won’t obsess over the realities of the past– of
slavery and the Holocaust, various genocides – the images stay with me as I
live and I produce art around it.
I recently read a
book on Emotional Intelligence which included an exercise. It tells the reader
to give themselves a point every time they laugh out loud, watch a comedy,
smile or tell a joke. It won’t stop me from viewing twisted art films, another
love of mine.
But enough about
me, here’s what I wish for you.
I hope that you
walk in beauty, love and joy!
I wish you great
love!
I wish you great
success!
I wish that you
find the beauty in small things!
And that you share
your God given gifts with the world!
"Every moment
of your life is infinitely creative,
and the universe is
endlessly beautiful.
Just put forth a
clear enough request,
and everything your
heart desires must come to you."
-Shakti Gawain
... oh, and dance
with joy as often as possible!!
Here's a lovely, inspiring tune from Gladys Knight!
Good tidings!!
P.S.
Ongoing Exhibition at:
