The Predator and the Road Less Taken

     

     Over the last month or so I have been re-reading Clarissa Pinkola Estes book, "Women Who Run With The Wolves," and listening to three of her books in audio form: "Mother Night," "The Creative Fire," and "Dream Interpretation." All are books dealing with women's dreams, creativity and inner psyche. It is a never ending process, to work on one's psyche. I have been working in particular with the internal predator archetype. That voice you may hear in your mind that you are not good enough, beautiful enough, you never - you can't - you shouldn't ... that internal predacious voice that blocks your life force from fully expressing itself.
     I had a revelation this morning regarding my internal predator. It goes way back to when I was about 26, a bit naive, on my own without guidance from an older sister wise woman type. It was a time in my life where I had to make a career decision. What was I to do with my life? Who did I want to be? I had a dream one night where I was asked, "Do you want to be a starving artist or get a regular job and earn a living?" (Yes, I still remember that dream from so long ago) Well, I certainly didn't want to starve. I had to make a choice between art school and secretarial school. I listened to the conservative voice, the parental voice, the predators voice, that told me to take the road that was more acceptable. I became a secretary. I didn't starve. 
     However, I have inhabited all those years since, with a gnawing hollowish sense of incompletion. I fed my creativity by painting and drawing, taking art classes, exhibiting occasionally, completing my college degree in art. But I never fully embraced my artistic soul self completely. Jumping off the cliff and making a living as an artist was too scary, I needed the money I made as a secretary, and my predator self kept telling me that I was not good enough, not artistically gifted enough to make a living as an artist. I wonder what would have happened if I had gone to art school... the ol' woulda coulda shoulda dance.
     I look back on days gone by and see that I have nurtured my creative soul self. The predators voice is not so loud anymore, and I am wise enough now to recognize that soft dark whisper that wishes to entrap me in its fearful talons. My creative soul self is such an integral part of who I am, I would feel lost without me... 
     I work continuously on dismantling my internal predator, that is part of my artistic process. Everyday is a choice to take a road less traveled. The road that will nurture your soul self. The road to recover your inner psyche is also a shamanic maneuver. The shaman takes her dream catcher on a healing journey to take back the injured or lost part of the soul. She finds it hidden in the darkness, guarded by the predator. She says, "you do not need this soul part anymore, I will take it back with me and breath light into it, nurture it, and watch it grow." The predator has no choice but to give it back, for it is not the predators to keep.
   
 

"19th century culture was defined by the novel,

20th century culture by cinema,

The culture  of the 21st century will be defined by interface."

"An interface can be a powerful narrative device. And as we collect more and more personally and socially relevant data, we have an opportunity, and maybe even an obligation, to maintain [our] humanity and tell some amazing stories." (Aaron Koblin)

     I've been watching a lot of videos this week regarding creativity, the internet, and how we communicate with each other. These speakers ranged from Aaron Koblin (digital media artist) to Steve Jobs (inovative avatar). The message I got was not to lose our humanity in an increasingly tech driven world.

  Since the 9/11 attack on United States, and the resulting chaos, fear, war, and live streaming videos of carnage; we have learned to mentally/emotionally distance ourselves in order to preserve some sense of normality in our daily lives. We want to protect ourselves from of all types of terrorism: Al Quaida, hackers, religious fanatics, societal fringe elements. We interface with each other within the safe environs of our tech devices. Our minds are plugged into audio devices, cell phones, ipads, and the internet. Our children have grown up with technology and probably don't know how to hold a conversation. OMG! They R 2 busy texting LOL.

       I love technology, it has expanded my world in so many ways. I love audiobooks, videos, email, facebook, blogging, my web site, photoshop and digital fine art. It has become a huge part of my everyday life. All these techy ways have enabled me to reach out to the world in my own creative and singular way. I do this because I want to express myself as an artist. I do this because I am a human being and want to communicate/interface with you.
Love ~ C

     Here are some interesting sites for you to explore:

http://www.thejohnnycashproject.com/

http://www.aaronkoblin.com/work.html

http://www.ted.com/



Happy Easter everyone! Don't you love bunnies?

     My creative muse has been very active this past week. The insight I had after my intense study of Jung and the collective consciousness motivated me to participate more fully in social media ~ facebook. I friended more people. Yes, I know, you're saying... um, so what Christy. Well, if you know me on a up close and personal basis, you would know what a hermit I can be, hiding in my art studio and garden, never coming out to play. As an artistic mystical type, I need that quiet space to nest my ideas and birth them into solid form.
     The social media in whatever form you use it, is you tapping into the collective consciousness. There are some who still resist it, wanting the comforts of the old way of beingness. I don't blame them. Our world moves pretty fast, and we are inundated with ideas and news 24 hours a day. It can be too much at times. That is when we need to retreat, catch up to our inner selves and decide what it all means to you on a personal basis. Turn off the TV, phone, and computer and have a talk with yourself.
     What we are participating in on a collective basis, is the Pluto/Uranus square. We witnessed this in the '60s. Uranus = revolutionary change vs Pluto = the establishment. For instance, the Arab spring and twitter facebook users wouldn't let the establishment get away with murder. The whole world was watching. Say, isn't that a phrase from the '60s when we protested the Vietnam war? The loud shouting echoing in the halls of business as usual over pink slime, racially motivated murders, gas prices, taxes, etc is getting louder. By the way, the Pluto/Uranus square will challenge the world over the next 5 years. Hold on to your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
     We are participating in a historical transformation of human socialization. The Plutocrats are watching in horror and fear as their hold on the proletariat slips away. I do not advocate anarchy spilling over into destructive riots. I advocate thoughtful change. Change that champions honor and respect in the work place, between races, and nations. My son calls me a Utopian socialist. I guess so in a way.. I like peace and non-conflict. I adore talking things out over a cup of tea. Yes, I have had my moments of provocation when my anger escapes its cage ~ don't we all. However, we can all get along if we remember we are essentially one people trying to live out our hopes and dreams on a singular planet in the vast sea of gods collective consciousness.  Love ~ C

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace