Looking Ahead

I am always in an interesting head space this time of year. I can see the old me waving to me far down the path from where I came, and I can see the new me beckoning to me from just around the corner. It's time to truly let go of what I lost over the last year and prepare to embrace the gifts that the new year has to offer. This liminal time can be uncomfortable...I am empty from shedding the old and not yet beginning to fill with the new. But this is also the time of greatest possibility, so, despite the discomfort, I welcome it.

Last year, I pulled a Medicine Card to see which animal's medicine I'd be working with this year. Wild boar appeared. At first I was a bit disappointed to see his wiry hair and thick tusks because he represents confrontation, and I am horrible at confrontation. But it turns out, I confronted many fears this year. I had some missteps and false starts along the way. I realized that being a dreamworker was not the right path for me, but I learned that incorporating dreams into my writing and artwork is powerful. I jumped into the swift river of art fairs and learned that doing too many in one stretch is a sure way to burn out. In the new year, I plan to do fewer fairs and find other ways to get my artwork out into the world. In the end, I was glad to have boar's energies flowing with me.

I also pulled a Rune for the year. The one that illuminated my path was Kano, which is the Rune of revelation and opening. I certainly had many eye-opening experiences this year that taught me a tremendous amount about myself. In addition, Kano acts as a "light in dark places when all other lights go out," as Galadriel might say. I spent a lot of time shedding light on my shadow, and it is my shadow I intend to investigate in the new year.

I am looking forward to using this practice again to see what forces will be working with me in the year to come.

Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Fair

I did it! I survived my first tent experience. It was hard work, and I had to get up earlier than I think anyone should (6 a.m.), but the tent looked pretty awesome once we were done. Lance spent a long time hanging all the photos with fishing wire, but we agreed the effect was great -- it looked like my photos were floating on air.

Luckily it was a sunny day. And I was located next to the friendliest people I could have hoped for. One was a potter who has been doing this for 30 years and had exquisite pieces that I got to look at all day. Another, Jenn Lazarus, had something in common with me -- it was her first tent too! We exchanged ideas and chatted throughout the day and it was lovely to connect with a local artist. The neighbor on my right, Fred, had a display that could have been considered an art piece in itself. He made little boards with stenciled letters and big signs too, and the people just ate them up. It was fun to watch people scavenge for the letters in their name.

I had some things happen that I didn't expect. One was getting teary when I sold my Mount Diablo collage. It was the first mixed media collage I made and it had such special meaning to me. Lance said later he was surprised I sold it. I knew that it was meant to go off into the world and be seen, but I didn't know that I would get choked up when it was time to say goodbye to it. I had to have a moment of mourning.

The second was connecting with a fellow consciousness student and photographer. We chatted for a long time about putting yourself out in the world, creating an art community, and including consciousness in art. This is why doing show is so important...it helps me avoid being isolated and hermit-like!

I learned so much doing this show, and I'm glad I get another crack at it in two weeks. Let's hope the weather holds!