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Walburga Writing Retreat 2016 |
Navigating
Broiling
time is coming. A crisis? Some are at their best when the curtain starts to
fall in any condition. A cool breeze can help you think. Worry carries plagues.
Aggravation, mistrust, seeing things that are not there. In this world, personal
behavior is often negated by what you provide for colleagues and the audience. The
disreputable can keep control of their future. Presentation is almost
everything. You can stand at the brink where others think – this is it, it is
over now. Yet, making it past all that is the key element in this game of
cards. Know who is the dealer is but do not make them your god. What do they
want? There are decisions to be made. Keep integrity by your side. It is your
reputation. Have a bad reputation? Don’t worry. It can be cleaned by excellent
production, by the improbable feat, the determination to go on despite
everything that can sink you to the bottom. Bottoms can be inverted.
Here
are the odds. You make the path. Know your purpose. Listen to your own voice
when others project your advancement. Watch out for gold. It can dilute the work.
Do not get thin. Thin ideas spread the swan song about. Watch the person thrown
to the curb stand up even stronger, their work purer and dimensionally
effected in a most admirable way. This is what to look for. The mentor, the
influence, the good model of survival. Not the content. The content must be
your own. And learn the ropes. Hold fast. See through the storm. The ropes will
save your life. Where is the next idea, the next meal, the new adventure, the
best place to produce coming from? Look within and learn how to do and to make
others believe in what you do. That is the best kind of money to receive for
your work.
There
are only two mistakes one can make along the road to art making. Not going all
the way, and not starting. (Cribbed from the Buddha.) Turn mistakes into
truths. Learn what your own truth is and draw from that. Knowing oneself is the
hardest thing you’ll do. Knowing the playing field is the other and how you
want to navigate it to make your purpose present in your work. A little self-interest
is needed but it should not override all. In the end you will be drawing
yourself as a performing monkey. (See John Berger on Picasso about that point.)
Or others will be. Be flexible. You may be the most extraordinary artist in the
world and be clueless about love and relationships. Decide if that is for you.
It may come with nauseating complaining.
Making
the best of what you have is the bottom line. It can be improved. Water can
wash away dirt. A good chisel can reveal hidden forms. Drink plenty of fluids
and try not to call the doctor in the morning. They often don’t know what they
are doing. Be your own doctor by educating yourself in the stream of life and
time. Have fun but not too much. Balance is the unattainable illusion but in
all efforts lay our joy if we stay authentic. Lastly, watch out for words. They
seduce, misinform and can make all the difference in the world. Walk the fine
line. Try not to tip over.
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