Open Hands

It's amazing how many times we are given the opportunity to practice "letting go".  I have spoken to my never ending practice of letting go of my children many times.  I have talked about letting go of control, letting go of expectations and letting go of results.  Today's letting go has taken on a much more "material" level for me.  I have been asked to participate in a collage exhibit.  I will create 13 collages and then "let go" as they fly off into the ether never to be seen by me again. 

You would think I would be good at this.  I have been making and selling jewelry for about 8 years now.  It was hard to let some of my pieces go at first.  They were a part of me, a part of my creative soul.  This was a new voice I had been totally unaware of for 40 years or more.  I worried I may never create something I liked again.  How could I risk letting my "babies" go off to new homes, never to be worn or held or stroked again? 

It was a lesson I was ready to embrace.  Living with open hands.  Accepting the bounty of the Universe only works when you are open and let that same bounty move on.  I learned that the creative spirit moved through me.  I did not possess it.  The more I stayed open and let it flow, the more it made itself at home in my home.  If I thought about holding on to it, hoarding it, fearing it may never return, I could feel the energy shift.  The muse was gone.  Staying open is another way of letting go.  They are one in the same.  Just different words and labels for the same energy.  This is how I would like to live my life.   As a vessel for the spirit of the Divine.  On open vessel.  Holding on to nothing.  I need lots of practice.  How fortunate am I to be given that chance each and every day.  Practice.  Practice. Practice.

Comments

[rivergardenstudio]

How wonderful that your collages will be gifts to some one new. Someone who can look at them and study them and see what you saw when you created them, or see something totally new and different. And that you will be busy making art!
This piece is beautiful, the way, your colors and printing of lace and other materials, the number 56, and the writing...what kind of writing is it?? Congratulations! Roxanne

[Mayberry Magpie]

Congratulations! Being a part of this exhibit is so cool. (And it's a lesson for you, too! 2-for-1!)

"Holding on to nothing." Man, that's something I need lots of work on, too. Off to the Tao!

[Jennifer White]

It's funny Kathy....I was just commenting on this same discussion with Karen Wallace.... go look at her 3/4 post (I think) and you can read my comments there. Letting go for me is associated with forgiveness too. That's a tough one. Not necessarily with people who are so very close to me, but maybe to those relationships that didn't pan out the way they were supposed to.

People always suggest ... move on, it's not worth the energy, let it go.....dude, that's so much easier said then done. I think also that this may prove to be our topic of disucssion for this summer since we see one another for a few workshops at valley ridge.