Dreams, Letting Go, Mindfulness, Writing

Art of attraction

Art begets art, don’t you think?

Of course, we may disagree on the definition of art. But I find the more I notice, the more I notice.

The more I write, the more I photograph, the more I dream.

The more I read, the more I feel, the more I write.

When you open up — even just a little — to noticing and noting, you are actually working your art muscle.

What I say is not new. It’s not an original thought. Many more experienced at attracting art have said it before I just did.

But I notice it happening to me.

I see poetry in my photographs, and color in my poems. The art of one lends itself to the other, and suddenly I feel as if I am getting somewhere.

swoosh

It’s not that I am a constant rushing stream of good art. Some of it is just purge.

Pages filled with strike outs.

I look like this sometimes.

selfie beat poet

But then I laugh at myself. At my #selfie.

And I share it with you.

And my nervous heart strengthens a bit when you laugh along with me… in the knowing fully that you understand I’m half joking.

* * *

There’s something that gets in my way, though.

Thinking. Too much thinking. About getting somewhere with my art.

This, too, I notice.

It’s like that moment when I realize I am lucid dreaming and I know if I think too hard about it, I will wake up. So I try not to think — just breathe, I say — but this in itself is thinking.

POP!

Out of the dream.

Or, more simply, it’s like losing your cross-eyed stare once you finally become aware of the 3D image in a Magic Eye design. I see it! You cry. Then,

POP!

Back to staring at blurry peacock feathers.

What’s the real magic trick?

Minding your thinking, I suppose.

Noticing it, yes, but allowing thoughts to float away as easily as the 3D Magic Eye design.

Blur it away on purpose.

Master this, and become a Master.

7 thoughts on “Art of attraction”

  1. Reminds me of John Gardner’s fiction lessons on staying in the narrative dream . . . that once you’ve let the reader out, it’s done. Lots of stress for the artist!

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  2. Oooo I like this piece, Jen. Over-thinking – the devil in our time. We seem to have lost the pleasure of taking things at their face value – enjoying what hits the senses without analysing, rationalising and processing everything to the nth degree don’t you think. Ummmm – too much thinking, m’thinks can really get in the way

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  3. This post really spoke to me, thank you! Over thinking is something I have always struggled with. I like what you said about opening yourself up – I believe that is key: opening your heart and opening your senses, taking notice and taking note. That is doable!

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