Sunday, September 30, 2007

A Found Ritual

Its always interesting to me that when you start reading blogs you really never know where they will lead you. I was reading Superhero Journal's blog
and I found a link to this little ritual on Jen Lemen's blog. It's all about letting go and is very simple but powerful too. It might be just what you need to get moving in some area in your life. I have done similar things with writing on
paper and then tossing the paper into a fire but being out in nature might be an added dimension.

We might go take a drive in the Mountains today so I'll be back later.

I did this journal page on a favorite line from Mary Oliver's poem The Summer Day.


















Here is the entire poem

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?



















I started a new journal for writing and of course I needed to decorate the cover. First I put gesso on the cover and then added Portfolio water soluble oil pastels. Then I added a light wash to blend the colors. I glued down these 2 images and then stamped the vine in the remaining space. I really like the look of this.


While reading Olivia's posting today I went to Jesse's blog. She has an interesting challenge going that on one hand I am afraid to do and on the other hand I can't resist. It involves the quote "Do one thing that scares you every day" - Eleanor Roosevelt. So her challenge is to do this for a month. For me the first step was saying I will do this so that is the first fear that I faced today. I have done a journal page on this that I will post later.

5 comments:

Pam Aries said...

hooty ho...yes ..it is good to have some rituals! I hope you have a good time in the moutains! THis morning when i got up it was onl 59 degrees! Woo hoo! I am pooped out again from running around with friends but today is MINE! ha! It was great to see the Charleston pics! I am way too FAT!

Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva said...

kate..thank you for sharing this...i do one very much like this but i burn them...have a nice drive...blessings, rebecca

Janet said...

Interesting ritual....very freeing as is burning them. It may be time for me to do this again. I like your journal page and the quote from the poem.

The challenge sounds like....well, a real challenge!! Good for you for signing on for it.

gma said...

Wow ...I love Jen Lemens blog. Thanks for that! Your journal is wonderful too!

Anonymous said...

Your journal looks very cool, Kate. I've always especially loved the last line of that poem. I say 'always' but what I really mean is 'ever since I first read it in the last few years since I discovered Mary Oliver's poetry through reading blogs' - what a wonderful world this blogging adventure opens up! It can be so cool (though time-consuming!) how one link leads to another, and another...
Good for you, stepping outside your comfort zone - way to go, Kate! xo