The Body of an Artist Part 2
Muse 6-30-24
THE BODY OF AN ARTIST PART 2
Hopefully, last week provided some insight into how we train ourselves to see as creatives (if you missed last week's essay, read it first, here). We spend years refining our eye to capture everything. The texture of skin, the volume of a vein, the way light hits the curve of a single eyelash. We earn this vision. A refined ability to see not just a hundred shades of green in a single blade of grass, but the reds and blues that reside there too.
Early in my studies, I realized I could see everything. This awareness was cultivated not only by me but also by my instructors and peers. We rely on each other to notice what might be missed, to illuminate the most intricate details while considering the broader composition. It’s a demanding task. To be an artist requires a particular way of seeing, which we diligently work to refine. This vision applies not just to the human form but to everything. We constantly ask each other, “Do you see that?”
If you're wondering whether seeing everything means I see everything on you, the answer is yes. Every wrinkle, every sunspot, every hair, every pore, pockmark, freckle, stretch mark, dimple, tight skin, loose skin, baby hair, gray hair, rogue hair, crooked tooth, straight tooth, boney elbow, round stomach, perfect proportion, or lack thereof. I see it all. Not from a place of judgment, but from a place of noticing. If I know you well, I could draw you from memory, including details you might not even be aware of. I'm not alone in this. Artists, creatives, see all the things. This is wonderful, but sometimes, it can be a lot.
We turn this vision on ourselves. I see everything about myself too. Every stretch mark, fold of skin, pore, rogue hair, cellulite dimple, crooked finger, weird toe, all the things. This close examination can be hard to escape. This is essentially what my client was asking. What do I do with this ability when I turn it on myself? What happens when my refined eye sees me?
When we find ourselves here, it’s important to remember that this ability was earned. Without it, we wouldn't be artists. We wouldn't be creatives. We would see like everyone else sees, and this is of no use. Creating something from nothing requires this deeply cultivated and refined way of seeing. It's at the core of our abilities. We work for years to be able to SEE. To see well enough to translate what is seen into a near-exact replica or to loosely represent it with more abstract forms and colors. We can't reach the abstract without fully understanding what is actually there. Simplicity is an edit of the intricate.
When I turn this way of seeing on myself, to get space from the invalidation I handle around it, I wonder what life would be like without this cultivated point of view.
Here is where I land.
This ability is beautiful because everything is beautiful, even when it isn’t.
I could tell you things about my friend Tree that others never noticed. The dark navy blue ring around his irises, the crooked tip of his nose, the elongated length of his fingers out of proportion to the size of his palms, how his back tattoos meant to be mirror images were just slightly uneven, especially on the right side. I really saw him. All of him. And this seeing gifted him unconditional love and acceptance in life and now acts as a continued gift to me in his absence.
And I begin to breathe and let go.
If this seeing means that occasionally I turn it onto myself and I really see myself, then isn’t that beautiful too? And on the days when it feels like a weight, a burden, a thing to forget, I imagine what it would be like not to know all the shades in a redwood tree. Not to be able to interpret what looks like an impossible light as just a carefully placed white brushstroke.
We have this ability because we have earned it, and if it means that sometimes it gets uncomfortable, I’m okay with that. I cannot choose when to turn it on and off. But I can choose to remember how terribly different I would be without it. Perhaps you can remember this too.
xxx
LAS
SOLAR TRANSIT
7-1-24
Gate 39
Gate of Provocation
On July 1, the sun gracefully transits Gate 39, the Gate of Provocation. During this celestial transit, you are invited to embark on a transformative opportunity to confront energies that deviate from the principles of abundance and faith. It invites you to explore the narratives you have created or inherited, which may contribute to false beliefs in limited possibilities and scarcity. The key is to be curious about these stories, bringing awareness to their existence and origins.
In the process of self-discovery, Gate 39 encourages us to let go of narratives that feel incongruent with desires. By doing so, we can deepen our faith and trust in the collective energy. This gate underscores the importance of understanding and dismantling limiting beliefs that may hinder personal growth and abundance.
Gate 39 is more than just a call to release limiting narratives; it represents the capacity to leverage pressure for uncovering passion and spiritual meaning in life. This involves embracing emotional responsibility and encouraging others to do the same. By taking ownership of your emotions and promoting emotional responsibility in the community, Gate 39 facilitates the transformation of emotional energy into clarity.
One of the unique gifts associated with Gate 39 is the ability to foster heightened states of emotional and spiritual awareness. Elevating the frequency of Gate 39 involves a conscious recognition of and release from undue responsibility for others' emotions. This process allows for personal transformation, empowering us to connect more authentically with our own emotional landscape and, in turn, contribute positively to the collective emotional energy.
In essence, Gate 39 invites individuals to embark on a journey of self-reflection, shedding false narratives, and embracing emotional responsibility. By doing so, they not only elevate their own vibrational frequency but also contribute to the creation of a more aware and spiritually connected collective energy.
Here are some journaling prompts to deepen your understanding and engagement with this transit:
1. Identify a story you tell yourself about scarcity. How has it shaped your beliefs? What would change if you let it go?
2. Find a belief that clashes with your desires. How does it affect your faith in abundance? What new belief could you adopt?
3. Recall a time you felt responsible for someone else's emotions. How did it impact you? How can you focus more on your own emotional responsibility?
4. Describe a moment of emotional or spiritual clarity. What triggered it? How can letting go of others' emotional burdens elevate your own awareness?
Gate 39 tasks you with the opportunity to challenge energies that are not in alignment with abundance and faith. To be curious about what stories you have created and been handed that create false narratives of limited possibility and scarcity. To illuminate these energies, stories and narratives and discover their origins. To let go of these narratives that feel incongruent from your desires and deepen your faith and trust in connection to Source and the collective energy. Human Design Gate 39 represents the capacity to leverage pressure for uncovering passion and spiritual meaning in life. When embracing emotional responsibility and encouraging others to do the same, it transforms emotional energy into clarity, offering the unique gift of fostering heightened states of emotional and spiritual awareness. Elevating the vibrational frequency of Gate 39 involves recognizing and consciously releasing the undue responsibility for others' emotions, fostering personal transformation.
NEW PROMPT!!
Do you know about Tapping? It can be an effective addition to energy work and nervous system regulation. Many of my Mentorship clients include Tapping as part of their daily ritual. You can learn more about Tapping and how to do it by hitting the button bellow.
EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Prompt for this transit.
“Even though I worry about scarcity I now trust in abundance and my connection to Source. I now allow myself to ask Source for help so that I am not overwhelmed by having to provide all on my own and I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
NEW MOON
7-7-24
Cancer
Gate 43
Gate of Insight
This New Moon in Cancer, coupled with the transit of Gate 43, presents an opportunity for introspection and intentional growth. This celestial event prompts us to reevaluate our intentions and aspirations, focusing on areas of our lives we aim to develop and expand, while intensifying the energy of the New Moon, shedding light on hidden truths, and signaling the closure of past chapters.
Influenced by Cancer presence, this New Moon takes on additional dimensions of the emotive and nurturing Cancer qualities we all love. Cancer, the cardinal water element, fosters deep connections and emotional understanding. With a compassionate and intuitive nature, Cancer values emotional depth and empathy, leading with their heart and emotions in all aspects of life. Cancer energy initiates through nurturing, family life, and ambition, bringing a spark of initiation and courage to endeavors. Ruled by the Moon and residing in the 4th House, Cancer emphasizes the importance of home, family, and emotional nourishment. Here, our sense of belonging and emotional climate is defined, shaping our roots and psychological development. The Moon guides the Cancer inner landscape and emotional expression, fueling instincts and driving desires for security and nurturance. Cancer Season brings a nurturing and protective essence as you navigate the realms of creativity, family life, and emotional well-being.
Combined with the influence of Gate 43 this period embodies the energy to contemplate universal wisdom and truth, creating a direct pathway that links us to profound insights embedded in the collective consciousness. Picture this New Moon as a portal that channels transformative ideas, akin to a finely-tuned radio capturing frequencies capable of instigating breakthroughs and facilitating radical transformation.
Elevating the frequency of Gate 43 necessitates a deliberate effort to harmonize its receptive nature with an unwavering trust in one's internal guidance. This intentional approach transforms Gate 43 into a wellspring of empowerment, fostering a deeper alignment with revolutionary ideas and acting as a catalyst for personal and collective transformation. The journey involves navigating the delicate interplay between openness to external wisdom and holding steadfast trust in one's internal compass. Combined with Cancer, expect a transformative examination of your internal landscape and emotional expression.
Journal prompts for this New Moon:
1. How can you nurture yourself emotionally during this New Moon? Reflect on ways to create a supportive and comforting environment for yourself.
2. What hidden truths about your emotional life have recently come to light? How can you embrace these revelations to foster personal growth?
3. In what ways can you deepen your connection to your home and family? Consider specific actions that align with Cancer's nurturing energy to enhance these relationships.
4. How can you harmonize external wisdom with your internal guidance? Write about a time when trusting your intuition led to a breakthrough or transformation.
Have a great week exploring these transits! Ready to learn more about your Human Design? Hit the buttons below to schedule a reading with me and download the free Human Design information sheets to learn more!
IN HARMONY
This song came out on March 13, 2020. Anyone remember that week? Ooof. My daughter discovered it on Spotify during lockdown when we would go for drives out in the mountains after dinner. The song has been in heavy rotation in my music library ever since. It’s fun, fresh, melodic and really different. Not sure if I’ve ever heard anything quite like it. This song reads as a puzzle, but one that I’m not necessarily in a hurry to solve.
