Dec18
Posted on Dec 18 by Ruth Davis
I am back in California and I am so grateful for this freedom that I have created for myself to be able to move between places and appreciate the joys of each of them. As I drove back with the strong intention of focusing these next three months on writing my book, I realized that I have long dreamed of spending a winter at the beach and writing. For years I thought it would be in Cape Cod. I even had a friend who invited me to stay in her cottage in Wellfleet and I would just have to pay for the heat. But winter can be brutally cold there and most of the stores and restaurants close for the season. And there are no fresh fruits and vegetables in the winter. But here, in Paradise Park, there is a lovely balance of solitude and community. It is my perfect sweatshirt weather, and I have the time and space to walk and notice and write. And there are farmers markets all year round. So I’m taking my time to...
Dec11
Posted on Dec 11 by Ruth Davis
We love stories. We enjoy the telling of a person’s life, the happenings in a dream, great descriptions of people and places. But often, we begin to believe that the stories we know and tell ourselves are the only truths. We convince ourselves that, because, in the past, when we did this, the result was that, therefore, it will always be that way. That because the last time you went to a party where you didn’t know anyone, you were ignored and uncomfortable, so anytime you go somewhere where you don’t know anyone, the same thing will happen. Or that because every time you’ve submitted a piece of writing, it was rejected, you’ll never submit anything again for fear of another rejection. We all have these repeating stories. And, because they are based in truth, we believe them. We hold them up and say, see, I’m not making this up. When I do that, this happens. But, if we are truly writing our own life stories, then isn’t it possible to write a new ending, even a brand...
Nov27
Posted on Nov 27 by Ruth Davis
Native Americans have a tradition called The Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing, often called “smudging,” which is a powerful cleansing ritual. Herbs and incense are burned with the idea that smoke attaches to negative energy and, as the smoke clears, it takes the negative energy with it. Smudging is not the process of eliminating or killing anything, but is simply the shifting of energies so that there is a balance of positive and negative. Here is an opportunity for you to bless and balance this space you have created in yourself and in your life. What you will need: some incense (sage, cedar and sweet grass are most commonly used in traditional smudging) two pieces of paper matches or a lighter a big glass of water (just in case) a well ventilated room or a place outdoors a metal baking dish or non-flammable bowl Light the incense and slowly take a few breaths to relax yourself and come to the present moment. Feel the space inside of you that you have created. Notice what it feels like, if any emotions...
Nov20
Posted on Nov 20 by Ruth Davis
We are deep into Autumn, the season of letting go. Trees are losing their last leaves, the fruits have fallen from the branches and we can see through the bareness of the limbs. We can mirror this season in our own lives by clearing the clutter – letting go of old, dead, useless things and thoughts, to make room for new growth and blooming. Clutter isn’t just piles of papers and stacks of unsorted bills. Clutter can be anything you no longer use: trinkets you used to collect, clothes you no longer wear, wedding gifts from a previous marriage. Not only do these things take up space in our homes, they keep us attached to a version of ourselves that we no longer are. And until we let them go, we cannot move into the authentic person we truly are. For several years I created artworks from found and recycled materials. I had full drawers and boxes, neatly organized and arranged with all kinds of objects and doodads for my creations. Sometimes a friend would call, asking for...
Nov13
Posted on Nov 13 by Ruth Davis
As you know, I’m spending the month of November getting reacquainted with my creative heart. It is great fun to hang out in the studio, tearing images from magazines and calendars, playing with patterns and colors and composition. I’ve also been shaping flying birds out of newspaper and sketching sculptures that I imagine building with found pieces of metal. And I’ve been pretty easily able to stay focused on the play and process and not worry about producing product for the upcoming Arts Festival. But what I didn’t expect was how emotional I’ve been, especially about missing Laddy. Being a Mac workaholic seems to have kept a lot of this tender grief at bay since Laddy died in September. Now, with more time and attention spotlighting my heart, of course I’m going to FEEL other things more. Good stuff, fun stuff AND sad stuff. Because the creative heart is not a separate place. The whole of the heart feels everything. In fact, it’s probably BECAUSE of this deep grief that my heart begs to be more creative, more expressive....
Oct30
Posted on Oct 30 by Ruth Davis
We all have something we love to do. But for whatever reason, we aren’t making the time. Other things seem more important. We neglect to schedule it in. We put it off until someday. But if we want to do this thing that fills our heart, we have to make the time. It has to be a habit, a routine, a regular part of our daily life. Routines become mundane. Often, the word habit has a negative connotation. We tend to break habits, think of bad habits. So why not, instead, create an habitual ritual. A ritual is sacred. Important. Meaningful. Like walking the dogs. Feeding the birds. Drinking your morning cup of coffee. An habitual ritual happens at a set time every day. Not every other day. Or once a week. But every day. Even if something else seems more important. Nothing is more important. You’ve learned this by NOT showing up. By talking yourself into other things, out of THIS thing. But then, you feel a hole in your heart, and food can’t fill it. Sleep...
