Wassily, The Blue Rider

Yes, the title of this post is a cliche, and such banalities are on my verboten list. But, it is okay to use a cliche if you do so on purpose and not out of mindlessness.

Whenever some situation arises and it seems that the ‘fault’ lies with some other party or entity—stop from having an immediate opinion. Let things settle before mouthing off. Once said, it cannot be unsaid.

In the end, you may discover that the issue was pilot error, your lapse for whatever the reason. And then, you will be proud of yourself for having had the self-discipline and awareness to see things as they are, not as you thought they were.

This principle also connects with art. Don’t prejudge. Let your art develop by getting out of the way. If the art isn’t happening, then it is your own interference and frustration at work. You need not be better than any other artist; you need only be your unique self.

An artist told me that she loves to capture things in her art. In my work, I am dedicated to unleashing that which wants to be born. 

Matador, Myth, Moon

The late great teacher of mythology Joseph Campbell had a gift for storytelling and presenting exotic concepts in concise terms.

Campbell observed that modern Western mythology, which is a dead end with a closed canon, has been transformed into a matter of ethics instead of mysticism.

Art and myth are allies in understanding ourselves. Where does your art come from? Do you hear it, feel it, or is it contrived and intellectualized? This is not a comparison. It’s an exercise in awareness.

Campbell also said that “myths are public dreams, and that dreams are private myths.”

As Campbell might have put it: Do you have ideas or visions?

Know your private myth, which is the source of original work.

Sweetie Boy (1997-2011)

When faced with mortality, ours or our beloved friends, or pets, our philosophy of living is put to the test. Anyone can have a cavalier attitude when it comes to being non-attached when death happens to those we don’t know or love.

Up until a month ago, he appeared happy, and healthy, Then, he suffered some sort of seizure where his right foot went limp, meaning he couldn’t stand on his perch. I held him on my lap and soothed him with gentle tones for about twenty minutes until his breathing returned to normal and his claw could again firmly grip my finger. All seemed well for several weeks after this episode. Last week, he had two more seizures. I did the same with him, and he seemed to come out of it.

Today, I brought him to a highly recommended avian vet in Santa Fe to see what’s going on. The vet cradled Sweetie Boy in a towel; and then the brave yet scared birdie begin wheezing, unable to breath. The vet rushed out with Sweetie Boy to get him oxygen. After some time, the vet returned with the news; Sweetie Boy had died. He apologized, but it wasn’t his fault, and he couldn’t completely determine what had caused Sweetie Boy to die. It might have been a vitamin deficiency, an infection of some sort—although I tried to give him a balanced diet. An all seed diet is bad for birds. The vet said that Sweetie Boy was very ill, although he didn’t look sick at first glance. And birds are very good at concealing any health issues until it’s too late.

I left the animal hospital with Sweetie Boy’s limp body. There were tears for Sweetie Boy who was a smart loving creature. I, too, felt limp.

A few minutes ago, I laid Sweetie Boy to rest in a small patch of earth behind my cabin. As I covered his small feathered body with dirt, I thought of what the Buddha had observed thousands of years ago: “All things must pass away. Strive for your own salvation with diligence.”

There is a price for attachment that one must pay, one way or another.

Feeling Gratitude

Gratitude is a state of grace.

Whenever I feel gratitude, which is many times a day, it’s a moment for prayer, for thanksgiving. The feeling is the prayer, no need for words.

Here’s a beautiful and apt quote from Melodie Beattie:

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity … It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Steve Jobs: 1955-2011

For over 25 years, I’ve been using Apple computers—a tool I rely on each day.

We know that Steve Jobs was one of the co-founders of Apple. The other day, I had the opportunity hear and watch him for the first time. He was speaking at the Stanford University graduation ceremonies some six years ago.

The title of his talk was this: How to live before you die.

As a teaser: What possible connection could there be between calligraphy and the success of the Apple Macintosh?

For those interested in spending 15 quality minutes with an innovator, please click here.