Thursday, April 3, 2014

Morning ritual for my artmaking

MORNING PRAYER. What is a prayer? Is it the lighting of a candle or a stick of incense? Is it going to the home altar and taking in the symbols of my journey? Is it breathing deeply and feeling embodied? Dancing to morning music and feeling the soles of my feet touching the floor? Are special words needed to express the gratitude I feel about being here on this beautiful Earth companioned by all of you? (photo by Hallelujah Truth)
Hallelujah for rituals that route our SPIRITS! Hallelujah for being an ARTIST and a PILGRIM seeking the unknowable and finding it! Mine is a spiritual path seeking to hold and entertain the unseeable in my art.

Anchoring myself in MY PRESENCE, I begin my artmaking before even arising from bed. I name myself. My name is Hallelujah Truth, I proclaim, not out loud, but it bursts out joyfully in my brain. Continuing my quiet awakening, I announce my vision: 

I am a grace-seeking artist dancing yes to abundant and meaningful relationships, work, health, and money easefully and joyfully.
A RITUAL FOR ART MAKING. I love patchouli incense and burn it every day. The lighting of my incense and a candle initiates my artmaking. Being surrounded by scented smoke uplifts me. The candle light symbolizes me, my spirit. Once it is lit, I am fully awakened, turned on, ready to create. These days, I sit and draw at the diningroom table, arising as needed to dance, attend to a feline request, and to breathe.  (photo by Hallelujah Truth)
Like a true adventurer I have my artmaking ritual equipment. I equip myself with clothes (whatever is available), coffee (the making of which is a ritual in and of itself), cat companionship (feeding and reassurance that they will get to go outside when the sun rises), prayer (gratitude), music, dance, incense, and a lighted candle. And there is Chiboogamoo (aka Tony Martin). I am so thankful for his presence in our home. His gentle, kind spirit supports me in all that I do, in all that I make....

Although the music is important, my choices are random. Different music makes me feel differently and I like the surprise of what may occur in response to different rhythms. This morning, Sinead O'Conner's album, "Am I Not Your Girl," is playing. I purchased it at a yardsale and have not played it for a year or more.

About the Internet. The best way to create "magical" images that speak directly to my pilgrim's journey is to refrain from getting on the computer and checking social media. I feel the best explorations of my subconscious occurs right from waking after being equipped as described above. Getting on the computer to blog like I am doing now is the exception to the rule.

Then, what is next? I WORK STEADILY FOR TWO HOURS, only being interrupted by cat and husband needs. This is the beginning of my art making day. It is a ritual. Rarely is there any deviation from it.

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me. Share your ritual for art making or one that delights you and informs your day!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Thank you Christine Gautreaux for writing this prompt for our "Monday Funday" blogging prompt on our Facebook group, The Daily Creative Practice:

Today's prompt is about process...When you are in your "artistic flow" what are the tools &/or rituals you used to get yourself there? Is there a certain time of day you do your art and for how long? Do you listen to music? If so what kind? A favorite creative shirt/outfit you wear? We want to know the details and would love to see a picture of you creating!

Dear Pilgrim, join us there on Facebook. We will welcome you.

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your morning ritual with us, Ruth. I can appreciate how each element of your ritual beckons your creative spirit and muse forth each morning in a deep reflection of your soul. I love your altar shrine as a place to focus your gratitude. I think this element of introspection and reflection into my art is something I'm yearning for. I have process but lack ritual elements. Perhaps this is the missing piece I keep seeking and missing.

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    1. Carol, I always appreciate your honesty when you leave a comment on my blog. You have the ability to reach deep down and see how what I write resonates with you. Thank you. I would love to talk with you more about your "yearning" for establishing rituals for yourself.

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  2. From manus and infest

    manifest comes from

    manus (ˈmeɪnəs)

    — n , pl -nus
    1. anatomy the wrist and hand
    2. the corresponding part in other vertebrates
    3. Roman law the authority of a husband over his wife
    4. English law (formerly) an oath or the person taking an oath
    And infest
    [Middle English infesten, to distress, from īnfestus, hostile
    Thank you! Awesome! I realize as a mystic writer scholar I sometimes say a prayer and begin. This morning I decided to look up the word manifestion for some reason.
    Comes from manus + infest
    anatomy the wrist and hand
    2. the corresponding part in other vertebrates
    3. Roman law the authority of a husband over his wife
    4. English law (formerly) an oath or the person taking an oath
    1. To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious: rats infesting the sewers; streets that were infested with drugs.
    2. To live as a parasite in or on: livestock that were infested with tapeworms.

    Think I prefer the word revelation. Hallelu

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    1. Funny exploration! When reading and analyzing 14th and 17th Century British poets, I used to use the Oxford English Dictionary to explore the meanings of words throughout time to allow myself to broaden the meaning of a poem. Thanks for getting me more about the meaning of important words and their origin.

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  3. Since I don't have any particular ritual each morning I am fascinated when reading about other's. I guess my morning ritual is coffee and the crossword puzzle...I read about all you do what with exercising with Callahan, dancing with Christine and attending functions with Tony and I am amazed how much you fit into a day and still have time to create wonderful art. So now my question is...what time do you get up and what time do you retire...I used to be a morning person getting up as early as 4 to fit my day in as I wanted but of late I find myself sleeping in more and more..I need to change that...Thank you for sharing your routine with us. I enjoyed reading your blog each time you post...

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    1. Darlene, you are correct when you say that Tony and I put a lot of activity in our days. Mine are more sustainable now that I am not teaching. We have had the long habit of getting up between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning in order to do our creative work. I sometimes get up later now that I don't have to head into an office at noon. You know, when I read your blog posts, I always think the same about you. How do you do so much in one day? I don't last long after 10 in the evening. I used to have to stay up later to grade papers or to make time to paint. I don't do that any more.

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  4. You delight me Ruth and your ritual and discipline inspire me! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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  5. "My name is Hallelujah Truth, I proclaim, not out loud, but it bursts out joyfully in my brain."
    I love this! You are inspiring me in so many ways!!! And to hear you proclaim yourself this way, just makes my heart grow bigger!!!!

    "I am a grace-seeking artist dancing yes to abundant and meaningful relationships, work, health, and money easefully and joyfully."
    YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!

    and another...
    YES!

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