…the kings of antiquity closed the gates
At the time of the Solstice,
Merchants and strangers did not go about,
And the ruler
Did not travel through the provinces
Hexagram 24 Return (The Turning Point)
I Ching, The Book of Changes Wilhelm/Baynes translation
In traditional Advent observance, the time before Christmas was reserved for spiritual introspection. Parties, feasting and celebrations began on the 26th and continued for the Twelve Days of Christmas culminating in the exchange of gifts on Three Kings Day, January 6. Hanukah ritually reflects the slow building from darkness to light by starting with the light of one flame and adding another each night during for eight successive evenings. Our consumer culture front loads the holiday season by joining traditional social celebrations to the commercial calendar for the entire month of December combining parties and events with extended time for shopping.
What, then, shall we do with the mythical observance of a time for stillness and intention? Can we have it both ways? Choosing to be still at our center helps us remember and acknowledge the psychic need to wait in the darkness of the year in preparation for the return of light. Taking time for stillness in the midst of the holiday season may be as simple as walking in the slanting light of early dusk or witnessing the rising of the sun a little later each morning. Some of us may focus on artwork, poetry, music or meditation to observe nature’s rhythm of rest. The hexagram of Return reminds us that the return of the light “is not brought about by force” but is “characterized by devotion” which allows groups to “come together in full public knowledge and in harmony with the time”. I wish you all a very happy December and a beautiful, balanced holiday season with time for “closing the gates” and looking quietly within as well as time to gather with friends and loved ones in joyful celebration.
December’s SoulStudio goes in search of illumination: light in the midst of darkness. The one who lights the fire or leads the way in darkness is the lightbearer. In anticipation of the return of light to our hemisphere at the winter solstice, we’ll explore various archetypal roles of the lightbearer. Investment: $40. Materials, snacks provided. To reserve your space, call Sara (530)758-3613 or email sara@abovethedoor.com.
Beginning in January AboveThe Door will include information about art books, cds, dvds and websites in a new section called Sharing. Here are the first contributions:
SoulCollage is a deep and meaningful form of collage work, but there are many others! As artists, we are challenged to look around, to experiment, to find our own expression in art.
The Collage Group that met in November helped compile this list of books to inspire
Collage For The Soul: Expressing Hopes and Dreams Through Art by Holly Harrison, Paula Grasdal www.amazon.com.
Altered Art: Techniques for Creating Altered Books, Boxes, Cards and More by Terry Taylor www.amazon.com
Lenore Tawney: Signs On The Wind—Postcard Collages by Lenore Tawney, Holland Cotter, George Erml www.amazon.com.
Creative Collage Techniques by Nita Leland, Virginia Lee Williams www.amazon.com
Collage Sourcebook: Exploring the Art and Technique of Collage by Holly Harrison, Jennifer Atkinson, Paula Grasdal www.amazon.com
Collage: A Complete Guide For Artists by Anne Brigadier www.alibris.com
Websites for inspiration:
General:
Artnet www.artnet.com This is a really comprehensive and interesting site showing the work of contemporary artists and addressing issues in art. Artnet recently sent an artist to Iraq to travel with U.S. troops and to record the war through drawings in the tradition of Winslow Homer. The Artnet magazine is a good source for current art exhibits and events and also features an excellent art oriented astrology column by London based astrologer, Leigh Oswald.
Collage Art www.collageart.org This site bills itself as “dedicated to the art of collage”. It includes information about artists, tools and techniques, exhibition opportunities, books and workshops. Enjoy!
Artists’ sites: Here are some sites I find interesting. If there are others you’d like to add to the list please send them my way: sara@abovethedoor.com
Cheryl Coon www.cherylcoon.com
Giorgio Morandi www.museomorandi.it/index_exp.htm
Andre Heller www.andreheller.com
Looking Ahead To 2006…
SoulStudio Workshops: Winter-Spring
SoulStudio meets the second Saturday 9am-noon and the preceding Friday evening 6:30-9:30 pm of each month for introspection and card making. Investment is $40 for each session. Materials and snacks are provided. To reserve call Sara (530)758-3613 or email sara@abovethedoor.com
January: Resolution and Revolution Janus the god of the New Year looks both ways, to the past for resolve, to the future for change.
February: Heroes and Heroines In February we celebrate the birthdays of American heroes. Who do we admire and hold up as heroes in our own lives? Who inspires us as an example to follow?
March: The Animal World of Guides, Guardians and Companions We re-visit and find new the animal companions in the charkas as well as personal totem animals or those animal spirits we simply love and cherish.
April: Awakening Spring is here and with it the world awakens. Persephone, the goddess of new life, returns. What is awakening in our lives? How shall we answer the call to growth?
May: The Great (and not so great) Mother Looking at the mother archetype we examine our own loving and sometime ambivalent feelings toward nurture and nature.
June: Freedom and Commitment In a culture resplendent with choices how do we manage our own options? How do we embrace commitment when choosing inevitably involves loss? What do we gain when we commit?
Card Reading and Writing
SoulCircle continues in January. This is a group for card reading and writing from cards. When we make cards, we often engage with them initially and then put them safely away. SoulCircle helps us continue to use our cards, to understand their messages and to learn from them. Commitment is for three months. Each session is three hours. Participants should start with a deck of at least eight cards. Investment: $120. Group size is limited to five. Monthly meeting times will be decided by the group. For information or to register, call Sara (530)758-3613 or email sara@abovethedoor.com
Last words …
watching the moon
at midnight,
solitary, mid-sky,
I knew myself completely
no part left out
--Izumi Shikibu
Happy Holidays!