Dear friends, Joy Tenders all, things are shifting around here. I hope you’ll stay with me! From the stillness of illness, so many visions are coming; hopes re-emerging; abandoned dreams coming home- the song of my calling is becoming more clear. It feels as if there is a bonfire in which old assumptions, habits, and comforts are being burned away. But I am enjoying it, somehow… and what has been coming to mind is the Phoenix.
What little I know of the term ‘Phoenix Rising,” is that it refers to this mythical bird which has the ability to sift through the ashes of its burned down life, and gather what remains to make new eggs. In the stillness of illness, I find myself gathering what remains (the true, the beautiful, the visions of next steps…) And I am finding that there is so much! Upon reflection, when my painful arm says I must glue less, assemble less, pull back from the artisan shows…what remains in the ashes of the old ways are what delights me still- a love of words, of the world, of poetry, of life itself, and joy…what remains is a beautiful tribe of joy-tenders that I have met and served over the years… what remains are over a dozen books and inspiration decks written and more longing to be birthed- once I put the glue-stick down.
For those of you who know me from the Vineyard, I will continue to participate in the Night Heron Gallery- Martha’s Vineyard’s only artist owned and operated cooperative gallery. We will re-open in April and it’s going to be beautiful! I will continue to offer my gifts here online, and to honor my galleries, museums and church gift shops. Still, somehow over the years, my business got ahead of me- became too big for one woman to sustain. I found myself a bit of a hamster on its wheel- while my husband worked the garden and my daughters went to the beach, I remained in the dark basement assembling my wares. I became too busy to wander, to write- to tend joy and to listen…that’s what my body tells me. And my spirit says, “yes, yes!”
Beautiful things are coming…
We wrapped fortunes this week, and I fell in love with them all over again. Enter a comment below, and let me know if you’d like to be in the raffle. I’ll draw two or three winners on Friday the 6th.
These beautifully wrapped packages contain 100 Fortunes: useful, smart and sometimes witty proverbs and pith sayings from throughout time and around the world. Each is a blessing and a bit of wisdom for living a deep, wide, rich and contented life. Perfect for party favors, office gifts, conversation starters or personal reflection, these fortunes will bring you wisdom to draw from throughout your many days.
