dear diary
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Dear Diary
This morning after a blustery and perfectly pleasing walk in my neighborhood I returned home windswept in the here and now and drank an entire french press filled with organic mexican coffee. Which went brilliantly well with my homemade edamame hummus and feta on toast. I love my home so immensely. It seems to move through the rolling seawaves of the landscape rather than turning inward upon itself, which lends an exquisite feeling of danger to being here ~ almost as if the house might surrender one day to the sea and disappear with the tide. But it is the tone of the house I love the best. So strangely designed there is an acoustic wonderment to it ~ a surroundsound of wind and train whistles and speaking of tongues from the nearby abodes of worship, which swoop through the asymmetrical beamed ceilings like wild birds, searching and beautiful.
It’s not just me that feels this irreplaceable magic and grace to my home and neighborhood that has such scope for imagination. My friends feel it too, and keep coming up with excuses to drop by uninvited for coffee and wine (bearing gifts of dark chocolate and lemon tarts from Fieldstone bakery so I cannot complain) If my house has a smell, it is the scent of gold, tangerine and currants with a whisper of patchouli.
I am so content working on an article celebrating my obsession with hands which gives me an excuse to approach strangers for photo’s. As I work it occurs to me that my art and way of self expression is ultimately fueled by my intimate relationships and this makes me feel so happy. I am trading this sublime piece of art for some of my photo’s, loving these books …curious about this film ~ and still buzzing from my talk the other evening with my friend Darlene. ( Who is coming to stay in my home with her sweet husband in February ~ yay!)
The other day I was listening to music…a delicate composition by Satie whom I adore, when I was surprised to find burning tears rolling down my cheeks. The language of music is so mysterious, how it illuminates the congruences between our external lives and our emotional inner world. I have no idea why I cried which is the most surprising thing…perhaps that is the greatest beauty of art, music, dance…the true meaning often remains unknowable (perhaps even to the artist as well, sometimes)
Today I am exploring an insistent feeling of resistance so I am pondering these words from the Art of War…
“Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of resistance. Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul. Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you’re feeling massive Resistance the good new is, it means there’s tremendous love there too. If you didn’t love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn’t feel anything. The opposite of love isn’t hate: it’s indifference. The more resistance you experience the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you ~ and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.
Well said, Steven. Now I know and can forge ahead with a sense of relief. And, oh! It is Sunday. A perfectly pleasing Sunday.
yours, lovingly,
Maddie
a little somethin’ sweet ~ bob messes around with poems which proves intelligent music loves language:) ….oh oh oh! and a little ‘four’ magic
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand an interview I am so honored to have been invited to do with Erin Faith Allen
category: my favorite posts, sunday mornings, oh how I love you! ❤ | | 15 comments »
November 29th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
“If my house has a smell, it is the scent of gold, tangerine and currents with a whisper of patchouli . . . ” Oh, smooches to you for this little phrase of wonder. I know in my heart that it is also the smell of Christmas Wood and magic and suddenly my horrible, horrible, bad, terrible-est weekend begins to come to an end when I read those words. I can feel the knots begin to unravel and I put my bare feet on this warm white blanket and feel my muscles relax. Oh, and lemon tarts. You are a fairy tale.
xo
November 29th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
well…we all know that the truest of fairy tales
have quests to overcome
but ….enchanted I am lately for gifts bestowed upon me
as if the universe is carrying me along in a happy current
you can create a lovely scent in the home by simmering cloves and
orange peel with cardamon seeds in a little pan on the stove:)
November 29th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
thank you for sharing the simmering word recipe! so lovely.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Sending positive vibes your way.
And, thanks for the recipe.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
What a wonderful description of your home, and the scent. So glad you had a wonderful walk and time in your cozy home
November 30th, 2009 at 7:18 am
sigh*
i truly look forward to the day our paths cross…
hug to hug.
you bring such joy to my world, dear one, such joy indeed.xo
December 1st, 2009 at 12:41 pm
my goodness is this ever a magical post
December 1st, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Just must say how much I enjoy the beauty here. Thank you too for the link to the movie of women artists….I hope it is available soon.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 am
how did you know i needed to read that quote about resistance?
love,
s
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:11 am
You are a beautiful, inspiring light in this world Maddie.
~*
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I enjoyed reading this post, Maddie. I’m so happy that you love your new home. How exciting! And it says something about you and your home when friends drop by just to say hello and chat over a cup of coffee. Speaking of coffee…what does Indian coffee taste like? Is it bolder? Spicier? Like chai?
And yes, resistance, however frustrating it can be while feeling the full force of it, can be good during the creative process. It can force us to try a new approach that may lead to a better idea and a better piece.
I also enjoyed reading your interview at artonement, Maddie. Your truly lovely spirit shines through your words. (I tried to leave a comment but for some reason I couldn’t.)
December 6th, 2009 at 3:17 am
Teehee….i remember like yesterday the day i sat across Dar in the little coffee shop close to her house and Dar saying: ‘ the one blogger i still want to meet in Maddie’… it feels like yesterday…i knew the two of you will hit it off big time with your poetic souls and open hearts! Makes my heart sooo happy to know that you have met, that you are soul friends, and even more knowing that she is coming to visit you! makes me all giggly with joy! Happy Sunday xx
December 13th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
such a wonderful description of how you experience home. full of the sensory experiences, the emotions and what they inspire. it seems to be a very happy house, happy to be loved and lived in. houses have feelings you know?
December 27th, 2009 at 4:52 am
oh dear maddie…
you. and this photograph. and then these words.
that was something beautiful to find this morning with my cup of coffee. it’s been so so long since i’ve been by to visit, and then to visit this new “home”…
it was warm honey and milk on a cold winter day.
and then this link to wisdom. for that i thank you too.
maybe that’s today’s wisdom. simply saying thank you.
and sending love.
angela.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:42 am
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