Wow!!!! Welcome to my new blog! With this first blog post, on my first website, I am excited to share with you a milestone in the unfolding of my myth, my larger than life dream.
There is a gorgeous poem by Rumi (a 13th century Persian poet) that translators have titled, Unfold Your Own Myth. It is full of allusion to the myths and legends that others have lived and shared. But Rumi also asks us in this poem to create our own myths, to live our lives larger than the limitations we impose on the ordinary.
It starts out with the line, “Who gets up early to discover the moment light begins?” which could be a reference to the seeker, or to God who created light in the beginning of all things. It continues on with the references to those other legends (which you can read in The Essential Rumi, © 1995, Coleman Barks, translator.), and the last two stanzas are as follows:
“But don't be satisfied with stories,
how things have gone with others.
Unfold your own myth,
without complicated explanation,
so everyone will understand the passage,
We have opened you.
Start walking toward Shams. Your legs will get heavy
and tired. Then comes a moment of feeling
the wings you've grown, lifting.”
I have always found this poem to be wildly inspirational, wanting to set out on some mythic journey each time I have read it. But I also interpret it as an encouragement or admonishment not to give up on our dreams.
In the past few years, I guess, I have finally gathered up my courage and started down that path of my unfolding. Taking step by slow step towards the dream of being a full time artist. And yes, fear has, at times, made my legs feel tired, but I have kept going. Starting to make more time for my art. Starting to take my art out into the public, and apply to shows. Starting to involve myself in the community of artists. And now, I am striving to take my art to the next level. I have started this website and registered my business name. I am dedicated more than ever to using my new found marketing skills to make this project a success.
It is scary, exciting, and blissful all at the same time. And although I may take another 2 or 3 years to see the realization of every little thing that I am aiming for, I will just keep taking these steps one at a time until I get there.
One last share?
It is partially with Rumi’s poem in mind that I wrote my own poem about my unfolding a little while ago (whoa! It has actually been 2 years since I wrote that. Time does fly). I have shared it elsewhere, but I wanted to include it here as a measure of the joy and inspiration I have been feeling lately.
Fledging
Breaking out of old molds.
Fresh colours on my palate,
Different brush strokes on my soul.
Stretching canvas once forgotten,
Creating wings from tattered cotton.
Feeling the lift of the freshening wind...(inhale)
a way to breathe with wings unpinned.
And finally...on a good push
and a laughing dare,
I am birthed
UP
into the air.
B.I.T., July 19, 2014
Thank you dear reader, for sharing my first steps with me in this new endeavour of mine. I hope to make this blog a regular thing, and I would most definitely love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below in regards to this post, or to my art, or any old thing. Let me know what your unfolding myth looks like.
Until next time!
Namaste.
