Time to sneak off and play with Book Stack Poetry. My eclectic shelf contents should give me plenty of ways to stack. Thanks for a fun way to rediscover the joy of being creative.
I love your book arrangements - and have many of these on my book shelves as well. I am just try this exercise and see what happens. I am currently re-reading Deep Play by Diane Ackerman on the ways we "play" as adults that many of us would not recognize as play: travel, time in nature, hobbies, sports, heck, even psychotherapy! She talks about the flow state we go into when we engage in these deeply meaningful play activities, similar to Abraham Maslow's peak experiences.
Julie, I'm so enjoying your exploration and investigation towards freedom and liberation.
In the two-year program where I studied world religions we had a phrase we would exclaim when someone was making a breakthrough, and I offer it to you now: Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah!
A rough translation: Ya Fattāḥ” (يَا فَتَّاح) is an Arabic phrase meaning “O Opener” or “O Granter of Success and Openings.
Google says: People often say “Ya Fattāḥ” in prayer or supplication when they are asking Allah to:
Open doors of opportunity
Remove obstacles
Grant success in work, studies, or life
Provide guidance and clarity
Ease difficulties and hardships
So the phrase carries the sense of asking God -- or if there are too many negative associations with the word God for you -- the Divine Beloved, or the Universe, to open what is closed, make a path where none seems to exist, and grant favorable outcomes.
What a beautiful expression, Camilla. thanks so much for sharing it. Too often, I forget to ask for help. When I was younger, I associated asking for help with failure and weakness. I don’t feel that way (consciously) any more, but it’s still not easy for me. ❤️
perhaps not asking for help is simply not recognizing the interconnected nature of all beings? another lovely moment of synchronicity: I'm just writing a post that includes the YouTube of the conversation with the psychic medium and best-selling author, Laura Lynne Jackson, and you've probably heard me say it a million times that I love how she talks about how art (including writing) brightens the connections between all of us♥️🔥🙏
Once again our writing is so magically synchronistic. I’ve been writing about false modesty (though I had framed it more as guilt, so your framing is helpful to me in that regard) and embracing joy as a way to cultivate resilience. Would you equate your creative expression with joy? Wonderful post, I could feel your authentic expression shining through! ☀️
Absolutely! It’s also very calming (when I remember not to strive too much). Thinking about it, maybe joy requires relaxation and letting go of expectations. It is more fun to be surprised! My husband and I are longtime fans of the sculptor Alexander Calder (Sandy to his friends). He was full of delight and whimsy. (Check out his “Circus”) In great contrast to the miserable, struggling artist, he was very joyful. A good role model.
Julie this series is like light itself! I have read all, apologies for lack of comments—end of term chaos and reports etc, you know I am sure, work that isn't play!—now is time for the work that is, hello fellow early morning creative!
I am with you Julie, if I am creative early in the day it sets me up to carry better energy into the rest of what I do. I am still working on ditching the people-pleaser part of me...it's a work in progress.
For years, I painted in private, not daring to show anyone my artwork. Now I add it to my posts here on Substack, and feel alright about its imperfection.
When I first started doing this, I had concerns about copyright while wanting something visual for my posts, so I dared to use my own artwork.
For me, hiding my artwork was more of a sense of deep inadequacy, which I seem to be overcoming with age.
And isn't it freeing to allow our creative side to be exposed, imperfect as they may be?
I wish I'd found my courage sooner. Really, it's such a nothing burger compared to what we feared. Some people will like it, some won't, and who cares?
So many treasures in this post: Follow my heart and pay attention; the poetry of a book sort; creative play; water colors and music. Thank you for this series, Julie.
To shine anyway...
nay/doomsayer voice be damned.
Let our "freak flags fly."
😊 Love this!
Time to sneak off and play with Book Stack Poetry. My eclectic shelf contents should give me plenty of ways to stack. Thanks for a fun way to rediscover the joy of being creative.
It’s so fun! I hope to see the results. 😊
I love your book arrangements - and have many of these on my book shelves as well. I am just try this exercise and see what happens. I am currently re-reading Deep Play by Diane Ackerman on the ways we "play" as adults that many of us would not recognize as play: travel, time in nature, hobbies, sports, heck, even psychotherapy! She talks about the flow state we go into when we engage in these deeply meaningful play activities, similar to Abraham Maslow's peak experiences.
Yes! Flow feels great. Peaceful and even healing. That sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the reference.
Oh wow, play is the work of the adult! We forget!!!!!! And this song really moved me too, thank you.
Isn’t it gorgeous!? Glad you enjoyed it.
Julie, I'm so enjoying your exploration and investigation towards freedom and liberation.
In the two-year program where I studied world religions we had a phrase we would exclaim when someone was making a breakthrough, and I offer it to you now: Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah!
A rough translation: Ya Fattāḥ” (يَا فَتَّاح) is an Arabic phrase meaning “O Opener” or “O Granter of Success and Openings.
Google says: People often say “Ya Fattāḥ” in prayer or supplication when they are asking Allah to:
Open doors of opportunity
Remove obstacles
Grant success in work, studies, or life
Provide guidance and clarity
Ease difficulties and hardships
So the phrase carries the sense of asking God -- or if there are too many negative associations with the word God for you -- the Divine Beloved, or the Universe, to open what is closed, make a path where none seems to exist, and grant favorable outcomes.
What a beautiful expression, Camilla. thanks so much for sharing it. Too often, I forget to ask for help. When I was younger, I associated asking for help with failure and weakness. I don’t feel that way (consciously) any more, but it’s still not easy for me. ❤️
perhaps not asking for help is simply not recognizing the interconnected nature of all beings? another lovely moment of synchronicity: I'm just writing a post that includes the YouTube of the conversation with the psychic medium and best-selling author, Laura Lynne Jackson, and you've probably heard me say it a million times that I love how she talks about how art (including writing) brightens the connections between all of us♥️🔥🙏
Oh wow! That’s marvelous!
Don’t hate the player, hate the game. That’s been buzzing around in my head for a few days. I think it might be a lyric from a song.
Classic 90s hip-hop attitude. I think Ice-T did a song . . .
Once again our writing is so magically synchronistic. I’ve been writing about false modesty (though I had framed it more as guilt, so your framing is helpful to me in that regard) and embracing joy as a way to cultivate resilience. Would you equate your creative expression with joy? Wonderful post, I could feel your authentic expression shining through! ☀️
Absolutely! It’s also very calming (when I remember not to strive too much). Thinking about it, maybe joy requires relaxation and letting go of expectations. It is more fun to be surprised! My husband and I are longtime fans of the sculptor Alexander Calder (Sandy to his friends). He was full of delight and whimsy. (Check out his “Circus”) In great contrast to the miserable, struggling artist, he was very joyful. A good role model.
Julie this series is like light itself! I have read all, apologies for lack of comments—end of term chaos and reports etc, you know I am sure, work that isn't play!—now is time for the work that is, hello fellow early morning creative!
Love love love this and you!
Thanks so much for reading, Susie. I’m glad you were able to fit it in. Enjoy your work that is play! ❤️
And Robert Plant... thank you for sharing that song!
Glad you enjoyed it. 💙
Love.💜
I am with you Julie, if I am creative early in the day it sets me up to carry better energy into the rest of what I do. I am still working on ditching the people-pleaser part of me...it's a work in progress.
Same, Donna, same. People-pleasing is not a good use of precious energy. 😬
I love your book exercise! What a great fun idea. I too was very moved by this song. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m delighted that you enjoyed it, Paulette. Thanks for being here. 🧡
Spine poetry is fun!
I like the idea of a "light shadow" here. This series on shadow lands here as a leap into levity.
Something about this essay resonated deeply.
I’m so glad, Jill. Thanks for being here. 🧡
I can so relate to this, Julie.
For years, I painted in private, not daring to show anyone my artwork. Now I add it to my posts here on Substack, and feel alright about its imperfection.
When I first started doing this, I had concerns about copyright while wanting something visual for my posts, so I dared to use my own artwork.
For me, hiding my artwork was more of a sense of deep inadequacy, which I seem to be overcoming with age.
I totally feel this! Thanks for your reflection, Diana. It’s good to know I’m not alone in that.
You're welcome, Julie.
And isn't it freeing to allow our creative side to be exposed, imperfect as they may be?
I wish I'd found my courage sooner. Really, it's such a nothing burger compared to what we feared. Some people will like it, some won't, and who cares?
Exactly! 🧡
I love this idea of play being the work!
So many treasures in this post: Follow my heart and pay attention; the poetry of a book sort; creative play; water colors and music. Thank you for this series, Julie.