From my experience, creation doesn’t follow a linear timeline of forward progress. My most recent art works reveal this in a fascinating way. I find myself in a reflective, embodied dialogue with my creativity, and this is what I’d like to share with you in this month’s Art News Update.
So too does the annual dying/resurrection theme appear at this time, in life and art; it is a timely moment to reflect upon the past year. What transpired, is now releasing, so you have space to welcome in what calling you now? Let’s dig in.
In last month’s newsletter, I described 3 recent art works that evolved over months; gestation seemed to ebb and flow. I then asked each of them “Are you done?
The answer returned as ‘no’. I sat with each and them as a grouping. There arose another layer that could possibly reflect the deeper meaning of each piece, which mirrors the personal and global journey of descent and ascent through the chaos of rapid change.
Descent 12”h x 12”w x 1.5”d Encaustic and Mixed Media; 2025 Price: $185
To the left, was the version I showed last newsletter. It seemed to ask for more storyline. In response, I wrote a word poem of the ‘Descent’ experience. 
Then I translated those words into glyphs, and transcribed them, as a glowing, metallic language beaming as a ring around the heart of the image. Each was in its own ‘gate’, open to the darker, outer depths. This felt too rigid; there was no flow, or interplay of energies with the turtle sealed within the protective sphere. Neither was there any path for the guiding mantras to reach into the turtle’s sphere.
Thus, I loosened it up, removing the innermost circle, as well as part of each boundary line between each glyph. The glyph ring now feels more dynamic; there exists a rhythm between the ‘words.’ Formally, it is less ‘flat’ (2-dimensional). I am playing with how to visualize multi-dimensional experience, and the mythic realm; this feels more resonant. I can start to imagine the permeable protection allowing for both protection and dialogue between the realms. When layers of reality bleed into each other, a potential to affect each other remains, as does the ability to successfully inhabit different versions of reality. I can be within dream-space, reflecting on insights gleaned, and remain adept at mundane tasks, like paying bills, cooking, exercise, nurturing friendships. Definitely advisable.
The next phase of this turtle’s transformation involved a similar process.
Ascent 12”h x 12”w x 1.5”d 2025 Encaustic and Mixed Media; Price: $185
Experiencing a similar impulse, I created a protection field around the emerging turtle, with guiding verse to evoke the process of the ascent. 
Again, I overdid the protective field in the first iteration visible in the image on the right. (Hmm, I realize that mirrors what I used to do in everyday reality!) Thus, I proceeded in a similar way, backtracking to remove the hard boundaries and gates, so all could be more fluid, allowing for percolation between the realms.
Here is the verse I translated into glyphs for Ascent:
Ascent Out Of Darkness
Subtle Inner Motion
Formless Slowly Forming
New Structure Emerging
Heart Mind Spirit
Fresh Tenuous Delicate
Energy Patterns Coalesce
Becoming ONE ALL
The transcriptions into glyphs follow a path, like the astrological wheel, beginning on the Eastern horizon (left side of circle), flowing down, counter-clockwise. It honors cosmic timing, a set of cycles that influence individual and collectively.
I do believe these are now complete; yet I feel the way and what I create will evolve. I continue to ask questions that revolve around how to become more authentic, to channel a visionary experience intended to heal and guide. My personal focus for authenticity, is to explore the parts of me that are freer from conditioning, not resting upon habitual responses. I check in with my body before making decisions: ‘Will this benefit all by choosing Yes?’ If the body contracts, it is a ‘no’; if the body ‘leans in’, it is a yes. Sometimes the answer is neutral; All 3 are choice points.
With respect to visual art creation, I explore in a similar manner, using sensory and extra-sensory perceptual knowing. I am in dialogue with what feels closest to my intentions. At this juncture, I am asking if a more authentic way to translate the cosmic language (like glyphs) requires a different approach. I will continue to explore, allowing for additional ways for creation to unfold. I am so much more in the flow, having dissolved resistance and old patterns of thinking and acting.
Like a human being unfolding over its life, for most, there is an arc of progression over time; many evolve into a wiser presence. However, understanding the shorter time-scale of ‘push and pulls’ (dissolving and reforming) can be so helpful to relax more into the process. Embracing exactly where we are at, allows for the truth of what we desire to become in the new Earth being birthed. This turtle is me/you, Humanity/Species and Gaia/Earth; we are all in this together. The mystery continues to unfold, making life delicious again.
Art, like life, is about constant change. These days it is ‘fast forward’. Keep your dancing shoes on.
Where are you on your evolutionary path?
What are you dissolving, healing?
Who are you becoming? What in your life is reflecting these changes.
I really do so enjoy your shared reflections.