I've begun the process of making daily lumps again. Here are a few of them. Fox wanted to get into the photo. I stopped making the lumps last year when I was too overwhelmed by mom's illness. Sometimes, one has to just stop AND trust there is a beginning coming again. So, I've begun this practice again. I'm still in the process of establishing a new habit so I admit I've forgotten a few days this week.But that is what I want to highlight:
Even if I forget - I forgive myself. On a new day I'll show up and make my lump.
I've let myself really listen to what do I want? When I sit down to make that lump I've been telling myself it's okay to go with what I want....
I don't have to do it any particular way and I most certainly don't have to be clever. How many times do we stop ourselves in the creative process under the pressure of perfection and cleverness.
Some days I'm going to give myself a rest. That might mean I won't make a lump. I won't make anything in clay. Other days I am going to make a batch of creative heart seeds. I will rest in the enjoyment of shaping them. They are a longer time commitment because a batch takes about 3-4 times as long as a daily lump. It's okay if on a heart seed making day I count that as my daily lump.
I have also learned from the Writer's Spa - to have the phrase - "no forcing, not holding back" in the back of my mind and within my heart and hands as I work. This is Jennifer Louden's wise phrase. It is exactly what the lumps require - if I begin to force a sculpture -then I relax. If I'm stopping myself out of fear I give a bit more - add more vulnerability into it.
My lumps require I show up for a brief part of my day and not force and not hold back and allow what wants to come.
I know that I will kiln fire some of the lumps - however, after my experience last year of making them and firing all of them I've come to recognize that making them is more important than keeping them forever so I am going to allow myself to not fire all of them. The ones I do not fire will go into the recycle bin to become a lump another day. Isn't clay great?
I leave you with an image of Fox earlier today when he was blissfully in the sun. Doesn't he look relaxed? I hope you all are finding something to relax within too..........
