Alice in Wonderland

'I could tell you who I was yesterday, said Alice a little timidly, but what’s the point in that. I was a different person then!'

Lewis Carol

I love this quote; it has stuck with me for years. Every day we change, both mentally, physically, emotionally and psychically. Yesterday doesn’t exist anymore and like a snake sheds it’s skin, so do we – sometimes very rapidly.

I wrote this initial blog a few months’ ago on A Yang metal Tiger day. A Yang Metal Tiger feeds the energy of the Yang Water Tiger year. And during most of this day, life flowed like an Alice in Dreamland movie. Even visiting the opticians turned into a magical adventure. When he told me I can see beyond infinity, to him that meant I was long-sighted but to me, it was a huge compliment.

I wrote this initial blog a few months’ ago on A Yang metal Tiger, day. A Yang Metal Tiger feeds the energy of the Yang water Tiger year. And during most of this day, life flowed like an Alice in Dreamland movie.

Even visiting the opticians turned into a magical adventure. When he told me I can see beyond infinity, to him that meant I was long-sighted but to me, it was a huge compliment.I told him, in my meditations recently, I had been told to narrow my aperture, but didn’t understand what that meant. I interpreted it as to condense my focus. Our eyes are just like cameras, if we lose the distracting elements and keep life simple, we can get a lot more done. This is especially important for anyone who, like me, tries to pack life to the full and has too many threads of enquiry.

I recently created a project depicting 3 golden goose eggs (see Art). This symbolised for me, focusing on 3 priorities at any given time.

Sometimes we have to endure periods of intense output as required when you are birthing something for example, it takes extreme effort. But this has to be balanced by some moderated downtime, before we continue onwards at full speed.  Otherwise burn out is a serious potential.

Rewind....

Before running late to the opticians, I had spotted a book in a charity shop window, that I knew I needed to go back for. It jumped out because of its name. I already have a book by the same name, which was a gift from a friend. This second book squared the circle. It is the same, 'same, same but different.' It has equal otherworldly imagery and is the yin to the yang. It even references the Faraway Tree, a favourite book of mine from childhood – a way to journey into other worlds.

Rewind Again to This Morning

My day started with a Shamanic run. I asked for inspiration on what I could present at an upcoming art exhibition in November, that I have been lucky enough to be included in. It is a collaboration between 7 artists, to express our perceptions of this Peninsular. It is called Peninsular Dreamscape and is to be held early November in Woolverstone, near Ipswich.

The first sign on my run was go back, and slow down (link to book above?). The message I wrote down was I had forgotten something or needed to go back for something.

Then I found a dead baby owl.

I have a strong affinity with owls, this is the third one I have found in my many years of living here, but it was proceeded by other events this week.

On Tuesday night I heard a squawking at the front door and thought my cat had brought me a gift (mouse). I’m not a big fan of live presents but would have welcomed him in regardless. Instead, I saw a tawny owl circling my house, screeching away.

The next day, I went for a walk and found the largest tawny owl feather I have ever seen. This was Wednesday.

Then on Friday morning. I found a beautiful baby tawny owl that sadly had been knocked by a car. At least this time, the driver was respectful enough to move him or her to a verge.

Looking at this more widely, a lot of us are ‘guilty’ of driving too fast - metaphorically at least, living urgently, racing when unnecessary, rushing - including me. I did it earlier – dashing out of the opticians to get back to that book before anyone else got it. If I had remembered that if it was meant to be mine, there was no need to rush it would wait for me. And sure enough I bought it and now am the proud owner of Wonderland (part 2).

My Exhibition

On reflection of my Shamanic run findings (the owl), I decided to honour the rare, abundant wildlife on this peninsular, at least in part, in the exhibition I am contributing to in November.

So many animals die on this road, because of fast drivers, and this saddens me. This Peninsular is old sacred Viking land, and it is abundant with deer, owls, pheasants, rabbits, badgers as well as ancient trees and it is cradled between two powerful rivers.

Meeting the Magic Seven (Now Six)

I got to the art exhibition meeting this evening, to join the other artists to discuss ideas, I felt like ‘yikes’ – what I have I signed up for. All my ‘can I do it’, ‘am I good enough’ fears surfaced along with a touch of overwhelm and lots of excitement. Then I remembered something Louise Hay used to say to herself after each new hurdle she jumped through (paraphrasing) ‘Well done Louise, you did brilliantly today and next time will be even better’

To Conclude

I finish this blog today, after completing my first exhibition – last weekend, in early September. It wasn’t perfect, but it was magical and a great dress rehearsal to iron out any remaining wrinkles to showing my work off in its best light – a skill in itself I am learning. I also met some fantastic people, especially the other local artists exhibiting there and learnt so much more about this amazing Peninsular I call home.

I also realised you only master things in life through practise and positive self-talk. There is no failure, only feedback. And as long as you keep getting up and turning up, you will eventually succeed.

So whatever your goal is, and make it big, you have to face your fears, doubts and ’feedback moments’. Or accept your life as welcome to Groundhog Day 😊, every day, day after day, until you lay on your death bed.

Fear stands for either Forget Everything and Run or Face Everything and Rise. Don’t run or hide, we have limited time here, shine your light like a star.