…
I whisper the words.
I melt. I unhinge. I exhale.
My life has been one of good, of held breath and begging being.
I watch him nestle in, all soft animal and certain of what he loves. I breathe deep his knowing and say the words again.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Mary Oliver : “Wild Geese”
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*Thank you Mandy for bringing these words into my life and Rain for asking all the right questions.
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linked up with imperfect prose
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you only have to let the soft animla of your body love what it loves…very cool line to think on…and nice bit of art too…so fluid…
that line is so tender and endearing to all that is human.
Yes and Amen. Embrace the Primal animal that lives within you that wants to roar with passion and touch with love.
“roar with passion and touch with love”
that is a beautiful description.
Hope all is well with you, haven’t heard your roar lately. <3
love your handiwork, friend. My eyes want to linger long. . . simply stunning.
And oh my goodness—the soft animal in me stirred while reading that. I adore Mary Oliver’s poetry and have somehow missed that one. thank you!
All for Him,
Nikki
You said it so well “the soft animal in me stirred”. I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks, friend.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Mary Oliver : “Wild Geese”
How I love these words….
nothing more to say beyond that truth
except for thank you
love and light
they are so loving and generous
xo
my knees are are healing from the abuse of scraping them through the desert….He picked me up…carried me…praying you feel Him carrying you too…blessings~
love that you are healing, believe I am as well.
<3
this picture? says so much to me. these words, are healing balm to my torn knees.
I couldn’t agree more … these words offer healing and rest and absolute acceptance. I return to them again and again, there is much to be healed in me as well.
This is so beautiful, Janae… those words… healing and true and comforting. Thank for you sharing them. And your artwork, my dear, is stunning.
thank you.
I love how we all pass life and healing to each other.
xo
sigh…dearest you, you continue to unfold like the rarest flower, petal by petal shyly letting in the light.
this is such an accurate picture – the process has been show and I have been shy. Somehow I know this is just as it is and there needn’t be a hurry. loving you, xo
Is that snake hair? I love Mary Oliver. Your post reminds me, too, of “That I Would Be Good” by Alanis Morissette. Do you know it?
I love Alanis Morissette {particularly her Live album}. Her lyrics always resonate with me. I didn’t intend for it to be snakes, but I see why you ask. I enjoy organic shapes and love to try different things for the hair.
Now that I look at it, again, I didn’t mean the hair, after all. I meant what she’s holding. I thought you might have hinted at snakes (i.e. Medusa) b/c of the whole idea of not being good. But that’s what’s so cool about art, including poetry: everyone sees what they see and takes what they take.
So true, I love that about art as well. Thanks for telling me what and why you see in the icon – I love hearing!
i just borrowed my first book of mary oliver poetry from the library… it’s called “winter hours.” i’m so excited to read it, and am ashamed i haven’t read her before this. your children are so blessed to call you mother, friend.
You are so kind, friend. xo I haven’t read much of her either – I’ll be visiting my library soon {don’t you just love the library?!}
Mary Oliver always speaks to my soul. And isn’t it a relief to not have to try be good anymore? Sink into these words, love.
I was shocked at how relieved I was to read the words, “You don’t have to be good”. I had an instant response and it still sends a tidal wave through me. I am hoping to be drown by them completely. xo
Love Mary Oliver!
This quote is one of my favourite
Wonderful words to heal many, many aches and wounds. Thanks for coming by.
So, just our of curiousity, what’s the deal/history/theme/inspiration/method/background/direction/plan with you art. It’s fantastic. Lately I come for the art, and stay for the words.
-Bob
Apparently I can’t type worth beans this morning. *out of curiousity and with *your art
Thanks for your question Bob.
Through the icons I am trying to capture the essence of women. My own life was lacking visual reminders of the Divine as Female. So, I started making my own icons. They call me to prayer, to meditation, to deeper and lower.higher, to Truth, to YES!. They are my compasses for Truth, my Truth.
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“When we truly grasp for the first time that the symbol of woman can be a vessel of the sacred, that it too can be an image of the Divine, our lives will begin to pivot.”
Dance of the Dissident Daughter p 99
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I needed to see woman.female.She as sacred. I needed to be in the visual.visible presence of She and myself, a sacred female. So, I started creating what I needed to surround myself with and they have set me on a course. They have all been for a purpose, a truth, a grounding, a reminder, a meditation, a love.
As far as method and direction goes, sometimes I ‘see’ something I want to put down on paper, or I have a word or poem that I want to ‘flesh’ out. Sometimes I use drawing as a way to pray for someone or as a way for me to explore an idea I don’t quite understand.
As of right now I don’t have a plan with my art. I’m enjoying the creative energy flowing through me and I will honor it for as long as it resides. I want to allow it to unfold as it will and die when is natural. Perhaps I will be drawing these for a long time, or perhaps I am coming to the end of them. I’m not sure, for I have left this area of my life to be without plans or goals, and I draw when I’m inspired and I don’t draw if there is silence.
Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. As I am hear from people, that they are enjoying my icons, I definitely take this into account and want to keep responding to what the Creative Spirit is bringing into my life.
Sorry I took a few days to respond, you definitely gave me something to think on. All the best! Janae
Thanks for taking the time to respond, I’m always curious about what makes other creative people tick. Some of the ways you tick resound with me, I write sometimes to understand, or as prayer.
I truly respect your attempts to find, explore, and remind yourself of the female sacred. I was blessed by having a father who loved and respected my mother, and treated my sisters and my brothers and I as equals. That modelling was a great gift, and I never forget it.
Write/draw on my friend!
I’ve never heard this quote before. Your art is beautiful.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
So glad you came by.
Goodmorning, sweet Janae
I am loving catching up on your heart rumblings… that poem made me choke up. Beautiful… how many times have I seen myself and my nature as so disgusting and gross, when in truth it is good. I loved this today…. another friend posted this..
“Say it with me: Life is inherently good. I am inherently good.”
It’s a truth that I think has always resided inside, but I was programmed to think differently. So grateful for the truth… and this post reminder today.
xo
Love your comment Amy … am reminded that there is a BIG difference between trying to be good and knowing you are inherently good. Much love to you!
You had me at this line:”My life has been one of good, of held breath and begging being.” Thanks for sharing your art and Mary’s words. Learning to see the good and receive the good without having to be good. Learning grace.
perhaps grace is an advocate for goodness, bringing it into our lives without our trying. love your thoughts, Dolly.