Connecting the dots
What’s the point?
.
Did you see that?
I can make it a little bigger.
.
Most of us know that humble little mark by various names, depending on how it’s used.
Period. Decimal. Point. Dot.
Put some together and you get more meaning.
… I left something out or there’s more
: I’m about to give examples of what I’m talking about
:: English letter G in Braille
.. I in Morse Code
Plus, placement matters with other characters.
. On a map I am here
0.00 Dollars and cents - $100 vs $1.00
.com Tech speak sorting out internet places
! Just getting emotional over here
; ) 😉
… Bouncing in chats means “I’m writing”
Words. More words. Sentence break
Now, at the risk of alienating some younger people - my dot journey, which might sound familiar in places.
My first understanding of the dot was the bright light left in the centre of the TV after the cartoons were turned off. Where did Looney Tunes go? It just disappeared…
My second understanding of dots came about creatively, in a manner of speaking. I loved to do connect-the-dots as a kid. Teachers used to give them to us to reinforce counting. Except I always tried to see the picture without using the numbers. (Obviously I wasn’t the only one doing them; there are myriads of quotes and sayings about connecting-the-dots.)
I loved to read so I got the hang of dots at the end of sentences.
I didn’t get the hang of people calling my mom, Dorothy, Dot.
She always wanted us to arrive somewhere at o’clock on the dot.
Occasionally I was dressed in a polka dot shirt, but not often. And no yellow bikinis.
When you used Silly Putty to “copy” pictures, you could make out the dots of colour from the newsprint.
My English teacher was fond of reminding us to cross our “T”s and dot our “I”s or marks would be deducted. (Though I don’t think she gave extra for “I”s dotted with hearts.)
It wasn’t until my 50s that I learned about intention marks/prayer dots/spiritual points.
As a matter of fact, the first time I heard the term “prayer dot” it was from none other than Sue Boardman, my partner in Medicine Basket Your Way: Unsticking Stuck Stuff.
Below is her dot magic.
Detail close up from Sue Boardman’s Codex painting.
Our wisdom teacher Shiloh Sophia McCloud calls them “marks of intention”.
There’s a power or energy in taking a thought or idea and bringing it into a form you can observe and interact with. Quantum physics says the act of observing something changes it. Creativity is science, people!
I’m making up for lost time. Dots show up in all my art now for all kinds of reasons. I am here. I’m pondering something. I’m praying for you. I’m bringing emphasis to something. They allow me to be present. They represent things like love, energy, purpose, direction. Stylistically, they bring contrast, nuance, and attention. I have one painting with 1500 dots made while holding victims of racial oppression.
So, why all this talk about dots?
The creating of them is part of a preview call coming up Saturday. A call examining our relationship with money and abundance. We’re about to begin a journey to Unstick Stuck Money Stuff and you can get a taste for free!
At the risk of being alarmist,
I read the other day that dots as periods in text messages are on their way out. Apparently those more text savvy than me equate it with being angry, like the all caps became someone shouting. Who knew? And what does that mean for the lowly dot!?
We’d better make some quick!
Dig out your markers and join us for an hour. We’d love to see you.
Blessings,
Natalie and Sue
PS: If money wasn’t an issue , what would you do? Is money the real issue?
PSS: Curious about the Unstick Stuck Stuff journey? sueboardman.com/medicinebasketyourway
PSSS: This is not a class about pointillism, which is another wonderful use for dots!