Hide and Seek

My Legendary Self

This is step 2 of a 13 step Intentional Creativity painting process called Legend. It involves looking deep inside and exploring our archetypes. It will not resemble this at all by the time I'm done. And, come to think of it, I may not resemble me either!

Unnamed Legend (WIP)

48” x 60” Acrylic on Canvas

This week I am immersed in VIVID, the Intentional Creativity gathering for fabulous female firebrands. It’s a week long virtual conference and grad ceremonies.

I've already laughed, cried, drummed, smashed, roared, heard my name sung, meditated, soul searched, … and painted!

There's paint on my clothes, paint on the walls, paint on the floor, paint on a faucet, paint on my phone, paint on my hands, chin and inside my shirt (I have no idea...) and yes some of it did end up on canvas.

But after cleanup I stalled (temporarily I hope) because of a profound visual exercise in which I meet my muse. She is my creative, fun, flirty, wise, wild, sensual side - you know, that part we have been taught to bury as girls so we’re not too loud, too obvious, too empowered, too much. Seems I have been taught well. She would be considered opposite to that part of you who is constantly playing by the rules, critiquing, negative and sometimes a bully. I call that part my critic. More about their dichotomy in another post.

At this stage the instructions are to draw my muse as I see her in my visualization. Well, I can’t draw what I can’t see. She’s playing Hide and Seek with me, as I’m learning muses are wont to do. She flits in and out just at my peripheral vision, like a shadow. So the canvas has been dry for two days. But the journal and the smashbook (that too is for another day) have been busy.

Aha. Hide and Seek. The perennial biblical game.

See, I get that we’re all connected - earth, cosmos, Creator, critters on two legs, critters on many legs. Don’t ask me how I compartmentalized Muse and Spirit as something separate.

I remember playing Hide and Seek as a child. I didn’t want the seeker to find me easily, but I certainly didn’t want them to give up and go home. And when I was the seeker, I wasn’t searching for some great reward like candy or a Wacky Patch. I wanted to free them from the tyranny of being still and quiet. I knew I would find them, they were important to me. How could I not?

Muse IS the end game. I can’t find her as a reward, or seek her because I want something. I have to do it because I love her.

And she is me.

And we are Spirit.

Gotta go. I have a game of Hide and Seek waiting for me.

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