Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Proximity and Distance




-  tension and equilibrium . . .  harmony and conflict . . . attraction and repulsion . . . 


I wonder often at our capacity to occupy each state as it comes and, sometimes, all of them concurrently (and there are so many more than the several here named; neither are they dichotomous). 

How do you do it? I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have a garden to dig in and a studio as part of my home space; these are two places I can both enter and exit these different states of being. I get the sense I'm not the only one feeling oddly at the moment, as though I've woken to a landscape called Strange. I'm not sure what to make of it all. One day soon, I'll be back to making paper boats. . . I need to create several hundred (maybe even a thousand) for a film/object installation that's happening at the end of next month. I'll be using the paper proofs from my poetry book to do make the vessels - recycling, you know!

Let's see if together we can coax November into offering herself up as a gentle, meditative month. 



12 comments:

  1. Hmmm...in my part of the world( also a Strange land!) November is a time when we are urged to be alert, mindful of harsher weather.
    But I like the idea of contemplative, if not meditative!

    HAh! word ver is ompow As in
    ommmmm and POW! perhaps?

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  2. for me, in Maine, November is more definitive: ok, dammit, winter's coming, put on a sweater!
    October has a foot dragging, still, in summertime, which makes for loss, regret, uneasiness.
    (the repetition of making boat after boat may be just the thing; cooking helps, for sure. )
    xo

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  3. For some time I have been aware of the ambiguities, contradictions and oppositions that are life. How did I live so many years, oblivious? I think of sports, of being alert and ready to have the ball come at you and knowing what to do with it when it does. I wonder if we are being pulled into continual hypervigilance - and all that adrenalin - or are we becoming more philosophical, able to be calm in the uncertainty. May November show us the rocks that will not teeter, giving us a firm next step.

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  4. There are so many forces at work upon the soul and heart of you, Claire, it's no wonder they pass through the very tender membrane and disturb you, upend you, make you weep, make you feel powerless. Your thousand boats, made from your poetry proofs--oh how perfect! How I wish I could help you make them. You must talk to Melissa Shook about her astonishing 1,000 Ladies. Hang on, darling girl, it's rough weather,
    but we're quite close in our own little coracles, riding it out with you. L, M

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  5. Full moon time might explain it, but I'm out of theories.

    I get into the right rhythm when I walk, especially when I walk in the woods or along the shore.

    No answers.

    Today I was thinking about Dualism. But how about "worlds on worlds"?

    xo from the Tropics of Boston--temp. in the 70s f today

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  6. The past 6 months have been very difficult but I am hopeful that November will be more generous. I certainly hope this for you too, Clare. I can imagine you making your 1000 boats, possibly a contemplative process. I wish you peace and happiness. xo

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  7. Hi DInah - contemplative, yes. And perhaps an especially helpful way of being during harsh weather?

    Ommmm + POW sounds like a reaaaaaly effective combination! The reconciliation of opposites?

    I really enjoyed your cats' latest blog entry, by the way ; )

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  8. The artists state of mind, I'd say. I think in any kind of creation there is both or all. I think I keep doing it because the state of harmony, the state of actual creation is the best thing I've found on earth.
    I'll think of you warming up as we're cooling down =)
    xo
    Rachel

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  9. Claire,
    I just came back from my stone massage and you HAVE to make an appointment. Lavender, peach tea and pure heaven.
    xo
    Rachel

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  10. November is always a very intensely felt month for me, where i usually start writing more poems. I am a year older in November, and this year, it looks like I'll be having a baby in November, too!

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  11. Dear Rachel - thanks for the Stone Massage encouragement. Yours sounded heavenly - and good on you for saying 'yes' to it at last! I'm thinking I might book my session for the 1 December, which seems like an age away but having it on the first day of the month seems feel like a strong statement of intent (a new leaf?) and will be a lovely gift once my flotilla of boats has been set afloat. They need to be done by 30 Nov and once they are, I'll be able to surrender fully. Or does that seem too far away? Delayed gratification? ; )

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  12. No, it sounds wonderful! Something to look forward to after all the work is done. The first of the month is a fine time indeed =)
    Take care, dear Claire
    xo
    Rachel

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