Float!

Sometimes the rain (or the snow!) comes down and you just have to keep smiling.

A true muse always knows how to float!

photos: Gemma Ward by Greg Kadel in Vogue Italia, Float girl from weheartit.com

Magic.

It's my 100th post.

Thanks for sticking with me. I think I miss the more succinct posts of earlier... the ones less concerned with reality and more concerned with the thoughts that occupy the space between reality and unreality. So perhaps I'll try to do more of that...

For this post, I've swiped something rather fabulous from Lolita,

because I think it's important to remember that in that space just beyond reality, reaching shining tendrily fingers into the fabric of "real life," are ample opportunities for sheer, expressive, fantastic, bursting-with-joy, Magic.

Just keep your eyes peeled for your white rabbit...

I know I always do.

photos: Magic quote taken from Lolita, Lost Mind by 'Night-fate from deviantART.

Life.

Hello loves.

Greetings from the edge of the earth. I'm sure I fell off last week.

My long trip home held some surprises. Some were anticipated, and some were not. But my discoveries of the past week have put me back into that wonderful place of life. It's not that I've been depressed over the past few months, but after so much wondering and wandering, one runs the risk of becoming a little listless.

But no more. It's nice to be me again. (Isn't that a nice place to be?)

Here's what happened while I was in Atlanta.

1) I popped on the plane out of Boulder just a few hours after presenting a lecture on Marian Iconography, examined through multiple art historical, cultural, symbolic, and spiritual lenses.

It was so well-received, and I gave it twice more while in Atlanta. After meeting with a number of different people in liturgical ministry and adult enrichment roles, I've gotten lots of support for this endeavor.

Now I just need to put it into article form, see if I can get it published, and start on my next lecture....

2) I wrote my Bryce Dallas Howard article on the plane flying home, and then edited a slew of articles for the publication, New York Moves Magazine. I think the BDH article came off fairly well.

She was delightful to interview, and so enthused about so many different subjects, and she served me my concluding paragraph on a golden platter. I love that she was so interested in Grace as an empowering attribute. (We think alike...).

3) Discernment is not an easy process... particularly when you're multi-interested. I can see myself doing a lot of things. A lot of things. But I spent most of the week trying to figure out the best path for me, because applying to every corporate marketing position I can dig up hasn't been working. It's time for plan B.

So I've decided to try to cultivate a writing career, and drum up some new clients,

while simultaneously finding some sort of part- or full-time position with a not-for-profit, preferably nestling myself into the arts community. And I'm casting my net wide, for Fate to send me what she will. Because if I can find a lovely NFP spot, but it's not in my backyard...well...I've already learned that I'm good at picking up and moving, right?

With the art historical lectures, I've decided to try to head back to school in a year or two. I'm spreading knowledge to the masses with my little B.A. I imagine I could do some real damage with an M.A. or a Ph.D... And I always have my singing, too... I was promoted to Head Cantor while I was away. I'll be singing all summer!

4) has to do with my last post. This was the truly unexpected surprise. And though the ruminating on career options re-invigorated my mind, this surprise made me sit up and breath deep the joys of being.

You know those moments when life comes knocking, and you just open the door and let it in? That's what I did. It has to do with some great music, a great man, and a series of rather delightful moments. And I'll tell you all about it.

Tomorrow.

photos: imaginary friend by *mOthyyku at deviantART, Edge of the Earth, Edge of the Sky by Enrique Fernandez Ferra, image by Perhydrol from 500px, Joy Division, Bouguereau's Pieta, Henry Ossawa Tanner's The Annunciation, Bryce Dallas Howard, image from ffffound.com, Fork in the Road from melodyross.typepad.com, visual inspiration from vi.sualize.us, happen from imgfave.com/Melissa, Jump in the Sky by ~Loona5, Lovestory from 500px.com

Keep on Dreaming, Even if it Breaks Your Heart

I have something to tell you...

but I'm buried in writing edits right now, so I'll have to tell you later...

photo: Untitled by Kristin rocketequalslove

Let's Blow This Joint.

I wish to round up the fairy tale princesses.

I wish to bust down the doors of complacency,

To challenge the status quo.

I wish to gather the gals and demand the attentions of fate.

To change the way things are through the sheer power of will,

And create for myself a new reality,

Where fear is a thing of the past,

And the horizon is bright with the light of possibility.

I wish to gather Cindy and Rapunzel, Beauty and Ariel, Alice and Bianca, and say,

"Enough of this, ladies dear.

Let's blow this joint."

photos: Tim Walker for Vogue, The Doors of Obernewtyn by Donato Giancola, Amy Brisco from ffffound, Scarlett Horizon by himitsuhana from flickr, Patrick Demarchelier

It's Been A Long Day.

Dearlings,

I'm going to say that Serendipity has not actually completely abandoned me. I'm going to say that she's somewhere warm and sunny, like St. Barths, or fabulous and imaginary, like L.M. Montgomery's Prince Edward Island, and that she has therefore left me to my own devices.

And so nothing seems to be going...well...well. My life is usually governed by a brilliant balance of hard work, assertion, devil-may-care, and fate. But perhaps she's misplaced my forwarding address? Or just fallen asleep on the job??

Because, lately, I have that feeling that I have to daily remind myself, "Get up. Get out. Find something beautiful. Keep going." This is usually less of a mantra and more of a pulse.

And I'm visiting more and more that place of throw-my-hands-up-and-scream-"What-do-You-want-from-me?"

I miss people who speak my language. I feel a little alone. Well, tonight, I feel a lot alone. I say this knowing full well that my brilliant friends and family are hardly far away at all, I hold them in my heart so close. But one of my dearest friends in the world reminded me today that I am a Muse. I was a Muse, once upon a time. I haven't felt very Muse-y lately. I keep reaching out and I keep coming up with smoke.

So tonight, I recognize that, at least for now,

I am the Lone Muse.

Well-versed in Museology (the inspirational kind, and the other kind...) but overtly lacking in peons. I'm missing the syncopation of interaction, the you-inspire-me-and-I'll-inspire-you of life.

Alright, World. I embrace the alone-ness. I give thanks for the solitudinous of being the Muse-Seeking-Artist, the Muse-Seeking-Possibility.

Because you discover some truly wonderful things when you are alone (and perhaps I anticipated this when I moved across the country, but didn't realize the magnitude.) You discover the things that mean most to you.

You discover who it is that you turn to for comfort, for challenge, for meaning, for faith, and who delivers. You discover the value of what you lack. And you discover the ever-springing, no-matter-how-weary, staggering resolution to stand back up and keep going. Not all who wander are lost. Sometimes they are though. And the only way to get un-lost is to keep wandering, and find something about yourself that gives you direction.

So tomorrow, I'll get up, I'll find something beautiful, I'll put one foot in front of the other and recommence my wandering.

But tonight, I'm just a Lone Muse. And it's been a long day.

photos: 500px_by_DimBaldachnyl, dreaming girl from vi.sualize.us, Perks of Being a Wallflower Quote, Lauren Withrow image, mmkai.fashiongonerogue.com, bridge pic by Corinne Day, Vogue Italia Nov. 03, Fight for that which you Love t-shirt from www.gypsyville.com, birdcage quote from weheartit.com, Nothing to Lose EsTeR from vi.sualize.us