“One day when you wake up, you will find that you have become a forest . . . A host of wild creatures live inside you and you call them stories . . . And you should be so proud of yourself, of how far you have come from the seeds of who you used to be.” –Nikita Gill
“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” –Cynthia Occelli
The past few years have brought me new ways of seeing. I’ve become more introspective, quieter. I’d like to think I’m kinder. Change leaves its marks on all of us.
Recently my friend Helen shared a new-to-me way to play with collage. She makes what she calls meditation cards. She encouraged me to make a collage by fixing found images to a 5X7 card and when finished to write a reflection of what feelings or thoughts the created card brought up in me, what the images wanted to say to me. It’s a freeing way of practicing wonder for me, a departure from my usual type of writing, and a thoughtful interior exercise.
It feels like fishing in the lake of my own unconscious.
It feels like growth.
A card I made yesterday morning reminded me of a dream I had several years ago, in which I played an “unknown instrument” shaped like a bowl. Here is the card and my written meditation:
The unknown instrument of your dream
is your life
the days and nights
you remain on this planet
ancient and new
firm as stone and malleable as water
Play this bowl with fingers of a harper
intoning the chords of blank sky
ringing out the color of joy
Come to understand that the music of the universe
draws you upward
singing as you go
* * * * *
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Writing Practice:
In what ways have you changed the past few years? What seeds are sprouting?
What wild creatures live inside you as stories? What would you write or say if you were totally free to express yourself?
Practicing Wonder 
It’s so good to hear and see you.
With love,
Anita
Thank you, Anita!
Dear Chris, your path and mine are very similar, except you are a few steps (or miles?) ahead of me. I am reflecting about how I needed to be broken open to grow. Hasn’t Helen just brought so much to all our lives? Are you the person someone met at Home Town Crafts getting mat board cut? Whoever was telling me did say it was “Chris,” and that she metioned my name. You really ought to join our Thursday morning group–inspiration, laughter, and wonderful, supporting people. Your card is beautiful.
Thank you, Jill. We have indeed traveled some difficult parallel paths. I so appreciate you and Helen and all the creative women friends in my life. Yes, I thought it was a rather sweet coincidence to meet your friend at the crafts store. One day I’ll join in on a Thursday morning!
Chris, this is beautiful and so thought provoking. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Sue!
Chris, How wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of affixing images to a card. I loved what you wrote. Thanks for the thought-provoking writing exercises, too. I need to “get out of my head”.
I did some visual journaling several years ago and the one I’ve kept where I can see it is a tribute to my friend Dora who had recently died at age 50. She was getting her PhD in Dance. What I loved most about doing it was the spontaneity of instantly accessing my feelings. And it was fun, too. Hugs, Beth
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Thank you, Vicki Beth! It’s wonderful to hear from you, and I so appreciate your kind words.