c. Susan Sorrell Hill
The Illustration Friday word of the week is cultivate.
Yes, we do all laugh and find solace in that Yiddish saying (made famous by Woody Allen), “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” but Allen’s jokey perspective on Life seems to be quite the opposite of the one presented below by mountaineer W. H. Murray,
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.” (The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951) (I suspect this quote came from here.)
Can they both be true? Perhaps the real question is not only “Is the Universe friendly?” but in what ways, what directions are we being supported? I am beginning to suspect that a friendly Universe supports that which is most like itself: the spirit, the heart…and discourages that which is least like itself: the ego. Here I could launch into a long essay on the nature of the Universe (“All One”) versus the nature of the ego (“all alone”), but I will give you a field work assignment this week instead…
c. Susan Sorrell Hill
Assignment: Notice if your mental machinations are being thwarted by that laughing God…or if your heart’s desires are being cultivated and encouraged by a friendly Universe. Tip: sometimes it’s pretty hard to tell if our desire is originating in the mind/ego…or if it’s coming from the heart. Be ruthlessly truthful with yourself!
Many more quotes to inspire your experiment here.
(above) “Garden Vegetables” (gouache on paper)
(right) “Garden Tools” (gouache on paper)
The first annual Anniversary Giveaway starts today…see the previous post or click here.
Hello Susan!
I will not tell you about my plans for Cultivate…
but instead discover all the vegetables you present. I know them all… salad, mail, pumpkin, beans, parsley, beets, fear tactics and something growing, except from one. What are the square things? Name signs??? It must be!
Wonder what my plans are?
May be I post it on IF within the week ;:OD)
love the pattern. This would make great fabri.
This is such a great post. I love the thoughtful questions you pose and how they dig even deeper than life and art but into the greater questions of purpose and creation. I loved the Power of Now and The Secret…right up my philosophical alley.
What beautiful patterns! I’ve never tried to create them, but you inspire me. It seems complicated, getting the repeating elements to weave together…
I like to think the universe is usually pretty friendly, if we’d only not get in its way. I was once chatting with a very liberal Jesuit priest about something that hadn’t quite gone my way…I quoted the old saying, “When one door closes, another opens.” He smiled and replied, “I like to think the second door was always open, we just hadn’t noticed it.” I loved that.
Love your tools
Great pattern Susan.
My mind desires I think of something to draw for this
Great post and lovely illustration!
Lovely illustration. I love the whole post. I also believe that the wonderful universe moves with me , if like you said I’m moving from the heart. It can get a little bumpy when I’m going the wrong way. Which happens a lot.
Awesome post, Awesome wisdom.
Deb
So much fun, nice pattern. I know my wife would buy that pattern if on a pair of gloves.
I’d like to think I move mostly from the heart, but I wouldn’t be human if my ego didn’t push its way in, even a little bit. I do try to push back though
I always come away from here thinking. Thank you for that!
I love this illustration. What wonderful paper products it would make! napkins, wrapping paper, invitations to a garden party.
And apparantly gardening gloves for Ivan’s wife!