c. Susan Sorrell Hill
The Illustration Friday word of the week is (was last week: sorry!) bottled.
I’m getting that feeling again. It’s a strange cross between the flu and the blues. An itchy, irritating tingling in the spine. Nothing satisfies, and there is a vague sense of something welling up from the murky depths. It wakes me up in the middle of the night, and leaves me restless and anxious in the cold light of day. Having been here many times before, I recognize the symptoms of impending change. Not change of the everyday variety, but change with a capital ‘C.’ The type of Change that does not leave me where it found me, and is harder and more painful when I resist.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Change could be bottled? That way, I could take it in small doses, gradually and gracefully. I could keep my smile, my sleep, my productivity and my waistline while transitioning to a more genuine me, a new medium, or a new and deeper level of art-making.
But no. Change comes when it will. And though it does not feel like it during the process, Change is my friend. Snake, butterfly and bear all attest to the truth that change is natural. Seasons and cycles of the moon say it too. Why do we humans fight it so? Our friends or family will probably insist that we are slackers, failures, or courting disaster, and should get back on that proverbial productive horse. What would the neighbors think? In the privacy of our own minds, we say these things to ourselves too.
But speaking from experience…resistance is futile: it only slows the process. What is being called for in this process of Change is complete internal surrender, even as we go through the minimum of motions to sustain everyday life. A retreat, a sabbatical, pondering dreams, and meditation can be helpful too. We are gestating something new, and that something coming wants to be honored.
This time…I intend to cooperate with Change. I plan to give it my fullest attention, to support it with exercise and sunshine, healthy food, fewer distractions and avoidances, enough solitude, and more respect. With pencil, paper and paint in hand, I plan to do a lot of internal listening. Who knows what will happen when I willingly give Change the reins?
This being said, dear readers, I will be taking a sabbatical from blogging for a while. I will be painting more consistently, and am excited (and anxious) to see what the fruits of this cycle of Change will be. At some point, some of the new work will be shown in a Trade Your Talent blog Art Exhibition, so if you’d like to hear about that, check back or become a subscriber to this blog or the Trade Your Talent blog.
I leave you with this wise quote from The I Ching Workbook, by R. L. Wing about how to recognize the need for Change:
Hexagram #45–Assembling: ”…When you are not in accord with your goals, you may feel indecision, conflict or malaise. When you are, a sense of confidence and well-being will surround you.”
“Drink Me” (watercolor, pen & ink)
[...] Comments « Illustration Friday: bottled [...]
May your travels through the inner realms of change be peaceful, smooth and fruitful!
You said it! I’ll miss your posts, but will be happy to see what your sabbatical produces!
It’s spring! It’s time to celebrate new life and change, all around.
)
And if that bottle passes my way, I’ll join you and take a sip, too!
Hoping your time away is restful and inspiration continues to find you!
very nice!
Hey , well I was just starting to like you too
Did I say that already?
Oh hot (insert appropriate word here!)
Susan, well, change is interesting, I think we as Human’s have the thought that we have control over our lives, when in fact of course we don’t – and we often don’t have the hindsight available to us where we can see an overview of the lives of those who have gone before to realise that life is dull of steps and levels and weird things – so we get restless, because we can’t ‘logicalise’ what is happening to us (find that word in the dictionary
)
For example, if I were ever to ‘end it all’ I know what season that I would do it in – and it wouldn’t be summer
Making these blogs is good and bad – good because we are all performers and our work needs an audience – bad because it takes us away from our ‘work’ –
I always look forward to your images.
Good luck on your journey. I hope you come full circle.
But of course, by then others will be on their own journeys as well.
So it was lucky we met on this circle, eh
Looking forward to your book.
Let us know when it comes out!
Oh this illustration is superb, as always. The cropping is just right – not too tall, not too short, just right.
Beautiful illustration and insightful words Susan.
Good luck with the Changes, I’m sure they will bring you only good things.
Have a productive sabbatical.
Susan, I hope the change is gentle and just what you need at this moment.
Your fans and friends will be here when and if you’re ready to come back.
Wishing you all the best on your inner journey.
Laurel♥
I will definitely miss your profound and beautiful illustrations here! I liked how you combined both IF words- Bottled and Journey. Have a great “trip”.
Perhaps you could bottle your wisdom for dealing with said Change. If you do package a few and send them my way!
He Susan, I can imagine you are leaving the Bloggers World for a while. I am just one year “involved” in my blog but I was many time convinced it is good to stop. I did not , however, yet. But I agree ( and with Andrew as well) that it takes us away from our other work. Good luck with your projects and have nice time!
( I knew your “journey” illustration from your header, but it is great)
I will miss your art!!
You will be missed and thought of often! May this journey bring you fruitful results in ways that you wish.
The illo is great and it’s so true we can do nothing with changement:)We can only follow them:)I’ll miss your post and your art!
Happy Easter:)