Yep! I am still learning!

Well, probably more like still learning, still… And you’re totally correct if you’ve already realized that I don’t plan on quitting!

The whole Intentional Creativity® adventure known as #Legend is really helpful for the learning thing. It’s not just about finding new answers to old questions. It’s also about finding whole new questions… which is one of those terrifying/thrilling things in my world!

I have a tendency to find new questions when I feel stuck and, wow, was I feeling stuck yesterday! You see, there are certain “ingredients” of a #Legend painting. The crucial ones. I think about it like soup!

There’s got to be bones. (Well, almost always!) And onions and garlic. Bay leaves. Parsley – mostly stems. You get the drift…

This #Legend‘s list of gotta-haves included animal symbols, ancestral references, and stars.

Stars… no sweat! But the dove was lonely. And it’s basically all ancestors but I needed that to be visible to people other than me. So… search engine!

Animal symbols. French. Cathars.

Just between us, I never imagined a snake would show up, hiding in a word I did not know. A word – a perspective – she wants you to know that we’re claiming…

Ouroboros!

aka: Insights Into The Snake Eating Tail Symbol of Eternal Recurrence. And, no, we didn’t cover that in nursing school or seminary! Here’s a smattering of what I learned:

• transcends time and culture
• symbolizes eternity and the infinite
• circular form represents the unending nature of the cosmos and existence
• signifies the unity of all things… the interconnectedness of material & spiritual realms
• represents self-reflection and personal growth, emphasizing the process of individuation
• symbolizes purification, integration of opposites, spiritual enlightenment, wholeness, and totality

All of which felt totally legendary… and left me with a design question. What would I do with such a being? Yep… earring!!!

First, though, I needed an ear. And, you know, eyes and a mouth. The third eye wasn’t even a surprise. It insisted on being included from my third #Legend painting… an homage to Luther, our blind Newfoundland rescue dog who saw with legendary vision, and taught me many precious things.

So, here she is, rising like Good Trouble from Stardust Soup! And, there’s a book tucked under one elbow, though you’ll have to trust me on that. That copy of Brueggemann’s Finally Comes The Poet… we talked about on Sunday. The Rebel Poet! Me!!!

Not because it’s going to be easy. Or fun. But because we’ve got beloved Littles growing up in this world and – well – somebody’s got to!

Besides, the whole Finally Comes the Rebel Poet bit helps the big Red Book you can see make more sense in this moment!

For now, though, more paint. And, quite probably, a wee nap while the paint dries. Mattering matters. And, sometimes, it’s exhausting, for painters and paintings! Here’s the thing, though…

Madam Secretary was right!

Sometimes it’s the stories we want to hear the least that we need to hear the most! (S 3, ep 21)

ps… want to learn more, too??? Stay tuned! In fact, add your name to the annoying pop-up thingy and be registered for a chance to win a museum quality print of one of my paintings! Really!!!

pps… while you’re in the mood to be adventurous, CLICK HERE to check out my upcoming adventure known as #Filters! It’s leaping up and down in my Medicine Basket, so looking forward to meeting you. Life-changing is NOT an exaggeration! And you’ll wind up with an amazing painting that’s yours in all the biggest ways! (And, there’s a big discount for those who dive in soon!)

ppps… today I went to a really cool meeting!!! Planning for Red Madonna, 2025. I can’t say too much, yet, except that it’s going to be an awesome adventure with Mother Nature… and paint! Also – drum roll, please – poems!!! Stay tuned. And signing up for the mailing list (above) is a great way to be sure you don’t miss anything! (The painting below is a fav bit from one of this year’s Red Madonna paintings… and, yes, it’s the back of a canvas! There’s a whole lot of wisdom to be claimed!)