Inspiration

Bat Visit

/ still a dreamer

Last night, I had a most unexpected visitor. While watching TV upstairs, curled up with Claude and Mewsette, the two cats suddenly sat up and stared wide-eyed at the nearest window. Within seconds I knew why. Something had entered the room. While it first seemed like a medium sized bird, I knew better, and realized I now had a Big Brown Bat flying around the room.

Doing my best not to panic and trying to figure out how to help him with none of us getting hurt, I efficiently herded the cats out of the room and closed the door, turned off the ceiling fan, and opened another window and screen, thus allowing a pretty good exit space. I left the room. Called my wildlife rehabilitator friend for any more tips, accordingly blocked the bottom of the door with a blanket. I wasn’t prepared to risk the possible bite of this little guy who might soon be panicking himself and run into me by mistake. 

I called the State Police hoping for emergency animal control assistance, but instead 2 Troopers came, one experienced in handling bats with no injury to the bat – just what I wanted. Happily, my bat-escape-plan seemed to work and he had exited. So did the two nice Troopers. I was just jangled. Figured out how the bat had gotten in and adjusted that. Had a fitful night’s sleep.

I woke up in the morning, still jangled, then realized – I knew why the bat had flown into my life! I got my book by Ted Andrews, Animal Speak, and looked up Bat as a totem animal. Again. This is the third home where I have had unusual experiences with bats. And for good reason – they are strong indicators of transition and initiation in one’s life, and that sums up mine, as I struggle to give up old, useless, fearful patterns in moving forward to my dreams.

The bat reflects “the breaking down of the former self through intense tests. It is a facing of your greatest fears – that it is time to die to some aspect of your life that is no longer suitable for you ….If a bat has flown into your life, then it is the time to face your fears and prepare for change. You are being challenged to let go of the old and create the new.

“Changes and transformations are blessings. They are not triggered from without but from within; and the world is our mirror …this means opening to the power within which will override all our fears.”

This unexpected visitor was alone; there are no other bats living outside near or around that window, I checked, and on a logical level, there is no reason why a bat would’ve come inside the house at 9 p.m. But I have found that different animal species may appear to us, seemingly out of context, as indicators of circumstances in our lives.

As one who has always had a strong connection with animals, I believe if we are open to them and what they have to share, we can learn amazing lessons. What had been an unsettling experience, not only ended well for all, but put a big smile on my face.

A bat quite literally flew into my life and reminded me that I could give up the old junk that holds me back, and open further to my own power and my dreams. Change is good.

Who Weaves Half A Spider Web?

/ still a dreamer

 

The Amazing Half-Woven Web

Amazing Half-Woven Spider Web

It must be a pretty talented spider, indeed, who can weave only half a web, or even weave a full one in such a manner, that overnight, precisely one half of it vanishes. Click on the photo to enlarge it – it really is only half a spider web!

 

Or is it? I had to run and get the camera to catch this lovely trompe-l’oeil. As I went out early to sit on the back porch and journal while it was still cool, I looked up and noticed this “half-web.” I couldn’t see its creator, but based on the size of her web, I’d say she’s a pretty big girl as well as an orb-weaving spider. I was fascinated by how the morning sunlight captured the spider web, and how part of the porch roof shadowed the other half, giving the half-web effect.

I am reminded of how many small wonders are always there for us to find, but may only be noticed when we’re not rushing about at 100 mph. Okay – guilty. Some of the time, anyway. So I thank the spider for reminding me to slow down, to look up, look around and see the many small gifts that surround me.  Ahhhhh – that feels better!

Make Me Smile, Make Me Cry

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

How often is it that you watch something on the web and you are moved to tears while feeling an inner kind of joy? Not that often in my book, but every now and then – something really hits the mark. This one did it for me.

Go take a look at Where the Hell Is Matt? and click on Dancing 2008. And then watch his Dancing Outtakes, and whatever else strikes your fancy. This guy is joining the world through dancing – he’s not going to win any dance awards – that won’t be why you check it out. You’ll be going to watch a young guy wearing a joyous smile with an energy and a love for peoples of the world who wants to share it, AND get people dancing with him. It just blows me away, and so far, everyone I’ve sent it to.

Oporto-PortugalIn his About Matt section, (his FAQ’s are pretty funny, BTW), one of the things mentioned is that Matt believes that Americans should travel abroad more. That really struck a chord with me, and I truly agree. I find that Americans as a nation are rather insular, but to travel outside of the U.S. borders is truly eye opening. The first time I left this country was to visit my cousin Norman in Portugal – I was 23 years old and had never been on a plane, leave alone in a country where I couldn’t understand one word anyone said.

Perhaps this visit should be for another posting, but let me say that the vast difference in cultures, landscapes, language, food, architecture, etc. gave me memories I’ll never forget. And yet, there was nary a soul who didn’t go out of his or her way to be kind to me, a total stranger. I think many people’s world views could change just in knowing that, despite the differences between us, there are amazing common bonds. Matt is sharing one – dancing. It really has touched me. Go look – Matt is one cool guy.

p.s. I apologize that this photo is not mine – mine are in slide format and I’ve never taken the time to learn how the thing-y that came with my scanner converts them to images I can use – but this one, taken in Oporto, (where I also visited with my cousin), is a decent stand-in for the loveliness and simplicity found in the older areas of Portugal.

Just Do It! (for you creatives out there)

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

As creatives, we often find ourselves stuck – like there’s something in front of us that we know we can only trip over. We don’t want to risk hurting ourselves so we don’t go forward. While staying in place is the seemingly safer path, in the long run it is far more painful. When we don’t try, we don’t grow. Not pushing through ultimately makes us frustrated, depressed, anxious – all the emotions that we don’t want to feel. Ironically, these are good things in the sense that they are signposts showing us the way …when we look at our writing pads, computers, sketchbooks, cameras, canvases, etc and feel those emotions, we see right where our issues are. Thank them and let them go.

As both an artist and a writer, I need to make time for my craft one way or another every day. Because I journal every morning, my writing skills are always kept well-oiled and in gear. While I do need to get new things down, edit and refine, it is much less effort because the fluidity is there. Or I blog, all so I can focus on my real craft, writing for children.

As for my drawing, that takes more effort. Many years ago, when I was in Pratt, our instructors had specific requirements of us students. From when we first took 2-D (drawing) in freshman year, we were required to have our sketchbook with us 24/7. And so we did. When I began to become more involved with photography in my junior year, we were required to carry our camera with us 24/7. Both these exercises had the same result – if you had it with you, you used it.

We began to draw and photograph each other, the cat, the campus, the subway – didn’t matter – it became a routine because that sketchbook or camera was attached at the hip. Admittedly, one felt like a fool after awhile having it there and ignoring it even when going through a dry patch. The bottom line is, make it easy for yourself, be kind, and without criticism, just do it.

All the moaning and excuses in the world won’t get any project advanced, but tinkering about with our craft will. What I’ve found is that even while we’re busily avoiding exactly what it is we truly need to get done, we can trick ourselves by doing something else. For example, I have a heap of work I want to do to strengthen my portfolio. It’s a big task and a lot to do. I really am psyched. But the enormity of it sets me back a bit. Should I do nothing? No – I decided to just draw other things – a little oil in the gears, and then I’m going.

This tree frog I drew has nothing to do with portfolio requirements. It had everything to do with actively kicking aside whatever might be there to trip me. So for all of us – take the back door approach if you will – draw, write, paint, doodle something … anything … just do it!