Here it is the end of summer. Labor Day here in the United States. As I reflect back over the last 3 months I can say I spent a lot of time in both avoidance and a Void Dance. I believe it is ok to spend time in either, the important thing is to know which place you are in.
Avoidance: The act of avoiding something.
A Void Dance: Time spent in the quiet space between the “stuff” of life.
I have recently decided to relocate my business and my art studio after many years in the same location. It means sorting, clearing, organizing and packing the “stuff” of my life. I have spent much of the time between other work obligations this summer doing just that. Sorting. Cleaning. Organizing. Packing. At times I’ve been doing it to avoid doing other things I’d rather not be doing and sometimes I am doing other things just to avoid doing the difficult work of deciding what to “do” with the stuff. But either way, it’s been a therapeutic process.
As an artist you learn to appreciate the voids or negative space. It’s not always the matter that matters. (a good thing to remind myself of, as I purge and de-clutter)
The voids are where the fertile earth feeds the roots. The voids are where the flames lick and spit between the burning logs. The voids are where the oxygen is. The voids are what make the beauty of the antique lace. The voids are what lets the soft breeze come through the screen door. The voids are the blue sky between the clouds. The voids are where the damp sand squeezes up between your toes on the beach. The voids are where you run your fingers through soft hair. The voids are where the sun peaks through the branches of the tree canopy. And the voids are where and when we dance.
I hope as you enjoy your last days of this summer you find time to Dance in the Void. It is this space and time between the stuff of life that is important. It is different than avoidance. It is this fertile space that feeds our creativity and our souls. It feeds what matters.
A STITCH IN TIME SAVES 