A Balanced Form of Self-Love

The Eloquence of Dreaming - Mixed Media - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Producing art gives us power. I see it as a power over ourselves, over our energy, perception, motivational systems. And perhaps most important, I view it as a supplanting of our need to achieve a social equilibrium (which in my mind is never really possible anyway), by a need to achieve harmony with ourselves in relation to the universe. 
The truth wear six billion faces, and each has different life circumstances, a different life script, if you will, and a different mode of being. For me, doing art takes me to a place from which I can accept all scripts and embrace the subjective and relative nature of truth. Because my own script is to me so engaging, at times enthralling, and always varied and full of mystery, it teaches me both tolerance and hope. It gives me confidence in the infinite potential of the universe, for hope, harmony, and healing. In short, it gives me joy. 
 I've heard it said that artists, in doing art, are participating in a God-like Creation process, and indeed it is true. While we are by no means transmuted into gods by the creative process, we at least become His humble hand-maidens. We see glimpses of beauty and wonder in places where other people may fail to look, unearthing it at every turn. We see new relationships, both visual and metaphoric, sociological and scientific. And this is our reward for moving away from the more petty power struggles that so often escalate into real and dangerous conflicts around the globe. 
I've heard it said, also, that we artists make art in order to find love and to be loved. I think the apex of this is that in the tender connections we make to the universe, we find some degree of self-love. I think this is a balanced form of self-love that perceives the relative and tenuous nature of things, including the subjective nature of our own lives. Therefore, in my opinion, it is a mature self-love, not to be confused with narcissism.

Note: You can click on each photo to see a larger version. All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites listed in my sidebar if you would like to see my paintings and more of my photography and digital art, or make a purchase.

Basking in the Light of Spring

First Crocuses on the Sunny Side of the Building
Image c Lynda Lehmann

Ever notice how sunlight seems to bring everything alive? In darkness, we see nothing. It's almost as if reality vanishes and our imaginations replace the world of every day. During night-time, we become more subjective. Our anxieties may come out to play havoc with our moods. Dreams flourish, along with the memories, wishes, perceptions, and fears that are embedded in them.

Thank goodness for the light, that makes all things real. The light of day is so reassuring. Perhaps it's because it's ingrained in us that we need the sun to live on this planet. Not only for warmth and energy, but for the viability of the food chain.

I believe we can also create our own light. It's not as potent as the light of the sun, nor as far-reaching. But our creativity can light the world, for ourselves and others.

When is the last time you made a point of encouraging someone's creativity? Do you have a partner, friend, student, or neighbor whom you have spurred on to the personal power that's part of inner-directedness and self-actualization? What is life, but the endless and ongoing challenge to master ourselves and shine our light into the darkness?

Many of us will be celebrating one holiday or another in the coming week. Some of us may just be celebrating the advent of spring. Whatever our culture, position, belief or creed, wherever we are:

May each of us live this week with
peace in our heart,
peace in our mind,
peace in our spirit.

The responsibiltiy to transform the world
begins with us.

Wishing you joy and light!

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Passages: The Road to Self-Knowledge

Masks

We hide behind our masks: our jobs, affiliations, and credentials. Each of us strives to live a good life. But we get caught up in the pursuit of creature comforts, entertainment, and ego-driven goals. These strivings obscure self-knowledge.

Only mindfulness is the path to the heart of your life.

Passages

The Yellow Door

The light is within you.

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Art and Power

Ancient History - Photo c Lynda Lehmann

Like most people, I'm fascinated by questions about the nature of life and our place in the cosmos. As a human being, I feel all the ageless and timeless doubts of the human condition. But there's one thing I know for certain: doing art lifts me above doubt and despair and gives me joy. Being involved in creative process has helped me to say "yes" to life. In my own creativity and in other's, as well, I see glimpses of something wonderful. It's what I like to think of as "the infinite potential of the universe." It manifests in all of us, especially when we create.

For me, the activity of creating art is an affirmation of life. Experiencing "the grand mystery" gives us a feeling of joy, based on the miracle of form and the complex web of life on our planet.

Night Rhythms - Photo c Lynda Lehmann

Here's a short article I wrote for my blog on Absolute Arts, that was later published at Creativity Portal and in a catalog for a large artist's exhibition in India. It addresses the idea of how art gives us power over ourselves.

ART and POWER

I think most of us would agree that producing art gives us power. I see it as a power over ourselves, as opposed to power over what is outside of ourselves. It is a personal power over our own energy, perception, and motivational systems. And perhaps more important, the making of art helps us transcend the need to achieve a social equilibrium (which in my opinion, is rarely possible anyway). Instead, we are involved in a process by which we may achieve a degree of harmony within ourselves, in relation to the universe. In the dynamic state of being committed to a creative process, we do not need to steal anyone's energy, or let them steal energy from us.

The truth wears six billion faces, each with different life circumstances, a different life script, and a different mode of emotional being. For me, doing art takes me to a place from which I can accept all scripts and embrace the subjective and relative nature of truth. (This is not to imply that morality is relative, however, because murder and extortion are always wrong, no matter whose script dictates it.)

Because my own script, when involved in creative process, is so engaging to me, always varied and full of mystery, it teaches me both tolerance and hope. The bounty of creative options available to me, gives me confidence in the infinite potential of the universe, for hope, harmony, and healing. In short, it gives me joy.

I have heard it said that artists, in doing art, are participating in a God-like creation process, and indeed it is true. While we are by no means transmuted into gods by making art, we at least become his humble hand-maidens. We see glimpses of beauty and wonder in places where other people may fail to look, unearthing it at every turn. We see new relationships, both visual and metaphoric, sociological and scientific. It becomes easier for us to step back or undercut the tendency to power struggles, that so often consumes people. (The last thing we need in this weary world is more conflict, personal or generalized, to spew hatred around the globe!)

I have heard it said, also, that we artists make art in order to find love and to be loved. I think the apex of this is that in the tender connections we make to the universe, we find some degree of self-love. I think this is a balanced form of self-love that perceives the relative and tenuous nature of things, including the subjective nature of our own lives. Therefore, in my opinion, it is a mature self-love, not to be confused with narcissism.

All text © 2006 Lynda Lehmann

NOTE: This is a repeat of my April 26, 2007 post, which was the first post I ever made! Since I had one comment (and probably one reader) for that first post, I thought I would share it again! "Art and Power" was originally an article I wrote for Creativity Portal a few months earlier. It was also published in India.

Through a Forest, Darkly

Through a Forest, Darkly

Ground thunders

while suspicions steal

past towering giants

whose leaves hiss danger.

Boughs asunder with weight of dread,

sense your sly, subjective gloom.

A haunted conscience

murmurs malaise:

the soul's twilight

in the light of the moon.

Text and Image c 2008 Lynda Lehmann

This image and poem are just a little bit of mischief or shall we say, antic play. I often wonder how much of the anxiety that we are so deft in projecting outward, is confronted by us in the light of day. We are more apt to flop ourselves down on a couch in front of the ever-friendly and reassuring, ubiquitous TV, the world-wide-web of our collective entertainment strivings, than sit down to ponder the state of our personal affairs. This causes us to carry our anxieties into the the darkness and slumber of night, where they will invariably GROW! Wha'd'ya think?

Inner Glow

I like to find the mystery in everyday things, like the architecture of flowers. This blossom seems to glow from within. C.S. Lewis, in his writings, talked about the experience of the "numinous," those lucid, peak moments when we see something that fills us with a sense of wonder and awe that can leave us speechless. Often, all we can manage to mutter at these times is "Wow...," because we have a sense that words are inadequate to describe what we are seeing or even how we feel about it.

Since the universal perception and pursuit of beauty cannot be explained by our biological needs like the activities of grooming, food-getting, staking territory, or procreating can, perhaps there is some other reason for it. I can't understand why there should be so much indescribable beauty in the world, and in the oddest places or most unexpected moments, if it is not intended by a higher power to lead us towards transcendence.

Journey

I took this photograph, which I named "Journey," in upstate New York, near Saugerties. I love how the tall trees make the figure look so tiny. They are overwhelming yet they seem to mark a path, or give guidance. We're all wanderers in a way. The artist in particular, has the courage to make an uncertain but very special journey. I hope these quotes will inspire you.

"Art is creative for the sake of realization, not for amusement: for transfiguration, not for the sake of play. It is the quest of our self that drives us along the eternal and never-ending journey we must all make." - Max Beckmann


"Painting is a journey. It is the way I mark my path through life." - Virginia Cobb

"A philosophy of life: I'm an adventurer, looking for treasure.” - Paulo Coelho


"If the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's." - Joseph Campbell


"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt