I am reading Karen Armstrong’s Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life and found this wonderful quote by Albert Einstein:
“To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself to us as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms — this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of all true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong to the ranks of the devoutly religious men.”
This past Thursday, we faced the death of our very much beloved, 35+-year-old horse, Sunny. He defined what it means to be a noble creature, whether he was standing his nightly guard outside his goat friends’ stall, allowing my sons to safely learn horsemanship, or moving his body gently to not hurt us when we tried to help him up over his last few days.
Sunny, you will be greatly missed.
Sunny, in one of his favorite spots: in front of his food bowl.
I’m quite late in posting about this interview. It was originally published on Maisonneuve‘s blog on October 26, 2010. Nevertheless, Sonnet L’Abbé does an excellent job of defining the purpose and the qualities of a good book review.
As someone who currently spends a significant amount of my writing life crafting reviews, L’Abbé ‘s words provide an excellent standard by which to measure my work.
I have have been hunting about for poetry prompts to keep me writing without the expense of a workshop. Today, a friend pointed me to the Poets & Writers’ The Time is Now newsletter. Apparently, the magazine issues a weekly email with a poetry prompt. (They do the same for fiction, as well.)
What a great idea! And just in time!
A friend brought the most interesting article entitled, The Special Challenges of Highly Intelligent and Talented Women who are Moms, to my attention. I have no desire to tout my own brilliance. I’m the first person to be little impressed by myself. However, when I read this article, I suddenly understood my lifestyle choices so much better.
For years now, people have asked how, or more to the point, why I choose to homeschool, work, and still attempt to have a creative life of my own. I’ve never really known a good answer. I like the intellectual challenge of homeschooling my children. Working isn’t a choice, but I could choose to spend my little bits of free time relaxing. Instead, I choose to read voraciously, write critically and creatively, knit, paint, etc. I actively seek out deadlines and commitments that involve those interests because deadlines ensure that I make time for those pursuits.
All I’ve ever been able to say in response to peoples’ queries is that I’m not happy unless I have that sort of stimulation in my life.
Now, thanks to Belinda Seiger, I finally understand that my impulses.
I’m afraid I don’t have much to report on the creativity front today. I’ve done no knitting or writing, although I am reading at a furious rate for the Reviews. When possible, I am reading Steve Kowit’s In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet’s Portable Workshop as I caste about for a poetry prompt.
The highlight of my day was talking with Red Cheever for a couple of hours this afternoon. For twelve years, he has been an amazing spiritual adviser, who helps me see my life in a larger context. He suggested I read Andrew Harvey’s The Direct Path and that we read Karen Armstrong’s The Case for God together. I’m excited by both texts. I’m also toying with the idea of returning to my long-ago habit of attending the quieter weekday Masses. I find the quiet restorative.
Although you will not find direct references to God in my creative outlets, I find my creativity flows when I feel centered and connected to something greater than myself. So, I’m looking forward to that flow.
Now that I have my nifty new Nikon and Picasa, I’m starting to monkey with my photographs. Tonight’s experiment is with saturation. I like the effect! 
My first attempt at making more room for creativity in my life is quite literal. Over Christmas break, I’ve been tinkering with the design of my office to make it more comfortable for my creative pursuits.
My desk space
My new reading and knitting chair
I’m pleased with the changes. Now, I’ve just got to keep the ball rolling and be creative!
My own life provides little silence without conscious effort. I am a homeschooling mother of three boys. That alone provides a constant, often less-than-harmonious soundtrack. And Easton’s right. I tend to fill those rare silences with sound: television in the background, my ipod at the gym, the radio in the car or the shower, and internet radio on my laptop. And I don’t find silence comfortable at first. However, my best insights occur in the quiet moments when I can finally and literally hear myself think.
The next time I am feeling a creative dry spell, I think I will turn the volume off.