Brave Art

I follow Jennifer Louden’s blog and subscribed to recieve seven questions for pondering over the festive break.  The last one was today (all seven can be found on the Week of Inward Looking facebook page).  Of course, it made me think . . . and what I thought about was the fact that I haven’t been brave enough about my art!  Not the art I spoke about in a previous post, you know, my painting and drawing – but the art of dreamwork.  Specifically I thought about running some more classes and introductory workshops for the coming year and paying more attention to my blogging.  I’ve been a bit of a cowardy custard really and my dream from last night confirmed it. 

I dreamed about my Jack Russell, Wilma, who often turns up in my dreams as representative of my creative energy.  In my dream I let her out of the front door and closed it behind her.  Almost immediately I felt worried, this was only the second or third time she had been allowed out on her own . . . she’d been okay before, but now I was terrified for her safety.  I looked out of the front door and called her and called her, she didn’t return.  Outside my front door was a busy road and hoardes of people, buses, lorries and cars thundering past and Wilma isn’t street smart.  I called and called and looked around frantically, finally I went back to the house, still calling her.  To my relief she came running down the stairs from the bedrooms which were reached by a staircase outside the house.  I realised that she had done her favourite thing, taken the opportunity to go up and lie on my bed for a snooze!!

I woke from this dream, really glad that Wilma was OK and that waking life Wilma was asleep in her basket downstairs.  When I worked the dream I began to suspect that it is a comment on how my creativity has been snoozing away, while I have been frantically running around looking outside for it (instead of looking inwads) and I haven’t been taking it out into the world in a responsible way.  I think there is more in this dream for me (the meaning of dreams is never one-dimensional) but so far it’s a great reminder that practising the art of dreamwork needs some attention and courage to take it out in the world!

So this week I will be planning some introductory workshops and dream group dates . . .  watch this space!

Wishing everyone a brave art dream to inspire you for 2012!

Related posts:

1. Gaunts Summer Gathering