What I love about blogging is that I get to see how easily I can get distracted and move onto other things while the draft of a new entry remains a draft for longer than intended.
“Dreams, Sacred Gifts, and Artists as Mystics,” is the title I gave to a new project that was just completed. I got to test some of my theories in hearing artists talk about their art, their sources of inspiration, and their desire to push toward transformation of themselves, their art, and the transformation of the world.
The inspiration for the project came from a dream, but the idea hit me at a time I was busily scrubbing away at the tile in the bathroom thinking about my next move. It was so clear–like a dream that came and said, “Do this. . .” and swiftly flew away. The difference to this shiny new idea is that this time I paid attention and didn’t judge it. I immediately stopped what I was doing, picked up the telephone to make contact with a friend who has access to the services at the Marin Community Media Center in San Rafael, CA. I submitted the proposal as requested, and two month later, I, as moderator, and a group of artists, Gary Politzer, fine art and digital artist; Diana Marto, fine art paper maker and performance artist; and MamaCoAtl, curandera, lyricist and singer, produced a video for public television to put my concepts to the test. It was thrilling–terrifying–but thrilling!
I froze, and we’ll have to do a voice over to cover up my shaky and faulty beginning, but so what! It got done and something good is coming out of it. Grand ideas don’t come to fruition unless we walk through the fire and spring them to life. So many times, I’ve had great ideas, instantly discounted them as absurd, and promptly laid them to rest before their glorious moment.
As the Guatemalan Day Keepers say, “The dream will struggle against the dreamer to be forgotten.” We must learn the art of stalking dreams and capturing them. Manifesting them must come from force of habit; otherwise, they become like King Tut’s jewels hidden within the dark mysterious chambers of Giza.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter Seven: Sacred Gifts of Corn Woman Sings which suggests you court your dreams and the gifts they bear:
“The topic of sacred gifts, most often merely called power, is vast and multileveled. As mentioned in the previous chapter, destiny calls, leaves directves and brings with it the tools to follow through. For us as dreamers, taking action is as important as receiving destiny’s request. . . The dreamer’s responsibility is to honor the gifts and follow the dictates of destiny according to the power that the gifts impart to you. Gifts of healing, seeing the future and the past, anticipating death, creative endeavors, and the like–carry with them responsibility to the spirit realm. These gifts are for the perpetuation and empowerment of the community. Their unfolding happens while we participate in listening and doing our part in making our mind, body and spirit ready for them. . .”
Dream:
“A group of students are filming their instructor’s lecture in the Financial District in San Francisco where I am having lunch on a low stone wall. The professor, a stocky Mexican man with black wavy hair, announces in his tutorial voice, ‘You must sing your song. When you have a song, you must sing it out joyously.’ That’s his lecture. With his talk concluded, he breaks into song–beautiful waves of energy flow from his lips like the music of silver bells. A Luscious melody resounds in my being, and the world stops to listen reverently. ‘Just sing your song. Everyone has a song to sing. Belt it out!’ He laughs sweetly.”
According to the Native Sages and Dreamers, the seat of reality lies within our dreams. There is a greater over-arching purpose that reveals itself to us over the course of our lives. Our job is to understand what that purpose is, and follow through on the smaller assignments that come to us as day dreams or flights of fancy. Stick to what makes your heart sing. Life just makes more sense that way.
Sing your song.
EBD
