who are you?
I am reading Deepak Chopra’s book Power, Freedom and Grace. I recommend it and want to offer a quote about joy in connection to last month’s inquiry “what color is your joy?”
“Of course there’s always a reason to be happy. Somebody says, “I love you,” and that makes you feel happy. You win the lottery and make a million dollars; that makes you feel happy. This kind of happiness is an expression of object-referral: you’re happy because of this; you’re happy because if that. But inner joy is independent of the situation, circumstances, people, or things. When you experience inner joy, you are happy for no reason. Just the mere fact of being alive to gaze at the stars, to experience the beauty of this world, to be experientially alive in the miracle of life itself is your happiness.” p. 89
So this month’s inquiry is a question that has been offered to me from several places and I offer it here to you. This month’s inquiry is “who are you?”
In Power, Freedom and Grace, the second chapter is “who are you?”. I’ll offer the three key points summarized at the end of the chapter for you to hold as you explore this inquiry this month.
- You are a field of awareness; your real essence is pure consciousness, or spirit, which becomes both the mind and body
- The intellect mistakes the image of reality for reality itself, and this image overshadows the real you.
- When you identify with your real essence, you escape the prison of the intellect, and enter the world of the infinite, unbounded, and free. p. 23
Art-Making Process
As a process to work with, I would recommend journaling with this question. Repeatedly asking yourself “who am I?” and then writing free flow whatever comes without editing anything. Keep asking the question for 10-15 minutes or longer if it feels right for you. It’s OK to hit a “empty” place where there are no thoughts or words. Take a breath into your belly and continue. And continuing may look like staying in this quiet, empty, still place of presence for a few minutes.
Read over what you wrote. No need to edit any of it. Highlight anything that stands out for you and from the text gather a phrase to take to your art-making process. Work with the phrase in your art-making and see what more is offered through your images. Have fun with it.
My Art Work as Inspiration for Your Art Work
I share my artwork here to inspire you to create your artwork. It is through your art-making that you will discover more about who you are.
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| 020510.jpeg magazine images on paper, 2010, 12″ x 12″ |
020310.jpeg magazine images on paper, 2010, 12″ x 12″ |
012710.jpeg magazine images on paper, 2010, 12″ x 12″ |
You can click on an image to see a larger version within the online gallery.
I always welcome a connection with you. If you would like to share about the inquiry, art-making or other things happening in life, please feel free to contact me.
Live in the remembrance that in all of time, there will only be one you. Your greatest gift to yourself and the world is the expression of your authentic self.
-Ryl
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Please share it with them. Thanks