I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Enough Already

From Hadar's Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille, the Ten of Batons; from the Greek Alphabet Runes, "Alpha:"
       This is definitely not an RWS version of the Ten of Wands. In Hadar's card, there are two crowns on either side of the woven batons. The booklet speaks of a "crowning achievement," and Bursten's two labels are "creating" and "enough already." Have you ever finished a project (and been pleased with the result), but then couldn't leave it alone? I often find myself rewriting something I've written or trying to fix something that is already complete. That is my perfectionist side coming out to play, and the best thing I can do with that part of myself is put her on a bus headed out of town.
       Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, is often thought to represent a new beginning. It is also used to describe the most powerful or assertive presence in a group. Perhaps the creative achievements I've finished will give me a confident push to start a fresh project. And that would definitely distract "Miss Perfection" from trying to stir the batter of a cake that's already been baked.

7 comments:

  1. Miss Perfection that is a good name for that whining voice which is always nagging that I can do better. Every time when I've finished a painting, after the first enthusiasm, I start seeing the flaws...
    Maybe if we didn't try to create something beautiful just to create a
    a lot. she will eventually shut up!

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    1. Listening to that voice has caused me to mess up some things that were fine to begin with. Need to find some duct tape.... :)

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  2. I've struggled with my perfectionistic side all my life, so I fully understand. It's only in these last few years that I've learnt to know when to stop and call it quits. I've messed up a fair few art projects in pushing the envelop a bit too far. The disappointment of messing up a piece overrules the frustration of perfectionism.

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    1. Yep, that's one good way to get rid of that perfectionist tendency - ruin something that you put a lot of time and effort into because of it!

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    2. It's knowing when to quit. As an artist, I know I can certainly over work things, getting caught up in the final outcome, as opposed to the creative process, which is the important part. Being too precious about what I create is problematic. But learning to not be so precious, doesn't mean I don't value it.

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    3. "Being too precious" resonates with me. I had a nature journal I wrote and drew in daily for two years. I remember the first time I had to scratch through something I wrote - I had that "I need to start over" feeling. But that would have defeated the purpose of the journal! :)

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    4. Exactly!, :) One of my art teachers "drilled" the mantra, "stop being so precious" in my head. If I remember anything from those few years at TAFE, it's to stop being such a control freak over the final outcome and to trust in the creative process.

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