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

Monday, February 27, 2017

The Difference

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Three of Coins; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, The Danaides:
          A patron, or financial supporter, looks on as an artist paints a canvas. Here is a painter who has been recognized for his talent and passion in his work and has been rewarded by having a backer. Ask anyone who does creative work of any kind how hard it is to find such support, and you'll likely hear a groan. Even if what you do is incredibly good, it is hard to even get noticed these days. Being turned down over and over can begin to feel like the daughters of Danaus (The Danaides) who were punished for killing their husbands-to-be by spending eternity trying to fill a cauldron with an opening in the bottom. But one of the fifty daughters defied her father's order to murder and allowed her suitor to live. Because she did her own thinking, she was not punished. And perhaps that is the message from this one woman: Don't be afraid to be an original who does things differently.
An original idea. That can't be too hard. The library must be full of them.
― Stephen Fry
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10 comments:

  1. EllenFebruary 27, 2017 at 9:08 AM

    Ah, being original; the dream of every artist. I will happy enough if I can be a skilled copycat :D

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 27, 2017 at 9:22 AM

      I don't think there is anything wrong with being a copycat - that is how we learn and develop skill! :)

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  2. Sharyn Mallow WoerzFebruary 27, 2017 at 9:40 AM

    Stephen King shopped Christine around to 17 different publishers...I'll bet 16 of them are still eating crow.

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  3. Carolyn TindorFebruary 27, 2017 at 10:13 AM

    He really looks at us as if asking "what business is it of yours, what I paint?" His style is unique to himself.

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 27, 2017 at 10:24 AM

      Every creative person has their group of haters, unfortunately.

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  4. TriviumFebruary 27, 2017 at 11:18 AM

    Perhaps the artist wishes his backer should back off and trust him get on with creating which is hard to do under micromanagement.

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 27, 2017 at 12:09 PM

      He does seem to be invading his personal space which would creep me out!

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  5. Inner WhispersFebruary 28, 2017 at 3:21 PM

    Lol to the Steven Fry quote!

    As for art, even with a backer you must still create and create - like the academics who must constantly publish. Perhaps there is something there, too, about doing things for joy rather than out of duty...

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 28, 2017 at 3:32 PM

      It made me laugh when I read it. Interesting that you mention joy rather than duty; I think without that option, creativity can dry up rather quickly.

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