Yet, through all that whirling creative stress; it’s the space within that transforms the lump of clay into a beautiful vessel.
Many years ago, while juggling the new-mom-transitioning-out-of-
My sweet toddler Matt and I woke up early each morning. Encircled by the Smokey Mountains, we hiked down into the valley.
Sleepy-eyed potters, weavers, glassblowers, and photographers entered the little log cabin studio (mostly in their PJs) for an hour of embodied movement practice.
You see, back in the early days of Penland, the founder’s wife discovered embodiment. Practices like Ideokenesis and the Alexander Technique were just being born, and hip New York artists were exploring them. Many discovered their artwork being set free by the awakening body wisdom.
After a morning of cellular consciousness movement practices, the artists were inspired to tackle their chosen medium in fresh new ways.
Later in the day, Matty and I visited the studios. It was pure magic. Glass blowers, swirl the hot glass into vessels. Weavers, spider-like create colorful fabrics. Potters, mold lumps of clay into objects. Photographers, peacefully observe life.
Studio by studio we entered, interacting with the makers as they worked. Reminding their cells to align with my hands. Gently inviting heart and mind coherence, relaxed attention, and alert stillness with my presence. All this informed the creative process to awaken.
The glass blowers were Matty’s favorite. The fiery alchemy made his 2-year-old heart jump for joy!
I particularly enjoyed the potters. The benefit of my work was tangible. As the potter’s body settled and centered, so did the clay. As the cells came into coherent alignment, so did the walls of the pot rise clear and strong.
I felt like the fairy godmother —floating from studio to studio, spreading blessings of centeredness, clarity, and inspiration.
Artists are fortunate— the way you are is made visible in the work you create.
When you are distracted, out of sorts, full of anxiety or fear —your pot wobbles, your weaving is wonky and your glass is off kilter.
Your inner state is the way you express your work in the world. That’s true for all of us, no matter what the work is.
From the way you drive a car, make dinner, build a house, or run a large corporation — it is all a reflection of your inner state of being.
We haven’t been back to Penland in 30 years. Yet, I still feel a bit like a fairy godmother. I continue to spread coherent alignment and inspired direction to many creative people all over the globe.
On-line classes are an amazing way to touch (virtually) people far away.
Intimate retreats (in great locations), are wonderful ways to enjoy heart/mind coherence, relaxed presence, alive stillness — with touch, movement and voice, in the studio and the landscape.
It’s an illustration of my hands-on work and a taste of embodiment practice.