Finding Water - Optimism

A doodle in Painter

---

Today is the start of working with this book, Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance by Julia Cameron. Alongside other bloggers at the Finding Water blog.

The theme for the first week is Optimism. Its always good to have a bit of a boost!

So as a measure of where I am now I tried a few tests... and I got really mixed results! From somewhat pessimistic on one test to total and complete optimist on another. I don't think I'm going to pay any attention to such tests - life is too much fun without fretting over whether I rate as an optimist or not!! You see I know, in my heart of hearts that I am, except when I'm not, its that simple.

I think I may almost be SoulCollage®d out. I've got over 200 cards now - though not all are backed - they'll be a bit heavy to cart around if I back all of them on mount board...

Every morning I select a card of the day and somedays I also do a reading with them. One particular sort of reading I've started to do has this general pattern:


You shuffle and cut and come up with the first card - put that face up in position one. Then with it in mind, shuffle and cut again putting out the other five cards face down until you've got them all.

And here is a made-up example using images that I've already published:


1. Past - Shadow: UnNamed One

In shadow, I am one who has no idea where I'm going, is unable to see what I'll become. This is okay and I have no name.

2. Physical - Shadow: Wren

In shadow, I am one who has made this reading up but will find that there is a message in it for me anyway. (Wren's are cunning creatures according to celtic lore).

3. Other - Shadow - Death

In shadow, I am one who will ensure that all that needs to end will end, so you may as well surrender to the change - it will be easier in the end.

4. Other - Light - My father

I am one who reminds you that you felt my passing. You and your siblings were not present in the same room but you all felt it and knew (and so did the dog).

5. Physical - Light - HK inspired distance healer

I am one who sends distance healing using very focused energies. I am one who is called to do this now and will do more when asked.

6. Present - Light - Can't see the wood for the leaves

I am one who sees a tree by examining it in detail and getting to know every leaf. Once I know a tree this well I do not need to re-examine it the same way again, I may return to it or I may not - that depends on what new ways I have of examining it. Some people say its better to specialise and stick to one thing, especially when you've got to know it so well; I say I know its part of my way to plunge in, do all I can and then move on. Nothing is wasted.

Today a book I'd ordered recently turned up. Barbara Sher calls such non-specialists scanners, I've always considered myself a Renaissance Woman - but if I wasn't already confident in being someone who must wear many hats to be happy then I might have appreciated the label of Scanner.

The subtitle to Finding Water is "The art of perseverance" - I hope I'm not going to find too much of a contradiction with my natural need to change hats.

How many hats do you have?

How many do you wear at once?