111 Day Artistic Spirit Pledge: Spiritual Growth Through Creative Expression
Day 15: Creativity Prompt result
On Friday (Day 12 of the pledge), I posted the following prompt –
Using the photo above as artistic inspiration, create a piece of art (writing, sculpting, painting, music composition, etc.) through a medium that you haven’t tried in a while. For instance, last week I made a necklace. This week, I’ll choose something different.
After a bit of artistic block, I realized that I’d spent most of my time doing genealogy research this weekend. Hence, the following piece:
They trail behind me – men, women, and children of various ages and time periods. Some lives were lived in squalor and some in comfort. My Irish immigrant ancestor converses with the coal miner from my other branch, two men who died much too young. My maternal Eastern European great-great grandma stands next to the French-Canadian counterpart on my paternal side. Women whose existence remains a mystery wrapped in strength.
Their faces carry the weight of experience, both joy and sorrow. Clothing tattered and stained contrasts the fashionable dresses in both color and quality. Despite their circumstances in life, the spirits walk in unison along the path I trod ahead.
I journey forward with the love, strength, and support of those who’ve long since passed. I will succeed in the pursuit of my dreams knowing so many of the ones before me never saw theirs come true.
Were you artistically inspired this weekend? Discuss in the comment section!
**I am an Artistic Spirit! For most of my life I’ve used the creative arts as a source of spiritual exploration and healing, even though I didn’t always do so consciously. Sometimes I was the instrument creating the art and other times I was on the receiving end. The connection between art and spirituality is so significant in my life that it’s infused into everything I do. I love music, theatre, television drama series (daytime and primetime), and creative writing and find fulfillment in artistic expression of various sorts: singing, acting, and jewelry design. Throughout the next 97 days, I’ll delve into how all of the above strengthens my spirit and has saved my life on more than one occasion.**
Kelly Deeny 