111 Day Artistic Spirit Pledge: Spiritual Growth Through Creative Expression
Day 16: Spreading My Wings
Excitement courses through every nerve
Swirling like butterflies in the abdomen
The music swells, the crowd applauds
Performers exit stage left
Your breath is shallow
Your lips parched
Your hands shake
And your legs are like pudding
You face the dark house
A single spotlight the only comfort
You stare ahead towards the clock on the wall
And walk closer to the microphone downstage center
The butterflies soar with the first note
Your voice clear and echoing throughout
The body hums and senses heighten
As the energy fills your being
Exhilaration fades to doubt
When the music ceases
The unknown and faceless crowd sits still and quiet
Silence exists but briefly once you’ve taken your bow.
**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 96 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 