The Collective: Laura's Personal Symbols
Hellebore.flower
Energy
Dear Tina,
My latest piece for the Collective poured out of me, yet somehow I needed a little time to process what I wanted to say about it. My thoughts feel rich, deep and expansive right now so I hope what I'm writing makes sense.
I'm very interested in the energy and consciousness you mentioned in your last letter. In fact it's been one of the main focuses of my inquiry since we were at Goddard together. Back then I was mostly interested in spirituality as it related to consciousness and now I'm curious where science, spirituality and intuition intersect.
I've circled back to Eckhart Tolle's books, A New Earth and The Power of Now where I first understood my own consciousness. I've expanded my learning to the teachings of Jess Lively, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Bruce Lipton and Joe Dispenza to name a few.
All of these thought leaders talk about quieting one's mind as a way to connect with our "true essence" or spirit. It made me think about when we read Jon Kabit Zinn's book about Mindfulness Meditation for our book club a few years back.
hellebore.flowers.watercolor.palette.paintbrush
Consciousness
In your last letter you talked about how "behind the different forms of energy there is one unchanging consciousness or universal energy that we can tune into as humans if we choose to". I wonder how many people know to do this.
hellebore.flowers.watercolor.palette.paintbrush
I feel this energy most often when I'm painting, or anytime I'm creating, as well as while I'm in nature. This is probably why I love gardening so much. It's so peaceful being outside, listening to the birds, seeing the different stages of things blooming and appreciating all the unique creations on this beautiful earth.
I've become curious about the energy and consciousness of plants. I feel something when I'm around them and I want to know why. Is it the vibration of color they emit, or their individual consciousness that I'm drawn to? (Does this sound too "woo woo"?) At any rate, energy, vibration and color are areas I want to explore more with my work.
laura gaffke, watercolor
Personal Symbols
Playing off all the circles and the color in these little hellebore flowers I made my own little "mandala." I put a flower in the center as my personal symbol of the energy that connects us and added gold flecks to play off the gold circle you created as a symbol of unchanging consciousness. I will be curious to hear what you think about all this.
Talk with you soon!
xo
