Another Day, Another Perspective
I proceed with this “another day” approach to writing to give context to what might initially appear as an impulsive, seemingly disjointed journaling. I trust that clarity will prevail as both writing and reading progress.
I am writing because it feels appropriate. I am treating this exploration, this drafted, written art piece as another piece of the puzzle, another significant aspect of the journey.
Rather than treating the writing as merely an opportunity to attempt to be clever or to develop some kind of product, I view this undertaking as an opportunity to integrate some form of possibly “spiritual intelligence” into this journey. I understand the intellect will be involved in producing a reasonable, interesting, informative document, yet, it is my intention that intellectual attention not dominate the writing process. I trust that appropriate expression and format will…in time…be revealed. In the interim as I write, I do my best to listen deeply, using more of the elusive senses available to me, within me.
As I look over the compiled material I feel good about various parts, yet the readability in the format as written, does not yet appear as fully cohesive. I am working on that.
The reader may soon come to recognize the approach to the writing has striking similarities to the approach to the sculpting of the soon-to-be-discussed “Confirmation” sculpture.
“I write a little, just as I carved a little. I revealed the fresh wood surface, smoothed and rounded the rough and jagged edges, feeling those actions to be comfortable, appropriate, while at the same time having no idea as to what the finished piece was to be about.“
Similarly, in the approach to writing there may very well be a necessity for leaping, for plunging in. During the sculpting of the “Confirmation” sculpture, the decision to “plunge in” presented mental struggle. There was much delay prior to the decision to proceed with the opening of the cavity of the sculpture. Hesitation predominated with not knowing for sure what the next step would be. Action prevailed as frustration, anxiety and despair, eventually pushing, or possibly pulling, the process over the edge.
I thought initially that a brief outline was going to be straightforward. My notes, contain both longer and shorter, as well as alternative versions of events and descriptions. I will be including each, and possibly a few other versions, other perspectives, and other impressions. I was finding that I was dealing with continuous shape changing in the sculpting process, and now in this writing, and generally in life itself. The shape changing appears to continue here. I am not yet able, despite my best initial intentions, to imagine this narrative unfolding in a tight, straightforward manner. I anticipate there will be a good deal of skipping around. Furthermore, I have decided to, at least temporarily, accept this approach. I will do my best to have this narrative unfold rather than unravel. I remind you that this narrative is taking place at the edge of reason.
Going back to the outline, I realize that “The Introduction” lacks chronological order, yet I will continue to go with whatever feel appropriate. Such are the challenges of an unfamiliar sculpting medium.