I really like this image from a vintage bridge tally. Lately I’ve been have flashes of imagery of me planting a stake in the ground and saying this is what I stand for. And this queen of hearts image reminds me of that. I could easily be the one placing the heart stake and saying I stand for love.
It’s certainly true I’ve been thinking lots about love lately. And this is the month we mark with Valentine’s Day so hearts are a bit more on the radar collectively I think.
Yesterday I came across a quote from Bertrand Russell. He was being interviewed and asked what he would tell a generation living a 1000 years in the future about the life he led and the lessons he had learned. He answered with two things, and I was really struck by this one:
“The moral thing I should wish to say to them is very simple. I should say: Love is wise, hatred is foolish. In this world, which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other. We have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don’t like. We can only live together in that way, and if we are to live together and not die together we must learn a kind of charity and a kind of tolerance which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on this planet.”
He said that nearly 60 years ago and I’m not convinced we’ve made sixty years’ worth of progress in upping our tolerance levels and expanding our loving-kindness efforts. I’m thinking we need to do some quantum leaping here.
With hearts and heart-centeredness on my mind today, I was delighted to find a little treasure. In my continuing efforts to sort through my books in my SoulSpace project, I uncovered this little volume.
It’s a curious little work by Francesca Gavin filled with heart images from a variety of artists and a few very short little essays interspersed. I felt all kinds of inspired when I rediscovered it, and aside from reading it again, I’ve now put it in my studio. I plan on making my own additions to it – using it as a journal and creating my own book of hearts. I laugh at myself because I don’t exactly need another project vying for my attention, but inspiration and the Muses don’t care a fig about such things. And I’m with them on that.
What about you? What’s inspiring you in the moment? Does your own book of hearts sound delicious to you? What are you planting a stake for and calling your own? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I can see you putting that stake in the ground…the image is a grand one! What has my attention right now is writing…I can’t seem to shut it off which is quite fun…and the soulspace group I’m in with all the work around that. It’s fabulous!
That IS fabulous and fun Michele!
Thank you for that beautiful quote. I encountered someone today who sadly seems filled
with disdain for others. Although it’s never fun to be on the receiving end of that, I need to
remember I have no idea what may have created that outlook for her. It just isn’t my place
to judge. 🙂 Thanks!
It certainly can be hard and unpleasant to be caught in the spray from someone else, but I really like your attitude Nancy. Kudos to you!
Love the quote by Bertrand Russell. It’s so true. It cuts through all the “crap” and gets to the heart of the truth. Especially with all the political nastiness going on, that quote is especially important. A book of hearts…so interesting and thought provoking! My little girl might love to do something like that too. Hmm…brain in a whirl as I contemplate this! 😀
Ooooh, that’s my favorite brain state – in a whirl with creative contemplation. I see lots of hearts in your future. 🙂