It’s peek-into-my-week Friday where I take a look at what’s been igniting my brain and my imagination, what’s been inspiring me and what I’ve been thinking about in my corner of the universe. I find this practice helps me see where I’ve been in my week’s journey and often helps me see themes and connections I hadn’t made consciously before. And it’s certainly my hope you might be inspired as well.
It’s been a crazy, full, delicious week for me, and more busy than I’ve been in a while. But in a good way. I wholehearted dissent with the popular view that somehow prizes just how busy one can be as if it’s a judgment of your worth as a human being. But rather, I felt a huge shift of energy this week and suddenly things that were stuck just days ago found new momentum. And a whole new bunch of entries were added to my Fablulous New Ideas to Explore journal.
Under the Big Top
Circuses have apparently been on my radar this week. I had a delightful dream in which I got off my local bus and found myself in a foreign country (I do love my magic bus adventures!). And although I was completely lost, not even sure what country I was in, greeting me at the busstop was a friend of mine, who suggested we go to the circus. So we head over to the big top and flying above the tent is a big sign indicating it’s my friend’s circus. How did I not know this? How fabulous is this?! I’m so delighted and so enthusiastic, she on-the-spot appoints me to be the Llama Lady. I’m so excited I’m pretty sure I squealed – Llama Lady!!! – and then promptly woke myself up. Oh well. But there you go. I’ve been bequeathed the title and I’m not giving it up.
I have no idea what my duties might be, but if it involves llamas what’s not to like? Which clearly the French understood, since they combined the magic of llamas with chocolate when they branded with this vintage advertising label.
And speaking of beloved animals, I’m in love with Fiorella, the stuffed elephant created by artist Katherine Dunn of Apifera Farm. I adore Katherine – for her art; for her work adopting elderly or special needs creatures that need a final place to be hospiced or live out their lives; for her fabulous story-telling; and most of all for her big beautiful complex heart. And how could I not love someone with a farm whose name means “bee bearing” in Latin? In any case, do head over and read the tale of Fiorella and be enchanted too.
Later this month and into September, the Fringe Fest, a festival of alternative performing arts that are experimental in style or subject matter, opens in our city. It’s always a delight, and this week I’ve been perusing the lists of shows and deciding what tickets to buy. How fun is that there’s a Danger Circus to be seen which features knife juggling and fire eating?
Just to keep me in the mood of whimsy and magic I’ve decided I’ll be queuing up The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium on Netfix this weekend.
Although the term “bread and circuses” was meant disparaging as criticism of the Roman government’s attempt to keep the populace happy by distributing free food and staging spectacles, perhaps we can reclaim the term as something more positive. Maybe that will be part of my job as Llama Lady.
I Do Declare We’re All Fabulous
Havi Brooks of The Fluent Self is also someone I pay attention to as she navigates her own life and teaches about knowing yourself, uncovering your patterns, and finding ways to shift into the more preferred. Do check out this blog post where she’s talking about a mighty mighty nature crew, flash waltzes, and joy in general. And you know how I feel about keeping our feet on the joy trail. Let’s do it!
Transparent is the New Black
Something else I’ve been thinking a lot about this week is transparency. For some reason it’s come up a number of time in conversations in spiritual context, but I think for the most part most all of us want more transparency in our world. Imagine how different our world might be if everything were out in the open. It’s interesting think about this and the implications. Which I suppose is why I’m especially drawn to this Kickstarter project funding an art project that proposes puffing out a steam ring for every ton of CO2 emissions produced by what will be the cleanest power plant in the world, located in Copenhagen. The idea is “to transform the smokestack, a symbol of the industrial era, into a communicator for the future” and be transparent about the level of greenhouse gases released. An ecologically-focused art project – that’s certainly something I’m willing to support.
Listening is Way More Important than You Think
Donna Iona Drozda might also be someone you want to keep on your radar. I think I first discovered her through her art, but when I found she also worked with lunar cycles I knew I had found a sister traveler. In this blog post she talks about listening and trust, two topics dear to my heart.
The Game of Telephone, Only Way Way Better
I am utterly fascinated by this. I don’t actually understand what’s behind it. The original source seems to be in Portuguese and I can’t find anything except bare bones translations into English, but nothing about the origins of the project. But, having said that, the English title is Distorted Fact, and this film clip shows how a succession of artists each interpret and riff off the piece of art created by the person before them. I think this is magical, and my mind is swirling with ideas of ideas of how I can possibly explore this in various mediums with various people in various ways. This is the stuff that makes my brain very happy and my heart is in full agreement.
And there you have it, a look into my week. What about you? What are you inspired by; listening to; declaring? What’s your circus job? What do you think a Llama Lady should do? And what kind of costume should I have? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
You should definitely be wearing some sort of cossack type costume with harem style trousers in a beautiful coloured silk – oh and a hat that is sort of curly to match in with the llama 🙂 🙂 What a fabulous dream you had.
The Chinese whispers of art is so interesting – it was like the finished product was taking the first child off into its natural state of angelic beauty – but the message of being so far away from the source and how the story gets twisted was quite chilling. I don’t think that much of what we hear nowadays is to be trusted, although it still can have a meaning and beauty of its own.
Great prompts as always Deborah – have a wonderful week.
Fil
You’ve got a fabulous eye for costumes Fil – that’s a keeper for sure.
I’ve not heard the term Chinese whispers before – thank you for the introduction. Your comment has added another layer for me to think about here – how what is reflected ultimately alters the foundation of trust. I think we can slip into quite an existential query here. 🙂
A game I often play at conventions is “Moneyduck” (after an early example).
An odd number of people sit around a table, each with a blank piece of paper and something to draw with. Each person writes a word or short phrase at the top of their paper, then passes it to the next person.
That person draws a picture of the word or phrase (no letters or numbers allowed), folds the paper so the initial writing can’t be seen, and passes it on.
The next person writes a word or phrase that describes the picture, folds so the picture is not seen, then passes it on. This continues until everyone gets their original paper back. Open and see how the idea has mutated!
Here’s a few examples: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Money-Duck/286210864771897
Oh how fun! And I loved seeing the examples – thanks!
Once again, I have to tell you how transported I am by popping in. Circuses, art, llamas, beauty, fun. Deborah, you are an inspirational delight.
LOL – thanks Kelly.
You had such a fascinating week! Goodness, ideas jumping all over the place. I truly enjoyed reading the article on Trust. I liked how she called Trust being the daughter of Truth. Such a great read. Thanks!
I like that connection as well Elda – Trust as the daughter of Truth.
And yes, LOL – I do sometimes think I’m a bit of a jumping bean when it comes to what captures my fancy and my attention.