Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ll be using manicules (those pointing finger symbols) to direct your attention to something I’m pondering that delights or interests me. Each entry is somehow related to an unusual, obscure, or simply charming to me word.
D is for…
daedal – 1) ingenius, skillful, intricate, artistic. 2) adorned with many things. From Latin, from Greek, first recorded English usage 1590.
Obviously this is a tip of the hat to Daedalus of Greek mythology, the genius architect and creator. Daedalus was basically imprisoned by King Minos after creating an inescapable labyrinth for a Minotaur. He eventually planned an escape with his son Icarus using wings made of feathers and wax.
I had a pretty superficial grasp of Daedalus from basic mythology study, but my interest and curiosity deepened after reading Jennifer Saint’s novel Ariadne. I confess I’m really happy to see the interest and current popularity in retelling foundational stories from the female perspective.
But that aside, I’m fascinated by highly creative, multi-skilled people and always delight in peeks into their minds, and maybe if possible, their diaries, journals, and studios. I know I’m not the only one curious about this – almost everyone I know is. I’m always interested in the creative process of others – not just what they’re creating, but how they view and experience their creativity.
Friends who have known me for any length of time know I’m passionate about many things, and love having multiple projects going at once. To me that feel like an abundance of wonderfulness, allowing me to choose to follow my heart in any direction it wishes to go in the moment. And I confess, too, that I have far more inspirations and ideas than time. Which is why I also keep idea journals going. The biggest delight for me is that I set them aside when full, and then “re-discover” them later, and it’s like finding treasure anew.
Some time ago I uncovered an idea journal that I hadn’t seen in years. What a delightful find. Here’s a peek at it.
Just the sight of it delights me. Battered and worn and stuffed beyond belief – filled way beyond capacity and therefore needing to be tied. But oh, the fabulous ideas that are housed in there. To give you an idea of how much I treasure my idea books, it’s with only a small amount of tongue-in-cheek that I call them Idea Reliquaries. Some of the ideas are as sparkly now as they were when they first occurred to me. And some feel more like core seeds that I’m a few generations from at this point, but I can so see the connection. And of course there are some ideas for projects that just don’t delight me anymore. The energy isn’t there. Now those I’m willing to release. But even thinking about that makes me smile at myself. I’m willing to release an idea for a project that I haven’t yet begun. I don’t think that counts for much of a release.
So you see how slippery this is for me.
I don’t want to release projects, just push them into the not-yet-completed pile. I can laugh at myself about this, but I can also wonder about the graspiness of it. The greed of having a stash of projects so large that I can’t possibly get to them in a reasonable amount of time. I wonder what this need of surplus says about my fear of creative drought.
Rather ironically one of John O’Donohue’s poem showed up for me recently, and this bit is so relevant:
In the out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
The photograph above is an extreme closeup of purple milkweed. According to floriography, the Victorian language of flowers, butterfly weed, a type of milkweed, meant “let me go.” My hope for all of us is that when it’s time to release things, the result is more grace-filled and with less drastic results than feathers melting off soaring wings.
And what about you? Have something daedal you’re celebrating? Have something you’re ready to release? Ever wish to have wings? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I have never wished to have wings, many other things, but not wings. Maybe I heard of Icarus when I was very young. Whenever I hear Daedalus I think of Kindred: The Embraces – the 90s TV show based on Vampire the Masquerade. The wise head of the Nosferatu clan was called Daedalus.😊
I never throw away projects – I have hundred of concepts and started ideas for books in my folders. I keep them because so many times they have either become something or sparked something else. So, I am not ready to release any of them. 😊
Best wishes,
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings: YouTube – What They Don’t Tell You (and free fiction)
I’d not heard of Kindred: The Embraced, but you can bet I’ll be checking it out. Thanks for the heads up. And yay for an abundance of ideas/concepts/potential projects – it certainly beats a dearth.
To the ‘adorned’ portion of daedal — I have a bit of a “thing” for jewelry. I own quite a lot of pretty, sparkly things. Ironically, I cannot walk around in my daily life sporting adornments (my job requires rather dull dressing and an absence of flash), so I have a magpie’s eye (and collection) but a crow’s garb. *laugh*
Your idea journal is delightful to see. I love that it is so filled as to be bursting; it’s as though it’s an excited little collection, bursting with energy. 🙂
LOL. I absolutely love that image – a magpie’s eye and crow’s garb! Your description of my journal makes me smile as well.
Hari OM
Hah, well in some ways my entire A2Z this year is DAEDALIC indeed! DISCOVERING ibisPaint has meant a new lease of creativity has been granted me and DRESSING up images from blank screen to almost over DECORATED has proven DELIGHTFUL! As for release – with things I have no DIFFICULTY in that regard; writing recently on my memoir posts has proven that some DEEPER things, internal things, take a little longer… YAM xx
D=Daisy
I’m really enjoying how you’re working with IbisPaint Yamini, and I’m glad it’s bringing you such delight.
I’m releasing control over my house repair. I’ve always dreamt about flying as a way to escape and be free of danger/worry. I remember Daedalus from “Circe” which was such an excellent book. The idea journal would be fascinating to read; I wish I had kept one.
I enjoyed reading Circe as well.
When I was a kid there was a very old tall sycamore tree out front, and I always dreamt about climbing to the top and from there I simply had to step off and I could fly. I had to flap my arms occasionally to course correct, but other than that I was good to go.
I’m a bit afraid of heights, so the idea of crafting my own wings scares me. I’d rather talk some sense into that King Minos, maybe he will let me go 😉
“I have far more inspirations and ideas than time”, haha, that’s me as well. Sadly I’d have to add that I mostly lack the skills, too. Oh, the things I would sew and build!!!
I’m curious about your hidden projects. Maybe next year for A-Z you could talk about projects from your idea journals.
I like how you think Tamara. First about talking sense into King Minos (although I suspect that might not have gone as well as you wished). But also your idea for my next A-to-Z topic.
I love that you have a bounty of ideas and inspirations. May you find all manner of ways to sew, build, and create them!
Love that poem.
A thought-provoking one, isn’t it?
Interesting post for letter D, daedal.
Thanks for sharing.
Stopping in from A to Z: https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/2022/04/05/donut/
Thanks for stopping by.
Definitely adding Ariadne to my TBR right now!
Thank you!
Hopping in from the A-Z community,
Dream
https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/2022/04/05/distressed/
One of the delights/downfalls of A-to-Z is that my reading list expands exponentially during the month of April. So many interesting books!
I need to read Ariadne, I keep coming across recommendations.
I love the Idea Reliquary 😀
The Multicolored Diary
If I’m remembering correctly I listened to Ariadne as an audiobook. I love being read to. As a storyteller, I wonder if you find that true as well.
I love the way you write. It’s like we are having a conversation. Loved the poem too. Cheers,
What a kind thing to say Renu – thank you.
Wow! Learnt something new today!
That’s always fun, isn’t it? Every April I feel like I’m at a fabulous school learning all manner of interesting things. I love the A-to-Z challenge.
I just added Ariadne to my TBR. Thanks.
I’m currently in a spring cleaning, releasing mode. Reading Marie Kondo and the newer Love People, Use Things. The hardest thing to release is old writing that I always think may one day inspire new writing. I’m beginning to see that some of it holds me back, though, tethers me to old ways of being and thinking and prevents me from acknowledging the limitlessness of ideas.