We create constantly. We do it with our hands, of course, when we write, draw, design, sew, cook, etc. But we also do it more subtly, with our thoughts and feelings. The way we think shapes the reality we see and experience. We create when we speak, the way we express ourselves organizes our behavior and the conduct of the people around us, creating or dismantling patterns of movement. Like sculptors, we craft our bodies and therefore our emotions when we walk, stretch or do any form of physical exercise. We can even create with our eyes and ears, our position in space determines the information that we gather from our surrounding, watching or listening to something from one place may significantly vary our sensations and understanding, reducing certain stimuli in favor of others. Indeed, our every choice is an act of creation, so natural to us that we mostly don't take notice of the process.
From this perspective, we're all artists and craftspeople, imagining futures and possibilities, taking steps toward one direction or another, uttering decrees and raising prayers silently or out loud at every moment, breathing life into every situation. Wherever we put our attention we put our energy, empowering phenomena of every kind. That means that we can strengthen both our virtues and our flaws, the paths that we desire and the obstacles that we encounter. Growing aware of this takes time and is a continuous task of self-review, of questions that lead to more questions.
Aside from the things that happen to use when we're kids, too young to decide for ourselves and under the care of adults, we pretty much drive the vehicles of our existence the entire time. Society surely has an influence on how we move, our upbringing and past experiences weigh on our judgment, but the final say on what we do with our time and energy is ultimately ours, as is the responsibility for the consequences thereafter, whether we're aware of that or not. It's not cool at first, to grow conscious of the fact that we build most of the walls we have to climb, dig most of the trenches we have to crawl out of and direct our steps toward most of the chasms we have to bridge. There is, however, great self-affirmation and profound sense of leadership and authority in this, too: opinions and beliefs can be reassuring and expansive, or limiting and stunting. We can switch from one to the other at any time.
I personally love to see myself as the creator of my world, of my narrative. Whatever accomplishments and setbacks are my doing. I may stumble with rocks that I put on my way or I may climb to the top of summits that I raised along the path. The people I meet, I drew around me. The information I get, I've picked from the great universal library of knowledge. Like William Ernest Henley said:
I am the captain of my soul.
What are you creating with your thoughts and words, your hands and movements? And perhaps more importantly, what do you want to create? If you imagine a future where things go horribly wrong, you're contributing to making it a reality, and the same happens if you imagine a glorious tomorrow. I've heard and read many people say that expecting poor results or preparing for terrible situations is being "realistic", they say it as if it were an incontrovertible fact, which is of course true for them, they're focusing on that. But if they spent the same amount of energy and time working on their tranquility and preparing for joy, they'd still be "realistic", it would still be true and they'd live a lot better. Reality isn't a circumstance but a perception. A series of perceptions, in fact.
We weave the tapestry, we clothe our lives with it and we walk its roads, explore its nooks and crannies. We not only do it for ourselves, either, but for everyone who connects with us, especially the little people who depend on us. What kind of tapestry are you weaving? It's an interesting, valuable question, and it may lead to even more interesting realizations.
Remember, whatever you build will remain in the world after you're gone. Your legacy is also a testament of who you are.
Rune of the Day: Ingwaz
Creation is a deeply personal process, each form, word and image contains the energy of those who made it; be mindful of this when appreciating the work of others and remember also that we all create for the world, not ourselves. If you have a vision that you wish to manifest, you must pour your heart into it and make suitable offerings; a seed left to its own devices may grow or wither, do not leave the results of your labor to chance. Like branches of a tree, the consequences of your actions reach beyond you and they may survive you as well, let intuition guide your sight and integrity direct your thoughts. People, objects, places and events can appear separate on the surface but are in fact united deep down, the same goes for ideas and dreams.
