There Are Stars

 

 

As mentioned in the previous post, Empty, I've been having trouble getting started in 2012. This isn't what I expected. And, granted - the year is far from over. But still, I expected more shiny - more bright...

I look around me and notice that 2012's begun with a lot of down time. Not just the usual Northern Hemisphere's winter rest, introspection and reflection kind of down time,

but down time - the doldrums (stuck-ness), deep sadness - and even grief. Actually, lots of grief!

Many people I know and care about (online and in person) went through the holiday season (and on into the beginning of 2012) with significant grief, having lost a loved one (or more than one!) - or with serious health issues.

I look inside myself and notice grief, sadness and stuck-ness at times as well.

WTF? (or, if you prefer the polite version: What the what?)

I was at the Michener Museum the other day (these seemingly disparate topics will come together). There's a lot to love at the Michener*, but right now I want to tell you about a couple paintings that really grabbed me.

They were landscape paintings by George Sotter - with deep, dark purple-blue night skies and tiny, brilliant stars. What grabbed me? The contrast. The eye and heart opening contrast!

The stars stand out in those paintings. There's something about those pinpoints of light - about how they change the darkness, even a whole sky's worth of it. They give me hope: remind me that, no matter how dark it is, one tiny bit of light breaks up the darkness.

And, interestingly - there's also something about the darkness - how the depth of the darkness is what causes those pinpoints of light to stand out! That the stars wouldn't look so bright, wouldn't call to me - if they weren't in the dark.

I was expecting more shiny - more bright - in 2012; and I got it (even though I wasn't noticing) - there are stars! (ah, see - I told you the topics would come together)

The beginning of 2012's been like Sotter's paintings - there's a lot of dark, but there are stars!

Something else interesting (that doesn't show up in the paintings): those stars - they are there even when we can't see them.

 

*One of the many things to love: the fact that it used to be a prison (where I worked occasionally). On the Michener Museum site they tell us: "the old Bucks County jail, once a place of fear and despair, has been transformed into a welcoming center of culture and beauty..." (so true! so beautiful! talk about stars!!!)

Comments

[Charlotte Dixon]

Oh, I love those paintings--they speak directly to my soul. So glad you pointed them out. I think a lot of us are coming out of a long, difficult year. I know I am. I feel like 2012 is going to be fantastic--but only if we tend to the grieving that we need to do. And also look for stars.

[Square-Peg Karen]

What you said, Charlotte!! And I'm glad you love the paintings - they are (of course) even more gorgeous in person.

[Luna]

"when it is darkest, men see stars" Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite quotes!

lovely post Karen!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Thanks for sharing that, Luna -- I never heard that quote before!

[Merry ME]

This makes me remember the first time I looked up instead of out while visiting the Grand Canyon. I'd never seen so many stars. It has to be good and dark and away from artificial lights to see them all.

Been working on "change with the light" and moving away from a year of grieving. This post fits right in. Thanks.

[Square-Peg Karen]

Ah, Merry Me - you are so welcome. If I ever get to the Grand Canyon I'm going to remember to look UP.

I love your phrase: "change with the light" - and I'm wondering whether it came out of your year of grieving...

[Merry ME]

Karen,
Change with the light came from the poem below. I tried to find it online to no avail. Got the author but no poem. SInce it was shared with me in an online class, I didn't know the ethics of putting it out there for others. Do you think that matters?
Our assignment was to pick one of the instructions and see how it underscores - plays out- in our lives for the next few days.

This poem by Pauline Oliveros is one of the templates for this class. Print it out and put it up somewhere.

A POEM OF CHANGE

CHANGE
CHANGE ONE THING
CHANGE SOMETHING
CHANGE NOTHING
CHANGE EVERYTHING
CHANGE TWO THINGS
CHANGE THE SAME THING
CHANGE MANY THINGS
CHANGE A FEW THINGS
CHANGE RARELY
CHANGE OFTEN
CHANGE OCCASIONALLY
CHANGE AMONG OTHERS
CHANGE RAPIDLY
CHANGE SLOWLY
CHANGE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
CHANGE GRADUALLY
CHANGE WITH THE LIGHT
CHANGE IRRATIONALLY
CHANGE TIME
CHANGE DRAMATICALLY
CHANGE IMPERCEPTIBLY
CHANGE CAUTIOUSLY
CHANGE FEARLESSLY
CHANGE WITHOUT DESIRE

P.S. If you think I'm messing with copyrights here, read the poem then delete the comment!

[Square-Peg Karen]

What a great exercise, Merry ME - and how cool that you chose "change with the light"!! Thanks for sharing.

[Carrie]

"And, interestingly - there's also something about the darkness - how the depth of the darkness is what causes those pinpoints of light to stand out! That the stars wouldn't look so bright, wouldn't call to me - if they weren't in the dark." I love this! We constantly seek the light only but both are needed as reminders. Thanks for sharing!!

[Square-Peg Karen]

I'm seeing this more and more, Carrie - how both dark & light are needed (good thing, coz we get them both!). Thank YOU!

[wholly jeanne]

well, grief is quite the roller coaster ride, and i think it likes nothing better than holidays. sounds like you've got a handle on it . . . at least as much as you can have a handle on grief. loved reading about the paintings, about the stars. and i do specially love how you write about the tiny little ole bitty pinpoints of light and the great light that can (and will) seep right through the tiniest of holes.

[Maeve]

Ah, what a marvelous and precious way to look at it. I will think of this the next time winter looks too bleak and discouraging!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Hi Jeanne, so true - so true about those "tiny little ole bitty pinpoints of light" (I can hear you saying this, accent and all), they will seep in, thank goodness!

Thanks for commenting - and I'm glad you loved reading about the paintings and stars - muah!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Thanks for commenting, Maeve!

Those bits of light are a real inspiration to me - I hope I can remember to think of them (and the interplay of dark/light) too; though I think reminding each other (because sometimes it's hard to remember) is a BIG deal.