Hawk Moon, Art & Stories

Hawk Moon, Art & Stories signals a time of deep listening. Here lives inner wisdom to find your path, and blaze a new trail. There are always two choices. The first is to stay on the worn path. It’s become a bit stagnant, but you know it well. In addition, deep down you also know it leads to the same old issues and mistakes.

But then there’s a new path. We don’t know exactly where it leads, but it’s different, a bit risky, and definitely unknown. That’s both exciting and terrifying. But it will teach us new things as well as open new doors of opportunities that we can’t even imagine at this time.

I clearly experienced this at the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, DC this last week-end. Pre-Covid, I had attended this show every year. Many of the artists have become friends of mine over the years. It was great to revisit their evolving art and lives. But it was also predictable, and the same.

But this show was a revelation! Many artists from the past have retired from doing large shows like this, since it’s costly in money and stamina. So about 1/3 were not only new artists, but from the Southwest. It was colorful, spiritual, and a beautiful melding of many cultures.

New stories were told of the artist’s lives, beliefs, and inspiration that led to their original art. We all became a community of creators, buyers and sellers, all observers of life, sharing our insights, experiences, and love of art. To make art is to be Human. Magic happened. New stories were created for each of us.

Hawk Moon, Art & Stories connects us in surprising ways.

The artists were so open and willing to share their techniques with the buyers as well as with each other. Conversations lighted the room with enthusiasm and understanding. Stories were exchanged, questions were asked, and everyone really listened to broaden their horizon.

I met a new artist from Santa Fe that I will keep in touch with from now on. Her textured, mixed metal jewelry was beautiful. Plus, I could relate to each part of her creative process along the way. She also shared a technique for my jewelry that I’m excited to learn and try with my designs.

Art brings us all together. Our stories may shift, but as Human Beings, everyone is the artist of their world. Art is our connection with each other, common ground to evolve and grow. Wisdom comes from taking a new direction with an open heart.

Life is all the stories we tell, the art we make, and the experiences we have, coming together in a community of beauty.

Therefore, above my deep listening hawk is the blessing of the bear of compassion, the rabbit of balance, and the raven of knowledge. Huge, majestic Hawk was in a tree outside my window, so he had to be here. Plus, it’s our Full Moon time.

So, it’s time to play again. Find the path less traveled, and bravely explore new territory. Gather around Art, share stories, and expand consciousness in this amazing, changing time. This is the evolution of us all.