The title of February’s update comes from a poem by T.S. Eliot called “Preludes.” The poem illustrates numerous mundanities to do with the rhythms of day to day life. It’s very much a poem of its time, as much of the imagery is not something we can necessarily relate to nowadays, but the theme is timeless.
The poem, on its surface, is about the drudgery of daily life, and yet, to me, there are lines here and there, like moments in day, that stand out and sparkle. These moments are the reminders that although day to day life may seem infinite in its dreariness, that is only if we choose not to notice the magic.
Take the line I chose as the title: “and you heard the sparrows in the gutters.”
Gutters are not pretty things, and yet, there are sparrows in them. The juxaposition makes for a magical moment and a reminder of the beauty in the mundane.
The poem is also about how people go through daily life not pushing for more, not dreaming or hoping or imagining.
To me, that hurts to imagine. Imagination is my life. It has gotten me through moments when I’ve pushed too hard and fallen harder. It has gotten me through moments when I’ve wondered if what I am doing even matters. It has inspired me to keep going and keep trying because I love something. It has helped me figure out who am I, and what makes me, “me” irregardless of all outside opinions.
And so, I chose that poem by T.S. Eliot to preface today’s February Update because that drudgery, that repetitiveness, that mudanity, is why I do what I do. There is so much more to life than just the next load of laundry or surviving until the next paycheque.
I’ve been in the gutter, where all I could see is just surviving until the next day. Sometimes I couldn’t even see to the next day, let alone the next week or month. Sometimes things seem so far away and impossible, it’s taken a sheer cliff’s worth of willpower to climb up and see the sunrise.
Although I have always considered myself a creative individual, I’ve had my droughts and doubts and while sitting in the gutter, it’s not always easy to look up and see the stars (despite that quote by Oscar Wilde), or to hear the sparrows.
Nonetheless, I’ve never been one to give up, and when something has physically forced me to give up, I’ve simply found new ways to do whatever it was.
Take my piano music for example. I’m not able to play my concert level pieces very long anymore, and there are some I may not ever manage due to my tendonitis, but I’ve found something new. I’ve found my love of piano again. And that is bringing some exciting new ventures into my life that I can’t wait to share with all of you!
I’m sharing some older pieces that before now I had just shared with my Facebook community, The Amethyst Cave. Come check out my new Monday series on my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pEsVGS5Two
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how I’m sharing them and what I’m sharing. (I’m currently in the process of learning about better quality music production and recording via digital audio workstations (DAWs).
INTO THE YEAR!
The first few months of a new year often feel overwhelming to me, whether I’ve made any resolutions or not. Especially after last year when time felt like it stood still and very little of normal life, let alone any resolutions, happened.
Yes, I finally published my first ever poetry book. That was huge, but I had many other plans in terms of writing and recording music. I forget though, that having one’s normal reality upended, does take a lot more unconscious mental space to process than we realize.
Regardless, this year feels both like a catch-up year and like a usual year in which new adventures are happening. Am I seconds behind some sort of invisible finish line or am I fine?
That question is where a lot of my new ventures are coming into play. I’ve finally reconciled all my interests, passions and skills under a title that is a little more relatable than my oft favoured “imaginist.”
I am an Intuitive Creator.
Under that umbrella, I’ll be continuing with everything I’ve already been doing, but I’m also bringing the things I create when I tap into the universal energy around and within us because that’s what has gotten me through every challenge and what has made life exciting.
I’m excited to be really delving into sharing all of that with everyone through my new platforms and my old ones too.
As I’ve mentioned before, I believe we are all capable of creativity regardless of the labels modern society applies to it, if we have the motivation.
If there is one thing I have learned, as someone who has dealt with many labels; that were put on by professionals and by peers, if you want to achieve something, it just takes gumption.
You’ve got to want the thing and then you’ve got to work for the thing. Whatever that thing may be.
And so, that is why I’ve jumped onto Twitch and I’m starting to stream my piano music over there. It’s a space for me to find joy in creating music once more, despite all the nerves, fears and mistakes that stop me, just like anyone, from sharing their innermost creative self. Plus, it’s a great way to start the day relaxed and inspired.
(Fun fact, just yesterday I nearly made myself doze off, I was getting so relaxed by the melodies I was making. So I tuned in with the fairies and they, in all their lively energy, got me revved right back up).
So if you want a little dreamy, relaxing piano music to start your day (or end it, as I’ve had a number of people watching while they eat dinner!) come on over to: https://twitch.tv/innkeeperarr
And if you’d rather not be on too many social media platforms, I invite you to join my Patreon community where I share all my content with my patrons, plus so much more bonus content to inspire your own intuitive skills and passions.
There’s lots of exciting things planned for February, centered around the theme of Transformative Inquiry!
What is that? Check out a sneak peak into a few of the practices that I shared a couple weeks ago on my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AN4T3Eh1pQ
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
Some of you have already spotted that I’m writing poetry again. You can find me on Instagram @a.r.reynolds, but my main writing projects are still largely focused on my adventure novel, We Chased Thunderstorms at present.
Wishing you fair weather and winds supporting your back!
ARR
