The Journey and The Kingdom

Arthur Rackham

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great...you have no power over me."

I must admit, I'm not a big fan of the film "Labyrinth"; I didn't like it much as a child and even upon viewing it again in my late teens, I didn't really understand the hype surrounding it, other than the fact that David Bowie (whom I adore) plays a major role in the film. However, a few days ago, while strolling through Instagram, someone posted the quote above, and it struck me. You know how sometimes, you see, hear, smell, or read something and then all of a sudden something very important, whether it be a situation or a part of your life, suddenly comes into focus. That sharp sudden moment of realization and complete understanding. 

I read this quote, for what must have been, about 4 or 5 times, over and again in my head while the past 6 years of my life formed a circle. Sometimes in life you find yourself going around in a giant circle. Sometimes that means you're walking through life the same way as you always have, never really growing or expanding, just a giant circle of repetition. While sometimes it means that you find yourself walking along through life to arrive back at your starting point, but with a deeper understanding, lessons learned, a new sense of purpose or a renewed sense of purpose.

Children have this wonderful inclination as to who they are and accept themselves wholly, without question, until the world around them starts to teach them otherwise. Everyday I am endlessly thankful for having a family that has always given me the independence (and stubbornness) to be who I am, do as please, and to trust in myself and my own intuition. Rather than try to mold me at a young age to be who they wanted me to be. 

Yet even with this wonderful luck and the gift having a strong sense of self, life and all of its wonderfully bizarre twists and turns, has a way of turning a person all around and upside down. To the point where sometimes that sense of self seems far away, and you have to fight your way through the "Goblin City", society, to the castle just to reclaim your heart of hearts, "the child", your soul in it's purest form. 

Years ago, I scratched the surface of a new level understanding, about myself and the world around me, eventually leading me down a path that did not lead where I intended for it to. While that path, much like the Goblin City, came to be both turbulent and wondrous, It has led me to the castle to reclaim what was with me from the start. Coming full circle with a greater understanding of the kingdom that is my soul.

Hurray for those moments when we feel the universe within us awaken and we see ourselves and the world around with new eyes, for those moments are magical, fleeting, and filled with potential to lead a more fulfilling way of of life.

Balance

"I don't like making New Years resolutions, but it's almost out of habit that when the new year rolls around we start to focus on changes. A new year, a new chapter, a new start. 

I was listening to someone today talk about how life is a rhythm, narrowed down to three main beats, three elements; expectations, silence, and surprise. Expectations being the habits, the day to day life of working, making dinner, doing the laundry etc. Silence being the quiet moments of stillness, reflection, meditation. Then surprise being the adventures of doing new things, meeting new people, discovering new places, and stepping out of your comfort zone. The key, of course, is finding the right balance of these things, the right rhythm of your life's song. 

In addition to this, I feel like it's also key to make sure you're spending as many of these moments doing what you truly want to do, thus fulfilling and enriching your life in as many ways as possible. Otherwise the rhythm may be fine, but is it truly your song?

This year I definitely want to balance out my rhythm, more silence and more surprises."

I forget exactly when I wrote the content above, aside from the obvious that it was written sometime around the start of the year. Since then, my main focus has truly been about finding the balance that I speak of and seek. Doing so has led to less painting, but more rediscovering of old passions (and a few new ones), all of which I hope to start sharing here on this blog, along side my usual paintings, drawings, and photography.

I usually don't talk much, outside of one on one conversations, about my personal life, feelings, views, loves, and concerns. However lately the urge to write and journal, has returned with quite a vengeance. So I'm going to start taking advantage of this blog, without over thinking it or worrying about over sharing, and simply share whatever I feel the need and desire to openly share, verbally, visually, whatever feels right. So here we go...