What would water do

You know the saying: 'What would Jesus do'?, well, when things don't seem to... flow, and after days and days and days (and days) of wrestling with my self I give in and eventually ask:

"What would water do?".

Water, in this case, is standing in for Jesus, Buddha, or my Mother - someone to consult with, whether in imagination or face-to-face if you're lucky, at tricky times.

And so, I give Jesus, Buddha, and Mum a break, and follow water’s lead.

Of course, I've been continuing to sea swim intermittently through the year, immersing myself in water skin-to-skin, membrane-to-membrane (this healed the migraines) but right now, I need to go down to consult with the ocean - along with some note-taking materials such as paper and a pencil, inks and paints. I think an underlying part of this is to reconnect with the water and engage in an activity that on some level might enable me to engage with water and consciously remind myself of my relationship with water.

As Earth pigment artist Pete Ward asks himself in his PhD :

The first questions are that of motivation and inspiration: what motivates and inspires me, emotionally, politically, spiritually, to do the work that I do and to pursue this research? What has drawn me as a white, ‘Western’ man, and others from a multitude of diverse backgrounds, at this moment in time, to forge intimate, creative relationships with ochre (rocks, soil, clay)? How has ochre spoken to me/us and what is our ongoing, evolving relationship saying about the ways we are interacting with Earth and each other, and about existence itself? What has driven me, personally, to this action and how might it be important and relevant to society, for individuals and as a whole?

As you know, my work is concerned with forging a creative relationship with water and to convey its essence for you dear reader!

And while I will in a further blog attempt to address Pete’s questions, for now, I am sitting attempting to sketch the waves with just a humble pencil and paper. Of course, this is an impossible task as they're always moving, however, it is in the embracing of this impossible, and therefore irrational task that, while releasing any clinging onto the known (which is the past) of how waves have previously been depicted, new possibilities open up (in the present) ...and boom, there it is. That connection with the water and this life feeling.

I become so absorbed, the mental distraction (again this is either to do with the past or fear of the future - aka, the ego) quietens.

I observe and participate as if for the first time - Beginner's Mind - they call it in Buddhism.

Not that I affiliate with any particular religion as such, if you can call it a religion at that, but my work does resonate with Eastern teachings, and I have also personally come to realise that water teaches its own philosophy. For instance, it shows how to be in the present, in nature, synonymous with your own nature, your own being, showing-up to your own awareness in the moment - for this is where the magic happens. I lose myself and feel like myself once again.

I guide a weekly yoga class for a few artist friends, neighbours, and fellow swimmers to support well-being in the surrounding villages, and one of the things I find I sometimes say is:

Come and be aware in the present moment - for this is where the magic happens.

I practice this because I need to remember this key in my yoga practice, my art practice, my human being practice.

So, faced with an issue, we might wonder: What would water do? Well, what would you really like to do? It's probably that. Explore it, you may find some magic there.Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.