"Ready for Take off into 2014"  ~ by a wall mural of Opal Whiteley in Cottage Grove

   "You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."  

                                                              ~ Ray Bradbury

                            

                               The Wonder of Wings

"Crescent Moon Mystery" (Close up) 1999

Magical wings have always been a part of my fanciful art.  They seem to symbolize a way to lift me out of the weight of the sadness I sometimes feel.  When I am struggling to make choices that manifest a more harmonious and fulfilling life for myself, creating images of wings gives me the imagination of a child, who sees her dreams as magically possible. While my "wings" create the ascent of my mind into that realm of possibilities, my energy is finally freed up to do the work I want to do to give my ideas life. 

But to "fly" with those inspiring "wings" requires courage and lots of faith on my part.  Running from my problems never has given me enough speed to lift off and fly...and jumping to achieve take off from the ground has never worked for me either.  So the only way to use my wings to fly high above my challenges is is to jump and leap from a cliff. I simply cannot solve any problem, no matter how creative I am, at the same level of that problem.  I have to fly high above those challenges and distance myself to get a hawk's eye view of everything. With that renewed perspective, where I see all aspects of my life more clearly, I can finally make wiser and more benevolent choices.  I can begin to act with compassion, not only for myself, but for all concerned.  And as I wisely perceive my place in the family of living things, I am more able to experience a real connection, wisely knowing in my heart that what I do has a ripple effect that sends out vibrations that affect all of creation. 

It's not just me....it's everyone sending out vibrations all the time.  With all that movement of energy that can affect and influence us, it is imperative that we are grounded in the truth of who we are. ..and that knowledge of one's true self is simply not possible without flight.  Of course, jumping from just one cliff is not enough. Throughout our life, there are many cliffs that beckon us to jump.  Leaping from a place that appears familiar and safe into the abyss of the unknown requires not only lots of courage, it demands incredible faith.  Yes, that faith has to be in the subtle guidance that brought you to the cliff,  but also it must be in yourself and your life mission.  Your life is always more than about acquiring possessions or tallying up achievements.  And it's  is much more that just surviving one challenge after another.  It is rather about the vibration you send out into the world that hopefully changes it for the better. It's about how you have loved and how you have allowed others to love you.

And lastly, using your wings are about commitment...to your dreams...to your life purpose...and to yourself. Since you "can't get water from an empty well", you must first make sure your own heart is full before you attend to giving to another. It requires courageous "jumping from cliffs, building your wings" as you fall, and then flying high to see and experience your true vibrant self.  It's the adventure of living and, by not using your wings to fly, you'll miss it.  I believe that's what Helen Keller meant when she said, "Life is a daring adventure or nothing."

Now where is that next cliff?! I feel like flying!

"Hawk-eye View"  © 2011 ~ watercolor by Carol E. Fairbanks