‘Learn silence,’ says Pythagoras, ‘with the quiet serenity of a meditative mind, listen, absorb, transcribe, and transform.
Henri Rousseau says, ” The landscapist lives in silence.’
‘Silence is a source of great strength,’ Lao Tzu.
The discipline of coming, making time and space to think, write and read – this is the value of the residency. Boundaried time, shut off from distractions, a regular opportunity to stop, write down my thoughts and see where they lead.
Hard to sleep last night, so many ideas, time to start making too or I will be suffocated by half-formed starts. Only way is through the making.
Two aspects: time to think; time to make; both open out possibilities, lead me down a path, usually a familiar path, same values and things I am working out, working through, but a new way too, a sideways shuffle through a gap in the hedge, push through the prickles into the field next door, a fresh view, an open place, phew.
Watercolour sketches: the candlesticks, the choir figures.
Each week I notice different things; my attention is called differently.
Jill calls in. I talk about the circle of silence, my idea for some readings.
The church flower lady comes in to take out the flowers for Lent. She gives me a bunch of white blooms.
On the way out I pick some leaves from the churchyard and later at home I print them. February leaves.
