My husband and I are immersing ourselves in clearing out unloved, unnecessary and too long held stuff. Your article is perfect timing to remind us that beauty is in the void , a void that can be filled with breaths. Our fierce and firm determination will get us there. Thank you for your wise words.
Minimalism . Depends. When it comes to stuff- yes. Very minimalistic . In my creative practice- no. Layers and textures excite my spirit, make me like a hunting dog-nose to the ground. Wanting to throw as much as will fit on a page.
My inner world is minimalistic… Same looping thoughts… Same questions, same responses. Always wondering what if… past, present day and future. I don’t need much to be content. Yet I too, get sucked in.
Happy to be traveling this present life with snippets of your words and inner being. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Thanks dear one for sharing this. There are definitely the different areas where we are more minimalist than in others. For me looping thoughts, repeated patterns over and over again, endlessly, do not fall under the category of minimalism. 💕🙏🏻
I hear you. Trauma work has helped me tremendously with the patterns and loops of thoughts… yet there are times it’s like a broken record! 😔 one day we will spend hours together, chatting and listening. This, I know in my bones. 💜💜💜
When I came back from Japan I dedicated a month to painting an Enso each day. Just blue ink. Just a circle. The practice taught me so much about breathing, letting go of perfection, and letting the flow happen. Your words take me back to those moments. Bless you.
Orly, I’m moved by all of your posts. Today’s, though, resonates for me especially. I’ve now read it three times and each reading has taken me deeper. I would have loved to have participated in your minimalism workshop, but just from your words here I’m able to gather much wisdom. How true that beauty is noticeable in the void; in fact, I think it’s more evident there, in the quiet, in the empty or uncluttered spaces. Haiku comes to mind, as do the simplest of ink sketches and the placing of one color/shape in relation to just one other. As my art making evolves, I’ll be reminding myself again and again to “shoot for absolutely nothing.” Thank you, Orly.
Oh Jeri, your words move me so and warm my heart this morning as I myself struggle to ‘empty’ cluttered and murky places I woke up with. My love to you. And I wish you were there too.
Our culture has made it difficult to lead uncluttered lives, both materially and psychologically. And our personal relationships can sometimes feel quite cluttered, too. Part of our work in clearing/cleaning our “canvases” is to carry ourselves with kindness (to ourselves and others) and clearsightedness and when that’s hard, to, as you said, simply breathe. Often times this is easier said than done. A heart full of warm wishes to you this morning (and always).
Your words, dear one always, always resonate with me. My heart. My soul and the place in me that has no title, no name. The part of me that is invisible, but always present. I feel it. It lingers with every move I make. Day or night. It can be a gift or an anchor I must carry or drop. When I ponder this I think I choose to carry this 'unknown', 'invisible', 'unnamed' element of my being, because I don't want to give up on the small things it leaves behind as time passes. This whatever it is, the very least of me, is what gently nudges me forward, and to do that I must resolve to go slower. A different kind of momentum, but one that propels me and, honestly, oddly is quite reliable actually. I won't ever settle for a half life, but minimalism is not always, or doesn't have to be, barren; what is already there, right there on the edges of what we truly need.(That might be a clumsy way of stating the obvious) So maybe that unnamed thing in me is a combination of a little bit of curiosity, wonder and awe. And also just maybe, there is a bucket of the contrary waiting on the side to dump right over my head. And now, dear friend, I'm simply being silly. Thank you for allowing me the space to ponder all of this.
I’m going to listen to this over and over. I’m having feelings about “making art” for an upcoming show. My heart is pulling me towards simple, heartfelt and space. Rest and restoration. I long to have a few pieces of paper, a pot of paint, glue and breath.
Orly, you are an amazing writer. Wednesday mornings, swoon 💗
Just right for right now for this morning maybe I shall start over with nothing in my head no one to be nothing to do no place to go.
Such a great post, Orly. I live so grossly maximally buried in adjectives and adverbs and fake love but I crave for nothing to surround me nothing to touch my body except my dog no one to call out my name no one to ask me a question I am all filled up with life now that I am old and want nothing more than a piece of toast with butter.
My husband and I are immersing ourselves in clearing out unloved, unnecessary and too long held stuff. Your article is perfect timing to remind us that beauty is in the void , a void that can be filled with breaths. Our fierce and firm determination will get us there. Thank you for your wise words.
Such liberating undertaking. 🙏🏻💕
Minimalism . Depends. When it comes to stuff- yes. Very minimalistic . In my creative practice- no. Layers and textures excite my spirit, make me like a hunting dog-nose to the ground. Wanting to throw as much as will fit on a page.
My inner world is minimalistic… Same looping thoughts… Same questions, same responses. Always wondering what if… past, present day and future. I don’t need much to be content. Yet I too, get sucked in.
Happy to be traveling this present life with snippets of your words and inner being. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Thanks dear one for sharing this. There are definitely the different areas where we are more minimalist than in others. For me looping thoughts, repeated patterns over and over again, endlessly, do not fall under the category of minimalism. 💕🙏🏻
I hear you. Trauma work has helped me tremendously with the patterns and loops of thoughts… yet there are times it’s like a broken record! 😔 one day we will spend hours together, chatting and listening. This, I know in my bones. 💜💜💜
When I came back from Japan I dedicated a month to painting an Enso each day. Just blue ink. Just a circle. The practice taught me so much about breathing, letting go of perfection, and letting the flow happen. Your words take me back to those moments. Bless you.
🙏🏻😌💓
Orly, I’m moved by all of your posts. Today’s, though, resonates for me especially. I’ve now read it three times and each reading has taken me deeper. I would have loved to have participated in your minimalism workshop, but just from your words here I’m able to gather much wisdom. How true that beauty is noticeable in the void; in fact, I think it’s more evident there, in the quiet, in the empty or uncluttered spaces. Haiku comes to mind, as do the simplest of ink sketches and the placing of one color/shape in relation to just one other. As my art making evolves, I’ll be reminding myself again and again to “shoot for absolutely nothing.” Thank you, Orly.
Oh Jeri, your words move me so and warm my heart this morning as I myself struggle to ‘empty’ cluttered and murky places I woke up with. My love to you. And I wish you were there too.
Our culture has made it difficult to lead uncluttered lives, both materially and psychologically. And our personal relationships can sometimes feel quite cluttered, too. Part of our work in clearing/cleaning our “canvases” is to carry ourselves with kindness (to ourselves and others) and clearsightedness and when that’s hard, to, as you said, simply breathe. Often times this is easier said than done. A heart full of warm wishes to you this morning (and always).
So very beautifully said, and so achingly true. Thank you Jeri. My appreciation to you.
Your words, dear one always, always resonate with me. My heart. My soul and the place in me that has no title, no name. The part of me that is invisible, but always present. I feel it. It lingers with every move I make. Day or night. It can be a gift or an anchor I must carry or drop. When I ponder this I think I choose to carry this 'unknown', 'invisible', 'unnamed' element of my being, because I don't want to give up on the small things it leaves behind as time passes. This whatever it is, the very least of me, is what gently nudges me forward, and to do that I must resolve to go slower. A different kind of momentum, but one that propels me and, honestly, oddly is quite reliable actually. I won't ever settle for a half life, but minimalism is not always, or doesn't have to be, barren; what is already there, right there on the edges of what we truly need.(That might be a clumsy way of stating the obvious) So maybe that unnamed thing in me is a combination of a little bit of curiosity, wonder and awe. And also just maybe, there is a bucket of the contrary waiting on the side to dump right over my head. And now, dear friend, I'm simply being silly. Thank you for allowing me the space to ponder all of this.
Always. Always Susie. Spaces here with me. Open, vast, connective. 😘😘😘
I’m going to listen to this over and over. I’m having feelings about “making art” for an upcoming show. My heart is pulling me towards simple, heartfelt and space. Rest and restoration. I long to have a few pieces of paper, a pot of paint, glue and breath.
Orly, you are an amazing writer. Wednesday mornings, swoon 💗
Yes Amy, lots of breaths between the brush strokes. Ahhhh. Muah.
Oh Orly, I feel this is speaking directly to me! How do you do it? 💕💕💕💕
I dunno 🤷🏻♀️ but I am so happy I do, my dear Heather.
Just right for right now for this morning maybe I shall start over with nothing in my head no one to be nothing to do no place to go.
Such a great post, Orly. I live so grossly maximally buried in adjectives and adverbs and fake love but I crave for nothing to surround me nothing to touch my body except my dog no one to call out my name no one to ask me a question I am all filled up with life now that I am old and want nothing more than a piece of toast with butter.
“Nothing more than a piece of toast with butter”, yes, perhaps with a smidge of fig jam to bless the empty space with a sweet kiss in slow motion.🤍💓🤍
Thank you for this piece, so poignant
Thank you much dear Pauli. 🤍💓