Card of the Day: Daughter of Cups

No, your eyes do not deceive you; it’s the same card as yesterday. The temptation to just draw another card was strong, but I’ve set myself certain constraints with this daily practice (work with the card you draw, 2200 character limit, post it by noon). I want to see what comes from working with what I have.

The Universe knows I phoned it in yesterday. I was playing beat-the-clock with getting it posted before I walked out the door for a very long day. I wasn’t feeling “inspired,” or like I had anything insightful to say. So I gave a quick sketch of the card and then put myself down for not doing art practice. Despite the fact that I’ve been writing these every day since the New Year. As if that’s not its own daily creative practice.

I was also aware of working with my tendency to want every single thing I make to be perfect, especially if anyone else is going to see it. But some days, it’s just a dud. And that is part of the process. An important part of the process. I worked with this for a long time in therapy when I was in my 20s. I was totally blocked and couldn’t write anything because it was ruined in my mind before I even made it. I called this particular form of creative block “shitting the golden brick.” If it’s not going to come out perfect, why bother?

I’ve learned to work with that more skillfully, and I’m still working with it. Sometimes a shimmering rainbow stares back at you from your inner creative being. And sometimes the shimmering rainbow is out to lunch and you just have to muddle along with your regular old self. This is why art practice is so powerful to me. Because that’s a really good thing to work with and develop not just for making art but for being a whole person. Sometimes my best is outstanding and I feel good and proud, and sometimes my best is just...meh. But there’s a lot to be learned in the process. Thanks for being part of mine.