An on-line acquaintance posted about aspects of her spiritual journey yesterday in groupings of double-drabble (200 word) paragraphs. (
Why I am an ___, in 200 words or less). Another on-line friend
responded with four aspects of what makes her a unique person whose footprint upon this earth will be imitated by none. I thought I'd take a quick turn and see what I could do with this, interspersed by pictures, of course.
Musician and Music Appreciator –
An adopted child of people from Vienna, music was always a
part of my life. No “Rock-a-by Baby” lullabies for me, though. No, the tunes
sung and hummed while mother danced with me in her arms were waltzes by
Strauss, music by Oppenheimer, and of course some Mozart and Wagner. I grew up
listening to rehearsals by symphony and chamber orchestras. I attended operatic
performances inspiring me to sing my speech for weeks on end. I sat at a piano
keyboard as soon as I could stretch across the keys and when a cello was first
placed in my hand and my first note sounded, I knew I had found my anchor.
Although I am not actively playing instruments any more for a variety of
reasons, music is still important in my life. Classical music is always on in
my car, I search YouTube for recommended contemporary music because I rely on
the guidance of friends for a broader musical score. And every story I write
always has music underpinning the words – even this one. Yes, I consider myself
a musician, but more than that, I consider myself a music fan in all of its
many forms, shapes and hues.
 |
| by Sara Nadeau |
Artistic Interpreter –
When I was a young child I discovered that I could express
my feelings through the visual arts. It is still my primary form of worship
because through the works of my hands, eyes and spirit I celebrate the Powers
who direct my life. My greatest happiness is to look at the artistic works of
others and then return to my own studio to continue in my own endeavors. As a
girl I worked with paints, pastels, pencils and clay. As I grew up I shifted
into braiding elaborate braids with leather, embroidering and
collage/decoupage. I always wanted to try stone carving but could never find a
good studio and tools to use, but I worked with wood and leather, making a
variety of items both useful and attractive. My art always was a foundation of
my life, but the means of expression changed with my disposable income. For
several years now I have been slowly accumulating the tools and equipment I
want for the last twenty-thirty years of my artistic life. For the ending of my
lifespan, as my body grows colder and less flexible, I’ll be working more with
fire and molten glass, metals and color – always color.
Writer, Author, Reader –
If I wasn't born with a book in my hand, I should have been.
From the time I was a small child I was raised with a love for books. My father
believed strongly in the power of the written word and raised me with Greek
Mythology as my bedtime stories. My father always wrote – stories, screenplays,
and towards the end of his life, textbooks. My mother always read popular books
– nothing earthshaking but she always had a book at her bedside. I had my nose
in a book from the time I could read and have always written here and there.
Because I despise handwriting anything, I have a trail of discarded journals
behind me. The best gift of my youth was a manual typewriter. Suddenly I had a
tool for writing and I never looked back. Many disastrous literary adventures
and scholarly texts were pounded out on my typewriter, but I never actively
sought to write fiction until a few short years ago. Now I am a published
author, working on more submissions as well as a novel with another one in the
wings. I have a broad group of on-line friends who share this addiction. How
wonderful!
 |
I wasn't quite this young when I got my first typewriter, but I wasn't
any older than ten years old. It was one of the best gifts of my life. |
Spiritual Believer and Worshiper –
I was raised by parents who were, at best – agnostic, at
worst – atheistic. The trauma of being Jewish in Europe during WWII never truly
left my parents. It was part of their foundation and the reason why I had few
living relatives remaining. Mother turned her back on God believing that any
deity who would allow the murder of more than six million of his “chosen”
people did not deserve her worship. I can’t say that I disagree. This lack of
directed “popular” religious training allowed me to choose my own path. I
explored everything – Christianity (several denominations), Judaism, even
Buddhism. After many years I met the man I call brother – a full-blood Lakota
Sioux and acknowledged spiritual leader. My steps on the Red Road helped
finalize my divorce from traditional religions. Although I no longer worship at
those altars, they taught me to acknowledge and to recognize the Powers. Today
I am proudly Pagan. The Powers are everywhere in this world – they are
multifaceted and their strength flows through each moment of life with a pulse
that forms the heartbeat of Earth. This rhythm guides my thoughts and steps. It
inspires my art and music. It forms my love.
 |
| I am so grateful for the life I've been granted and experience joy in each sunrise. |
So there you have it – four different 200 word explanations
of who I am and why I walk the pathway that I do. For better or for worse, this
is me.
