Glimmers

Recently I had a show in a local shop in town, my first solo show. I have been painting for years now and circling the themes that really pull me in, the things I love to look at, the colors and patterns and symbols that light me up and really speak to me.

As I gathered all the work I planned to hang, I started thinking about what ties together the different aspects of my creative vision: the colors, the magic, the fragments of images of celebration, creative inspiration, and dream visions, the re-imaginings of places from my childhood, the spark of recognition or connections…the word that jumped into my mind was “glimmers.” I know this word as a therapist, I use it with my clients to highlight anything that brings them back to their true self, their connection to their aliveness or divinity.

In a time like this, when we are losing our freedoms, and watching so much of the beautiful evolution of the past half century (represenation, diversity, greater equity, queer and trans visibility) being hoovered into some dark vacuum, and the truer more beautiful world that so many of us imagine seems further out of reach, we have to do what we can to lay claim to our own joy and humanity. We need a practice of noticing glimmers more than ever.

I wrote this for the show statement:

Glimmers are micro moments of joy, connection, beauty, or peace that cue a sense of well-being, hope, or safety in our nervous system.  A glimmer can be anything that inspires a moment of positive emotion or calm. Glimmers are all around us, there for the noticing: the moon rising over the mountains, a tiny dog in a sweater, rain glistening on a mossy rock, a gentle breeze or the warmth from a fireplace, a burst of unexpected color, a chance meeting with a friend, a kind word, animal shaped cloud, sweet memory, or favorite song, fireworks in the distance, a slant of light.

A feeling of safety or danger in our nervous system can literally change how we view the world.  A basic glimmer practice can lead to increased positive emotion and a sense of greater connection to the world around you:

·      Notice:  Start by opening your awareness to welcome glimmers.  Bring attention to the feeling of calm, joy, or well-being that a glimmer brings. Notice how it feels in your body.

·      Pause: Allow the feeling to settle into your nervous system.

·      Appreciate: Acknowledge the feeling and take a moment to experience gratitude.

·      Share: Sharing creates connection and brings the experience alive for you and others in the remembering and re-telling.