Fun fact: in my twenties, I LOVED to go “swamping” in my friend’s marshy bog. “Swamping” was a delicate balance of dancing along floating tree roots, meanwhile swinging from limb to limb in monkey-like fashion...all to avoid stepping into knee-deep muck. There was deep satisfaction in winding our way through parts of the forest that seemed otherwise impassable—all without getting wet or lost.
Pause & Reflect
Let’s pause to consider the metaphor here: what do you do when the trail ends before a dense, impenetrable field of muck? Do you go back? Do you plunge forward---wading, wet and bogged down? Or do you figure out a way to fly through the terrain, to dance with what you’ve got?
Winter Dress| Jodi Rose Gonzales
Swamping, then: it was on my friend’s property that I collected materials for my second sculpture: tree roots for Winter Dress. It was there that I noted how moss grew green and happy even in the darkest, coldest days of winter….and I have used it as a symbol of resilience in my artwork ever since.
Did you read about Timberella yet? Get the parables HERE.
Last year, when a family friend gave me a clump of tree roots from a Florida bog, I created an artwork from the bottom-up: starting with roots-for-skirt. I thought about my swamping days, meanwhile reflecting on ALL of the environments I’ve traversed…not just the forest. Elements from each place started collecting on the piece: palm tree parts and cactus skeleton from the desert; bark from our property; milkweed pods, birdseed and an assortment of beads from my time as a jewelry designer.
The piece quickly evolved into Marsh Muse. Her composition was no mishmash: she is intentional, rooted, flying, soft and strong. Her message? Take the best of you along. Be strong. Fly. Leave your muck in the muck, and move on.
ART & Journal Prompts
Here are questions for consideration:
Where in your life do you feel heavy or bogged down?
What resources in your life have you gathered that make you (emotionally) strong?
Do you neglect moving forward for fear of getting lost or stuck?
Do you listen to (and/or trust) your inner guidance? Why or why not?
What support would help you get through life’s muck?
ART PROMPTS: Visit an outdoors place that you are drawn to: it could be a sidewalk, park, or another place in nature. Gather several small objects, and arrange them on the ground or in a small box. Journal with the image/objects, asking: What wisdom do they have to share? What 1-3 specific actions can you take that would help you move forward? Finally, ask the object--assemblage: Does it have anything else to share? Answer these questions with your non-dominant hand.
When you’re done, replace the objects back in nature or keep them as you wish. This prompt is called living art journal. Watch a video about living art journals HERE.
Marsh Muse | Jodi Rose Gonzales
Swamping, now: take the best of you along.
This fine-art print is available in a variety of standard sizes that can easily be matted and framed to match your decor, starting at $17.
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Move through the marsh
If you are feeling intimidated by the terrain that life has placed before you, take a deep breath and remind yourself that there is no need to be stuck here. Think swamping. Ask yourself: what tools do I need to get myself through this? Then, gather your strength. Move forward with your attention/intention on balance, and seek support if you find yourself lost or too bogged down.
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Jodi Rose Gonzales ATR, NCC, ERYT, YACEP was recently celebrated in Times Square as the International Association of Top Professional’s Global Impact Artist of the Year. She is an artist, art therapist, author and yoga teacher who inspires her audiences through art and teachings intended to spread more hope and healing throughout the world. Get a FREE copy of the Girl in the Woods Parables, which explore the wisdom teachings associated with each of the six Timberellas, HERE.