Welcome. May your Heart and Mind know Profound Peace and EnLightenment...

As a clay artist, I am continually amazed by the stories that I hear from other people when I sell my work at festivals and shows. The wife of a wood worker told me an absolutely amazing story that I felt I must share. The woman's heart was moved by one of my clay turtle sculptures. When I told her that I trusted each piece that I made was meant for a particular person who would show up to claim it, she wholeheartedly agreed. This belief was formed after a customer recently purchased one of her husband's wooden bowls. Apparently, he had been a farm animal veterinarian for a number of years. While waiting for the delivery of the baby animal and the part he played in it's emergence, he would sit and whittle small pieces. After a few years, he became quite good at it and found that a passion for it grew within his heart. Eventually he decided that it was time to retire from his profession and pursue his calling as a wood carver. Most of the man's friends knew that he was always looking for fallen trees that could be recycled and then used to create beautiful works of art.

One day a friend called and told him about an exceptional downed oak tree that needed to be removed. He felt that it would probably be enough wood to carve out at least four beautiful bowls. The wood carver contacted the caretaker of the land and was given permission to remove the downed tree. Since the man was deeply spiritual and grateful for the Gifts of the earth, he asked for guidance to create the most splendid wooden bowls possible. After hours, days and weeks, he was able to transform the tree into four perfect wooden bowls. The wife said that these bowls were splendid and they were overjoyed to display them at their next festival. One by one, each of the bowls found the perfect home very quickly, except for the last piece, which they simply could not sell. Over the course of a year, the bowl was lovingly packed and unpacked and it seemed that not one person was interested in it. At one point, the wife said that she picked the bowl up and questioned aloud "Is there something wrong with this piece? Why would the other three bowls from the same tree sell so quickly?"

After being packed and unpacked again and again, the older couple finally decided to lower the price. Not long after that, a young woman walked into their booth space and spotted the wooden bowl. Out of the many pieces on display that were carved from a variety of trees, the young woman went directly to that particular piece. She picked it up and examined it carefully, then she did something that always gives an artist such JOY, she held it up to her heart. After holding it against her body for a few minutes, she walked up to the wife and explained that she did not have much money, but if they would work with her, she would pay them installments on the piece. Naturally, the older couple was thrilled that someone had finally shown interest in it. They agreed to work with her so that she could give the oak bowl a home. After deciding how she could make payments on it, they wrapped the bowl up for her.

She then asked the couple where they had found such beautiful wood to create the wooden bowl. Within a few minutes, the man shared the story with the young woman about how he had been told about the tree and made a special journey to collect the wood to carve the four bowls.They laughed out loud as they shared how the other three pieces had sold so quickly, but this one lingered. Out of curiosity, the young woman asked where they found this tree and the wood carver told her the place. As he revealed the location of the tree that was used to create this last and final bowl, the young woman's eyes welled up with tears and she began to cry. The couple was disturbed that they had somehow upset her with their story, but the woman reassured them that her tears were not so much from sadness, but the realization that things really are connected in life.

Sometimes, all we have to do is allow ourselves to be guided and open to the experience that unfolds. She explained to the couple that the area that they found the tree was the place that she had lived for many years when she was a child. The man had removed the tree from an orphanage and she had looked out her window at that tree admiring its beauty while she was growing up. It had been a great source of strength and comfort to her. Who would have thought that this old tree could have been transformed into the most beautiful work of art that could give such joy and love even in its death. In the sharing of that story, I came to believe even more that being an artist is a calling and that we must learn how to serve other Beings with a kind and loving heart. It is often easy to be closed by the tragedies and traumas in life, but to remain open and steadfast is essential to our healing.

When we show up at art festivals, we are risking a great deal. Sometimes it rains, sometimes the wind blows, sometimes pieces are broken. Sometimes we do not sell a single thing to anyone. In spite of all the obstacles that we face, we are bestowed with a great responsibility. We must recognize that most people buy our work because it is pretty, but sometimes they buy it because it touches their heart and soul. May we all trust that life is giving us everything that we need and move through our life lessons with love, tenderness and infinite compassion for our shared humanity.