The Metal Element: Art and Poetry
We are so inspired by our student- practitioners in the 23-23 In Our Element intensive, who created beautiful expressions of the Metal Element through original art and poetry!
by Erwin Thomas, Pacific NorthWest
Embodied mixed media experience. Acrylic paint, fall leaves on white paper, Notes from the "exhale" and "worthy" formula experiences. written in the upper half of the piece and painted over with a metallic silver color for the fleeting nature of all the mental musings. To be viewed while listening to "home again" by Michael Kiwanuka (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqcAn_z-MMc), the song, or the entire album of the same name. Even the album cover is a visual expression of the falling shifting metal of the elemental time clock. the piece itself will be recycled.
by Alison Reba, New Orleans
Sharing my embodiments of the metal element thru this drawing representing the dance and descent of leaves and accompanying playlist I created while working on this piece
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/metal-element/pl.u-PDb4zA6uyGmakP
Dominque Cowling, from the lands of the Sierra Miwok (Vallejo) and Ohlone People (Oakland) in California
Dominique (she, her) is a tender femme from the SF Bay Area dedicated to transforming trauma and violence into opportunities of freedom. She teaches Restorative Yoga and facilitates somatic healing workshops through Reclaiming Our Own Transcendence (ROOT) www.wetakeroot.com/healing-cycles-of-harm. Her relationship to spirit and the natural world guides her life. As the founder of Black Seeds Project, she provides group sessions in ritual with nature. Visit linktr.ee/blackseedsproject1 to see more offerings.
Forgive Me?
by Atikah Ali, NYC
Letting go is never easy
I’ve heard your cry and didn’t listen,
I thought ignoring you was better for us Hiding
Not feeling
Pretending
Forgive me?
I’ve pushed you around, suppressed you
Called myself stronger, smarter, more logical What do you know?
Every time I listen to you we end up hurting more
Forgive me?
Letting go is never easy, that’s what you say But don’t you get it?
Freeing you means being exposed
I can’t risk that, not again
So I’m left to protect us
Why is that so complicated for you to understand?
Where’s the logic in feeling Tenderness?
Knowing soon Sorrow will visit
Bringing Demise along for the ride
I only asked for Euphoria
We want the same thing
Why should we get it your way? I can’t let go
I won’t apologize for saving us the Despair
Forgive me?
It’s the only thing that makes sense
Listening hurts more than it brings understanding
But I’ll give it a try
I’ll free you but only for a moment
Happy now?
Of course not
So back at ground zero That’s where we end
Sorry I forget this is about letting go Can we start over?
Forgive Me?
by Rhonda Davis
Mixed Media Collage
Acrylic paints and pens
Gel pens
Sumi ink
Gelli prints
Photocopy prints
Intuitive scripting
This is a representation of changes that occur when experiencing the Metal Element.
What is this Discomfort? Am I having a Breakdown?
It feels like I’m being Disassembled and Falling into a state of Decay and Deterioration.
Could this actually be a Release—a Dissipating and Letting Go of what is no longer required?
I am Fading into what feels like Nothingness, but I know this is my path toward another Reset.
As I Dissolve into the Whiteness, I admire the sparkle of precious gems and metals that surround me.
One last Wailing Cry escapes from my lips, an expression of old Grief. Then I Sigh and take a deep, restorative Breath.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
Autumnal Metal Element Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yvki6Xp71ppvBaRZ3GT51?si=6debcd72736744ff
