the creative minimalist

darren r hill : writer, minstrel and journal keeper

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Recent creative field notes

"seeking my path" words in my art journal

I thought I’d share a few things I have and am doing. A little catch-up from the creative worlds I inhabit. A report back from the creative explorations I am taking. Creative field notes if you like.

I stopped writing my morning pages a while back. Since then I have been jotting down ideas and thoughts in a plain page journal. As such it has become a cross between an art journal and a writing journal. In it, I do the sort of thing pictured above and sometimes create backgrounds using the process below. Other times I just write words.

I am about to go live with my Patreon. One of the first pieces of music I will share is a reworking of an instrumental piece for the festival of Beltane. More on that in a future post, and on Patreon, but in the meantime this is the sort of thing I get up to in my music grimoire as I work on some lyrics.

A song for Beltane lyrics page from this Minster's manual

I don’t forget to refill the creative well either. I make sure I get out as often as I can and visit the sea, even if it is just for a brisk stroll along the beach. The sea was dancing away the last time I visited. When the wind is easterly it often whips up the waves in the bay. Not rough in the big scheme of things, but lively enough for us down here in the South West.

Rough sea

More creative field notes soon.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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Weekend words

The words above seem to be bouncing around my head this week. Some are just words that are resonating, others are song titles that will create some resonating while others may or may not resonate in the future.

It was the New Moon this week, so it was time for a lunar cycle intention time. One of the things I will be working on this month, is pLAnarchy. I took the opportunity of the New Moon to create a journal spread using some of my pLAnarchy stuff.

And the waves have been crashing on the beach. It is quite refreshing… In a resonating sort of way.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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Welcome to April

Stone cairn on desk


It is possible that the word April comes from the Latin verb aperire, which means ‘to open’. Therefore, if true, this month is so named because of all the things that open, or come into being at this time. Blossom. Flowers. Leaves. New life. And all the other things associated with spring.

I’ve got the spring fever. Ideas are coursing through my mind. It’s the creatives’ illness. The cure, create. The result, a harvest later in the year.

It’s April, a time to open…

…perhaps.

It is also possible that April is named after something else.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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Repetition is not a narrative

This phrase has been bouncing around my head for a while now.

Days become similar.
Hours and minutes are the same.
Moments, by moment, merge.

It’s the Spring Equinox.
It’s a Full Moon.
It’s another day in March.

Am I living my life, or am I repeating myself…
because, if so, repetition is not a narrative.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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It’s all in the preparation. Symbols, rituals and events


Today marks the beginning of Lent. Originally this religious feast was the time when Christians, or Catechumens, prepared for Easter. In the past they would learn the stuff and become good little Catechumens, before getting baptised at Easter. Part of this preparation involved fasting, or giving up. I have oversimplified things, but that’s why we get the whole giving things up for Lent ritual.

Today, there is a New Moon. For those who have followed my social journey, you’ll have seen my on/off attempts at using the New Moon cycle as a time of personal development, ritual and habit-forming process. Another over-simplification: it is when I make some intentions for the coming month and set about achieving them.

And Mercury is going, or has just gone (it depends on what calendar I look at), retrograde. I’m not up with all the astrological details (I totally understand the astronomical side of things), but essentially Mercury retrograde is a time when you might need to pay more attention than usual. It is a time to double check things, communications and tech stuff – all good advice anytime, but, hey I’m trying to make a point. So, another gross simplification born from my ignorance of astrology: it is a good time to prepare.

A strict, empirical mind might dismiss coincidences. It would suggest that what I see is simply me making connections where I want them to be. Well, yes I am. And as I like rituals, symbols and events, I am happy to be doing this.

Therefore, as these three events align, I feel it only right and proper to pause and prepare.

But pause from what and prepare for what?

The prepare is easy to answer. I have a long list of goals that I am working toward. I have projects on the go and some interesting things I will be sharing soon. Lots to prepare and plenty to do.

Perhaps, as I see these symbolic moments align, what I am being told is… don’t forget to pause.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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