In 2019 Effy Wild offered a painting course: A Year Of Rumi. In a year of interesting personal changes, Rumi (and Effy's interpretations and instructive classes) became a delightful resting place for me. A new painting derived from a new quote each month. Moments to explore and reflect; moments to lose myself in; moments to soothe and refresh and re-ignire my soul. I sopped up as much as I possibly could. This year, through her Patreon account, Effy gives us A Year Of Mary. A new painting, an Effy signature, a lip-up girl, centred around a quote from a Mary Oliver poem each month. Mary's poems, for me, are like moss-covered rocks to rest against. I wanted to dive right in as soon as Effy offtered them but strangely I just finished February's. I've coveted them, trying to stretch out the delicious anticipation of creating them. But they are such a delight, such a comfort, that I think I'll spoil myself once this blog along is over and indulge in catching up. In both courses, I've often adapted each painting, using Effy's techniques usually but perhaps changing the overall picture, sometimes not changing much of anything. Effy reads out loud the full poem in AYOM (a treat in itself--who doesn't love being read poetry to?) and I print it out and read it over, seeing if a different phrase jumps out at me. So far I've used both of Effy's choices. You can see my January AYOM in the side bar, advertising the course. In A Year Of Rumi, Effy directed us to many quotes and focused on a different one each month. The 12 paintings are designed to be used as calendar pictures and Effy gives instructions and pages at the end of the course so we can build our own calendars if we wish. For my cover page in AYOR, I chose a completely different quote which somehow brings me immense comfort and freedom, so much so that I have it pinned on my bedroom wall so I see it everyday. One day I'll frame it. I made it using not so great white gel pens but can easily fix that if I want. The quote is: "It's your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you but no one can walk it for you." It's funny what speaks to me at certain points of my life but this quote still resonates strongly with me and somehow gives me permission to let everyone else go their own way while letting me go much more freely my own way. Ah, Rumi. Such wisdom. In 2017, my son Dane returned to Thunder Bay from Toronto while awaiting his green card so he could go and work in the States and be with his American hubby. He lived with his Grandpa, my dad, who was still deeply grieving my Mam's death in 2013. In mid-2018 at the age of 80, Dad met a lovely lady, Sandy. Romance blossomed quickly between them. So quickly that on my way to meet Sandy for the very first time Dad announced that he would likely be going to Florida with her during the winter. Dad hadn't travelled out of Thunder Bay since Mam died, never deviating from his daily set-in-stone routines so this was quite amazing. Sandy's presence brought many changes, both to Dad and his outlook (very positive but it took some adjusting to his new way of being!) and to the house. Long story short, Dane obtained his green card and left to live in the States right after Christmas 2018 and Dad also left for 3 months in Florida around the same time. Although delighted for both of them and although happily married to my hubby and surrounded by a large loving stepfamily, I felt...oh I don't know...abandoned somehow, a little adrift. Enter A Year of Rumi and his insight. On 1st June 2019, Dad and Sandy got married. I made their wedding card and wrote May's Rumi quote within as it seemed so fitting: Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.
It all just goes to show that in anything we do or create or offer to the world, like Effy's wonderfully timed A Year of Rumi, we can never anticipate how it will touch the life of someone else. So thank you, Effy! I will leave you with my August painting from AYOR which is one of my favourites--a departure from Effy's I think but I incorporated her watercolur lesson. I like it because it makes me think of foggy nights and gas lamps. I hope you will take the quote to heart. Thank you so much for reading and commenting if you wish. I appreciate it and read all the comments even if I don't manage to reply via this blog. Thank you for journeying with me along this part of the road. "Don't you know yet? It's your light that lights the world." ~Rumi
13 Comments
oh wow I really love them all! I wanted to do AYOR and didn't and wish I had and now the same with AYOM but I have too much going on to do another *thing* but I LOVE it and wish I'd made other choices when I keep seeing all the gorgeous art. <a href="https://empireofthecat.com">Elle xx</a>
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Lisa
4/25/2021 08:49:43 pm
I love The Year of Rumi! So much fun. And "It's your light that lights the world" quote is the one I used for my cover. Your artwork is beautiful!
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Cheryl Turtlemoon
4/26/2021 12:45:19 am
Your paintings are beautiful. I love the daily haiku, and today’s really touched me. The courses sound blissful!
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Angela Fretwell
4/26/2021 02:03:34 am
Great work - I have to get back to last years Lifebook and BOD's - I love Effy's style.
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Samm Starrs
4/26/2021 02:29:38 am
OMDOODNESS I love all of these! I'm a huge Rumi fan and I really wanted to do that course but alas. Seriously love all of this post.
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Susan Renshaw
4/26/2021 03:50:46 am
I loved reading your stories and the quotes. The artwork is really special!
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AuthorWelcome! I'm Sue Blott: a writer of all things, a poet at heart, mom, wife, daughter, step-mom, grandma, tea drinker, tai chi-er, mystic, artist, dreamer...and now a blogger! This is my world. Categories |