Monday, February 23, 2015

Page of Cups - Playing in the mud

Anna K Tarot,Page of Cups
Today's card is the Page of cups from the Anna K Tarot. A young boy is playing with water, pouring from the rock. The source of this spring is a the vast universal well of intuition and hidden wisdom but he doesn't know that; not now, not yet. It is late at night and in the distance one star is watching over him, ready to guide him if he needs it. But not now, not yet. The young boy has as a cup and saucer to gather the water and to pour it out over the rocks, over and over again. The fun is in the repetition of the game. He is experiencing an abundance of flowing feelings, of embracing them and letting them go but he doesn't know that; not now, not yet.
Al he wants to do is play with the water and the mud for that is what this page (earth + water = mud) is all about. Shaping the mud into formless  pies is what all children love to do. Eating them (throwing them over their shoulder) and baking a new batch; over and over again. This is the message for me today from this page: Playing is not a onetime thing. Doing the same thing over and over again it what gets you in the flow. In my opinion, playing is a circular act while practicing is often more linear; working towards a goal
This afternoon I am going to paint with my watercolors some whet in whet backgrounds for later drawings. So no pressure to create something beautiful; just playing with water and paint. YAY!
What will be your “mud pies” today?

14 comments:

  1. I think this "learning by play" instead of "learning by practice" is why I'm enjoying the sketch prompts JJ is doing each week. Having fun is much more enjoyable than being dutiful!

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    1. I think I was forgetting the fun part in my 40 day challenge and took it way to seriously.:)
      Luckily you've found a playful attitude toward these prompts and don't feel pressured by them

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  2. Machine quilting the first of three new hanging quilts for my loft banister.
    A spiral is the basis of my pattern...mud pies indeed, happy days!

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    1. THis sound like a wonderful way to enter the flow.
      Enjoy yourself Sharyn!
      hugs

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  3. I just got the Anna K as an app for my phone. I love some of the images and others don't quite hit the mark for me. How are you enjoying this deck?

    Your wet-on-wet reference took me on a little journey back to the simpler days when my son was little and we did that together for homeschool projects. We'd fill the tub with 1/4 inch of water and put our watercolor paper in it to soak, then out they'd come, and wonderful landscapes would appear as if by magic when the watercolors met the wet paper. Those days always seemed full of sunshine.

    As to your question...for me, zentangling is my current artistic outlet. I'm working on a zentangle of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

    blessings on your "mud-pieing" :)

    Rose

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    1. Hi Rose, My children both have attended a Waldorf school were I was introduced to this technique. It is so soothing to do this kind of painting. Sometimes I like add some more layers to the painting (http://greyladyshearth.blogspot.nl/2013/11/painting-intuitively-with-watercolors.html)
      I like making zentangles too but often I am to impatient to make the intricate patterns. I am practicing them now in a little grid notebook.
      @Anna K Tarot. I just love the whole deck. The grey and dark blue colors in contrast to the bright yellows are so intensely beautiful. I often say this deck reads like an illustrated storybook
      Hugs

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    2. Waldorf has some wonderful things to offer young children, doesn't it? All those seasonal rhythms and lovely, natural materials--wood, wool, silk. This was the primary educational focus we used in our son's early childhood. We've since moved on from there but I'm grateful for the grounding it gave both of us.

      Zentangling really satisfies something in me. It surprises me, being the impatient Aries that I am lol, that I enjoy this kind of lengthy, intricate, detailed work. But I do!

      Your wet on wet paintings are lovely! And thanks for your experience re the AK Tarot. I keep getting tripped up by The Empress, can't find my way into that particular representation. I do love a lot of the others though.

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    3. Thank you Rose!
      Ha ha The Empress! Now that is a card which didn't appeal to me right away either but I did get to appreciate her while working with the deck. Some of the faces of the characters do need some getting used to :D

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  4. What a great post - "he doesn't know that, not now, not yet." It's a simple way to put it but it's really added to my understanding of this card. Thank you!
    Also - I love the Anna K tarot. Always good to see it pop up on tarot blogs!

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    1. Thank you so much Beth! I like the playful way a page approaches life. Like a child who has got nothing to worry about.
      Anna K Tarot is one of my favorite decks. I love everything about it: The lovely drawings and the colors! OMG don't get me started about the colors again :D
      Hugs

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  5. I actually enjoyed the snow outside today! Big fluffy flakes and love watching my cats watch this snow flakes. You always learn when you play. Play is fun and learning should be fun too! I love you interpretation of the Page of Cups. <3

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    1. Thank you Catherine. So winter is not all bad! :D
      Watching snowflakes twirling all around is so beautiful!

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  6. I really like this Page of Cups. What a lovely image!

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