What Are You Aiming At?
A friend of mine, recently fascinated by the Greek goddess, Artemis (also known as the Roman goddess, Diana), made me realize that Artemis the Huntress is a good role model for creatives—for artists and musicians and writers and such.
Why? Because she is the goddess of the forest–all that is wild and untamed and unknown. With her bow and arrows, she both protects the chaos of the forest and captures whatever she hunts.
Like Artemis, I, too, am the goddess of a wild, untamed and unknown forest. No, not my backyard. My creativity.
I don’t know about you but I have myriad interests and abilities that sometimes make it hard for me to decide what to focus on first—a case of not being able to see the tree for the forest!
I easily lose track of priorities. I often fail to act first on projects that will produce the most results. And, because I work at home, I can spend days on details, reading email, doing research, and reading the latest professional journals (and baking cookies), before I realize that I’ve spent no time writing, weaving, or lining up work—a case of not seeing the forest for the trees!
I take the bow and arrow of my energy and, in essence, shoot at anything that moves, like a branch waving in the breeze, or a shadow moving beneath the leaves. Not only am I apt to miss, I end up with a lot of wasted arrows I have to hunt for and nothing that can sustain me. This makes me—and Artemis—unhappy.
Shooting hither and thither might sharpen my eye and build my muscles (have you ever tried pulling back on a bow?) and that is a good thing, but ultimately, if I am going to develop more than muscle—if I want to write a book, snag a speaking engagement, and bring home food for the table—I need to first, choose my target, and then take careful aim.
Today I am aiming at editing a manuscript and finishing the weaving of a shawl.
What are you aiming at?
August 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
As the evenings get cooler, I am aiming at appreciating each day for what it is–one last glorious shot at summer. It’s so easy to say it’s almost gone, then immediately complain about the impending winter. (As if fall didn’t even exist!)
I love Artemis, because she’s also the Goddess of the Moon. And where the moon shines, so does magic. Something a creative person always needs!
August 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Another beautifully framed essay that captures a weakness of my own. There are so many things I want to pursue–but by not focusing and choosing, none of them will come to fruition. I’m focusing on sending out unpublished essays waiting in the wings for too long, revising my novel one more time, and querying more agents (in addition to completing some freelance assignments). Thanks for giving us the boost of structure–a perfect accompaniment to my day since the kids just went back to school today. I feel like I can establish more order now!