It is Advent again, December 1

It is Advent again, and I begin again, my Advent Calendar Collage practice.

Everyday through December 25th, I’ll be making a 5×5 inch collage, writing a short entry on this blog and sharing a prompt for those who might want to participate along with me. I use this time to help myself “withdraw from the restlessness of external activities,” and to “flee away and hide from the turmoil of outward occupations and inward thoughts, for they create nothing but discord!” (Meister Eckhart, Where God Enters)

December fills quickly for all of us. Holiday preparations, the end of semester push, markets and other stresses. I use this practice to help my heart move towards light and love that this season asks me to remember. I embrace this opportunity to welcome the dark days and then move again, towards the light.

I invite you to begin again, whatever is that practice that helps move you towards the light.

You can follow my progress by subscribing to this blog through the sidebar on the blog homepage, or by following me on Instagram.

Today’s Prompt:

Pair two images, from very different sources, to create a composition that demonstrates the element of direction.

This collage features an image from Fra Angelico’s, The Annunciation, that lives in the Prado, and a cut-out from a children’s book. I am a collector of paintings of The Annunciation. They remind me to be brave, and to accept & embrace the difficult (but often glorious) opportunities that life presents. As I reflect on this past year and look to next year, my word for 2018 will be BRAVE, partially inspired by the Annunciation story.