Fire
Cross culturally there may be some differing ideas concerning the four directions and the elements. For me this is the time of the year that we work with the East and the element of fire.
Take one look at the language we use surrounding this element, “the fire within”, “the flames of passion” and we can begin to understand the kind of energy we are working with here.
My burned out kitchen and a visit from the fire brigade are enough after my eldest son’s absent minded attempt to grill burgers, is enough of a personal reminder to me as to the powerful nature of this element.
That’s what differentiates it though from the other forces of nature, it’s not something that exists in and of itself, it needs the energy of the others to come into play. This gives it its transformative nature, its ability to consume and quite literally turn another to ash.
It’s true to say that in our own lives, uncontrolled fire in the form of anger or passion is indeed a similarly destructive force. However if we learn to work with it the power to transform can be harnessed in a way that is a little gentler on the soul.
So how do we go about this exactly? Well that brings me to the point of this post. For me this is an opportunity to consider how the energy manifests internally and how I go about using it in a way that is less destructive and more creative. It has been uncomfortable for me to acknowledge that there is some fire in my life that if left unattended can have the effect of relating more to the former. In facing myself I can see the areas where the embers of frustration can sometimes be provoked into “heated words” or “flashes of anger”.
However this acknowledgement opens up the opportunity to embrace the fire within me and transform it through the spark of creativity that’s always burning away inside. On a personal level this means, finding outlets for my passions and learning to recognise the ways in which this element manifests and how to temper it. In my work it’s a change of colour palette and exploration into how this particular element has an effect on my mind, body and soul. That’s part of the joy for me in being able to paint, that I get to take something and work it out in front of my very own eyes. I get to really see it, to feel it and to notice what emotions come through me and onto the canvas. It’s not always pretty, it’s not always peaceful. It is however the passionate, creative transformative truth.
Project Details
- Client : Private Commission
- Service : Art for the Home
- Project : Element - Fire - Art - Painting