Work in the invisible world at least as hard as you do in the visible. ~Rumi
When I take the time to focus on the internal rather than the external, I can create. Is it avoidance of things in the visible world that need attention? Sure. Is it because creating is more fun? Entirely possible. I do know that the "visible" world will always be there and consistent, but my fleeting creative thoughts might not. That sketch I feel the need to create would not be in existence if it weren't for the drawing trapping the invisible thought. Everything begins with thought. Everything. If I don't take time to get an invisible thought down, it might be gone forever.
Learning to explore the mind in constructive ways without succumbing to mental chaos is a skill. This "invisible world" that Rumi talks about can be filled with potholes and mud traps, just like the visible. I think we are more likely to land in one if we don't take time and energy to learn about and try to understand our own personal internal landscapes. Reflective practice, such as meditation or in my case, making artwork with thread,beads, and stitch, helps reduce the mind chatter and gives some structure to the personal invisible world. I've learned that "an hour a day keeps the blues away" -- by taking time to physically create from my invisible world of thoughts every day, in one way or another, helps me feel mentally stronger and less likely to suffer at the whims, randomness, and discomfort that the "visible" world provides. Whether this is what Rumi means by this quote is truly up for grabs, but this is how it appears to my "invisible" world this morning. Cheers!
What will you make today?