Exploring cultural ecology and disability through creative arts

Seeds of Thought

A space for creative writing and blogs giving commentary on topics relevant to cultural or spiritual ecology, disability, and the arts. These are spontaneous responses or draft ideas. These try to view topics from multiple perspectives and do not seek to suggest an answer to questions raised or that there may be only one ‘right’ answer. These commentaries are shared to invite considered reflection and conversation among diverse perspectives.

A photo of a detail of a textile artwork. The base is a pale brown jute on which are rows of spots formed of small patches of other fabrics emerging through the jute. The spots are irregular in shape and colour and are predominantly dark blue but with an arched stripe of yellow and beige from the left to the bottom centre.

Discovery

I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t belong here. I’m functioning, existing, but I’m only going through the motions, autopilot.

I’m isolated, on my own; can build no relationships. I search for the nourishment I need to survive in unlikely places.

As I search, I discover that I am not alone. I exist in a world that is full; full of kin that are not like me and are lime we. Each of these kin also feeling alone, unbelonging. Some kin have existed for aeons and survive as a fragment that has been severed from their whole; multiplied. Some kin have been through metamorphosis and have found new ways of being and relating.

I don’t need kin that look like me or live like me. I don’t need kin that know like me or exist like me.

I need the kin that I can be in relationship with, who I can share being a being with. Reciprocity.

Photo of a detail of an artwork of strands of muted colour drawn directly onto the grain of wood. Streaks of grey, siena brown, and black run horizontally.

In Ana’s Spaces II