JOURNEY TO SELF, THE STORY
The world of adulthood is mostly about inner satisfaction and also about the balancing between the material and the spiritual. I think it is because we haven’t learned much in our childhood. Nowadays there is an endless number of courses and workshops. Self revelation is a real topic these days. We are trying to work out the inherited patterns of behaviour. Our personalities were created by commands, rules and social expectations. We are perfectly sculptured from outside but we tend to forget to let the inner self grow. I have an impression that we do the same to our children. In a name of a good intention, we sculpture them to our own image. It is clear to me me that we must let their spirituality to grow as well. That way they build a solid foundation to be able to stand a chance in a stormy life time. I have two sons. I often see them to struggle with anger, sadness and disappointment. I am looking for ways to teach them how to deal with all that. It is not easy! They are stubborn and often ignore my advice. I am not surprised considering the load of advice and commands they receive from elsewhere. It is important to lead by a good example. I do bear in mind that there is inevitably the natural rebellion against parents. So, I am on a quest to be a good parent.
There are positive aspects of my parental journey too. For example, when we just sit and talk about stuff. If I don’t feel inspired to talk, we choose a picture from the set of cards Path to oneself. The framed picture then becomes a steppingstone in our conversation.
Three years ago I got the Four Agreements cards. My kids loved them. They wanted me to read read and explain the meaning of them but unfortunately, the pictures were not related to the text. That brought me to the idea of creating the illustrations with the message of wisdom for kids. I understand that pictures get engraved in our minds in a special way. I remember vividly all the paintings from our house when I was a child and the stories that grew around them.
The motives of the pictures were inspired by my kids, my family, my life, the wisdom of the giants of the West and East ( Eckhart, Totle, Dalajalama, Vaclav Havel, Albert Einstein, Luisa Hey, Miguel Angel Ruiz…) I tried to inprint the essence of the topic into the motives of my pictures. It was a beautiful and exciting journey. I’ve learned a lot on the way. I was surprised how the sketches and words were jumping into my head. I handed myself with trust to a freely flowing mind and the right idea always came. I hope I’m not revealing the secret trick of all the creative people but I’ve learned that from my son when he was five.
We rather often start the new with fear of failure. I didn’t believe myself to draw thirty two wise pictures and I had to learn step by step to send the fear away. Every one of us is able to overcome his or hers shadows. All it takes is to believe. Just look around you!
I wish for my pictures to bring more mutual understanding and trust into your lives. I would like them to inspire you to think about your attitudes, to see your winnings and loses from helpful perspective. Talk about your experiences to your children! Live the wisdom written, sang and filmed thousands of times.
Kids are naturally intelligent but they are inexperienced. Allow them to gain experiences! Allow them to make their own mistakes and maybe also to learn from ours.
I know that there are many topics missing among the cards. Don’t worry! There is another project waiting in my magic drawer called “Path to people”. But that will take me at least two years.
With love, joy and gratitude that I found courage to do what I really love.
Lucie Ernestova
Tags: inspiration, Journey to Self