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Along The Path

  • Writer: Laurie Jones-Canta
    Laurie Jones-Canta
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

November 2025

Yes, the Fall and the glory of my years are here enveloping me.

Shrine, temple, bricks, tree roots, overgrown plants, fallen leaves

I took in all the colour and splendour before the leaves fell with the howling wind and rain on the Westcoast. I efficiently carved a pumpkin man and a pair of jack-o-lanterns for the season while tending to my garden. Nature provides an endless palette of inspiration.


The last of the beans and tomatoes came off their vines a few weeks ago. The transplanted grapevines, calla lilies and rose plants appear to be thriving, time will tell next spring. While we clean up the dropping cedar branches and persistent weeds, I work out my frustrations with the art world...


AI infiltration on all fronts, groups’ and councils’ growing pains, community service changes, missing Eve Lee's compilation of 'Calls for Artists' since she ceased her publication... then, one night while re-reading “The Artists’ Way; A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity,” by Julia Cameron(my go-to bedside book), I was captured yet again, by Appendix: Trail Mix, on page 205, that muses on forming our "Sacred Circles."


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At this point, and not that I would choose to, I'm sure Chat GPT will give you a version of the important short notes on 'The Sacred Circle,' as it can be found easily enough online... but for those of us who feel more inclined towards our humanity, below is a capture of "the rules" taken from my personal, and physical, copy of 'The Artist's Way.'


Sacred Circle Rules


  1. Creativity flourishes in a place of safety and acceptance.

  2. Creativity grows among friends, withers among enemies.

  3. All creative ideas are children who deserve our protection.

  4. All creative success requires creative failure.

  5. Fulfilling our creativity is a sacred trust.

  6. Violating someone’s creativity violates a sacred trust.

  7. Creative feedback must support the creative child, never shame it.

  8. Creative feedback must build on strengths, never focus on weaknesses.

  9. Success occurs in clusters and is born in generosity.

  10. The good of another can never block our own.


Above All: God is the source. No human power can deflect our good or create it. We are all conduits for higher self that would work through us. We are all equally connected to a spiritual source. We do not always know which among us will teach us best. We are all meant to cherish and serve one another. The Artist’s Way is tribal. The spirit of service yields us our dharma: that right path we dream of following in our best and most fulfilled moments of faith.



Like a “seven story mountain” we circle back on the same views over and over, "at slightly different altitudes." The road is a spiralling process; doubling back on itself, dogged by rough terrain, storms and fog that obscures… I know for myself, there’s a voice, a muse, an invisible companion, some marching orders to do and keep doing… the point is I am listening in order to hear it.


Every year these little groups of house carvings seem to steadily grow in size and number.
Every year these little groups of house carvings seem to steadily grow in size and number.

It is my pursuit – to instil any gathering of artists with the spirit of sacred trust because along the path I have lost connection with those who support and inspire. This year was pock-marked with anxiety and criticism in a number of groups I belong to, where I usually find support.


A few exhibit rejections weighed heavily and prompted a regroup; I moved away from carving for the summer months and took Eileen Harder’s acrylic painting class, which helped me revisit mixing paint hues, finding my angle brush strokes, and staying loose. I got much needed rest for my hands and spent some time honing my knives and chisels.


Zoom meetings resume in January and it is at this juncture that I will share the pursuit of a sacred circle, more on this in the New Year.

For now, please enjoy a sneak-peek at a few of my holiday creations:


Most are for sale at Blackberry Gift Shop in Port Moody and Place Des Arts in Maillardville if you, or your loved ones, are looking for something human-made this year.


As always, thank you for your continued support, and happy carving!


"Knives Out."


Photo courtesy: Romain Vaillon

 
 
 
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