“important is this one moment” Collage, cut New Yorker Magazine paper, 9" x 12" — **“important is this one moment”**
Collage, cut *New Yorker* Magazine paper, 9" x 12"

I didn’t know I needed Blackbird Medicine this week, but apparently I did.

This past week was another extra busy one for me. I knew I would not have my usual evening time to read and collage, so I chose a New Yorker issue that offered a lot of images to work with.

It was the yellow that caught my attention. Then the red. Add the blacks and grays, and I knew that I could come up with something cool—even if I couldn’t read the full issue and find a great title to inspire the design.

“Tiny Dancers” by J.J. SempéThe New Yorker, March 31, 2014 — “Tiny Dancers” by J.J. Sempé
*The New Yorker,* March 31, 2014

Sure enough, I ended up with a pretty short list of words and phrases to choose from. As I considered “important is this one moment,” I thought, meh. “Be in the now” is such a spiritual cliché. Do I really want to talk about that?

But as the week progressed, it became apparent to me that there’s a reason it’s cliché. Because it’s hard to do! If it were easy, humans would be doing it, walking through the world Zenned out instead of fearing each other, fearing change, fearing the unexpected.

I needed this be-here-now message this week. My to-do list for work has been pretty massive in preparation for several events. But I’ve been clicking right along with it, checking things off, adding more items, getting it done.

And then, I got smacked with another person’s free will.

I won’t go into detail, but you know those times when you didn’t ask to be involved in someone else's toxic drama-swirl, but because of proximity, you get caught in the undertow? That has happened to me. With someone I care about.

Thanks to my 12-step experiences, I was practicing a healthy detachment. Then the drama turned dark, and suddenly I felt like I was in danger. Physical danger.

Spoiler alert—I’m fine. But the whole incident has given me lots to look at within myself. And while this drama was taking up brain space, I still needed an idea for the collage.

One day, I finally pulled myself away from the computer and the to-do list, and went for a walk. The instant I emerged outside and stepped on the ground, tears welled up. It wasn’t sadness. It felt more like relief. And release. I was among the trees where I feel most at home. I took in a deep breath and reminded myself: Look around, Shad. This is your present moment. Rest your brain and let your surroundings in.

As I soaked in the early budding of spring, I wondered about which animals best represent spring. Maybe my piece could be about that. But the colors I had to work with were not very springy.

By the time I got home, I started Googling for inspiration. I knew I wanted to do a black silhouette against the yellow, so something steered me to type in “blackbird.”

I’m thinking I’ve seen solid-colored blackbirds with yellow beaks before, but I can’t remember the last time I actually did. They don’t usually cross my path. But I had no idea these red-winged blackbirds even existed. Did you?? With their touches of red and yellow—I could not believe the images I was seeing, considering the colors I had to work with. It was astounding. It felt like a tiny miracle. Just what I needed for my collage.

Then I Googled the symbolism of blackbirds. I knew that I could relate “this moment” to pretty much any form of wildlife. But the blackbird turned out to be an unexpected gift.

Blackbird begins singing with abandon in March, partly to claim its territory. But it sings to itself all winter too. If I am trying to find my authentic voice, Blackbird helps.
Blackbird has the power of flight, but it also spends a lot of time on the ground. Blackbird helps me function on the earthly plane and communicate with higher realms.
Blackbird is good at defining its boundaries. When that which I hold sacred feels threatened, Blackbird helps me reclaim my territory.
Blackbird brings things into focus. This week, Blackbird is reminding me that what I focus on gains power. If I focus on this one moment, I realize I’m not actually in danger. I realize I do not have to take on others’ toxic drama. I realize I do not have to tackle my entire to-do list. Not in this one moment.

In this one moment, I can focus on my true self which is One with the Great Creator. When that is my focus, creation energy can flow—not just to my artwork but to E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. The to-do list can be sacred work, as long as I am functioning consciously. With Love.

I am ever in awe of the magic that can come from the creative process. I hope Blackbird can bring some healing to you, if you need it.

P.S. I finished writing this piece, and before posting it, I told myself to take a break, go outside and enjoy this gorgeous day while it’s still light. Guess what was the first bird I saw. Okay, not a red-winged one, but YES, a blackbird with a yellow beak. Foraging in the grass. It took my breath away. Magic.