Wrestling with Imps

So  where have I been?
    Battling devilkins, my friends. Long curled cozy in my psyche, they are wakened by these two years’ loss and misadventure, and by this house which proves itself a psychiatric ground zero. As  some of you know, I moved across the country last fall in the wake of my mother’s flight from this world, and now dwell in the little house where she lived.    
    The house, tiny and crouched amongst trees like a proper Baba Yaga hut, contains spectres: my maternal Granny with her red-handled fireman’s ax and tendency to devour, the beginning of a most dreadful marriage when I was 19, and most recently the melanoma that ate my mother. Combined with the sort of remorse soaked self-examination that can follow the death of someone close, it has seemed a delving in an Underworld. Far the most difficult demons to lay are the revenants of my own blunders.
    But such shadowed periods may be fruitful.  One hopes the reward for clambering out again may some kind of renaissance, and the Arts do hand one a form and venue for such, along with an obligation to seek it.
    Even bright art is stronger for wading through sorrow. Sweetness in art with no deep root through darkness can lack sustenance and resonance and remain a thing of the top soil. So perhaps we bring more revealing, higher growing fruits to the Goblin Market for time spent underground. Or, joy with more ballast.

    But alas, I have neglected much meanwhile; not least the many and many kind words from Visitors here.

    State of the Blog

    This blog was launched just a few months before my mother’s diagnosis was revealed and this strange two years plus began, with me in ‘curl up & hide’ mode much of the time.
    Thank you, most patient Visitors, for your support and words, despite my being so often MIA. It has meant and means a great deal, do not doubt! The launch of the blog was perhaps ill timed for my audience, given my frightfully sluggish responses, but it has been a great asset to me, the knowledge that you, Friends, are out there and care that I keep producing.
    Now, I aim to do better. We shall see, but I venture to bet on myself. There is much work in the pipeline: more of Faeryland, more of Baba Yaga (who will eventually have her very own page when I’ve fully set up the blog over on SquareSpace, http://ForestBeings.com, a new Mr. Faun, more folk tale  and mythic subjects. Speaking of which, I’d best return to the Table and work on them, so I can show you!

Ever my (somewhat variable) best,
Forest 
(The images are, of course, from Hieronymous Bosch,whom I adore.)

Comments

[Eirewolf]

"Even bright art is stronger for wading through sorrow. Sweetness in art with no deep root through darkness can lack sustenance and resonance and remain a thing of the top soil."

This almost makes me wish for sorrow. (Almost.) I know I will have enough in years to come, without wishing for it now.

The deep resonance of your work tells me that you have had your share of sorrow. I pray that the coming years bring you much healing and joy!

[Charles]

"I venture to bet on myself."

I am extraordinarily glad to hear it (may I also say that is good advice for many of us). I genuinely look forward to seeing what new things you create. Thank you for sharing your words and work.

[~joanna]

We all grow from our experiences...

Ditto on all said...

{{{{{{{{{{{{FOReST}}}}}}}}}}}

i LOVe the saying close your eyes to really see... so many are blinded by keeping their eyes open and not feeling what is really there.

{{{{{{{{{{{{FOReST}}}}}}}}}}}

~joanna

[Rachael de Vienne]

I write fantasy fiction. You capture the spirit of what I write in ways that are breathtaking.

[Forest]

Ah thank you, Friend Eirewolf!
Oh, I must watch I don't become an advocate for suffering! Many marvels are created by happy persons, and no mistake. Happiness is a great accomplishment in this world; I admire it, and want to dwell more reliably in it... Just that meantime, when the darker things come by, best to metabolize 'em into something fine. And, I sometimes feel I'm just one who requires periodic bashing on the head by the fates, to grow: wiser persons may not need such!
Ever my very best to you,
Forest

[Forest]

Thank you, kind Charles! :)
That means a lot to me.
Yours,
Forest

[Forest]

*{{{{{{JOANNA}}}}}}* :) Thank you!
Forest

[Forest]

Rachael, I'm honored you should say so! Thank you!
You add to my sense of purpose.
Are your writings out and about yet? Or in their secret growing stage, wonderful also...

My best to you and to your creations,
Forest

[Rachael de Vienne]

Dear Forest,

Yes, Pixie Warrior is currently available only as an ebook, though it will go back to paperback sometime early next year. [ http://drolleriepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=pixie+warrior ].

Pixie Warrior was on the Mobipocket and Readerwise best seller in Fantasy Fiction lists for six weeks after its release as an ebook.

I've put up links to your site on my blog with photos from your blog. I hope you don't mind. I want everyone to see your lovely artwork. I also mentioned it to ****, an agent with **** Literary.

My blog is mostly not about writing, but about my collection of antique photos. Feel free to visit. http://wardancingpixie.blogspot.com/

I wish I'd had my choice of artists for cover art, and I wish I'd known of your work. Simply gorgeous.

Rachael

[Fran]

Oh, maybe the first reward for clambering out is to be out. A renaissance in itself.
Then, shamans say, the demons who’ve eaten you and scattered your bones are the ones you can cure others of once you’ve regrown yourself and come back. A useful talent there may be less devastating and more powerful ways to acquire -- though the devouring demons so selflessly insist otherwise.

re: “Even bright art is stronger for wading through sorrow. Sweetness in art with... deep root through darkness...” ----
According to Buddhists we all, like the lotus, flower of creation, renewal, and indelible purity, union of earth, air, fire, and water, rooted in primeval mud, rising through dark and difficult waters, budding out into light and air, unfolding fragrant petals like heart and soul expanding, holding shining beauty high in soft night and clear day, we all rise to flower from our own inner perfection.

I want to post a big list someday, but here are a few things that may provide something to grip onto while clambering out of the pit:
For cleaning out unwelcome spectres, salt rooms one by one, go through them with smoking sage, hang crystals, have a water fountain with rocks and shells to play with, play music –
--- Noirin ni Riain
--- Keur Moussa
--- Tibetan or crystal singing bowls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcka0wrn1ok&feature=related If you then can’t resist, they have a few at this worthwhile site: http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_9972.html
--- custom make your own radio station: http://www.pandora.com/

good websites:
--- Wind harps and “some of the musical secrets of the wind god Aeolus”: http://www.windmusik.com/html/eolsharf.htm
--- Just beautiful stuff: http://rochambeau.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/04/eggs.html
--- A whole lot of the world’s sacred and mystical writing, online free: http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm
--- For inter-galactic sight-seeing, try the Oxford University galaxy classification project: http://galaxyzoo.org/
--- Amazing water drop photos: http://www.liquidsculpture.com/
--- or for one of the web’s most lyrical magical sites, why not try.... Forest Rogers....
Thanks for betting on yourself.

[Carisa]

"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging."
-Joseph Campbell

Forest- thank you for being so candid, and generous in you willingness to let us into your personal life, as well as revealing your creations. Your apologies are not necessary, though I would probably do the same. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your trip to the underworld, and hope that you have found some peace.

Carisa

ps- the second image is one of my favorite Bosch critters...So odd I read your blog today...was reading a book about Bosch's life and work just morning on my way to work!

[Tammie]

my my, you do tell a wicked tale (you are great with words)-too bad it is all true and sound as though it has been quite challenging. The photos you post with your words are a great support and visions ignite instantly.
Wishing you well and looking forward to you ongoing art!

Spirithelpers

[Bonnie Jones]

Dear Forest, I have no words of wisdom, or great lines of poetry to recite, though I envy those that do. Just know that I do wish you well and look forword to seeing your new work and hearing more from you.
Take care and much love.
Bonnie