As a child I was told about Joan of Arc, in fact I a remember watching a movie about her.  But being a non Catholic her story was treated as a myth within my circles.  I always wondered about it. Now after some research I believe in the myth no longer but espouse it's truth.  I believe that she was so far out of the mainstream, the religious norms, and so little influenced by it that they had no control over her.  Indeed it goes without saying she loved God, but I believe she did indeed receive visions from him. She saw a portion of how big he is, today we would say she lived outside the box. As for her veneration of her as a saint...I am not so inclined but I so respect her ability to live out who she was, come what may, Love the most hated lover of all time,  without regard to the boxed up, down pat God so popular then (and now) and in the end be able to say "I have run the good race and lost none of myself, I gave my life and it was given back to me."  And I think quite possibly she would add "no regrets"

Joan of Arc was illustrated  in Poser, and CS6.

There is a sense of change
in my soul
a stirring, an uneasiness
I look at the world
and we are not loved
I look within myself
and cannot rise above
I listen as distant thunder
rolls on in
in the places where
reverent silence has always been–

the Christian soliders prepare
for war
as they have so many
times before
and I wait...
uneasy because their tiny
swords  no longer cut but
jolst at best

the enemy remains–
Undressed I walk in mere
girding of my loin
without a chariot without a coin
I stand unarmed, without
man's shield
hoping I withstand
the weapons he wields–

Surely surely I am not
alone.
There must be others
knowing the battle is
not thier own
Come but stand with me
in strong, stilled gait
Yes we'll stand.look
resolve to wait–

There He is our Lord
bring our wonderous
fate.

Dream Series, Sketchbook Project Journal

Much of my art and poetry is interchangeable and dependent on my thoughts, feeling and observations. I learned late in life that not everybody thought like me. I know it sounds unbelievable but I was naive' to these things. Much of my life has played out before me in art and poetry and though it rarely makes sense at the time, I find time is a great teacher. I recently started a sketchbook journal, and like always I look back first. I decided to start my journal with several re occuring nightmares I had in childhood and well into my twenties. As I was working I found there was still more to learn about their meaning. So each is accompanied by some of my thoughts and lessons.

Entry 1 A Matter of Time
It is inscribed: No longer was life a matter of time... but one of choice





Entry 2: A Leap of Faith. It is inscribed: Looking back I'd rather leap than fall..
.

Entry 3: Walk It is inscribed: the dream was always the same. Over and over the same content,same character,the same message...It is dark, it is frightful. LOOK truly SEE how they lurk. See how they crouch waiting. They watch hoping you will not. With piercing eyes they watch puffing out their fur, inspiring Fear. Because they know fear is their only power.
So now walk, slowly purposely, with intent. Know and own your fear, that is your power. WALK


Entry 4:Eternity never looks back,aka Freedom is weightless
In this dream I feel compelled to climb a crystal mountain( I had fear of heights) The base of the mountain is dark and jewel color, as I travel up it gets lighter and lighter in color and clarity. In my dreams...it would take me years to reach the top, but I never once fell, leaped or looked down. Why at the time, I had no idea.