The Castle Mountains are bewitching.
Giant rock formations appear seemingly out of nowhere in a deeply forested fairy landscape. Hidden until you hike through luscious grass and wildflowers embellished with fresh bear and moose sign—and suddenly a tower or two comes into view and beckons.
I love the feeling of my paws on rock.
Recently, at a Professional Bull Riders event in our little hometown, I heard the announcer proclaim that bull riding was about “conquering the bull.” My stomach twisted in dissent and dismay. I turned to the friend sitting next to me, a retired bullfighter who runs a school for bullfighters and whom Raymond and his fellow bullfighting friends reverently call “The Don,” and asked him if he thought bull riding or bullfighting was about “conquering the bull.”
He said no. It is about conquering yourself.
I agree. The same is true of mountains, cliffs and towers in climbing. And of the creative process, as I experience it in the studio. The only thing I have to conquer during the creative process is myself.
AKA…my fear.
Being present. Giving myself fully over to the process. Trusting what I know and what I don't know. Moving beyond the places where fear tells me to stop. Perhaps conquer isn't even the right word.
Maybe it is about meeting myself. On the rock. In the studio.
And continuing up and over the “come hither” arch.
