The Art of the Feminine Mystique: 12/24
From the journal December 2024:
Women have always been the heartbeat of creativity—a pulse that thrums beneath the surface of a world too often deafened to their voices. I sit here wondering why we so frequently let our whispers dissolve into the air, unheard and unacknowledged. It is a strange paradox, this power we hold, yet so many of us remain muted, as if our art were a fragile thing, too delicate to withstand the scrutiny of the world.
When you share your art, you’re doing more than simply expressing yourself. You’re weaving a story of strength, reminding others of their own resilience. I think of the many times I’ve hesitated to put pen to paper or brush to canvas, held back by the nagging voice that asks, “Will anyone even care?” It’s a cruel question, one that wraps itself around my courage like a vine, stifling the breath of inspiration.
But isn’t that the truth we need to grasp? That our art doesn’t need to be “perfect”? Perfection is a mirage, a shimmering illusion that keeps us chasing and striving, never arriving. I reflect on the countless women who have dared to share their voices, their stories, their visions—the ones who have left indelible marks on the hearts of others. They inspire authenticity, they spark courage in the weary, and they remind us that we all carry the weight of creation within us.
I find myself caught in a cycle of doubt, thoughts spiraling like autumn leaves caught in a whirlwind: “I’m not ready.” “My art isn’t good enough.” Yet, I must confront these shadows. Someone out there is waiting for exactly what I have to share, waiting for the truth that only I can express. What a humbling thought, to be a vessel for something greater, to risk the vulnerability of creation and offer it to the world.
When I think of sharing my creativity, I feel the flutter of possibility, the weight of potential. Each stroke of paint, each word penned, is a beacon, an invitation for someone else to keep going, to push through their own uncertainties. Perhaps my voice, my vision, can shift a perspective, ignite a spark, or even soothe a weary heart.
How powerful it is to give the world a gift that only I can create, a piece of myself that is raw and unfiltered, that resonates with the universal experience of being alive. I close my eyes and envision a future where I stand firmly in my truth, where my art flows freely, unburdened by the chains of doubt or fear.
I will not let my voice be silenced by the weight of “what ifs.” Instead, I will embrace the strength that comes from creation, the legacy that cannot be erased. For in every brushstroke, every word, I leave a mark—a heartbeat to the story of existence, a witness to the power of women’s creativity, a reminder that we are here, vibrant and alive, echoing through the corridors of time.
