Deep Rooted Healing Podcast

“For the Artist at the Start of Day” a poem by John O’Donohue

Deep Rooted Healing podcast by Emma Freeman John O'Donohue poetry for artists

Episode 03

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In this episode of the Deep Rooted Healing podcast, I share a beautiful poem by the poet and writer, John O'Donohue. It is called, "For the Artist at the Start of Day" from his book, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. I discovered this poem recently and absolutely love it. It gives me encouragement and connection while I sit at my art table and reminds me that artists have a calling and deeper need to create. John O'Donohue was an Irish poet, writer, philosopher and spiritual teacher.

For the Artist at the Start of Day

by John O'Donohue

May morning be astir with the harvest of night;
Your mind quickening to the eros of a new question,
Your eyes seduced by some unintended glimpse
That cut right through the surface to a source.

May this be a morning of innocent beginning,
When the gift within you slips clear
Of the sticky web of the personal
With its hurt and its hauntings,
And fixed fortress corners,

A Morning when you become a pure vessel
For what wants to ascend from silence,

May your imagination know
The grace of perfect danger,

To reach beyond imitation,
And the wheel of repetition,

Deep into the call of all
The unfinished and unsolved

Until the veil of the unknown yields
And something original begins
To stir toward your senses
And grow stronger in your heart

In order to come to birth
In a clean line of form,
That claims from time
A rhythm not yet heard,
That calls space to
A different shape.

May it be its own force field
And dwell uniquely
Between the heart and the light

To surprise the hungry eye
By how deftly it fits
About its secret loss.

I also talk about self-doubt as an artist and my need for connection and community to keep me going. I hope you enjoy listening and find some inspiration for your own creative journey.

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