In Art and Alignment, I tell of different ways that art, writing and creative activities helped in my recovery from a life-threatening illness. In the section called ‘The Object In Hand’, I describe how I was at home convalescing after a major operation and beginning to regain some energy. I found that sitting in a chair, sewing bits of textiles together, which wasn’t something I would normally have done, was helping me to feel better.
I wasn’t fit to drive but was gradually recovering and one day I had a strong impulse to walk to the bottom of the hill and catch a bus to the next town. There seemed to be a compelling reason to go there, although I had no particular aim in mind.
Near the bus stop, I saw a craft shop and went in. There by the door was a basket of old-fashioned ‘knitting dollies’. I remembered these from childhood and knew straight away that this was what I must have come for. I bought one and crossed straight back over the road to catch the next bus home.
Although this would seem to be a minor expedition, in convalescence it was completely exhausting and felt like a heroic mission!
So it was that, for a while, I took up French Knitting. I gathered yarns and found it healing to handle them. In making samples, the repetitive actions and the textures of the materials in my hands seemed to work a kind of magic. I had discovered a past life in which I‘d had a strong affinity with textiles. Now working with threads was helping me to release negative imprints from my energy field.
It brought elusive emotions into a tangible form, bypassing thoughts and words; it enabled me to connect to strengths and to a flow of creative energy. I could feel the energy flowing through my heart and fingers and I trusted this process. It seemed to provide a safe inner space for change to take place. Here I was mending memories, gathering threads to guide me out of the depths and starting to weave a new narrative. I had intuitively been led to participate in what I came to recognise was a gentle way for the life force to do some of its most wondrous work.
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Art and Alignment
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©Louise Oliver