Running On Moonstone Beach  by Donna Sellers

To share stories with Bob, this alone is a great reason to keep making art. I love the different stories we share after we complete a painting. The insights I gain about myself are exciting and I enjoy making up stories that play with psychological meanings within myself. Bob’s gift of deepening the story which can lead to major shifts in one’s thinking,  is truly amazing.  Bob’s imagination has been finely tuned to the archetypes and psychology of change and growth. I am glad to have come upon an avenue to deepen our life and to have such fun through story after story.

So many thoughts and feelings come through me when I travel in my imagination. They all seem important at the time, but I trust that anything important will come up again at a later time. When I imagine a story, I have no trouble remembering.

I just keep coming back to the power of story and wanting to write. That is the most common theme. Then I complete a painting that I love, Moonstone Beach, and I am in in awe about what we can do and how rewarding the whole process is. The mix of colors that I love, along with the story and the backdrop of the infinite seascape near where we live, elicits strong feelings in me. All parts of making Moonstone Beach represents the best of my creative worlds.

Running On Moonstone Beach by Donna Sellers

Mary was given a mare for Christmas who she named “Liberty.” She decided on this name as she saw how upset the mare seemed to be when she was locked up in the corral. Mary spent many hours trying to reconcile how to give Liberty space to run and yet, at the same time, protect her and take the care needed to slowly get her used to the conditions of her new home.

At last Mary came up with a plan. Each day she would open the gate and allow Liberty to run down the path to the beach, the wind blowing in her mane and the sand kicking up under her hooves. Liberty was so fast that Mary had to gallop to keep up with her. She didn’t worry though because Liberty would always slow down when she came to the Little River as though this barrier reminded her that she could not run forever. Sensing that there would be another opportunity to run free, as this had become a routine, Liberty was satisfied to allow Mary to catch up with her and guide her back into the corral for a treat of two red apples.

Interpretation:

I realize the story represents two parts of myself. I trust that I can let myself go on an adventure, as I know I can count on the other part of me to be alert and come up with a plan to create any necessary balance. The woman galloping on her horse loves to let her mare run and has learned to manage her needs as well as the needs of the wilder side represented by the horse who wants to run free of any constraints or rules.