Metanoia
In classical Greek the word metanoia meant changing one’s mind about something or someone. Personified as a shadowy goddess, Metanoia wore a cloak and seemed full of sorrow. Often she was accompanied by Kairos, the god not only of opportunity but also of missed opportunities. I have always loved the concept of kairos—the propitious moment for making a decision or taking action. Metanoia carries the concept of turning, and turning around, of transformation and change of heart. This, for me, is a time of both metanoia and kairos, of turning in new directions, of accepting new opportunities, of renewal after a period of loss and healing. Many changes on my website reflect this: new categories for my art (“Dharma Art” and “Creating Contemplative Space”), new drawings (which are actually mixed media paintings), and new photographs of my aging self. As I write this short blog entry, I am beginning my second 100-day meditation retreat. Because my art itself is its own form of contemplation, I will continue to explore artmaking as a form of contemplative and meditative wisdom during the months to come. (For my detailed articulation of the “three wisdoms” in relation to art, listen to a podcast from February 2016, here. A pdf of my hour-long talk is also available here.) Like the winter solstice, the new year offers an opportunity for change and renewal. We shall see what the days, weeks, and months ahead bring.
