Floating Downstream

Description

Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ by 30″

The painting represents three ways of finding your way downstream. The top line moves along, then dips, the middle line travels and eventually settles to the bottom, and the bottom line is simply floating, suspended in water at night in peace and calm. None of them got there by fighting. This is the release of Rebellious Qi, the letting go of whatever in us wants to rise, resist, push back, or stay stuck in motion when the body actually wants to descend and rest. There is ease in finally going with what’s already trying to happen instead of struggling against it. You don’t have to force the descent, and once you arrive, you don’t have to rush back up either. You can simply float there, at night, in the clouds, for as long as you like. Jaye painted what it looks like to stop fighting your own downstream current and discover there was fun waiting on the other side of the struggle.

The Contemplation: Sit with the piece and notice where in your body or your life you’ve been pushing against something that actually wants to settle. Let yourself imagine floating on a tube down a river having fun instead of fighting it.