Belonging

Photo by Jessamyn
It is a season of new beginnings. Spring is close and I feel her request to birth something new. The freshness of the air, the light of the sun, the fullness of my garden matching that of my belly. It's going to be a good year. The first of many of these birthings happened last Friday night. I was invited to my first RAW night. These Random Art Workshops popping up in cities near you, are the brainchild of Jenica, a Utah bloggy mommy from whom I have gathered so much wisdom in the last months. Though we've never met, I am drawn to her sometimes in a creepy 3rd grade crush sort of way. Anyway, (see she gets me sidetracked) she encouraged me to join a Phoenix RAW group and foster some new friendships. So I went.

 

Photo by Jessamyn

 This night was so full of acceptance, friendship, learning, and encouragement. Since Sevilla was born I have longed to find a tribe of women, or even a few friends, who share my passion for attachment parenting, wholistic living, unschooling, making, or just general bohoness. Don't get me wrong, I cherish every single mama soul I call friend deeply regardless of our differences. And am ever grateful for their continued support no matter how strange or estranged I may seem with regard to my choices. But it's hard sometimes to be a little different, to not have someone who knows where you are and can relate...because they are too. As you know, it's one of the reasons I added the misfit to my blog.

Photo by Jessamyn
Nervous to share my art (i even wanted to put that in quotations), I brought a couple of things so I could decide based on the mood: a blank canvas for my birth affirmations and some yarn and needle for baby's blanket. That night, the most magical thing happened. I haven't crocheted since I made Sevi's blanket, and then I was guided by a wonderful mommy whose babes had left the nest. This time around, I didn't have that luxury so I was struggling to remember how to begin. Just as I was about to give up on the yarn and grab my canvas, Abby walked in, with only a bundle of yellow yarn and a single needle. I was speechless. You see, most folks I know who work with yarn, knit, but she was a crocheter and she came to this RAW night. It was divine. Immediately I knew the affirmation canvas would have to wait. She reminded me how to begin, turn, and hook my yarn, and my blanket, much like these new friendships, began to take shape. 

photo by Jessamyn

I am so grateful Jessamyn started this group. We've been bloggy friends for some time though only met once. I was always afraid I wasn't boho enough or something, and safely kept my distance. So I went with some apprehension, as is always the case for me when meeting new people. But I was instantly warmed by the presence of these beautiful, open souls baring their creativity and love by candlelight and India Arie. I was loved, I was in company, I was home.

Photo by Jessamyn

Go now create a RAW night in your community. Gather some women, maybe you know them well, maybe you don't, but gather anyway. Put on some music, light a candle
Make Art. Belong. Get RAW.