The Alchemical Fire of Public Perception

"The way out is through." by Flore Thevoux

In creation, there is this knowing — most artists feel this — that something beyond you has chosen you as its vessel, to be born through your mind, eyes, and hands. You have been granted the honor to bring this thing that is beyond you into being, so that it may gain life and the strength to stand on its own through you. This is the sacred relationship between the artist and their craft, the creator and their creation.

Taking this philosophy into business, it becomes very clear who is living from their inspiration and who is not. Inspiration that little voice that you nurtured inside of yourself that led you into a life path that makes you feel truly, totally alive. Passion is the juice that comes from inspiration. It fuels you forward, into a bountiful life of meaning and purpose. Purpose is knowing that you are on the right path, that you have followed your inspiration, and the life style you have cultivated allows passion to flow out of your every pore. This state of being creates drive, the desire to better your life and those around you because when you feel this way, it’s natural to want to share this energy with your loved ones and your community.

Sharing yourself can be especially difficult, especially when your offering is something that has been incubating with you for many years. You are transferring your metaphysical child into the voracious hands of the collective. The prized possession, the golden jewel, it must be relinquished… for what? A belief in your potential — that the love you have within you will be spread to others through your work. That through this offering, you are opening yourself up to new connections beyond anything you could have hoped for when you first set foot on this path. Many people give up at this stage. The furnace burns too hot and they cannot handle the melting pressure of other peoples’ minds, drives, and opinions. This is where faith in yourself comes in, believing from your root, that matter what people say, you are valuable and what you have to give to this world is valuable. No matter how scathing the flame becomes, you will stand strong. Through this fire, you will see yourself, your truth, your core, and the weight that is no longer needed to be carried. Your offerings will change too. They will morph into more essential, sharper, truer versions of themselves, and people will respond to their transformation accordingly.

Fire asks for us to let go, to the trust of the lifecycle of our creations. Trust that the intention has been made, the seed has been planted. Through the heat, we learn the wisdom of discipline and discernment, what will stay with us and what will need to change form.