The word that has been popping up a lot recently is the void. People have talked about it in conversations. It's appeared in articles I've read. And, of course, there's gape into the void by Hugh MacLeod at gapingvoid.
Points of Power says:
The New is created from a void ... from no-thingand:
This void is the period in which we learn to use, indeed are forced to learn to use, the most awesomely powerful tool that exists – TRUST.And then, of course, there's the ultimate creation story:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earthAnd that void again.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
-- Genesis 1: 1-4
The period of being in the void is a disconcerting one. Being busy and filling our lives with things or to do lists is so much easier. But, sooner or later, the nothingness engulfs us and represents that fork in the road.
The void is loss of all things. The giving up of all things. It's returning to a point of no things. It's an opportunity to start again, to create a new future and a new beginning. The void is at the heart and soul of your authentic self.
To be creative you have to start from the void. Imagine the white page of the artist. They create something from nothing. The potter creates a mug or a plate from a plain ball of clay.
You can experience the void in two ways. The first is the void that helps you clear out of your life the things that are holding you back and the second is the void you peer into in order to create. It's that void that helps you link into your divine creativity.
I look into this void when I get on a roll with my photography. When something within me clicks into place and I change gear. Something magical takes over my head, a spark ignites and I'm running on some sort of automatic process.
Billy Elliot understands this too:
Just one last question. Can I ask you, Billy:Being in the void requires great faith. Faith to believe that things will change, circumstances will improve, life will get better, that you will create again. The void takes you back to basics, to a lack of ego, to your soul. At that point you understand that you don't "need" anything in order to create. You just have to be in a place of love.
What does it feel like when you're dancing?
Don't know.
Sort of feels good.
It's sort of stiff and that...
...but once I get going...
...then I, like, forget everything...
...and...
...sort of disappear.
I sort of disappear.
Like I feel a change in me whole body.
Like there's a fire in me body.
I'm just there...
...flying...
...like a bird.
Like electricity.
Yeah...
...like electricity.
I go back time and time again to this page on gapingvoid and point number 10 where Hugh MacLeod talks about blocks and how to shift them. He ends by giving the secret answer to unblocking:
Unlike the snake oil, you can have it free of charge and yes, this actually works, every time:Lately the decluttering bug has been snapping at my heels. Decluttering is an "in the void" activity. It's what I call the black bin bag process. You need a roll of black bin bags. Wait until the decluttering bug bites. And it will. Then start in one room. You'll know what needs to go. My local charity shop very kindly takes the results of my decluttering.
Love.
So now you know …
Decluttering is a Feng Shui activity. Clearing out makes room for new things. It clears out old energy leaving space for new energy. I always know when I need to declutter. And, once it's done, I can feel a whole new energy manifesting itself.
Resist the urge to fill the void because that's not what's needed. It's more a process of going back to basics, right down to the foundations because it's from that point that you can start rebuilding.
Lauren Gorgo says:
1) Get Clear - decide what you want
2) DeClutter - release what you don't want
3) Choose - focus solely on what you want
