Day 15: “Erin Calling”

Beth Blair

May 4, 2019

Original Painting: “Erin Calling”, Acrylic on Paper 9×12, 9/13/18

This small painting packs a punch on my spiritual path. It is one of 3 paintings I did on Day 6 of my 30-day personal challenge to paint every day. I say it packs a punch because Ireland (Erin) has been calling me back since my visit in the early 1980s. The call could have been even early, as the blood of my Irish ancestors’ pulses in my body. Either way, it has been a long-time call. But what is the call about? What am I supposed to do?

A calling is a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of actions especially accompanied by conviction of divine influence, according to Merriam-Webster. Truthfully, I have resisted the calls, procrastinating to respond and even out-n-out avoiding them.  Callings are a tall order when you know what the call is…it is an even taller one when you don’t know exactly what you are to do with it. That is the flavor of my call. The land in Ireland has been calling me for years. My Irish heritage has been calling me as well.  I don’t mean the typical American-Irish celebration of the day in March when everyone is Irish.  I don’t mean the Irish Catholic culture either.  It has a deeper, richer flavor and it is a phantom at the same time and a force.  What do I do with it? Funny that I started writing this on May the 4^th…(be with you)!

I wrote about my recent pilgrimage to Ireland in a blog that I didn’t publish.  It’s not even finished.  I had to search it out yesterday. Sometimes on the spiritual path or journey, you need a pause, a sabbatical, a rest or retreat. Sometimes it is simply avoidance of the next step.  I am discerning which this is.  I took a 30-day sabbatical from daily social media use. I found it refreshing and I also lost touch with information, people and events from my daily interaction on those platforms.  I hunger to connect with people and places in a real, not virtual, way. I long for the “old ways” of Irish storytelling, family dinners and social interactions that lift the soul.  There is nothing like an Irish wake. Sad, but true.  The stories that are told about the person who has died are rich.  The reconnecting that happens at this sad time is powerful. Why is it we wait until the end to appreciate what could be right in front of us?

Our current culture has us so busy running from one thing to another, stopping only long enough to post it on social media, “to keep us connected.” Are we really connecting? When I decided to take my sabbatical from social media, I realized who the people are in my life that take time for me and who I want to spend time with.  This is harsh, yes and true. In the past 30 + days, I have interacted, spoken or texted with or seen only a few “friends”.  What excuses are you making for these people that I haven’t connected with, as you read this? They are busy? Yes, and so am I.  This is not about pity or shame.  This is about how do I want to spend my time, who do I want to spend it with and what am I called to do now that I am not scrolling through cute pictures and memes of cats and dogs or “May the Force be with you” posts!

We each are called for something. We must put the puzzle together or use our secret decoder ring to figure out exactly what the call is. My call has to do with the voice of the land, nature, healing or something very esoteric. It is Greek to most, and even to me at the moment.  “Use the Force, Luke,” is circling in my head. How can I authentically be in this world, answer my calling and still live a “normal” life? This last part is what has me procrastinating and avoiding the call, I think.  How do I define a “normal” life, much less live it?

What I see in this painting is a Seer or ancestor, with the painting in the portrait orientation.  When I turn it to the landscape orientation, I see a landscape under a cloudy sky with the wind blowing. The texture has movement and freedom and purpose. What is my message in this? What is next? Will I answer the call? Am I already answering? So much to consider.  

This writing has taken me two days to finish.  Some of it feels like a rambling, some feels like processing, and some is a bunch of questions without answers. This is life. We keep going along living and get glimpses of the sacred, the spiritual, the key to the calling and then we must go grocery shopping or go to a J-O-B…and continue the best we can.  What is showing up for you? How are you answering your call? What do you do with the glimpses you receive?

Blessings and peace on your journey!

Beth is a seasoned and experienced bodywork, somatic coach and wellness professional. She is available to present on wellness, bodywork and somatic topics; or individual bodywork and coaching sessions.  Bring Beth to your area for workshops, speaking events or team building projects. Personal and business coaching are also services that Beth provides.  Consider coaching for individual or small groups/teams. Contact Beth for more information and rates.