"Separation of Thought and Thinker" Artwork

Mixed Media, hand spun yarn, illustration board on canvas. Lilac edges Part of the "Constructs of the Mind" Collection exploring mindful awareness // INSPIRATION // In my studies of meditation, I was exposed to a description offered by Dan Harris and Jeff Goldstein that really struck me. They likened one's steady stream of thoughts to that of the constant flow of a waterfall. When in a state of meditation, the goal is to distance yourself from the stream, as if you were seated behind the waterfall observing the current. This visual really crystalized it for me, and armed me with an exercise I could ask myself at any time - not just during mediation. Was I caught up in my head, at the mercy of unconscious thoughts? Or could I separate myself enough to witness my thoughts, deciding if this was really where I wanted to exert my energy, and if not, redirect them? SYMBOLISM // Based on the above waterfall metaphor, "Separation of Thought & Thinker" takes the perspective as if you were witnessing a waterfall of thoughts from behind. Hand spun yarn dangle the painted boards that transition from dark to light blue as they cascade off the edges of the canvas. Each board has a silver-dipped white cap to add to the waterfall effect. The artwork itself is a diptych, creating literal space between the canvases - a nod to the separation of thought and thinker. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES // - 10% Happier app >"The Basics" Session 3, "Behind the Waterfall" - Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings podcast, "Transcending the Self" episode dated May 19