Artist Shaman

Every time I see an exposition of contemporary art I think it: Artists are today's Shamans.

The mundane and the sacred are irrevocably connected in my mind. The acts of cleaning, washing, sweeping, cooking, sorting, burning become spell making, the careful attention and awareness brought to the activity become intent. I learn as I go and trust my intuition. It tells me when I need to do my work.

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Sweeping

Brooms are often associated with witches.

Although mine is no besom broom (handel of hazel wood with a head of birch twigs )it has certainly played a role in my art practice in the past. This is the part of the practice that borders between art making and ritual it would seem. It is the tool that allows me to track and trap dustbunnies I've used in artworks. It is the tool oft used to calm and clear my head-- sweaping the slate clean so to speak.
I've discovered that in wiccan ritual a broom can be used to represent the element of air and is used to purify. The priestess sweeps the sacred space in a clock wise motion a few inches above the ground.