🥝 A New Way of Seeing
🥝 A New Way of Seeing
The interconnectedness of things and last days in Auckland
‘One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.’ — Henry Miller
The beginning of March marks the end of our adventure here in Aotearoa New Zealand and the start of the journey back home.
When revisiting the post I wrote a year ago on the setting of the adventure, I came across this fantastic quote by Henry Miller that I used to start that letter and that I am bringing up again: ‘One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things’. It made me wonder now, during these last days in Auckland: what is this new way of seeing things that has been revealed to me in this destination, New Zealand?
The answer comes to me immediately: it’s how interconnected everything is.
The land of the long white cloud is a vivid testament to the interconnectedness of natural elements: the cycle of water, the winds, the land, the weather… The Maori culture venerates this interconnectedness between us humans and the land we live in (if you’re fascinated by culture like me, have a look at and read about the Maori introduction Pepeha, where one introduces themselves as coming from a mountain, river, etc., as in having those elements within).
Since moving here I have started to appreciate the energy stored in nature and how its elements unleash this energy in constant transformation and flow. How the movement of the water and the ocean influences the weather and the rains, which results in the food we eat (New Zealand food is very seasonal).
When revisiting the photos and notes I took during our trip to the South Island some weeks ago, I was reminded of the cycle of water, from the mountain (maunga) to the lake (roto), and how the landscape we experienced during this season in our trip was the result of the dance and balance between these interconnected elements. All the water that was ice in the mountains some months ago has melted and flowed to the lakes, which shined in a vibrant light blue. The mountains, dry, remain rocky and in yellow tones.
I tried to capture the interconnected dance of the water cycle in this series of drawings, using a limited colour palette and flowing the blue from sky, through mountain, and lakes. When putting together the set of 3, there is also a component of time, movement, as seeing frames of the same elements in different locations. This interconnectedness through water - sky, mountain, lake - is then reinforced.
When I apply this lens of interconnectedness to the creative realm, I notice how there is also a creative energy interconnected, woven in our lives.
No doubt that building a creative career comes directly from practicing our craft, but having more of that creative energy, that drive - what a friend of mine calls that spark - doesn’t necessarily come directly from working harder, imposing more discipline, or searching for inspiration. This year here in Aotearoa New Zealand, I have learned that having more creative energy sometimes comes indirectly from having all those small mundane things that make life worth living in order: waking up with a loved one, brewing your own coffee first thing in the morning not having to rush to work, cooking for some friends, feeling appreciated by your colleagues, exercising regularly, a pleasant walk, a lovely conversation, a tidy house…
Our creative energy is like a constellation of stars, where those that we take for granted are the ones that keep the system in balance. Surely, we need to put in the work, the practice, but the underappreciated, taken-for-granted everyday things have more influence than we notice in plain sight.
Everything is interconnected.
Our last days in Auckland are flowing by, almost like the water melting into the lake. It is natural, it is okay. A new way of seeing we will carry back to our next and final destination: the time has come to make our way back home.
Noho ora mai, Aotearoa.
✏️✨
Happy sketching!
Ana
Have you experienced a new way of seeing recently during a trip? It would be great to hear about it! Please, leave a comment and share your thoughts :)
Blessings on your transitions! Blessings on seeing and trusting the interconnections.