Tapping into the Seam

Digging for gold

So what is Miners?

I have been thinking of it for years, but I didn’t know what form it would take, until these last few Christmas days, lying in bed with a stomach bug. It is a gathering of thoughts about creativity, about the meaning of our lives. It is an encouragement to keep mining.

Because this is what creativity feels like doesn’t it, sometimes? Digging on, endlessly into black, waiting to tap into that seam of gold? And when I say gold, I don’t mean riches, I mean something of great value.

The creative path can often seem like a path of madness, and loneliness, but it is a brave one. I hope that these words will encourage you crazed miners to keep going, but also to stop and take time to breathe, to whisper well done to yourself.

Imagine those gold diggers, pitching up in the middle of nowhere all for the thought of riches. Imagine staking a claim, saying I believe in this. It’s a bit like Noah starting to build a boat in the middle of the dry land.

What if you start digging and there's nothing there? What then? How long do you keep going? Or do you give up and go back to your sensible life?

In our world of non-stop sharing on social media, it sometimes seems that for the facade to be maintained, we have to accidentally slip into something, find out that we're excellent at it and then we can be like 'Oh, how lucky am I?' But that’s not very realistic. Because life is hard work, especially when you're grafting at raising a family, bringing in an income, and pushing your dream up a hill. It can take years to find our voice, find our niche, and make a living.

And it’s shameful, and embarrassing even to keep talking about what might happen, what could happen ... Aspirations are for kids aren’t they?

'If a (wo)man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because (s)he hears a different drummer.  Let (her) him step to the music which (s)he hears, however measured or far away.' Thoreau, Walden

So fellow miners.

Do your own thing.

Keep working.

Keep step to the music that you hear.

Don't be ashamed.

If not you, who? If not now, when?

What are your creative goals for 2024?

Write them down. Harness them. See what you will stumble upon this coming year.

Thanks so much for signing up to be a part of miners.

Elisabeth