MONTHLY MUSE CHALLENGE - MARCH 2021 WEEK 4

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Hello and welcome to March's Monthly Muse challenge, entitled Proof of Living.

For this month's challenge Barbara came across this thought provoking magazine article that used the analogy of how a tree's time rings can be used to describe how we have lived through various scenarios in our own lives.

"When we look closely at the rings of a tree, often we can perceive more than just the length of it's life. Woven into the variation of color are clues about the years that were rich with rain, as well as those that were dry. Signs of bounty, perseverance, and survival. This piece of nature feels especially apt as we look back at the themes of our year: purpose, risk, rhythm, and rest. There is peace that comes with acknowledgement we are not meant to have rings that measure evenly from start to finish. But that in the varied size of each ring, in the everchanging conditions of each year, is the real proof of living." (Magnolia Journal no. 17 | rest https://shop.magnolia.com/products/magnolia-journal-winter-2020)

For this month, our weekly prompts will be:
Week 1 | Spring/Purpose
Week 2 | Summer/Risk
Week 3 | Fall/Rhythm
Week 4 | Winter/Rest <======== WE ARE HERE.

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Week 4: Winter | Rest

Winter's Rest (unknown)
Trees now mostly bare of leaves
Winter’s winds blowing strong,
Lighter air, easier to breathe,
Darkness longer in each day.

Feel the earth is taking a rest
Letting dormant moments flow,
Withered flowers conserving strength
Time for us beings to do the same.

Letting go of all that has passed
Saving energy for what’s to come,
Contemplations on where we are
And new paths we want to tread.

Gaining strength for future deeds
When winter’s rest is long gone,
Creative thoughts lurk in our minds
Renewing energies needed soon.

I have been trying to put into words this challenge and I have struggled all month. I have left it in the back burner until I found the above poem. I just couldn't have express myself any better for this challenge than with this poem I found of course in the web. Let it inspire you the way it did me.

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Challenge Guidelines Week 4:
Of course your layout can be about anything that signifies what Winter/Rest means to you, let the poem inspire you or just your thought of Winter/Rest (since I know we have some gals in the southern hemisphere that might not feel the Winter the way it's portrayed in the poem.) I can't wait to see your interpretation of the poem and this week's Winter/Rest inspiration.

You may create any style of layout (ie. clean and simple, artsy, pocket style etc.) you wish, with or without a photo. Create any size page you wish. If you want all 4 Muses on one page that's perfectly ok or you can make 4 separate pages!! It's totally up to you! This is for everyone, so have fun and see where the inspiration takes you.

Please post your layout to the Art Journaling Gallery HERE prior to March 31st, 2021 and then post it in this thread by copying the code (at the right of your gallery image) from the box under "Share BB Code".

We will draw a winner at the beginning of next month for a coupon!! You can use any products in The Lilypad store or retired products from current Lilypad designers, (just make sure you follow our gallery guidelines).

 

Congrats @Cherylndesigns