A Donkey Day

"Jack Wants Like a Piece of Pie"  - wool over armature, 14" long by 9" tall.

I've created a ... donkey.  Thanks to the ever talented Gin Blishe, I am obsessed with needle felted creatures.  A rabbit wasn't enough all by itself to be a menagerie, so meet "Jack".  He's got a taste for some pie.  This chubby mule was a pure joy to make, and learning a new skill keeps me so thoroughly engaged that hours and hours went by without me knowing it.  Pongo made certain I knew when lunch time had passed, and then when walk time had come and gone.  He's sniffing around the donkey, wondering if it's a new toy.  BACK AWAY FROM THE DONKEY!  I can only imagine how quickly Jack would become a mound of fluff.

This month I was focused on revisiting failed paintings.  Until I painted a fail on top of a fail, and then I decided to try something else for a bit.  It might have something to do with a huge boulder rolling downhill covered in things gone wrong, unexpected stressors and contractors coming and going over the last few days.  The muse isn't fond of distractions, interruptions and stress.  Sigh. But I feel completely revitalized after playing with wool, and am ready to go back into the studio again.

Well, maybe I'll just order a kit to make one more animal first. In case I need more woolen therapy.

While we wait for the postman to deliver said kit, let's explore the meaning of the donkey as a spirit animal.  Donkeys have the reputation for being stubborn, but it's really higher intellect and self-preservation - if they sense something is dangerous, they simply won't do it.  If the donkey is your spirit animal, you are gifted with the ability to instantly trust your instincts and intuition without question - supremely confident in your own inner guidance system.

As a beast of burden, the donkey symbolizes being helpful to others.  But there is a caution in there - be certain to set boundaries or risk becoming entirely immeshed in take care of others' problems.  Your lesson is to learn to say "no."

​If a donkey shows up in your life, it is time to make your own decisions, tune out the opinions or advice of others and to stand your ground on important issues.

Though often seen as less glamorous than other creatures, the donkey is an intelligent, gentle leader who guides others through the darkness.  The perfect message for us during Martin Luther King Jr's birthday week. :)