“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,”
Regular readers of this blog will know of my fondness for the poetry of T.S. Eliot (particularly the “Four Quartets”.) It is at this time of the year (New Year) that I call to mind the passage I’ve just quoted above. It sums up for me exactly the feeling that I have invariably on New Year’s Day. It is very important to me, this feeling of momentary stasis in the movement of life.
Today, looking at it again, I noticed a phrase to which I have not really attended before. The still point: is “where the dance is”. That is so very true, as anybody who watches dance (or has participated in it) will confirm. Dance invariably involves a momentary pause, in balance, before the movement continues. The pause is vitally necessary to give meaning and identity to the following movement.
I absolutely love New Year for this reason, because in that momentary stillness which one is allowed past and future both come into focus. This afternoon I spent an hour in the garden, to some extent tidying up, but largely surveying the situation following the ravages of winter. A good part of the time was spent reflecting on the past, and in fact trying to understand it in relation to the present. I find myself at just such a moment now, in relation to my painting.
I think that I find myself in just that kind of moment in relation to my art.