In Rome, do as the Romans do…
by Steven McCabe
The tourist marvels at the intricate figures and stories on carved stone columns in Rome,
Imagining a stonemason/carver scooped up by the Roman Legions and brought as a slave with his family alongside for his ‘new’ life,
He pictures the artisan/slave at work chiselling when a small stone chip flies up hitting his eye.
He lives nearby and walks home to his hut, where his wife daubs at his eye with a cloth, removing the object.
The tourist turns to go, and after walking a few seconds,
Sees a couple involved in some first aid type of situation.
The man is wearing a camera around his neck,
And the woman is wiping at his eye with a handkerchief.
The tourist tells his traveling companion about this coincidence and she says ‘Maybe they’re not here.’
I’m remembering a trip to Italy in 2001 like it just happened.
I wasn’t originally involved in what turned out to be an Italian-Canadian art education initiative: a visual artist and a musician visiting schools in the north (near Bologna) and the south (Pozzuoli – on the coast south of Naples).
It was soon after 9-1-1 and I think somebody got cold feet.
In spite of being stressed about the idea of flying I took the advice given, such as, Are you crazy? Pass up a paid trip to Italy?
It was of course amazing.
The synchronicity of this event has puzzled me ever since.
Archival ink drawing in my Moleskin sketchbook & details of Roman sculpture (Wikipedia)
poemimage 
Synchronicity, and this about eyes, visions. You ‘see’. Reproducing forms with pen and paper.
Last night I dreamt I had a round ball of black in my eye. I had to put my finger against the white of my eye to remove the obstacle, intrepidly at first, but it came away easily.
All very strange.
Hi maskednative, That’s quite a dream you had. A ball of black. One can wonder what ‘it’ was…
have to share that about two weeks ago I dreamt I was arrested by a policewoman because of a transparent growth of some sort on my eye. I reiterated to her why she was arresting me and she concurred.
I’m not an expert, but my interpretation of your dream is that the growth on your eye is enabling you to see clearly, it’s transparency hugely significant. The policewoman, as a figure of authority, could be your subconscious fear of allowing yourself to accept, dare I say, your growing clairvoyance.
Perhaps my ball of black, (refusal) now easily removed, may be similar.
Life is strange and wonderful isn’t it.
Thanks mn for this interpretation. Is it possible the clairvoyance, & idea of clairvoyance, in your dream and mine, signifies a clearer connection with artistry & the purposes for which the art is ‘to see?’ Yes life is strangely wonderful.
Yes, you’re right, the purpose of art is to see, and to show. We already know the story, translated again and again over time, until at last perhaps we might understand.
Heads or tails, whichever way the coin lands, a coincidence is likely to be just that. Or perhaps a signal?
What a fascinating discourse this has been, thank you.
Yes very fascinating. Thank you too.
My mind is contemplating various possibilities. A rich and wondrous line of thought.
❤ Wow! ❤
Thanks! :- )
This really is a fascinating synchronicity. I concur with maskednative’s suggestion that “you see.” It’s my understanding that many very creative people tend to have “thin boundaries” between the conscious and unconscious, or to say it in others ways, the known and unknown, or what some would call the “normal’ and “paranormal”.
It’s very puzzling. I certainly saw something but have very little idea what it was. At times coincidence is helpful or some sort of ‘blessing’ but this….
It’s interesting that the entire thing did involve art. Or image making. And an old skill set.
I’m thinking of relying on the kindness of coincidence more in the future. Maybe strangers will show up too.
Story making was part of it. Or perceiving a story. All puzzling.
‘I’m thinking of relying on the kindness of coincidence more in the future.” Story making was part of it.”
Hmmmm….. you’ve got me thinking about the connection between story making and coincidence….. It’s true that when I write out my dreams, fantasies and/or life experiences and treat them in creative ways as stories or myths, synchronicities seem to occur more often, and always in ways that affirm me and make me feel known and loved and on the right track. I think you may be on to something profound.
Story making is about imagination, that mythical middle mandorla realm between mind and spirit where the opposites interact and transformation occurs. Some call it the “nous.” It’s long been considered a space of magic and life-changing mystery. So I’m thinking that story telling, (one form of which is the myths from all cultures and religions) is an unusually powerful but highly underrated tool/faculty/vehicle of the psyche which, as we consciously create meaningful symbols//images to express our psyche’s truths, especially in the form of stories, brings us into the nous where we are connected to the Other. And this is where magic and miracles and synchronicities occur.
Very puzzling. Very cool. Very fascinating.
Relying on the kindness of co-incidence…..love this,
and there’s no such thing as co-incidence is there?
Somewhere deep inside someone said, ‘Can you hear.’
Someone deep inside, replied.
I can sense this dark space you have sketched and it’s warm not cold. Maybe like in a dream. The deep inside.
A short poem you composed.
By the way, when I wrote the above comment last night, I meant to write “the realm between matter and spirit”, not “mind and spirit.” ( I think I must have had too much turkey!)
Nous is, in fact, another word for mind. While some use it to refer to the mind’s faculty of “divine reason,” many Jungians (and poets) are far more interested in the mind’s faculty of imagination.
This is all very interesting. To think that you have received more synchronicity after writing and responding a certain way and having certain feelings about yourself. Almost as if this opens a doorway to reception.
I love this entire paragraph about story making. I’m going to read it again, several times, imagining ways of visually connecting the dots.
Puzzling, cool, and fascinating indeed!
Thank you for clarifying your image. The nous sounds like a force field.
I’m picturing Leonora Carrington paintings in that in-between place.
Intriguing images and story. The sketchbook format is delightful.
Thank you mrsdaffodil. When I scanned the original drawing still in the book the idea hit me.
Love the sketchbook format and the way you deepened and intensified the mystery with the images. Wonderful.
thank you Richard. Sort of an accidental discovery using the sketchbook idea but it seemed to work. It still seems mysterious to me.
Hello,
Pleased to have been introduced to you via Richard, and the blog hop. Looking forward to reading your post.
Love this, here, like the was we paused between each sentence.
Good to meet you,
Alison
Nice to be introduced to you also Alison and I look forward to visiting your blog and seeing your work. Thank you for your visit! Steven
And the same to you, Steven
I marvel at the weight of your drawings on the pages. Smudgy, charcoal-y gorgeousness.
Thank you Karen. To think of the weight of/in a drawing. Wonderful.