The past summer has been a difficult one for me, and Divinest Sense has definitely felt the effects of neglect. However, in a slow but unquenchable trickle, people continue to register as users, and I feel compelled to continue with the project and not let them down. I think the continued registration is a definite sign that a forum like Divinest Sense is necessary, is actually vital, and that my orginal concept of a free and safe space for artists who suffer from or who have suffered from mental illness to express themselves is being steadily validated. Events in my own personal life have stabilized, and I feel ready to take up the task of administering Divinest Sense once again. Therefore, I am issuing an open invitation to you artists–even if you believe you are not an artist, you are–to send in work. Contact me at divinestsense.media@gmail.com I look forward to experiencing the vitality and depth of the work I know our community is capable of.

Since its beginnings
 I have visited the local drop-in,
 a place where my peers and I meet to play cards,
share a cup of coffee,
 and enjoy some conversation.
It’s a sanctuary from the stigma of society,
where all of us are accepted without judgment.
Unlike a city park or restaurant
 if we sit in the corner and talk to ourselves,
or are symptomatic in any way imaginable,
no one will come up and tell us to “move along.”
Mental illness doesn’t discriminate,
 so we’re from all races and backgrounds.
Some of us are homeless and addicted,
lost or forgotten,
but we come together here
 to put down the burdens
of surviving with a disability.
We know the world doesn’t care much about us.
They only have some vague hope that we are okay,
and then they forget about us,
allowing us to live on the streets
or even locking us away in jails without treatment.
I understand that we’re not cute and cuddly
like some other charitable causes,
and that we may appear to be odd or scary,
 but that’s why we need a drop-in center.
It’s a place totally staffed and patronized
by the mentally ill.
We could be bipolar, schizophrenic, have major depression
or any other brain disorder,
but here that is “normal.”
And if you don’t think we’re capable
 just look at us:
 we have been living and hammering out
the “peer helping peer” philosophy for nearly three decades.
Some days our drop-in is a morass of sickness
 and overwhelming troubles.
But, we watch out for each other,
and even in crisis we trust our peers
will help get us the care we need.
So, is the drop-in important?
Is hope important?
Or friendship?
Or laughter?
If you don’t believe a government agency
 can be worthwhile,
try finding another place where,
dollar for dollar,
 so many people get so much in return.
 

Ascent of Mind

This is a little site, one just getting on its feet, but one with a grand dream: The creation of a forum free from stigma where people who struggle or who have struggled with mental illnesses can freely express themselves through writing, visual art, music, and film. Art is liberating. Art is speech. We who have mentally illnesses are so often silenced by society or self-silenced by our own fear. Art, I believe, is a pure, beautiful, and purposeful way of pursuing and experiencing life. The artist is not merely a looker-on of life. Art is dynamic. Art has power. And we with mental illnesses are overflowing with art. We as a community are highly creative, and this is a fact that should bring us enormous pride. We create the art. We simply need forums. And, largely, society does not provide us with forums. So we forge our own. Divinest Sense is an attempt to do just that. Contribute! You do not have to mentally identify as an “artist” to contribute. We are all artists in our way. If you have a poem you wrote long ago for which you have always secretly dreamed of readers, send it in! If you are going through an experience–heaven or hell–that can only be expressed creatively, compose a song and send it in! I also hope this site will be educational; I hope it will have visitors who live free of mental illnesses. Education and expression: This is the mission of Divinest Sense. Yes, this all sounds grandiose… I realize. But big things always have little beginnings. And even if this site never grows beyond a few readers, a few artists, I will be satisfied. A little is more than nothing. And we with mental illnesses are often left with nothing. So create! Contribute! Establish that connection with the larger world that you have always dreamed of establishing. Create. Express. Share. Experience community.

by Joey McCain

Joey McCain’s art can be found in the Gallery at www.emotionalorphan.net Please contact through the emotionalorphan.net contact link.

Joey is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BA in Fine Arts and Art History. An accomplished magician with mixed media, he has been featured in numerous galleries and expositions throughout the Southeastern United States

As a child at play,
Soldiers were my heroes.
I fantasized about being in the Army during WWII,
Dropped behind the lines into occupied France
Or taking the beaches against the Japanese
In the Pacific.
But, lest we forget,
I never saw my best pals killed by bullets,
Without getting right back up
To play another day.

Let my Life be a Sign-post pointing to Paradise—

Let me shake, high on my post in the stiff winds

Let me shake, but not be uprooted

That, in spite of all the noise swirling around me,

I might remain faithful—a still and steady Pointer.

Maps may tear or crease at just the wrong place…

Maps often do lead astray, or don’t get used,

Or get shoved under the dash—out of sight, out of mind.

But Paradise is constantly on the horizon—

Ever near, ever far, ever just beyond achieving.

So what is needed is a faithful signpost,

Standing firm beside the dusty way

For pilgrims from Earth’s desert-wastes

Giving clear warning that Infinite Bliss is near.

Paradise.  Land of flowing milk and honey.

Land of Promises-Granted, the Eternal Gift of God.

No kisses sweeter than Paradise-gained!

Once there, we’re changed—priorities re-arranged, forever…

So forever we remain, renewed and ready to enter Paradise.

Imagine for a minute that you are a juggler in the game of life. You have seven balls that you are juggling through the air at any given moment. For the sake of fun and a better understanding, each ball has a particular function. 

There is the Red ball of chores, work and education.

The Orange ball of creative ability, exploration and adventure.

The Yellow ball of social fun and sharing laughter with your friends.

The Green ball of health, balance and prosperity.

The Blue ball of truth, courage and trying new things.

The Purple ball of reflection, meditation

and developing your Spiritual understanding.

The White ball of all your relationships…

Family, friends, teachers, peers and colleagues.

Sometimes you are able to keep all seven balls flowing and in perfect motion, especially if the Green ball of health, balance and prosperity is of focused priority. Then there are times when one of the other balls takes up all your time and concentrated attention. It’s important to do the necessary chores of life, washing the dishes, making the beds and paying the bills on time. This is made easier when the work that you do, your job or career choice, provides a steady income and is in balance with your other priorities in life. Although, as everybody gets to experience, things can easily change. The chores can pile up, or you can loose your job… and then the bills pile up too. The tiniest seed of doubt and a grain of fear can force you to focus on the Blue ball of truth, courage and trying new things. Maybe a different choice of job or career is needed by focusing on your education… or you can just drop the Red ball in a moment, and focus your time and attention on your Blue ball of truth, finding your courage and trying new things. The interesting thing about the Red ball of chores, work and education, is that it’s made from the most durable rubber and often bounces right back. Chores can wait, and then they just need to be done. Bills can pile up and then they just need to get paid. Doing a different job, discovered through focusing your attention on the Blue ball of truth and finding your courage, by exploring and trying new things can be a welcome and expanding experience.

The Red and Blue balls melding to birth an evolved Purple Pearl of deeper understanding.

Playing with the Orange ball of creative ability, exploring new ideas and discovering the fun in adventure… Can quickly change a routine job of the Red ball of work, into a prosperous career of purpose and passion, creating a luminous Pearl of ultimate possibilities and unlimited potential.

Taking time often enough to enjoy the Yellow ball of social fun and sharing laughter with your friends, can lighten the responsibility and burden of the Red ball of mundane chores, the necessity for work, or gruelling further study. It simply eases stress and tension, enhancing the Green ball of health, and through balance creates even more productivity and wealth. Combining your Orange ball of creativity, with the Yellow of socialising with your family and friends, together you discover fun filled adventures of laughter, making a Pearl of memories that grows as each story is shared and retold.

When the Green ball of health and balance is neglected, sometimes purely through necessity… stress, illness or a loss of prosperity, can create a confusing white cloud of doubt. Blurring your vision and causing you to miss all the balls, dropping them purely for a much needed time out.

In the White mists of healing a reflective fulcrum forms, a shadowy feeling, an uncomfortable emotion or a negative thought at the fore. Staying true to your healing and seeking balance at your core, embracing the Purple ball in meaningful meditation and purposeful reflection… will bring deeper personal understanding and restore health and balance once more. Often during this contemplative time out, it’s your family and friends, represented by your White ball of relationships, that continue to juggle your balls of life. A parent or partner… footing the bills, a special friend… doing your chores, or even a responsible employer who continues to pay you. Your Green ball of health and balance… once fallen, tarnished and possible broken through illness and neglect, or even unwise investment… Is woven, glued and held together, with glimmering Purple strands, and the brightest, shimmering White, saturated with ever changing hues and creates a Pearl of the most everlasting colours.

Then you begin to realise, that the balls of life that you struggle to juggle are the most beautiful, valuable strand of pearls.

That lying on a shelf, dull and neglected, the White ball of relationships might be the most valuable Pearl of all. That everyone knows that a Pearl locked in a wardrobe, becomes dull in reflection and lifeless of colour. For it’s the oils of your skin and the warmth of your body, that feed and nurture this delicate and wondrous gift from nature. For a Pearl to continue shining its luminous light, you have to continually wear it close to your heart. Amidst frustration and anguish you search for this treasure. Guilt and anger turning you inwards to seek answers to your questions, and wondering where and why you forgot this most valuable life lesson.

Hidden in your heart you find the wisest answer… and then you discover the most valuable, glorious Pearl of all… That one of the most important relationships in life, is the one you have with yourself, luminous in every colour.

As your tears of healing flow freely, washing the bitterness from your heart, the inner light of wisdom shines through, illuminating each precious Pearl of life…

Its then that you discover…  that through each of your unique Pearls shines an eternal shimmer of White. In wisdom you discover, that there are no coloured balls of life that need to be juggled. Just a strand of the most beautiful, colourfully luminous Pearls, and all you really need to do is wear them all close to your heart.

For we are in essence,

Both… the makers of pearls… and we are the pearls we make!

© Mandy Swinburne – 9th August 2005

Website: [ http://www.kaleidoscopes.co.za/ ]

Please subscribe to our monthly Kaleidoscopes Newsletter by sending an email to newsletter-subscribe@kaleidoscopes.co.za  – thanks!

Emotionally frozen

Clouded by fears

Aged in years

You strike, but you don’t care who

Laden in riches

Nice things too

Poverty at the doorstep

Of a mission

You strike, but you don’t care who

Black, white

Any ethnic group

Part of this

A little of that

National alphabet soup

You strike, but you don’t care who

You have no boundaries

Religion has not stopped you

Fervent or faltering

You don’t care who

You struck, but we’re fighting back

What you made weak

Battles make us strong

What we feared

We’ve overcome

Our pain is teaching us

Hopelessness looks hopeful

Helplessness is supported

Dullness gone,

Now Shining Through

We’re still standing

Thanks to you all

We feel you love

We’re striking back, mental illness.