artist – Barbara Heagy

Back in 2003, I graduated with my Masters in Dance. My thesis was a study in the relationship between creativity and spirituality. For my closing remarks I included a poem I had written comparing the artist and the spiritual seeker.

“To be creative, we must be open, receptive, yielding.
To be spiritual, we must be open, receptive, yielding.The artist asks and waits expectantly for the answer.
The spiritual seeker asks and waits expectantly for the answer.The artist trusts and steps forward in faith into the unknown.
The spiritual seeker trusts and steps forward in faith into the unknown.

The artist listens, observes, tastes life, then responds in action based on contemplation.
The spiritual seeker listens, observes, tastes life, then responds in action based on contemplation.

When we are creative, we give back the gift we have been given.
When we are spiritual, we give back the gift we have been given.

The artist in in awe of the world. For the artist, the world is truly a wonderful (WONDER FULL) source of learning and inspiration.
The spiritual seeker is in awe of the world. For the spiritual one, the world is truly a wonderful (WONDER FULL) source of learning and inspiration.”

(written as Barbara McQuarrie, Thesis title ” Dancing to the Still Point: The Expression of Creativity and Spirituality Through Movement and Dance in a Christian Retreat Setting”)