Last year, I signed up for a year-long mixed media arts program called Fodder School. I had so much fun with it, I signed on for another year-long session. Anyway, each month Fodder School features a different guest instructor. During the first half of the month, the instructor teaches various techniques for making unique pieces of “fodder,” and then in the second half of the month, they show us how to use that “fodder” to create something cool and wonderful. (That’s the plan, at least. Sometimes, due to time constraints or even personal interest constraints, the “final” project doesn’t come together for me as planned or . . . at all. But that’s beside the point.)

Anyway. Last month, the project as a whole (making tiny books) was very intriguing to me – even though some of the techniques seemed a little . . . hokey. But over the years, I’ve learned that some of the most hokey-sounding things end up being more meaningful than expected. 

And that, of course, is exactly what happened for me with last month’s Fodder School project.

One of those first-half lessons in November was to create personal “sigils” for ourselves. What the heck is a sigil, you’re probably asking . . .  (as did I). Well. . . a sigil is, technically, an archaic symbol associated with pagan rituals and witchcraft. But in the now-times, it’s simply a symbolic representation of the sigil-maker’s “desired outcome.” In other words . . . a sigil is a manifestation method, a visual symbol of intention. (Much like the one-little-words so many of us choose each January.)

The lesson/technique (which I cannot share here at all, because we take a “secret oath” when we join Fodder School) (not really, but we do agree not to divulge any of the techniques we learn) involved choosing a word or a quote or a poem or a motto that means something to us . . . and then turning it into a visual symbol. Like I mentioned earlier, I initially blew this concept/lesson off. I thought it was pretty out-there, to tell you the truth, and not something I was interested in working on.

But.

I kept thinking about it. In fact, my mind couldn’t seem to let it go – kind of like with the whole one-little-word thing. Only this time it wasn’t an individual word that kept bubbling up in my brain. This time . . . it was whole mantras!

Protect your peace
Look for hope
Be the light
Make it so
Uplift

And I realized . . . these mantras . . .  are the intentions I wish to harness in my life. And especially as I move into this new year — a new year seemingly filled with cold and darkness.

So I gave in.
I turned my mantras into symbols.
And then I turned my symbols . . .  into stamps.

That I will do . .  . what with . . . exactly?

Well. I don’t really know yet. But I imagine they’ll pop up in my art this year. And in my journals. And . . . you’ll definitely see them here in my Cup o’ Kindness posts this month. Because this little Fodder School project ended up inspiring me in surprising ways.

Today . . . I’m sharing my personal sigil for one of my mantras . . . Uplift. (If you squint just right and use your imagination, you may be able to find all the letters in the word “uplift” incorporated into my symbol/sigil.)

In the dark and unknown days ahead, I hope to focus on finding joy in the everydayness of life and sharing goodness – for myself and for you and for whoever else I encounter in the world.

For me, that’s what . . . uplift . . . is all about.

Now . . . I certainly don’t expect any of you to make up symbols or sigils or stamps (or sign up for Fodder School, either, for that matter). But . . . I would like to encourage you to think about your own intentions for the year ahead. Think about how you might want to manifest those intentions. And maybe make a list of your own personal mantras for the coming year. (Shoot. Try a sigil if you feel like it!)

Let’s manifest joy and goodness.
Uplift.

“Do not stop at the wall looming before you. Make a door. Make a door wide enough not only for you but for others.”


– Maggie Smith, in Keep Moving

Come.
Fill your cup!