One Magick Night
by RC DeWinter
Title
One Magick Night
Artist
RC DeWinter
Medium
Painting - Digital Oils-paintography-photopainting
Description
Copyright 2014 RC deWinter ~ All Rights Reserved
After my last encounter with Vincent, I thought long and hard about what he'd told me - about unlocking my unconscious and discarding the pain - although how one discards the pain of losing a child I don't know; about stepping outside the chaos of my consciousness and walking unafraid to the future.
A few nights later, after a long frustrating day in which I got virtually nothing done, I finally collapsed into bed around 3 AM and almost instantly plummeted into the land of dreams.
Because all things are possible there, I found myself standing in that fantasia of a miniature castle by the sea that I have loved since childhood.
I was standing in the turret before a beautifully arched, mullioned window. The full moon shed silver light through the stars, illuminating the curved iron stair rail winding, smooth and sinuous, up to yet another level.
Mesmerized by finally having gained admittance to this house I had so long desired to enter, I stood gazing out at the sky, lost in the beauty of the late summer night. I heard Vincent's voice telling me,
as he had when we last met,
"Reach out. Say yes. The answer to the future is always yes. Say it. Say it every day, many times a day. Say it now."
"Yes!" I cried. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"
My voice echoed, a chorus of yesses swirling disembodied throughout the stairwell.
Closing my eyes, I spun, arms outstretched, in a small circle, celebrating the power of yes. When I stopped and opened my eyes, there was Vincent, lounging against the rail, smiling and applauding.
"Brava!" he laughed. "What did I tell you? You are looking forward, and where did it bring you? To a place you have loved for more than half a century - and there is more to come."
I smiled back, feeling cheeky.
"You keep talking about this more to come, but that knife cuts both ways. With my usual luck what comes will be another black wave of chaos."
Vincent frowned.
"None of that, it's not allowed. You must be optimistic. I am here to tell you people will offer you many things and you must choose carefully what to accept. The world dangles tempting, sparkling things before us, but not all are the treasures they appear."
"I am aware of that, Vincent," I said. "How many times have I reached for something promised only to have it crumble in my hands? But you know how much I want to believe people, and that's a problem."
He nodded. "The answer is to be a bit more - I don't like to say cynical, perhaps discriminating is the word. Not to be so desperate for the new and different. Be open to it, yes, but before taking possession of it spend time reflecting on the source, and the possible outcomes of that acceptance. You are being noticed, and there are those who wish to help as well. But there are those who wish to hurt as well."
I nodded, saying, "I know there are people who derive great pleasure from playing with the lives of others. Control freaks. Emotional vampires. And let us not discount jealousy - a great motivator if ever there was one. Although why anyone would be jealous of me is a puzzle. And I cannot count how many people have promised me this or that without ever following through."
Vincent sat down on the top step of the landing and patted the space next to him.
"Come sit."
I did as he asked. The stone was cold and I shivered. Vincent noticed and said, "I won't keep you long. I know the thing you most want in your life is what all feeling people want - love. Real love, acceptance of the essence, the truth, of you, with all the imperfections as well as the superlatives. But you must not let that be the stone the blocks out the possibility of other achievements. Do not misunderstand. Should someone with the sensitivity and sincerity to appreciate you appear, by all means, if there is an attraction, you should explore that."
I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself.
"Yes, I hope, I dream, but when pigs fly," I replied. "It's nice to think that someone will see past all my deficiencies and with an open heart accept all of me. But at my age..." and here I shook my head dismissively and sighed. "Let me put it this way. It's a pretty thin field."
"Don't be small-minded," Vincent scowled. "The world is not what it was. Look at what you do every day. You are connected to the entire globe. Do you truly think, with the billions of people who walk the earth, there are none who would appreciate you? But let me get back to my point. Even if that love never finds you, you have gifts to share, and there will be opportunities to do that. But again I caution you - examine, investigate, think carefully before you jump. You must be sure whatever may be offered will be backed up with action."
Here he stopped, obviously looking for the right words. Finally he said, "It's a delicate balance, sifting the nonsense from the real. I know you. You love that bright warmth of the spotlight. Don't let it dazzle you, for you know when it is extinguished you will be going home in the dark with yourself. And that is what you must love when you look in the mirror, not the reflection from the eyes of others."
Vincent got up and offered me his hand.
I stood up and he escorted me down the stairs. When we reached the bottom he opened the door and said,
"It's time for you to return to your daylight life," he said, "and to start making the most of it. I will be watching."
He stepped aside to let me out first, and when I turned to say goodbye he was gone.
Even though my visit to my castle of dreams was just that - a dream - I awoke determined to keep moving forward - with cautious enthusiasm.
~ copyright 2014 RC deWinter
The full January moon shines into a Gothic stairway inside the Yale Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut.
This painting has been FEATURED in
All Fine Art America
All Nostalgia
All Places on the Atlantic Coast
Architecture
Art from the Past
Arts Fantastic World
Balconies Windows and Doors
Beauty
Book Covers
Doors and Windows
Fabulous Art Boutique
Fine Arts Professionals
Gothic Romance
Harmony and Happiness
Images That Excite You
In The Mood
Interior Design
Memories and Nostalgia
Mystic and Art
Night in Art
Premium FAA Artists
Tell Tall Tales
The World We See
Visions of the Night
Waiting Room Art
Thanks to the group hosts for their encouragement and support.
architecture, Gothic, brick, stone, stairs, stairway, railing, landing, tower, interior, window, moon, moonlight, stars, clouds, sky, full moon, night, view, arched, mullions, casement, vintage, Connecticut, New England, New Haven, Yale, wall art, RC deWinter, deWinter
Uploaded
September 16th, 2014
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Viewed 1,476 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/25/2024 at 5:03 AM
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Comments (46)
Maria Coulson
CONGRATULATIONS!! Your artwork has been Featured in the “Balconies, Windows and Doors Group” Thank you for sharing it!
RC DeWinter
Glad this grabbed you, Suzy. In real life what lies beyond that window is a view of the city of New Haven, Connecticut...but in MY world it's for the viewer to discover. Thanks so much.
Suzy Norris
RC, I love this one! The textures draw me into the mystery portrayed here. What lies through that window? just wonderful! l/v/f