Running On Moonstone Beach  by Donna Sellers

I love the different stories Bob and I share after completing a painting. The insights I gain about myself are exciting and I enjoy making up stories that play with psychological meanings within myself. Bob has a gift of deepening a story leading to major shifts in one’s thinking. His imagination has been finely tuned to the archetypes and psychology of change and growth. We have found a way to deepen our lives while having fun with each story we imagine.

So many thoughts, feelings, and stories come through me when I travel in my imagination. They all seem important at the time, but I trust that the stories I imagine can shift my perceptions of reality even if I don’t remember them.

I am excited to have discovered a new passion: the power of the story. After completing a painting that I love like Moonstone Beach, I am in awe about what we can do and how rewarding the whole process is. The mix of colors that I love, along with the story and the backdrop of the infinite seascape near where we live, elicits strong feelings in me. All parts of creating Moonstone Beach represent the best of my creative worlds.

Running On Moonstone Beach 

Mary was given a mare for Christmas which she named “Liberty.” She decided on this name as she saw how upset the mare seemed to be when she was locked up in the corral. Mary spent many hours trying to reconcile how to give Liberty space to run and yet, at the same time, protect her and take the care needed to slowly get her used to the conditions of her new home.

At last, Mary came up with a plan. Each day she would open the gate and allow Liberty to run down the path to the beach, the wind blowing in her mane and the sand kicking up under her hooves. Liberty was so fast that Mary had to gallop to keep up with her. She didn’t worry though because Liberty would always slow down when she came to the Little River as though this barrier reminded her that she could not run forever. Sensing that there would be another opportunity to run free, as this had become a routine, Liberty was satisfied to allow Mary to catch up with her and guide her back into the corral for a treat of two red apples.

Interpretation:

This story represents two parts of myself.  I can let myself go on an adventure because I know I can count on the other part of me to be alert and come up with a plan to bring me back into balance. The woman galloping on her horse loves to let her mare run and has learned to manage her needs as well as the needs of the wilder side represented by the horse who wants to run free of any constraints or rules.