What gives you Hope? (Here’s some)

A friend of mine was asking: “What about Hope? What about the things that give us Hope?” and Joe said: “Huh – if there is anything” and that got me thinking.  We really need to hang on to those things that inspire us but also, we must try to resist the stuff that leads to despair.

So here goes: Samhaircíní (pronounced: sour keeny). That’s them above, the primroses that tell me that winter is finally over and that summer is definitely on the way.  Actually, I suppose they’re my second sign of hope because the Snowdrops or Plúiríní Sneachta were the first to arrive.  Every year in the middle of January, they force their way out of the cold earth to greet the new year. They’d bring a smile to the grouchiest of people.

Next, my favourite colour: Blue.  Some people say that it represents grief or sorrow and others, that it’s the colour of the sky and is associated with freedom, imagination and inspiration – but I say: “No, it depends”.

I like the quote by Wassily Kandinsky that ‘shades of colour awaken in the soul emotions too fine to be expressed in words’ and therefore, I think it depends on your own personal associations – and we shouldn’t try to give it a particular meaning. There’s no need to explain.  Just look!  Just enjoy!

It was our trip to Killinthomas Wood in Co. Kildare that reminded me of the wonder of Blue.  It was the bluebells, as you see below.  They only bloom for a short while – before the leaves in the canopy begin to prevent the sunlight from reaching them on the forest floor.  It was wonderful to be there just at the right time.

Lapis lazuli… Tá cloigíní gorma againn inár ngairdín fhéin freisin agus is aoibhinn liom iad a fheiscint faoi bhláth ag tús mhí na Bealtaine – ach nuair a chonaic muid na sluaite neamhaí sin thíos i Choillín Thomáis le déanaí, chuir sé gliondar ar mo chroí.

And the Bluebells are called: Cloigíní gorma (pronounced: Klig-eeny gor-um-a).

Borradh agus fás.  So yes, nature gives me Hope.  When I plant seeds for the allotment, it’s just wonderful to see them sprout and begin to develop.  We’re making a right mess of the earth these days – but nature is so much more sophisticated than we can imagine.

And since we mentioned blue – what about the Kingfisher – that sudden flash of pure inspiration along the lonesome river.

But finally (for today anyway), something else that gives me Hope is: Languages.  We have our own Irish language – but just the fact that there are so many different languages in the world is wonderful.  The human race has developed in so many diverse ways with such a wealth of language and cultures.  And finally, finally: there’s Poetry… M’anam, how I admire the poets.  With just a few words, they can explain the world to us, in such profound and moving ways.

I made this piece for the Artisterium Contemporary Art Exhibition in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2013.  It reads: “Where there is Art, there is Hope”.

Anyway, that was just for starters.  I’d love to hear your reasons for Hope.  And what brings you Joy? I know that there are terrible things happening in the world today – but we mustn’t despair.  Keep watching out for your Kingfisher!

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