This is my second installment about how the patriarchy influences us around our intuitive painting process. And I call this one The Seduction Of Control.

When talking about the patriarchal mindset it’s important to remember that its number ONE value is control, control, control above almost anything else. And not only does it value control it believes that it can and should actually HAVE control and will do whatever it takes to get that control. That means trying to control things like the environment, the narrative, reality, the earth, other creatures, the climate, other peoples behavior, other people’s thought processes, other people’s bodies and emotions.

Another word for control is domination. Because all of those things I listed above don’t WANT to be controlled. They are not going to willingly allow it. And even though it’s ultimately impossible to actually have that control the patriarchy never, ever stops trying. So it gets all big and blustery and domineering, trying to force that control through intimidation and threats and fear. And through that type of behavior it can often get compliance, especially from humans who are trying to protect themselves by hoping that if they give the patriarchy some of what it wants, it will go away and leave them alone.

Which of course never happens.

The bottom line is that the forces of patriarchy are ruled by fear and are trying to feel safe through these tactics of control and domination which ultimately gives them a feeling of power.

And it’s not the spiritual power of being grounded in yourself and connected to your own center and the earth but the experience of power over other situations and beings, no matter the cost.

So by now, I’m sure you’re wondering, what in the HECK does this whole discussion have to do with intuitive painting???

Well, let me tell you!!!

We have all grown up in these patriarchal systems and are deeply influenced and conditioned by these patriarchal attitudes and beliefs. Now, even if we actively and consciously resist those values and behaviours, they have taken up residence in our psyches and are deeply embedded in our unconscious. Which means we are unwittingly aligned with them and act them out in ways that we don’t recognize as patriarchal.

So when you approach your painting process even though you are consciously committed to and welcoming of your intution and feelings and impulses from your body… even if that’s what you actually truly WANT… that need to feel safe ( which is the promise the patriarchy gives you if only you obey) will rise up and take control of your brush, your hand and your mind. Bending you to its invisible will.

Because if you TRULY listen and allow your heart and soul and intution to speak and lead you it will always align itself with where you are the most creatively alive which includes exploring and allowing things like chaos and wildness and unpredictability and the unknown into your paintings. And the patriarchy is no fan of ANY of these things.

Every time you allow yourself to be joyfully spontaneous and what comes through your brush is something weird or mysterious or what you judge as ugly and then you immediately try to fix or get rid of the offending image or color by covering it up, the patriarchy has grabbed you by the throat and forced your authentic aliveness into submission.

Every time something shows up in your paintings that opens you up to emotions that make you uncomfortable and you reject the image that evoked the feelings by changing it to make it more comfortable or acceptable you are allowing the patriarchy to silence the voice of your soul and convince you that there is something wrong with you feeling things that deeply.

Every time your intuition generously offers you a creative painting prompt that you immediately shut down because you don’t like it or it’s too much or you don’t think it fits in your painting or it doesn’t make sense to your left brain, you are allowing the patriarchy to convince you that you can’t really trust in your deeper intuitive wisdom.

Every time you let the patriarchal mindset convince you that taking any kind of creative risk is going to somehow ruin your painting, you are muting your aliveness and stifling your curiosity about what could possibly show up and even surprise you if you just let yourself get out of the way.

Every time you choose nice and pretty over the invitation to be raw and real you are letting the patriarchy keep you locked in a system that rewards acceptability and appropriateness over true authenticity and where you are unconsciously participating in your own internalized oppression.

Ultimately, the intuitive painting process is a sacred invitation into a profound experience of liberation from what binds your creative soul and keeps your creative spirit in a cage.

And any allegiance you have to the patriarchy… conscious or not… will never, ever support that profound experience of creative freedom.