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An art blog by Jon Coffelt on The Whole 9

Jon Coffelt, highly acclaimed artist, activist and curator, is a former gallery owner living and working in Manhattan. Coffelt decided to keep his distinctive Southern drawl.

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Understand What Fallow Means

June 30, 2010
8 Comments (see all)

Being there myself a few times, I know how it is to have a physical situation that keeps one from where you mentally and physically feel that you need to be. I also understand what fallow means and sometimes we just need to let things be. Be what they are to strengthen us.

My hope is for you get back to where you want to be but in the meantime I want to give you something to think about.

I remember when I was out of physical sorts and so worried that things were just not gelling for me. I was getting behind, or so I thought, only to understand that spiritually I was getting ahead and things I could not figure out before just sort of came pouring to me when I wasn’t physically drained.

Sometimes we have to remember that we are functioning on so many levels that it take one getting off kilter for the others to kick it up a notch. To be fallow in one area only means to grow and develop in another. Let the fallow parts replenish then you are working on all cylinders, so to speak.

This is my hope for you:
Keep making that wonderful work and keep your heart intact. Be mindful of this reflection of the moment and let it carry you to your next phase. A most productive and fruitful one it will be. Keep on keeping on because over the next horizon is your city of gold.

Go make great art. You demand it of yourself but be easy too.
This is just a way for you to reconnect with what is really important to you.

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  1. joncoffelt

    Main Entry: 2fallow
    Function: noun
    Etymology: Middle English falwe, falow, from Old English fealg — more at felly
    Date: before 12th century

    1 : usu. cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
    2 obsolete : plowed land
    3 : the state or period of being fallow
    4 : the tilling of land without sowing it for a season

  2. awaken2sun

    Brilliant blog Jon — I think your point “being fallow only means to grow and develop in another” is so true.

    The other day I was coming out of a parking lot and asked my daughter which way she wanted me to turn — left or right. She said left. When I got to the exit, I realized there was a no left turn sign. Now being a bit more careful about these things now that I’ve got more precious cargo, I followed the instructions and made a right knowing I would loop back around.

    Willow asked “What are you doing Momma?” to which I replied, “Sometimes you have to go right to go left.”

  3. carolbuchanan

    Thanks, Jon. I enjoy your posts. The work I purchased at Alice continues to enrich my life and start conversations at the beach. The beach house has been a place to “lie idle” for over a decade. The beach has weathered a lot since we’ve been visiting, but nature can’t match a man-made disaster that threatens now.
    Carol

  4. tdartst

    I’m dealing with a tremendous mental block right now. I just keep staring at my studio. I have nothing. Honestly, it’s starting to stress me out a little bit. BUT, I’m trying to focus on other things such as exercise, friendships (been slacking on that one) and future collaborations.

    So…..it’s probably not as bad as it’s hyped up to be.

  5. cherylart

    I completely understand what you are talking about John. Been through it many times in my career as an artist. Each time it makes me a bit crazy, because I am always wanting to be “doing” instead of “being”. Each time I come to a place where the art once more flows freely and incredibly and then I say, see- that wasn’t so tough!

  6. joncoffelt

    My great friend KG is going through so much and this was my email to her as she is very dear to me.
    I wanted to share it with you guys. Remember this too shall pass. namaste

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