Art and Golf

Spring. Renewal. Energy. Creativity. Communion. Golf.

Golf? Oh, Janine, you're not really going to write about a sport in this essay are you? Or is this an instance of "One of these things doesn't belong here" lists? No. Golf belongs on that list. Amazingly in my convoluted consciousness, they are related.

I am relishing the arrival of Spring here on Cape Cod... the birdsong is deafening... the air really and truly sweet. So my thoughts turn to Spring and painting, creating. And then Golf. Here is how...

In Steven Pressfield's The Legend of Bagger Vance, Bagger Vance is a mysterious caddy who appears to help Junah, a gifted but struggling young golfer who has lost his swing. Early in the critical match, Vance show Junah "The Field." Vance waves his hand at the course and says "This is the Field," it is the field of play. And he says to Junah, "You are the Knower. All that IS flows from the union of the Field and The Knower." Bagger Vance shows Junah how Jones, an older, more experienced golfer, tunes into the Field before he even approaches the ball. Around Jones, encompassing his body in vibrating concentric fields, spreads an aura of energy. It seemed to be his body, but expanded, augmented. It was a field itself. You could see his will," as Bagger Vance said, "His intention, select the Field he chose, which was the fairway and the target." He describes how Jones has a thousand swings in him, but how, through his intention, he sifts through them all until he finds his perfect swing.

The power of intention. There have been many explorations over the years, ranging from Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking to Julia Cameron's The Artistis Way, to Rhond Byrne's The Secret, of the power of intentional thinking.
Healthy, positive thinking can be bring you vitality: repeatedly creating thoughts that keep one's mind and body in balance. Think inadequacy [even if what you are thinking is a wish to avoid the inadequacy!] and you may ultimately fail to perform in an adequate manner. Think defeat and you will tend to create the circumstances that lead to defeat. But think victory and success, really think it, then you will perform in such a manner that will lead to such an outcome.

This is not "wishful thinking." It is belief in what you are doing, and focus. Focus that puts you IN your vision and your intention. It is Prayer as meditation. Prayer releases power. Prayer also keeps you humble and helps you keep perspective.

Because I remember, too, what Bagger Vance tells Junah when he is worried about the outcome of his efforts "It's only a game. A game you can't win. You can only play."

Happy creating!