Congratulations on grandmotherhood!!!(no text)

Subject:

Comments:
: : Dear Amy... : : Thank you for the response...I would welcome hundred's of "newbies" : if they had the spirit that you do! : : I am a newbie myself and I try to learn as much as I can from as : many people as I can about this beautiful : : artform. : : Keep the spirit and the artform alive and well! : : Namaste' : : Di : : : : As a new henna artist, and someone without genetic ties to any : : traditional hennaing culture, it occurs to me that I might be : viewed : : just this way upon popping up at my first festival along side : veterans : : (if I ever make that leap). That is, as someone looking to make a : : buck off a fad. Yet I do approach mehndi as a spiritual, giving, : : meaningful and expressive form of traditional art. Before I show : up : : at my first festival, I will have done many a happy 'customer' for : : free and spent many an hour happily painting any body part I can : reach : : on myself. : : : Therefore, let's not assume all these newbies are just trying to : : make a buck off your buzz. Instead let's imagine that they have : been : : itching for a public forum to practice an art they sincerely enjoy : & : : find beautiful (which is legitimate in its own way, even if they : don't : : know all the history of henna). Perhaps they are grateful for your : : inspiration, or for the fact that you have created new public : interest : : in something they already liked to do. Surely spreading the joy of : : henna could not anger the goddess. : : : Part of the appeal of henna is that it has long been practiced by : : every day people who may not consider themselves 'fine artists'. : It's : : a folk art in a way. And among those festival booths there are : surely : : some who enjoy it as such and have been inspired by your success : and : : your talent. : : : (That said, I tend to agree that the true spirit of the ritual is : : better appreciated one-on-one or in intimate groups. I'm not sure : I'm : : dying to do the festival thing myself.) : : : Amy, who respectfully submits a positive spin on the popularity : of : : henna. : : : P.S. Congratulations!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL: