Illusions

What we see is not always what is there

Did you know that there is an official optical illusion contest every year? Me neither. Nor did I know that there is an actual museum of illusions (nor that it’s actually a fast growing (so they say) franchise chain), nor that there is a worldwide illusion research community. That’s a lot of nors.

My love affair with illusions began in my early days of studying creativity with this one (which is by now old rabbit … or old duck … take your pick).

What do you see?

One summer day I actually sat in an optical illusion. I was sitting by a pool with a fence around it, just quietly minding my own summer business, talking with a friend when all of a sudden, the pool didn’t make sense. The fence was too tall in one place and too short in another. I knew it was a trick of sight but I couldn’t pull it back to normal. Finally, I got up and walked over to a different perspective and the world righted itself. Then I walked back to my chair and the world slipped out of plumb again. That sealed my fate … I was an illusion advocate.

Because there is nothing the world needs more than a few minutes with a crazy making illusion, here’s one of my favorites: a nice, decorative wall of 20 rectangles … right? Or is it 16 circles? This one made me a little crazy.

If you’ve nothing better to do (and it’s probably better than scrolling through the whatever-it’s-now-called platform), YouTube has a ton of illusions;

Here’s one that might make you wonder if you’re smarter than a flock of sheep. (And, I’ve actually seen a black and white rug advertised that could create the same effect for house guests.)

Click here to watch the video.

---

All of the above could also be called optical delusions, however, they also highlight the power of imagery. Here on Substack words and images come together to deliver stories and messages with impact.

As you may have realized by now, I am avid about Substack … both as an author and as a reader. There are so many fresh voices here … wisdom that doesn’t come in a package pre-authorized, face-washed, and sanitized by a publisher who may or may not truly care about the message. Here I find wondrous, wandering souls who pour their ideas and experiences onto the page every week and invite us into conversation.

For the rest of the year, I want to give you a glimpse of some of the Substack authors who’ve made my year more than it might have been. Last week I introduced

Russell C. Smith

who writes The New Now, This week, it’s time for you to meet

Medha Murtagh

who writes Great Things … literally … and illustrates them in a charming way that brings her messages to life. Here is a snippet from one of my favorite posts where she tells a story of loss and illustrates the importance of “making memories.” For me, she is a role model of powerfully combining words and images.

Substackers who have shifted my thinking:

Introducing a handful of unique Substackers worth reading IMHO … although far from a comprehensive list, these folks will launch you beyond the BIG Names and into the “WOW, I’m glad I found you” stands. Each author will be the focus on the date referenced … but just in case you want to skip ahead (or back) or subscribe now rather than later, here’s what’s highlighted in the last 7 weeks of 2023.

11/18/23

Kathryn Vercillo

writing in Create Me Free about mental health and art.

11/25/23

Russell C. Smith

writing in The New Now about the power of manifestos.

12/2/23

Medha Murtagh

writes about Great Things with humor and illustrations.

12/9/23 Goatfury Writesby Andrew Smith writing about anything that crosses his curious and unique mind.

12/16/23

Nina Schuyler

writes Stunning Sentences. If you’re a writer, you may never look at (or write) sentences in the same way.

12/23/23

M. E. Rothwell

writes Cosmographia, a map-based travel adventure like no other.

12/30/23Unfixed by Kimberly Warner presented me with a life lesson I’m still chewing on.

---

12/1/2023 - And, as I travel through the state of Chiapas in the ancient land of the Maya on a “Women Are Sacred” tour, we spent an amazing afternoon in the pottery workshop of a master potter where several young women molded, polished and painted jaguars, chickens, bowls, and other decorative items … all while caring for babies and toddlers. This hanging bassinet held a sleeping baby when we arrived. Later, the baby was comforted and fed by the mother. A whole post could be written about the work/life balance we experienced that afternoon.

Also here is a tiny experience of a “whistling” waterfall (when the wind blows. ) Hope it refreshes you as much as it did me.