“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” — Lewis Carroll
I’m getting ready to leave for Taos, New Mexico, to teach a class called Shards and Santos at the Taos Ceramics Center. We’re driving from San Antonio, and my husband (and beloved traveling companion) has already checked the road for both traffic construction and upcoming weather conditions. He knows where we will stop and how long it will take to get there.
This is hugely reassuring! I’d probably just hop in and head northwest. And this topic a perfect lead-in to reflecting about how differently we chart our artist’s journey. I actually created two Oracle Cards to express this.
A section in the in-progress Enso Oracle book called Subtleties and Pairings: When Meanings Overlap says, “Some cards in The Enso Oracle may appear to speak the same language, yet their tones differ quietly, like two instruments playing in harmony. The Wanderer and The Traveler, for example, both move through the world, but their motives are distinct: The Traveler walks with purpose, guided by curiosity and direction, while The Wanderer drifts in openness, allowing intuition rather than intention to lead. One seeks, the other listens.”
Take a minute to think about this, and then see which card below fits your creative “journey style” the best.
Were you able to choose your “wayfinder archetype”?
As you were reading the two cards above, which one tugs at you today?– (it may change tomorrow)
If you’re The Traveler (purposeful path):
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Name a destination for this week’s studio time in one sentence.
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Pick one tool or constraint that will help you get there.
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Five-minute map: sketch the sequence—Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3.
If you’re The Wanderer (intuitive drift):
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Begin without a plan: choose three materials by feel, not reason.
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Follow the most interesting accident for 10 minutes—no fixing, only noticing.
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Three lines in your notebook: What surprised you? What changed? What’s next?
Tell Me & Tell Each Other
In the comments, share which card chose you today that describes your approach, and
I’ll feature a few responses in the next post (with your permission).
I’ll be on the road to Taos soon—channeling a bit of Traveler (routes and rest stops – thank you, Beloved Traveling Companion) and a whole lot of Wanderer (open skies, new textures). Which one will guide you this week?
Hopefully, I’ll be able to post while I’m there – I’ll send pics!! Thanks for reading!
This made the Wanderer in me light up!! All of my friends would immediately identify me as such, though I travel a fair amount, too. Still… my truest nature is Wanderer, through and through! Just reading your description made me feel a glow.
I’m sure you’ve answered this question a million times, but will we (pretty please) have the opportunity to purchase your Enso oracle cards set?
Much love and many hugs,
Cheryl
You are a glorious wanderer!!
Hopefully the Enso Card Book will be ready by Christmas!! Fingers crossed.Thanks for asking . . .
Love these cards and words so much. Gives me something to to think about my I share?
Please share!! You have given me so much wisdom and inspiration, Barb! Forever grateful for you.
Definitely “The Traveler.” I envy the wild Wanderers! I like a road map, a plan, a final object envisioned. I like to research materials, be sure of their nature, form a design, and see that final destination. I don’t enjoy too many surprises or diversions from my path. Creatively, obviously I could benefit from being less of a planner. (New Year’s resolution 2026, embrace the wild wanderer within?) Thanks again for the thought provoking exercises and for sharing the Enso cards!
Oh, Adeliese – you always have such good comments – thank you for your insights . ♥
I love the colorful art of the two women on each of these cards, and I love that they appear to be older women. I’m grateful to know I can keep going, either wandering or traveling, at this stage of life.
Me too, dear friend!!
The Wanderer speaks more clearly to me, though I can definitely be the Shadow of the Traveler at times. She peeks through, especially when I am in a class where I want clear instructions and a specific final product. But in my own studio, working on my own projects, I’m proudly a Wanderer!
What a great balance! I have to agree that workshops and classes are not the best place for a teacher to wander – 🙂
Definitely the travler
Good for you – I need more of that!
Safe travels
Much love to you and Bill
⭐️
We miss you – more soon. Lots and lots of love.
Oh how I love to wander … it is my very happy place. However, the traveler, building the focus muscle, is where the ‘real work’ begins for me. As Carroll said, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there means i can wander but my wandering self eventually hands off to the more concrete traveler. Thank you for this wonderful share. It gives me much to ponder.
Wishing you a fabulous workshop (lucky students) and I can’t wait for your your Enso cards to be available❤️
What a great comment! I like the way the Traveler can rescue the Wanderer and back and forth.
This is intended for writers, but works, I believe, for all creative processes: “I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners. The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they’re going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there’s going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up. The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if they planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don’t know how many branches it’s going to have, they find out as it grows. And I’m much more a gardener than an architect.” Love this…. With the perspective that “We write to inform ourselves”, I guess I’m a gardener too!
I love this too! What a meaningful, engaging metaphor. I will share this one! So many thanks, Kathleen.
♥
I find I’m both a traveler and a wanderer both in my studio and in life. Currently I am working on 2 clay projects in my studio. They are defined and I know what I am doing. Yesterday I was in my studio with a friend and we were experimenting and playing with clay. I’m also working on a travel book for friends. I’m painting their photos and the fun, creative part will come when I put the book together and play with the pages of the book. I’m also itching to do some collages with paintings on top or just collage. Who knows?
What a delightful mix!! And the fact that are doing things for friends is especially meaningful – yay, Cindy! ♥