In a bit of reading I was doing this morning, I came across a pretty interesting passage. It was pretty irrelevant to the overall story (OR IS IT), but I figured it was clever enough to share with you guys.

Keep in mind, I'm transcribing from a book, so the content may not be 100% accurate. The formatting has been modified for this blog.

" There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist:

1. Explorer (Courage)

2. Surveyor (Vision)

3. Miner (Strength)

4. Refiner (Patience)

5. Designer (Intelligence)

6. Maker (Experience)

7. Artist.

First you must leave the safety of your home and go into the dangers of the world, whether to an actual territory or some unexamined aspect of the psyche. This is what is meant by 'Explorer'.

Next you must have the vision to recognize your destination once you arrive there. Note that a destination may also be the journey. This is what is meant by 'Surveyor'.

Third, you must be strong enough to dig up the facts, follow veins of history, unearth telling details .This is what is meant by 'Miner'.

Fourth, you must have the patience to winnow and process your material into something rare. This may take months or even years. And this is what is meant by 'Refiner'.

Fifth, you must user your intellect to conceive of your material as something meaning more than its origins. This is what is meant by 'Designer'.

Six, you must fashion a work independent of everything that has gone before it including yourself. This is accomplished through experience and is what is meant bu 'Maker'.

At this stage, the work is acceptable. You will be fortunate to have progressed so far. Is is unlikely, however, that you will go any further. Most do not. But let us assume you are exceptional. Let us assume you are rare. What then does it mean to reach the final incarnation? Only this: at every stage, from 1 thru 6, you will risk more, see more, gather more, process more, fashion more, consider more, love more, suffer more, imagine more and in the end know why less means more and leave what doesn't and keep what implies and create what matters. This is what is meant by 'Artist'. "

Of course, the same page continues with:

"'It is interesting to note that despite the appeal of this description and the wide-spread popularity of The Architecture of Art, especially during the 70s and early 80s, out of all of LaRue's followers not one has produced anything of consequence let alone merit. In his article "Where have all the children gone?" [which may or may not exist,] in American Heritage, v.17, January 1994, p.43, [which also may or may not exist,] Evan Sharp snapped: "LaRue fanatics would do well to trade in their seven stages for twelve steps.'"

Make of all that what you will.