" I dedicate this book to the artist in all of us .
This is as much a note to myself as one to you . Play to the gods ! In showbusiness the ' gods ' are the seats right at the back of the theatre , the tough ones , where people got in cheaply and can not see or hear properly , and chat between themselves and eat lots of popcorn .
For the artist ' the gods ' is the universe , the big , abstract picture , the unknown , the open sky and sea . Focusing on the infinite universe might seem rather grandiose , or utterly aimless . In fact it is as small or as large as we want it to be . Some of us believe there is nothing out there . Some of us believe we are surrounded by attentive angels . Whatever .
Play to the gods , or -- if you prefer -- to a small basket full of stuffed toys , or sing into the mouth of a hot- water bottle , or turn the knobs on a chest of drawers and pretend to be 20,000 leagues under the sea .
It is all the same thing . If in doubt , just play . "

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