Richly Supporting The Artist

Listen. Make a way for yourself inside yourself. Stop looking in the other way of looking. – Rumi You may begin to notice that I am directly quoting Julia more and more.  Frankly, the previous several chapters have felt slow and heavy at times. But clearly, she was patiently laying the groundwork for this. Now, … Read more

Wild, Shining, Awakened

Nobody knows where you are How near or how far Shine on you crazy diamond. — David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Rick Wright (Pink Floyd) As we recover what Julia calls “A Sense of Autonomy,” we step it up, and embrace our very own, unique, quirky take on what Artist means. This is deeply individual, like … Read more

Chapter Eleven – Recovering a Sense of Autonomy

He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened. – Lao-Tzu Welcome to Chapter Eleven – Recovering a Sense of Autonomy It has been a long journey, hasn’t it? Well the end is in sight, my friends.  This is the second to last chapter and we now begin to wrap it up. … Read more

Creative Envy and Competition

Envy shoots at others and wounds itself. English Proverb The last hazard of the road that Julia warns of in Chapter Eight is the danger of competition. What we consider a friendly rivalry can all too easily morph into a poisonous compare-and-contrast. Like the longing for fame or recognition, gauging our work against the success … Read more

Co-creation and Genius

In Spain, when a performer has done something impossible and magic — magnificent, bravo — incomprehensible, there it is – a glimpse of God – Allah! Allah! Olé! Olé! — Elizabeth Gilbert I. know that Julia’s description of the road hazard of fame doesn’t resonate with many of us. That word, I think, conjures up … Read more

The Drought

An empty canvas is a living wonder — far lovelier than certain pictures. Wassily Kandinsky. (1866–1944) By now, I am sure you will have discovered one of the most irksome challenges on our Artist’s Way. I am referring to times of drought. This is when the morning pages get harder to stick to, but are … Read more

Recovery for the Workaholic

For workaholics, all the eggs of self-esteem are in the basket of work. – Dr. Judith M. Bardwick, author and psychological analyst for Fortune 500 corporations Finding a firm line which we recognize is a boundary between enthusiastic work and unhealthy behavior can be very difficult for those of us with work addictions. To get … Read more