It is only necessary to behold the least fact or phenomenon, however familiar, from a point a hair’s breadth aside from our habitual path or routine, to be overcome, enchanted by its beauty and significance…. To perceive freshly, with fresh senses is to be inspired. — Thoreau (My thanks today to Waverly FitzGerald for this … Read more
What shakes the eye, but the invisible? – Theodore Roethke In this final chapter of The Artist’s Way, as her bon voyage gift to us, Julia offers a bouquet of ideas. When we begin to understand our creativity in terms of it being a sacred conversation between our Divinity and our human selves, she emphasizes … Read more
Enough words have been exchanged; Now at last let me see some deeds! — Goethe, Faust I Everything that we have been doing – examining our assumptions about abundance, healing our wounds, facing our fears about our place in the Multiverse, the months of hard labor on our archaeological dig to discover our authenticity – … Read more
Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you. — Marsha Norman (American playwright) While it is true that the real artist’s adventure begins with our being able to admit to our inner dream, it is also true that we can almost instantly react with resistance to it. Julia writes, “This resistance … Read more
Most people die before they are fully born. Creativeness means to be born before one dies. – Erich Fromm First, thanks for your patience while I took a much-needed break over the Imbolc period. I know that I was, in some ways, not as available to you as usual, which may have been a bit … Read more
This “guest post” is from one of my favorite bloggers, Leo Babauta, of Zen Habits. In his post today he recommends that folks new to his blog check out “The Beginners Guide to Zen Habits,” which is a compilation of some of most illuminating posts since he began, back in 2007. This one seems particularly … Read more
You knew I couldn’t totally stay away, didn’t you? So here is an offering for today, as a sort of Artist Date. Yes, another 20 minute investment, for our Artist Self, but very well worth it. Found earlier today from Sia Vogel on the Full Circle Blog. (My deepest apologies for neglecting to ascribe the … Read more
After giving it a lot of thought, including my own Imbolc Tarot reading yesterday, I am taking the advice of the Hermit. Instead of starting our exploration of Chapter Twelve today, I am going to allow myself a much-needed retreat for the rest of the week. I would suggest that you use this time to … Read more
The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web. – Pablo Picasso Today, we complete the second-to-last chapter, Recovering A Sense of Autonomy. We have some exercises to finish, and I … Read more
None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone. — Ralph Waldo Emerson In considering the perils of success, Julia reminds us that creativity is not a business. It certainly has business closely tied to it, as it can generate income … Read more