Achieving Mastery

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” — Author Unknown I just love how there is a magic of synchronicity that happens on the Web. Often, when I am focusing on a particular topic, as if by coincidence (but we know better, don’t we?), some of my favorite bloggers, … Read more

The Bind That Blocks Us

We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. — Ralph Waldo Emerson We are beginning Chapter Nine, Recovering a Sense of Compassion, by examining the power of words. As you know, words have enormous power, from spells to curses, from treaties to laws. The old childhood … Read more

Chapter Nine Begins: Recovering A Sense of Compassion

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. — Sylvia Plath Welcome back! I’m so glad you have found your way here to my new digs and that you are still with us on this journey of The Artist’s Way begun at Imbolc (Feb.) this year. I hope you haven’t abandoned ship (which you will see … Read more

A New Childhood and What Color Are You?

Our whole life is but a greater and longer childhood. — Benjamin Franklin I don’t know about you, but I found that yesterday’s exercise was tremendously, actually ridiculously, helpful! In my head, all my fantasies have remained fantasies. They switch from obvious and easy to arrogant and impossible, because my belief has depended on my … Read more

Goal Search Exercises

Ideas in secret die. They need light and air or they starve to death.— Seth Godin We continue with the exercises that will finalize our journey through Chapter Eight. First, Julia warns us that this task may be difficult, but we should do it anyway. I did not find it difficult, personally. I found it … Read more

Final Exercises for Chapter Eight: Affirmations

adaptation found from original triptychShaman by Martha RuppertWhen it all seems impossible, focus on the point in front of you. Follow it like a hawk and forget everything else. — Carlos CastanedaThis week, we are finishing up Chapter Eight, Recovering a Sense of Strength. In fact, the only work left in this chapter is a … Read more

Respecting What Is

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently. — Agnes de Mille We’ve been working with the idea that instead of the ultimately self-defeating practice of being paralyzed by the prospects of where our creative path may take us, it is extremely important at this stage … Read more

Anxiety Addiction

Evergreen Surrealist Pearl FryarI walk slowly, but I never walk backward. — Abraham Lincoln I left you with a real cliff-hanger yesterday! Rather than moving gently ahead one step at a time in our artistic recovery, we have a tendency to be addicted to Big Drama, so we rush madly to the precipice of complete … Read more

Time and Patience

Andy GoldsworthyThe two most powerful warriors are patience and time. — Leo TolstoyWhy is it so hard to take things in baby steps? Why are micromovements (which seem ridiculously obvious, once you think about them) such a revelation? I think that part of it comes from an unspoken expectation for humans to now move at … Read more