I read this quote some years ago in a seminal work many creatives and aspiring creatives have come across: Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way." A dear friend gifted me with this life changing book, which I credit for the years I have now spent as an artist and holistic health-care practitioner. For those not familiar, the full title is "The Artist's Way: The Spiritual Path Towards Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self."
The reader commits to 12 weeks of morning pages, artist's dates and signs a contract that reads: "I,________________, commit myself to the regular use of the basic tools. For the duration of this course, I will write Morning Pages daily and will take an Artist's Date once a week. Additionally, I commit myself to excellent self-care, adequate sleep, good food, and gentle companionship." Morning pages being a half hour to 45 minutes each morning that you write whatever it is that comes to mind upon waking, part meditation, part brain-drain, clearing the form for the day ahead, but doing it each day and watching what emerges. Artist's dates a wonderfully magical time, spent by oneself, in creative transfusion playtime and sometimes pure frivolity: a time to be like a child.
Quite a contract. A nurturing one indeed. I just signed it again. Over the years I have gifted this book, that delves into the deepest parts of our hearts and psyches, exploring our blocks, freeing and identifying deep creative yearnings, and giving voice to that inner child artist within all of us, to many friends and clients. I've led a few groups through the book, guiding their journey and providing gentle and ongoing support. And as someone who considers herself a mad scientist of self-discovery, I commit to regularly embarking on similar such journeys. I have done Ms. Cameron's second book "Walking in this World," as well as "The Vein of Gold," and other similar books by wonderful authors.
Once again, I found myself encountered with a dear soul, like we all do from time to time, wondering what to do with their deep passion in an economy and time that is not exactly nurturing dreamers and artists. So I bought this friend a copy of good old "Artist's Way," and while online, Amazon, in its precient way suggested "Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance" the third book in the trilogy. How had I missed this one? Had this come just in time for me as well?
After seeing a stirring production of "Waiting for Godot" recently, I shared drinks and a beautiful night with a bunch of artist friends. Somehow the topic turned to our shared "apologies" for being artists, that we had had to find ways to justify being creative beings, that somehow that was outside the realm of "productive memebers of society." Each of us recounted our anecdotes of times we felt our work couldn't hold a candle to more serious needed professions like science and medicine. And although we knew in our hearts this wasn't true, that OF COURSE the arts were intrinsic and vital to both personal, economic and societal well-being; that American culture, despite its best intentions, make artists feel vestigial, a luxury- something for "when times are good,"
Thusly, I decided, for solidarity with my searching friend, but also to replenish the well and optimism that can run a bit dry from time to time, to embark on a journey to stoke the embers of the creative individuality that resides in us all. Add to the mix of artist's dates and morning pages, weekly walks, solitary ones, to stoke the imagination, release, take in what's around, to listen, observe, go on "walk-about,"- all that a good walk can provide.
I'll be sharing from my journey, as I renew a sacred commitment to all that is creative, and discovering new insights. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, know that one resides within you, and see about carving some time with him or her in the weeks to come. Feel free to pick up a copy of any of the books and join in. :-) http://www.theartistsway.com/
Namaste,
Megan
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Feeling the Subtle Shifts
"When we practice listening, we become intuitive."
Perhaps evident by my lack of blogging since the first post, I have been a bit busy, a bit caught up, as we all can be from time to time. This project, driving here, planning this, planning that...
yet all throughout this subtle, quiet voice has been gently speaking to me. I can't quite hear it when the din of my mind grows deafening, yet know it is there from those times when I have remembered to take a breath, a pause, and go within. To enter into this moment fully.
And with each breath, this opportunity to do just that renews itself. No matter what has come before, how hectic, no matter what is coming, how important, whatever's pending. Again and again we have the gift and the ability to practice listening.
So much of this deeper listening comes from letting go. Letting go of our agendas and our to do lists, as well as our self-doubts and criticisms. They will surface again and again, and we must do our best not to let this be an invitation for further criticism, but begin to be a pathway to deeper compassion and respect for the self. As we begin to know ourselves better and recognize our tendencies, we will begin to let go of what is not serving us, and trust in our intuitive abilities more and more, or with a renewed commitment.
I fought with my intuition this past weekend. Finally back in my apartment after a month and a half away, busy with 15 hour days of creative projects, my adrenalin pumping energizer bunny self wanted to keep up that pace. I had an opportunity to drive to see a production I had been involved in, and assist a friend with rehearsals, and see a dear friend who will soon be going through a frightening procedure. I felt a huge sense of responsibility and obligation to go and be with these people I care about and whom I had worked with, yet in the few moments of quiet between my fast paced moves, I kept hearing that I needed to recharge my batteries. I had not been sleeping much, and when I had, it was not fully restful, as my mind bandied back and forth all that I had to do in the coming day. My apartment had been a rehearsal space, and was anything but calm. I had, and have, as many of us do, friends going through serious transitions in different locales, and I was speaking to them on the phone, and channeling them healing. The dregs were beginning to run low.
I discovered, that in many ways I wanted to escape from taking this quiet time, and wondered what the cause of that might be. There was a fun festival going on locally and I "didn't want to miss anything." Yet each time I checked in, practiced listening, I realized I just needed to be home, and quiet, that I needed to recharge. I gently and methodically began cleaning my apartment, and in the feng shui tradition, balancing the energy of my space. As this happened externally, it began to have the same effect internally, and I fell into the deepest sleep I've had in some time at 10:00 that night.
Waking the next morning naturally before 7, I grappled again with the decision as to whether to begin a 7 hour drive, or to just be in the growing peace in my home and self. I meditated for a bit and practiced listening, and heard loud and clear that I should stay here. I worked to let go of any guilt, and called my friends, who of course were understanding and sent them love and support.
Again that morning, I continued my cleaning and clearing, finally able to prepare a meal for myself and a simple cup of tea, noticing my inner tempo gently beginning to slow down, and the voice within ever more audible. I practiced listening all throughout the day, and observed how I felt moment to moment. What a relief to give this gift to myself!
Not surprising then, that as I finally heed this wisdom, I am led back to writing and to sharing.
Right now, find a few quiet moments, free from outside distractions to close your eyes, place your hand on your belly and just listen. Just listen for what you should do next. In the very next moment, that is all. And when you have done that, listen again. When you feel your mind begin to fill, just take a few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, and begin again. Try this for just five minutes a day. Begin to take note, then, of all the times throughout your day, you can very simply "check in" with yourself, and be led from this place.
Namaste all!
Perhaps evident by my lack of blogging since the first post, I have been a bit busy, a bit caught up, as we all can be from time to time. This project, driving here, planning this, planning that...
yet all throughout this subtle, quiet voice has been gently speaking to me. I can't quite hear it when the din of my mind grows deafening, yet know it is there from those times when I have remembered to take a breath, a pause, and go within. To enter into this moment fully.
And with each breath, this opportunity to do just that renews itself. No matter what has come before, how hectic, no matter what is coming, how important, whatever's pending. Again and again we have the gift and the ability to practice listening.
So much of this deeper listening comes from letting go. Letting go of our agendas and our to do lists, as well as our self-doubts and criticisms. They will surface again and again, and we must do our best not to let this be an invitation for further criticism, but begin to be a pathway to deeper compassion and respect for the self. As we begin to know ourselves better and recognize our tendencies, we will begin to let go of what is not serving us, and trust in our intuitive abilities more and more, or with a renewed commitment.
I fought with my intuition this past weekend. Finally back in my apartment after a month and a half away, busy with 15 hour days of creative projects, my adrenalin pumping energizer bunny self wanted to keep up that pace. I had an opportunity to drive to see a production I had been involved in, and assist a friend with rehearsals, and see a dear friend who will soon be going through a frightening procedure. I felt a huge sense of responsibility and obligation to go and be with these people I care about and whom I had worked with, yet in the few moments of quiet between my fast paced moves, I kept hearing that I needed to recharge my batteries. I had not been sleeping much, and when I had, it was not fully restful, as my mind bandied back and forth all that I had to do in the coming day. My apartment had been a rehearsal space, and was anything but calm. I had, and have, as many of us do, friends going through serious transitions in different locales, and I was speaking to them on the phone, and channeling them healing. The dregs were beginning to run low.
I discovered, that in many ways I wanted to escape from taking this quiet time, and wondered what the cause of that might be. There was a fun festival going on locally and I "didn't want to miss anything." Yet each time I checked in, practiced listening, I realized I just needed to be home, and quiet, that I needed to recharge. I gently and methodically began cleaning my apartment, and in the feng shui tradition, balancing the energy of my space. As this happened externally, it began to have the same effect internally, and I fell into the deepest sleep I've had in some time at 10:00 that night.
Waking the next morning naturally before 7, I grappled again with the decision as to whether to begin a 7 hour drive, or to just be in the growing peace in my home and self. I meditated for a bit and practiced listening, and heard loud and clear that I should stay here. I worked to let go of any guilt, and called my friends, who of course were understanding and sent them love and support.
Again that morning, I continued my cleaning and clearing, finally able to prepare a meal for myself and a simple cup of tea, noticing my inner tempo gently beginning to slow down, and the voice within ever more audible. I practiced listening all throughout the day, and observed how I felt moment to moment. What a relief to give this gift to myself!
Not surprising then, that as I finally heed this wisdom, I am led back to writing and to sharing.
Right now, find a few quiet moments, free from outside distractions to close your eyes, place your hand on your belly and just listen. Just listen for what you should do next. In the very next moment, that is all. And when you have done that, listen again. When you feel your mind begin to fill, just take a few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, and begin again. Try this for just five minutes a day. Begin to take note, then, of all the times throughout your day, you can very simply "check in" with yourself, and be led from this place.
Namaste all!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Our Gift
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
There is a wisdom within us.
Each one of us.
Deep inside, beneath layers of skin, bone, nerves,
A place of light and knowing.
A quiet place, that we must grow quiet to even enter.
There is a gift within us.
Each one of us.
It is a gift that will never lose its magic or its power.
We can open it infinitely and with it infinite possibility.
There is a sage within us.
Each one of us.
A knowing old sage who leads us like a river its landscape.
We can consult, confer, construct a path-
their voice in our ear, encouraging and all-knowing.
Scientists have found that there is a nerve plexus in our belly.
That the organs have wisdom, and emotions that live within them.
Just now, a nudge, a gentle urging led me, who has never blogged before, to come to this site, that I know of from a friend who also has a blog, to write- this. I am listening, and being led.
Welcome to All That's Possible.
Copyright Megan P. Callahan
There is a wisdom within us.
Each one of us.
Deep inside, beneath layers of skin, bone, nerves,
A place of light and knowing.
A quiet place, that we must grow quiet to even enter.
There is a gift within us.
Each one of us.
It is a gift that will never lose its magic or its power.
We can open it infinitely and with it infinite possibility.
There is a sage within us.
Each one of us.
A knowing old sage who leads us like a river its landscape.
We can consult, confer, construct a path-
their voice in our ear, encouraging and all-knowing.
Scientists have found that there is a nerve plexus in our belly.
That the organs have wisdom, and emotions that live within them.
Just now, a nudge, a gentle urging led me, who has never blogged before, to come to this site, that I know of from a friend who also has a blog, to write- this. I am listening, and being led.
Welcome to All That's Possible.
Copyright Megan P. Callahan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)