Basic Principles
- Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy
- There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life - including ourselves
- When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives
- We, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves
- Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our best gift back to God
- The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature
- When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction
- As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected
- It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity
- Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward divinity
Negative Beliefs
- everyone will hate me
- i will hurt my friends and family
- i will go crazy
- i will abandon my friends and family
- i can't spell
- i don't have good enough ideas
- it will upset my mother andor father
- i will have to be alone
- i will find out i am gay
- i will be struck straight
- i will do bad work and not know it and look like a fool
- i will feel too angry
- i will never have any real money
- i will get self-destructive and drink, drug or sex myself to death
- i will get cancer, aids or a heart attack or the plague
- my lover will leave me
- i will die
- i will feel bad beacuse i don't deserve to be successful
- i will have only one good piece of work in me
- it's too late. if i haven't become a fully functioning artist yet, i never will
Creative Affirmations
- i am a channel for God's creativity, and my work comes to good
- my dreams come from god and god has the power to accompalish them
- as i create and listen, i will be led
- creativity is the creator's will for me
- my creativity heals myself and others
- i am allowed to nurture my artist
- through the use of a few simple tools, my creativity will flourish
- through the use of my creativity. i serve god
- my creativity always leads me to truth and love
- my creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness
- there is a divine plan of goodness for me
- there is a divine plan of goodness for my work
- as i listen to the creator within, i am led
- as i listen to my creativity i am led to my creator
- i am willing to create
- i am willing to learn to let myself create
- i am willing to let god create through me
- i am willing to be of service through my creativity
- i am willing to experience my creative energy
- i am willing to use my creative talents
Week 1 - Tasks
- clock 30 min back each day. morning pages. convert blurts to positive affirmations
- artist date
- time travel: old enemies of creative self-worths. heal creative injuries
- time travel: horror story. jot details. trash your monster
- letter to editor in self-defense
- time travel: champions of your self-worth. be specific. positive memories. post compliments
- time travel: happy piece of encouragement
- imaginary lives: 5 lives, what would you do in them? have fun in the lives
- affirmations: monster's swim back to us. note and work with each blurt
- walk: take a brisk, 20 minute walk
- check-in: morning pages experience, artist date, issues (describe)
Rules of the Road
- Show up at the page. Use the page to rest, to dream, to try
- Fill the well, by caring for the artist
- Swt small and gentle goals and meet them
- Pray for guidance, courage and humility
- Far harder and more painful to be a blocked artist
- Be alert for the presence of the Great Creator leading and helping my artist
- Choose companions who encourage me to do the work, not just talk or why I am not doing
- The Great Creator loves creativity
- My job to do the work, not judge the work
- Great Creator, I will take care of the quantity, you take care of the quality
Week 2 - Tasks
- affirmative reading: morning and night, meditate on the Basic Principles
- time? major activities, shoulds vs wants, safety map (topics, people)
- twenty enjoyments? last time done -> artist date
- writing affirmations
- imaginary lives?
- life pie: spirituality, exercise, play, work, friends, adventure
- 10 tiny changes: i would like to ___
- make a small item from above the goal for the week
- do the above item
Finding Water (The Art of Perseverence)
Remembering
I was not there when your mother bore you,
Surely you came to this world, hungering and wet,
We all do that.
Surey you came like the rest of us,
From the dark sea of souls,
That sighing that brings forth,
And calls us back-we all share that.
If this is true, and it is-even for you-
Why are you a broken glass smashed against,
The Floor? Why not the sea's grass on,
The ocean floor? Why not a smooth stone, a willow,
In the wind? Why do you break, not bend, and,
Even broken, why not mend? You do know how.
Walk with me to th edge of the city.
Take off your shoes and feel the earth.
It is softer than a woman.
It is safer than a father.
It is water. It is air.
It is where you are returning,
With this yearning you can't name.
Cast off your shame. It is an old coat.
Remember who you are. You are a star,
A mountain, that fountain in the sun.
Your heart is the velvet cave,
Where birds sing.
Are you remembering?
- Julia Cameron