The Artist's Way group is huge and I want to explore the other blogs so I'm trying to find little moments for that.
I love seeing all the mixed reactions to the Artist Way. As I'm reading it now I remember doing it in my 20's. I remember that it was after my dad had died and I'd quit my art therapy education. In so many ways it was a very mixed up time. As the years have gone by my life has stablized. I found my boundaries (something I still work on maintaining and developing further). I met and married my husband. Some of the ideas in the Artist Way seem a little dated to me. The tasks and some of the language reminds me of being 20 and all the ways I saw the world from that age. It's really fun to see how far I've come.
I joined this group because from what I could see prior to joining, the participants were all creative and interested in living fully. In the back of my head I thought (none of us really need the AW course). But I love how it's given us a place to converse and how each person is finding their own unique way on the path. For myself, I quickly discovered that I am blocked (not creatively) but in a particular medium - clay. So I am directing that focus more and more in that direction while savoring my writing process.
With Week 2 beginning - I read the chapter. The first task I rattled off was 20 things you enjoy. Here's my list in no particular order of favorites and as I start to type this I'm inclined to want to add to it - but I won't - I'll save something for later.
- baths
- hiking
- swimming
- singing
- blogging
- writing
- meditating
- receiving a massage
- reading fiction
- puttering, daydreaming
- cooking
- snuggling with my hubby
- smooching on my kitties
- laughing
- getting in that creative zone by making some art with my hands
- listening to programs like New Dimensions, This American Life, etc..
- jigsaw puzzles
- travel -seeing something new and different
- gardening
- yoga
Cameron said don't be surprised if it's been a long time since you did these activities. Well, I looked at my list and thought I've done all of these recently. Okay the last time I went swimming was probably in the Pacific Ocean in 2003. And I haven't done a jigsaw puzzle for many months.
The one and only thing I noticed was I had an art project I worked on in 2003. It was called Semanas (spanish for weeks). It was done with a group of artist friends and we each agreed to do 52 pieces - one a week for the year of 2003. Then last year the same group of women began a project called Luna. Our intent was to do 12 pieces working on one a month. I am behind. I got stuck. I wanted to work it in clay and I stalled. However, if you've read some of my earlier posts I am becoming unstuck. I signed up for a class at Santa Fe Clay. Eventually, I will post some of my clay work. When I did the Semanas project I had that experience of creating with my hands, but not so much in 2005. I realize that what I love about clay that is different from writing is the "working with my hands part" So with that in mind I'll begin again to re-enter my claywork. Remembering how sensual and good it feels to work my hands in the clay.
I just read what Marilyn had to say about this being a pilgrimage for her. She put it so beautifully. For me I realized that it isn't about digging up all my demons. It is more about opening the channels of trade, venturing into new lands, and sharing my treasures. I'm delighted to read all the ways that the AW is working for people either as it is or as we are all are finding a new path. I think the blogosphere is perfect for this kind of show and tell. The intro to Sark's book Make your Creative Dreams Real she talks about show and tell in second grade. In second grade she said, "I think that show-and-tell should be ME every day." Well, I've been pondering this and realized that I've been kind of shy and yet I don't feel so shy out here in the blogsphere. For me it is like that part or me that is looking at the world and collecting and creating is suddenly saying - I'm bursting -I'm ready for show and tell. So I leave you all with this quote. It has spoken to me over the years in relation to my meditation practice and suddenly it speaks very strongly to me for the AW journey and perhaps to you too.
"Wherever you are is the entry point!" -Kabir
