The Artist's Way (1)

THE ARTIST'S WAY

I am on week seven of "The Artist's Way" 12-week program to recover your creative self by Julia Cameron.

Whilst not all of the course has landed with me easefully so far, I am absolutely loving the two basic practices.

The first basic practice is the Morning Pages. This includes taking up to half an hour each morning to write three long-form, stream-of-consciousness pages of whatever flows, even if it's writing 'nothing is flowing, I don't know what to write'.

Julia sees this as a way to clear out what's building up inside, to clear the logic brain aside so that artist brain can play, to give ourself space to express without censorship or perfectionism taking the reigns. It is a form of meditation.

The second basic practice is the Artist's Date. This involves putting aside a minimum of a two-hour time slot each week to take yourself on a date. It is important that you go alone. This might include a walk, a trip to the cinema, sight-seeing, charity shop shopping, a dance class, a long bath, whatever is calling you that week really!

The artist's date feeds the creative inner-child. Whilst the morning pages clear things out, the artist's date allows us to receive - inspiration, time with yourself, self-nurturing, your own attention, self intimacy. It is a time to listen to what wants to be heard.

Both practices are non-negotiable, and this commitment to tending to yourself every day is incredibly potent.

I will write more soon about the other potent elements of this course.

If you are feeling called, I really recommend giving the course, or even just these two basic practices a go!

We also take a whole day to explore creativity on the Elemental Woman Retreat www.sphinxyoga.co.uk/elemental-woman-retreat-2024