Journey through the Artist's Way, again.
Week 3: Recovering a Sense of Power.
Our little group, reading through The Artist's Way, meets every Thursday evening in a small town that is a 40 minute drive for me and my carpool buddy. Sadly, last week I knew both of us would not be able to make it: my riding partner, due to out-of-state travel for the holidays, me-conflicting kids' Christmas programs to attend. None of us could have known the very next morning would bring an abrupt end to Christmas programs and holiday plans for the children and their families in Newtown, Connecticut. I'm writing this blog in the shadow of a tragedy I have stopped trying to picture myself a part, since I cannot fathom the individual and collective grief suddenly forced upon so many.
I won't try and quote Julia Cameron as a source of comfort, but I was reminded of an important point of creativity recovery found in this chapter that has kept coming back to me time and again this week: synchronicity, "Loosely defined as a fortuitous intermeshing of events...the possibility of an intelligent and responsive universe, acting and reacting in our interests." The heart of this chapter takes on a child-like quality of faith and belief-believing in ourselves and our dreams, even overcoming shame that may have been inflicted on our earliest artistic endeavors. We find power in protecting ourselves-'our internal artist who is our creative child.'Protection, self-love and self-praise are the cornerstones that the author believes we must employ for our healing process.
I've experienced synchronicity often, now that I know what to look for, now that I pay attention. It's not magic, but I find it powerful and validating when I dream or envision an idea, then later see, hear or read something that assures me I'm on the right path. The more I pay attention, the more I notice it-"All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred..." W.H. Murray.
I'm reminded of the 'faith of a child'; in fact, so many things around me, around all of us this time of year, things found in this chapter keep harking back to the child within us- the children.
During this difficult weekend, I found myself in the middle of a church choir singing a Christmas cantata that we had rehearsed many times the previous months. But last night, I sang the words for the first time in full realization that every chorus, stanza or song-title related back to the child element of this story-from the lullabies of angelic hosts to the invitation for children to 'come and see.'I found comfort in embracing those synchronous moments, I pray others did as well.
This Thursday evening we come together to discuss Week 4: Recovering a Sense of Integrity. There will be difficult weeks ahead for many and all of us who hold this loss of life in our hearts, may we look for those precious moments of hope and validation to share.
"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." Hazrat Inayat Khan The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Sherry Scott
Goodreads Author
Our little group, reading through The Artist's Way, meets every Thursday evening in a small town that is a 40 minute drive for me and my carpool buddy. Sadly, last week I knew both of us would not be able to make it: my riding partner, due to out-of-state travel for the holidays, me-conflicting kids' Christmas programs to attend. None of us could have known the very next morning would bring an abrupt end to Christmas programs and holiday plans for the children and their families in Newtown, Connecticut. I'm writing this blog in the shadow of a tragedy I have stopped trying to picture myself a part, since I cannot fathom the individual and collective grief suddenly forced upon so many.
I won't try and quote Julia Cameron as a source of comfort, but I was reminded of an important point of creativity recovery found in this chapter that has kept coming back to me time and again this week: synchronicity, "Loosely defined as a fortuitous intermeshing of events...the possibility of an intelligent and responsive universe, acting and reacting in our interests." The heart of this chapter takes on a child-like quality of faith and belief-believing in ourselves and our dreams, even overcoming shame that may have been inflicted on our earliest artistic endeavors. We find power in protecting ourselves-'our internal artist who is our creative child.'Protection, self-love and self-praise are the cornerstones that the author believes we must employ for our healing process.
I've experienced synchronicity often, now that I know what to look for, now that I pay attention. It's not magic, but I find it powerful and validating when I dream or envision an idea, then later see, hear or read something that assures me I'm on the right path. The more I pay attention, the more I notice it-"All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred..." W.H. Murray.
I'm reminded of the 'faith of a child'; in fact, so many things around me, around all of us this time of year, things found in this chapter keep harking back to the child within us- the children.
During this difficult weekend, I found myself in the middle of a church choir singing a Christmas cantata that we had rehearsed many times the previous months. But last night, I sang the words for the first time in full realization that every chorus, stanza or song-title related back to the child element of this story-from the lullabies of angelic hosts to the invitation for children to 'come and see.'I found comfort in embracing those synchronous moments, I pray others did as well.
This Thursday evening we come together to discuss Week 4: Recovering a Sense of Integrity. There will be difficult weeks ahead for many and all of us who hold this loss of life in our hearts, may we look for those precious moments of hope and validation to share.
"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." Hazrat Inayat Khan The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Sherry Scott
Goodreads Author
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