Deep Creativity: Seven Ways to Spark Your Creative Spirit

by Deborah Anne Quibell, Jennifer Leigh Selig, Dennis Patrick Slattery

A deeply intimate exploration of the "7 Ways" to creativity led by three authors whose collaboration provides meditations on the creative process as well as practical and reflective exercises.

Reignite your creative spark with accessible meditations and practices developed by three experts on creativity and collaboration across three generations. Whether you’re a filmmaker, writer, musician, artist, graphic designer, dabbler, or doodler, all creative people face the challenges of myriad distractions and pressure to produce. Devoting space for the creative spark has become increasingly difficult. Deep Creativity is a call for making that space and an invitation to intentionally and introspectively engage with the creative life through seven time-tested pathways, available to you right where you are. The authors’ novel approach includes fifteen principles of creativity that not only inspire but also set you up for a lifetime of self-expression. This highly resourceful book offers practical guidance as well as deep reflection on the creative process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2019

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a “crunchy granola milennial” as one reviewer insisted I had to be in order to like this book, however I didn’t just like this book... I loved it! And I will be sharing it with my colleagues in the very creative process of SoulCollage®️.

The sections are divided into topics such as The Way of Love, The Way of the Muse, The Way of afire, The Way of Practice, and so on. I found the depth of this book to be rich and full of new wisdom on a topic that I am so passionate about. The suggested activities were right up my alley!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about seven points of access into creativity from a depth psychology perspective. There were many, many interesting points made and fascinating suggestions for further work.
My difficulty with the book was its structure and tone. Each of the three authors writes a chapter for each point of access, and one of the authors - the graduate student - writes what amounts to an introduction and a conclusion to each as well. I didn’t find it as satisfying an experience as reading one writer’s perspective, maybe because the authors made such a deliberate point of linking with each other and congratulating each other. There were times when the tone was that of an academic love fest. The three authors are very nice people, I’m sure, but their book feels like a private project written by three friends with the reader as voyeur rather than active participant.

[Teresa Grabs · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read the description of Deep Creativity, I thought, "Oh, that sounds interesting...and a quick, maybe entertaining and enlightening read." Deep Creativity was entertaining at times, enlightening at times, but hardly a quick read. While each section, and its associated parts, has wonderful connecting information between the author, reader, and material, and includes reflections and suggested exercises, the book reads more like a textbook's workbook more than anything else. I would not recommend tackling the book as a whole as you would other nonfiction works. It was the "wow, there's a lot here" that made the book a bit of a slog to get through. The feeling I was left with after reading the book was not one of being more creative or in touch with my creative side, but rather one of "thank goodness the class is finally over." I am sure the book will be a hit some readers, but it was just too academic in feel for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Shambhala Publications and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

[Jung]

We are all creative at a deep level, and it’s vital to embrace and celebrate this deep creativity. Your muse might be a person, nature, suffering, love, or even art itself – but whatever form it takes, treat the creative impulse as something sacred, and it will richly repay you.

And here’s some more actionable advice:

Embrace your creative impulse.

We all know that feeling, when we’re overcome with the urge to create, yet not quite sure how to channel that energy. But ignoring it altogether is dangerous, because it means that the creative impulse will be less likely to visit you again in the future. So, the next time it appears to you, honor it – find the time to express yourself, whether it’s through words, or images, or whatever else you do.

---

Art itself can unleash our deep creativity.

Deep creativity isn’t just for professional poets and painters. There’s an artist in everyone, and you don’t have to be Dante or Picasso to create art that matters. It might be the process of making art, rather than the end product, that is truly important for you.

Then again, it’s also possible for art to resonate so deeply with other people that it inspires yet more creativity. When Jennifer learned the term ekphrasis, it resonated deeply with her – put simply, it means a work of art inspired by another work of art. And such works of art are all around us.

Jennifer was driving through California one day, and decided to listen to a song by Johnathan Rice on repeat. After a while, she suddenly found that an intense and dramatic story had come to her. As it became more or less fully formed, she felt the urge to write it down. It was almost as if she had been possessed. So she pulled over, and proceeded to create.

What Jennifer wrote down wasn’t exactly the same as the story of Rice’s song, but they were intimately and mysteriously connected. It was as if Jennifer’s story was her creative response to the song.

Dennis has also been inspired to create by other people’s creative work. In fact, he has written whole books about it – one about Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, and another about Dante’s Divine Comedy.

After all, as one of Deborah’s favorite sayings goes, the Earth without art is just Eh. Can you imagine such a place? Could life even live there at all, given that life itself is creation?

Whatever it is that inspires you – be it art, suffering, or the vibrant colors of nature – it’s vital to give yourself over to the powerful, deep wonders of creativity. Not only is creativity itself a glorious and important way to express yourself, but the work you create may in turn inspire others to their own ekphrastic responses.

Deep creativity is contagious. Our own creations inspire the creations of others, and the amount of art in the world grows and grows. Which is better for everyone.

So, then – you owe it to yourself to be creative, but perhaps you owe it to the world, too. As if you needed another reason to embrace the mysterious magic of deep creativity.

[Patrick Hanlon · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for a Shambhala publication that waxes rhapsodic about Channing Tatum's chiselled form (p. 32) then look no further.
This book gave me a sense of how hard it can be to writing a book on creativity, to put together the familiar messages about being open, and being conscious of all of the aspects of life and existence that creativity can and perhaps must be a part of. There are valuable reflections and exercises to consider at the end of each chapter in the book and valuable insights. The book, however, draws more on Jungian psychology than Buddhism for the most part and while it would be a valuable book to turn to for an exercise or insight to stir the pot it wouldn't be the book I fret most about getting back if I lend it to someone.

2.5 stars

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deep Creativity... I didn't love this book. It reads like journal entries from the three authors, providing personal details and experience, but tends to be dry and not lend their experience to creativity the way I see and feel it. Maybe the book is too deep for my limited mind and too spiritual in its ramblings and exercises. A few valid insights were scattered throughout, but I'd recommend skipping this book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot! Some parts of it weren't new to me, and much of it read pretty hippy, but in a good way. Several chapters really resonated with me and I underlined a lot. They had a lot of new, super interesting exercises for awakening creativity and inviting inspiration. It was easy, fun reading and I finished in just a few days.

[Sara Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this from NetGalley to review

Being a very creative person, I really wanted to find some suggestions in this book to help nurture and foster my creative spirit. And there may be some, but the format, and the flow of the narrative got in the way. I just couldn't keep reading (the poor formatting on the pre-release didn't help this, either).

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a book about Creativity. How to practice it, where it comes from, what inspires us, about feeling unworthy when we do our art, that we are all artists in one way or another. I got some great insights about a lot of things regarding my art.

[Mandy Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving this book 3 stars kind of hurt my heart. I think what it boils down to is how much time you dedicate to reading it, following the activities, and also how spiritual you already are. For those who are religious or deeply spiritual, this book will be FIVE STARS for you. I enjoyed the activities quite a bit! The writing was accessible and most likely inspiring if you are within the target audience. It wasn't for me, but it could be for you.

[Sylvia-Marah · Rating 3 out of 5]

DEEP CREATIVITY: Seven Ways to Spark Your Creative Spirit, was written in partnership by: Deborah Anne Quibell (PhD), Jennifer Leigh Selig (PhD), and Dennis Patrick Slattery (PhD). This book was written by a graduate from The Pacifica Graduate Institute in collaboration with two members of the faculty at the institute. This book is a depth psychology approach to understanding creativity and ways to spark your creativity when you are feeling blocked. Considering the depth psychology perspective, it isn’t a quick, light read. I slowly digested it, reading one section at a time over the last 6-8 weeks. I keep randomly buying books by people who have either attended or taught at The Pacifica Graduate Institute. It feels like fate is nudging me toward that school. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way the chapters were laid out, and I enjoyed having the perspective of three different people in each chapter. It gave me much inspiration and something to think about. It also contributed to my ever growing list of books to read on depth psychology. I’m glad I read this book and I suggest it to all creatives when they are in a slump or feeling blocked.

[Ginae B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Creativity is what it is not.

It is not a, "Do this. Here you go. Good luck!" NO.

It is a piece of unknown matter in the dark. It's right there. But, what is it? It's something to guide you, as you seek clarification. Something to lead you.

Offered up are germane exercises, profound inquiries and stories to stir you up.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure inspiration to wake up the inside us. The exercices are easy to reproduce and the approach is smooth and real. I liked the way this book increments the process of creativity that can be applied in diverse areas of our lives.

#DeepCreativity #NetGalley