Faith and Will: Weathering the Storms in Our Spiritual Lives

by Julia Cameron

"[A]n authentic, valuable, and introspective work" ( Library Journal ) from the bestselling author of The Artist's Way .

This inspiring book from the bestselling author of The Artist's Way explores one of the most vital questions that spiritual seekers encounter on the journey to Where do I turn when my soul is urging me to keep growing toward God but my mind and being, stubbornly, will not follow?

The author of more than thirty groundbreaking books that deftly trace the intersection between art and faith, between creativity and spirit, Julia Cameron has earned millions of fans around the world. In this, her most personal book to date, she provides a heartbreakingly honest and insightful depiction of her struggle to reconnect to her faith and her realization that having faith, of necessity, means relinquishing will. A wise and passionate book, Faith and Will gently guides readers through the process of learning to let go and, in turn, learning to live.

Genres: Spirituality, Self Help, Religion, Memoir, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2009

About the author

Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.

Reviews

[Andrea Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book tells the reader what it is all about. Julia Cameron once again takes me to my inner sanctuary and helps me to negotiate my way through life, reminding me that it is all a matter of "faith". We really do need to get out of our own way and maybe there is a greater good that is being served by what we are going through. One of my favorite quotes from this book is : "Without peace there is no happiness. Without happiness there can be no enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm there can be no joy."(p.218) I am so blessed to have read all the books of Julia's when I have needed to read them. I have absolute faith that when I approach a library, a bookstore or my own personal shelf the book that I am in need of will call out to me. This certainly did.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were no chapters, all 221 pages weren't divided at all & it was almost like a stream of consciousness. Or maybe a long conversation with the reader's responses left out...? I'm not sure it helped or hindered the reading of it but it didn't hinder too much.

[ShelleyO · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is 221 pages, but has no chapters, no clear themes of content, no stopping points to take a while to let message sink in & to try suggested practices. Also the content had a lot of repetition which fwiw I think could have been spotted & amended more easily than basically a 200+ page essay w/ the same thing said multiple times.

I think she has a good message, but the delivery of that message wasn’t great & didn’t consider the reader. I can’t read straight 200+ pages of thoughtful spiritual content w/out taking a minute to really think, listen, put into action.

Also, the reliance on all the AA references were distracting. While concept might be same/similar, I am not an alcoholic & I didn’t like having their philosophy constantly jammed down my throat. If I wanted a book @ AA or AA & spirituality, I would have bought that book.

[Dina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Buff... bastante mal la verdad, empezó muy bien y al final ya no llegué casi ni terminarlo. Se repite como el ajo, tiene alguna idea que okay, pero los libros sobre fe y Dios son un poco peligrosos porque te ponen de manifiesto la fe y religión desde el punto de vista del escritor, y a veces puede ser erróneo, cosa que no debería pasar. El libro me estaba guatando hasta que leí un trozo donde una mujer embarazada creía que Dios le había dicho que lo mejor para ella era que abortara,... y eso que el libro dice ser cristiano... des de entonces lo leí muy escepticamente, hasta que lo dejé completamente... y esto que el libro de the artist way me gusta. Pero este no, y no creo que vaya a leer nada más de ella ni de fe/religión que no sea de algún santo.

[Melanie Rigney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the library for some research I was doing. I intended to skim it, and ended up renewing it and reading it cover to cover. Cameron's Catholic roots are evident, and her message that we are always changing, always evolving, but are always loved by God really resonated with me. I will probably buy this for my personal library.

[Amanda Osenga · Rating 3 out of 5]

The format was a little clunky for me to follow. But overall I enjoyed this book. Parts seemed a little disconnected & I skipped over those. I like that Cameron addressed faith in such an open, honest & vulnerable way.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esto era justo lo que necesitaba, y llegó en el momento adecuado.

Si tienes dudas, este libro te puede ayudar. La incredulidad también es un comienzo.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and soothing book, very helpful in my time of despair.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be wonderfully warm and calming. It provided a new perspective on how to talk with God and how to be open to His path in our individual lives.

I read a number of other people's reviews and found that a lot of people were hoping this new book from Julia Cameron would answer all their individual questions and perhaps provide a step-by-step 'how-to' and it doesn't; it provides her musings on being open to the gifts and directions of whatever name you give God - Creator - Spirit - Universe - whatever.

For my own tastes, I would have preferred the book was broken into chapters, as I would have found it easier to read that way, rather than as one long entry or thought, but that's a minor issue.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this new book from Julia Cameron. It is not a workbook, as many of her other books are, or poetry, fiction, drama, but a rambling discourse on God. So rambling, in fact, that there are no chapters, which is about the only thing I would quibble with Julia about. No, I did not agree with everything she said, but she is entitled to her opinions. Less Christocentric than most of the more evangelical reading I've done, I nonetheless was able to deeply relate to her images of God and her responses to God's work in her life.

But I do like the structure chapters lend to a personal account.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Julia Cameron’s personal journey through doubt and uncertainty. There’s no table of contents, since the whole thing is written as one long chapter. In the early part of the book, I felt like I was reading someone else’s private journal. Julia Cameron says she found the writing of this material to be therapeutic. Then she begins to introduce vignettes drawn from friends’ lives, and toward the end she includes reflections on Bible verses. Her initial doubts turn to reassurance and confidence.

I appreciated the book’s optimism but didn’t like the way the author so frequently used the first person plural, as though she could speak on the reader’s behalf.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. Cameron bares her thoughts and feelings about faith in a very open and candid way. There are no chapters in the book, rather she conveys her messages as if writing free-form in a journal. Although repetitive in some places, there are definitely some wise passages that I will keep in mind.

[Adrianne]

Caught my heart! I used it as a morning contemplation read. LOVED it and think it would be a good CSLSR month theme book.

[Elio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia truly captured the essence of Faith and Will. A beautifully written book that will give you hope, encouragement, strength to keep on keepin' on.

[Devora · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit much on the biblical quotes, but good in small doses.

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful discussion of personal faith as one travels through life.