Complete "The Artist's Way"

Although I can say I’ve finished the program, I can never truly say that I have finished the Artist’s Way. It is, after all, a way of life, and one I hope to pursue. I fully intend to make up the 90 day contract that’s at the end of the program and fulfil it.

It’s been a deeply satisfying process for me and well worth it. With that in mind, I’d really like to encourage all the members of this team to check in this week, no matter how you’re doing. As Julia Cameron reminds, it’s all part of a process. Let us know how you’re doing.

For even though I’ve finished the program, you can bet I’ll still be keeping an eye on this group.

Morning Pages: 7/7 I found them very useful this week for sorting through the personal. I’d like to say that I’ve accepted them as a permanent spiritual practice, but only time will tell.

Artist Date: Done. I went shopping this week, an activity I rarely allow myself to do. I decided that I deserved a present for completing the Artist’s Way at the end of this week. A ring, I decided, with turquoise. It’s a stone that symbolises spirituality, creativity and independence—the things that I feel are most important about the Artist’s Way. It was lovely to allow myself to explore the possibilities, as I was shopping.

Synchronicity: I suppose the most important one was that I drew the Test they talk of in this week. Immediately afterwards there was a friend I wanted to call to talk about it, but I convinced myself not to, as he can be a hard person to get in contact with. The next morning he got on my bus and we ended up talking after all. Another thing was that I was fully prepared to get the ring I was going to buy myself as a present resized, due to my somewhat chubby fingers. When I found the ring I wanted and asked to try it on, it was a perfect fit. Even the lady serving me thought it was a sign.

Other issues: I’m still in the process of resolving my Test

Morning Pages: 5/7 I’ve been very slack this weekend. I’ve come to associate morning pages with my actual writing, so if I’m not writing I don’t have to do the morning pages. They’re starting to become like work. I’d like to do better for the last week of the program and change my mindset so that they’re something that doesn’t feel like work. I want them to be something I continue with.

Artist Date: Done. It was like the first one I did. I sat in my backyard on a picnic blanket, ate my lunch, read and relaxed. I also blew bubbles again… but they were a different kind this time. They’re a tough kind, harder to pop. There must have been hundreds of them riding the breeze over my neighbourhood. I wondered if there was anyone around to see them and smile.

I nearly went on a second one to the fete my old primary school was having, but I invited my sister along at the last minute, so it didn’t really count.

Synchronicity: There may have been some this week, but it escapes my memory.

Other issues
It was interesting to note that the tasks I didn’t complete had largely to do with pampering. I might want to work on that.

Morning Pages: 6/7 I don’t feel that reading over my previous pages this week has changed the way I write them. I still find myself enjoying them, although I suspect writing them only 6 days a week is going to become a habit.

Artist Date: Done. I decorated the first page of my 2007 diary. It was fun to play with all those crayons and pieces of coloured paper. The only trouble is that I did it at the start of the week and that seems so long ago. I definitely feel it’s time to let myself do 2 dates a week.

Synchronicity: Seems another freelance editing job may have landed in my lap… or at least the opportunity for one has. I can see the universe is beginning to open up doors for my future after university. Because even if this job doesn’t come through, it’s already led me to consider an even bigger, riskier possibility.

Other issues
For the first time I got all the tasks done. Again the problem is I did them so early in the week they’ve rather faded into the background. I need to do more follow up with them. And I definitely need to take another look at those bottom lines I set myself—and stick to them!

Morning Pages: 6/7 I struggled through most of this week with a heavy dose of the flu and as a result I lost a day to complete lethargy. Thankfully the pages themselves were not a burden in the least and I feel I’ve been reflecting much deeper in them this week. There’s a long way for me to go when it comes to extending compassion to myself though.

Artist Date: Done. I went to an art shop and bought several sheets of paper in different colours and a couple of shaped hole punchers with which to decorate the day diary I’m making for next year. It was deeply satisfying to spend so long in the shop choosing them and then playing with them at home.

Synchronicity: I saw an old acquaintance on TV this week which forced me to confront the fact I have at least one dream I am not fulfilling. I’m not sure I’d call it a creative U-turn, but that’s probably just resistance on my part. I found it hard to have compassion on myself for not having pursued it.

Other issues: Although I completed most of the tasks for this week, I feel I’ve been avoiding examining my creative U-turns. Only at the end of the week have I begun to even realise what they are and I find I’m putting myself in an awkward position. On one hand it grieves me that I am not pursuing these things. On the other, I’m not entirely convinced I should. Probably the reason I am not. At any rate, I intend to continue forward in the program, despite having not resolved the issue. At least this week has given me an awareness of it.

Morning pages: 6/7 I completely missed this morning’s. Some friends and I had a farewell breakfast for one of our number over at my boyfriend’s. I just didn’t allow enough time to even begin. It doesn’t bother me much though. I feel I’m at a stage now where missing one is not really going to affect me. I know I’m going to get up and do them tomorrow and the day after that…

Artist Date: Done. I took Wednesday off from my school work to rest and help shake off this terrible cold I have. I had a vague something in mind for a date in the evening. Then I sat down to watch a little of Rent as I ate lunch. My inner artist immediately delighted in it and insisted I watch the whole lot. So I did and I loved it.

Synchronicity: I spoke last week about taking a risk with my choice of supervisor for my Creative Project. Well, clearly that’s paid off. Not only did I feel that we connected well over the project itself, but she had a hand in getting me published in the uni anthology again this year.

I was also worried about being stingy with myself last week, particularly in relation to my Artist Dates. Well, I found an Artist Date that will require money and that I’m excited about. Plus I have just enough money left over from this week to cover it.

And since feeling the need to slow down last week, I’ve been forced to do so, having caught a cold.

Other issues: I feel I connected more with the material this week. I made a bit more of an effort with the tasks, although I still only ended up doing a couple. I also found myself thinking more about the themes this week. I intend to do my best to make sure this continues.

Morning Pages: 7/7 Not even the slightest problem getting them done this week. There’s just a lot of rubbish. It’s been a busy week, so I guess there’s been a lot to process. I really regret there’s been no coddling of my inner artist child this week. I can’t say I’ve really daydreamed about any creative risks either.

Artist Date: Done. I didn’t take any risks here either. I ended up baking some chocolate chip cookies. However I added a slight twist to the recipe- green food colouring. Oh, how my inner child delighted in the colour. I had a couple later on with a cup of tea in my best china. Seeing the red of the tea and the green of the cookies against the white of the china was thrilling. The problem with this week is that I didn’t really put aside a solid, uninterrupted hour for the date and my inner artist is screaming that that’s what she really wants.

Synchronicity: I joined up the mailing list for the local speculative fiction guild, just in time to discover they’re putting out a call for members to join before they create a joining fee. Should save me some money :D

Other issues: I took what I consider a fairly significant risk this week—my choice of superviser for my Creative Project this semester. She’s not a fan of my preferred genre. I’m counting on her professionalism and my own to see us through this semester.

I also discovered I’m really not a jealous person in terms of my creative work as well as in life. I only envy people who show great originality and I’m already working on overcoming that by working on my own ideas.

I’ve discovered I’m worried about running out of ideas for Artist Dates, so I’m possibly being a bit stingey with myself. Or perhaps it’s the other way around—I’m being stingey with myself and so I’m running out of ideas.

I also learned-once again- that I need to slow down, to do less and live more in the moment. I need to do one thing at a time and really focus on it.

I’m disappointed at my efforts with the tasks. I’ve been back at uni, but it feels like such an excuse. I’ve got an idea I’m going to try out next week for tackling the problem though. And next week’s lesson on time seems like it has arrived just in time.

Morning Pages: 7/7 They’ve been a little bit harder this week, because I had to start another journal this week and the lines are a little closer together than in the other one (hence more space to fill). Mostly I’ve been enjoying the process though. Today I think I began to grasp what Julia Cameron calls “resting on the page”. I probably could have spent a little more time reflecting on what creative luxury means for me.

Artist Date: Done. A little later this week than usual. I’d planned to go stargazing on Wednesday night, but something came up and I didn’t defend the time as rigorously as I could have. I think that’s something I’ll have to work on. I ended up having an enormously indulgent bubble bath tonight though. It made me feel child-like all over again.

Synchronicity: None I really noticed this week, except for the fact that there always seems to be someone there to provide what I need or want on a small scale. Sometimes they even provide me with things I don’t even expect or have consciously thought of—like the box of chocolates my boyfriend bought me for no reason at all.

Other issues
Again, I was a little slack with the tasks this week. I did keep a track of my spending though and I discovered something interesting—I am an absolute cheapskate. I spent very little this week, all things considered. The things I did buy were mostly necessities or for other people. I rarely spend money on myself—mostly because I feel I don’t have it, whether that is true or not. What I do have are those people I mentioned above. I’m very blessed.

Morning Pages: 6.5/7 I got halfway through Saturday’s and then realised I hadn’t left myself enough time to finish before I needed to leave for a course. I don’t feel too bad about it, because I at least had sat down to do it. I suspect there was a mini tantrum in there though—I’d rather have been in bed. They seem easier this week. Not sure about the 1.5 page truth mark Julia Cameron talks about though. Some days it’s all whinging, some days all wisdom and most days short, alternating bursts of each.

Artist Date: Done. I went to an arts store and a second hand bookstore. It wasn’t as joyful as I’d hoped. While the arts store filled me with excitement at the possibilities, I was frustrated by my lack of money. I wanted to keep some aside for the bookstore. Then when I got to the bookstore, I found there was nothing I wanted to spend my money on. A bit miffed, I headed home.

Synchronicity: Strangely enough, the money I’d set aside ended up being spent on a book after all. Not only that, but I was also given a book I’d been looking for for some time.

This week, the Artist’s Way seemed all about God. Synchronicity showed itself again to me this week, because I had a course on spirituality this week (on Saturday—the reason I missed the last half of my MP). They fit together very well and I feel my faith-previously such a weak thing- getting stronger.

Finally, at the end of last week I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything more to my Dad about using my sister’s room for a study. I only mentioned it once or twice, and I didn’t want him to feel I was nagging. I told myself I’d speak to him about it yesterday if I hadn’t heard any more from him about it. As I was beginning to gather the courage to go and ask him about it, I heard the thump of furniture being moved. I ventured out and found my Dad setting up an old desk of his in my sister’s room for me to use. I didn’t have to say anything more to him after all, except “thank you”.

Other issues
After reading deprivation last week, I’ve really come to realise how reading and the Internet are addictions for me. I know that when I use them properly they are useful and necessary relaxation activities for me. But all too often I indulge them to excess and use them as procrastination activities.

Morning Pages: 6-7/7 Friday’s was so terribly interrupted that I’m not sure it can be counted. My lovely boyfriend brought around breakfast when I was halfway through. I made sure to go back and finish them though. Most of the contents seems to be just one big vomit about what I’ve got to do. Admittedly, I have been busy and it’s important to get rid of that sort of rubbish out of my head. And I notice that I have been going out and doing those things. Plus in between I occasionally muse about the bigger picture or a relationship, which has been helpful.

Artist Date: Done. I did some baking. Two lots of brownies- one by my sister’s famous recipie and a gluten free batch with walnuts. I even got to lick both of the bowls and groove along to some music!

Synchronicity: I found an ad for a job at the university bookshop- an ideal job. I also managed to catch up with a friend who’s been the biggest supporter of my work to date. It turns out he now works in the publishing industry and may have some editing/proofreading work to throw my way… possibly even a permanent job if I’m really lucky. Plus he had a bunch of other useful suggestions.

Interestingly enough, I felt a bit like the universe was conspiring against me this week- like synchronicity in reverse. My first problem was having a week of reading deprivation when I needed to read some feedback and edit a submission for a writer’s retreat. I broke the deprivation to do that and it made the deprivation so much harder. Reading over the feedback—though it was all helpful, honest and constructive—gave me a mini attack of doubt (I couldn’t possibly be the gifted storyteller one friend called me). But I used my affirmations to pull through and ended even more confident.

Then, on my first quiet day after I’d handed in the application, my Dad was home with car trouble, putting paid to my plans of a day of writing. Yet when I look at these “setbacks”, I can see I came through the challenges with flying colours. I still managed to get a fair amount of work done, even with Dad home. So I guess it was synchronicity after all.

Other issues
I hated the reading deprivation. I’ve discovered that reading really is as natural as breathing for me. I caught myself reading the TV guide, jobs guide, arts guide, bookstore catalogues, book blurbs, my own poetry, even subtitles on movies. Yet I managed to do a bit more writing, even if it didn’t spark off any ideas. And when I had a mini-tantrum and broke my deprivation on the last afternoon to read my emails, I noticed how tired and rushed it left me feeling. So it must have done me some good.

I spoke to my Dad about letting me use my sister’s old room for a study. He’s resisting, but I think I can talk him around. I’ve discovered how much I really want this and I’m willing to throw an uncharacterstic tantrum to get it.

Finally, I’ve noticed a strong resistance to the exercises this week. I just didn’t want to do them. I did a couple though, and am going to move on. Again I’m going to promise myself to work harder on them next week.