Complete "The Artist's Way"

last week. I was too wrapped up in self pity.

So I’ll give it some thought this evening.

a fabulous gingerbread house. Unfortunately we had a rather heavy snowstorm today and my power has been going off and on this evening so I had to postpone this fun.

Instead I finished reading my 1st Jodi Picoult novel “perfect match” by flashlight snuggled under my comforter. It was a rather quiet, peaceful evening. An unexpected pleasure. ;)

“This week addresses self-definition as a major component of creative recovery. You may find yourself drawing new boundaries and staking out new territories as your personal needs, desires, and interests announce themselves.”

Week 2 will be very interesting.

this week was to go to my favorite dollar store and find some cute Christmas decorations for my condo. I am on a limited budget so I wanted to get some quality things at a good price.

One of the local big box stores is in the same parking lot so when I finished at the dollar store I stopped in to see if they had anything equally cute. Of course they did at a much higher price…but I found many of the same things I got for $1 would have cost me $7 there.

I found a cute 12” tree and decorated it with gold and siver mirrored disco balls for Davey the Duck. He is delighted.

“This week initiates your creative recovery. You may feel both giddy and defiant, hopeful and skeptical.The focus of establishing a sense of safety will enable you to explore your creativity with less fear.”

The Artist’s Way Contract

I, Texas Lin, understand that I am undertaking an intensive, guided encounter with my own creativity. I commit myself to the twelve-week duration of the course.

I,Texas Lin, commit to weekly reading, daily morning pages, a weekly artist date, and the fulfillment of each week’s tasks.

I, Texas Lin, further understand that this course will raise issues and emotions for me to deal with.

I, Texas Lin, commit myself to excellent self-care adequate sleep, diet, exercise, and pampering for the duration of the course.

signed: Texas Lin
date: 11/25/07

Sunday to Sunday so I can keep track easier. Morning pages are easy for me. Keeping a 12 week commitment to myself with no one else involved has been to this point non existent.

This is a life changing goal for me. Me doing something only for myself in a set program with a definite beginning and end.

Very challenging for me…

so I will start again and complete it this time. Then I will use it as part of another goal I have. ;)

you don’t know about . . .
Say yes quickly, if you know,
if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe.

Rumi

Morning pages are three pages of writing (long hand) anything that comes to your head. Julia Cameron suggests that you make Morning Pages a practice that you keep every day while you are working through The Artist’s Way, and hopefully, beyond.

When I first read about Morning Pages, my first thoughts were…Everyday? 3 pages? Only by hand? She’s GOT to be kidding! What will I write about?

The point to Morning Pages isn’t to write incredible, novel-quality prose. The writing you do in your Morning Pages may not even be suitable for a letter to a friend! It’s the little bits and pieces that run around in your head out of control. The words may not even piece together into full sentences. What you write doesn’t have to make sense to any person on the face of the planet—or even to yourself a few days later.

I compare Morning Pages to my morning shower. While I’m not visually dirty in the morning, I feel refreshed and ready for my day after taking a shower. Your shower takes care of your body. Morning Pages is a shower for your heart, mind, and soul. There’s no visible “dirt,” but there might be something under the surface that needs attention. Or maybe a dream or two looking for a place to land. Or maybe a list of things you want to get done during the day. Or just random thoughts that plague you like a song you can’t get out of your head.

When you start doing Morning Pages, you’ll be surprised at the things you find lurking within. And, just as you feel refreshed when you step out of the shower, your mind, heart, and soul will feel refreshed after writing Morning Pages. You will walk a little lighter. Your mind will be more focused on the task(s) at hand. Your thinking will be more clear. Your heart will be open—so you may find yourself more patient or less irritated with -the day’s events.

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In order to be an artist, I must:

1. Show up at the page. Use the page to rest, to dream, to try.

2. Fill the well by caring for my artist.

3. Set small and gentle goals and meet them.

4. Pray for guidance, courage, and humility.

5. Remember that it is far harder and more painful to be a blocked artist than it is to do the work.

6. Be alert, always, for the presence of the Great Creator leading and helping my artist.

7. Choose companions who encourage me to do the work, not just talk about doing the work or why I am not doing the work.

8. Remember that the Great Creator loves creativity.

9. Remember that it is my job to do the work, not judge the work.

10. Place this sign in my workplace: Great Creator, I will take care of the quantity. You take care of the quality.