My very busy brain

Little Dudes On Willie's Broken Ladder

Speaking of bewilderment...

I don't advocate taking pictures while you're driving, but on the way to Louisiana last week I couldn't help myself. How crazy is this? ;-)

Creative Circle Week 5: GO DEEP

Following is a synopsis/ interpretation of part 5 (GO DEEP) readings. Overall this is territory we have visited before and though I did not find any exercises very inspiring, perhaps there are some that will touch you in a specific area you are currently struggling with. Good general information and a chance to revisit some familiar ideas;

DIVE
Maisel uses many analogies here to speak to the need for us to leap into our work, going deep to find some inner source of creative passion/ inspiration and the fears that hold us back. "Going deep as a creator means taking risks. You risk asking the sort of questions that demand intense concentration and iron discipline to answer...You risk confronting your own demons and short comings...But if we try to stay near the surface...we will never see the glories that exist below. We'll have to rely on others to tell us about them. Those people will create -- and we will envy them."

BUY BEWILDERMENT
Assuming you have bought into the need to "go deep," you inevitably will encounter bewilderment - that time when you hit the wall and do not know what to do next. Perhaps you will hit this wall even as you begin - not knowing how to start. Rumi says, "Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderness." Maisel proposes sitting with your bewilderment instead of seeking easy answers or distractions.

PARACHUTE INTO ENEMY TERRITORY:
Maisels uses an analogy of a hero going behind enemy lines to save the world and though there is great fear, it is a noble journey. "You can have that feeling of supreme aliveness, just by tackling a mighty creative project. You can feel alert, tense and engaged...In an instant you can initiate a life-and-death struggle just by saying to yourself,'My work is vital. i must create.'"

GET UNACADEMIC:
Maisel espouses a warning about listening to others and being educated and that our creative education must come from ourselves. There are several nice examples here including a story of Van Gogh being yelled at by a teacher and quotes by Georgia O'Keefe.

PUT UP A BIG IDEA:
Maisel speaks to a method of maintaining focus on a creative project in an almost subconscious way in posting a descriptive word or phrase of our inspired idea on a wall, etc. so that it continues to be encountered in our life until we find the juice to follow-through.

GET NOSTALGIC:
Maisel suggests that a wonderful well to be mined for creative inspiration and passion is our own past and that if we are stuck that a trip into our memories will jog something loose that will inspire us, " The naturalist who furthers our understanding of evolution [was once] just a boy with a bug jar...Embedded in our best mature work are things from long ago that are just unforgettable, if only we remember them."

INCUBATE:
Maisel again attempts to encourage us to nurture or incubate our creative ideas, recognizing the fears and blocks we have, " fear of making mistakes, negative self-appraisals, unwillingness to brace the anxiety that comes with creating, ..." There is not much here but a suggestion at some creative or critical thinking / brainstorming about taking small steps to further your work.

EXPAND WITH THE UNIVERSE:
Maisel pontificates about the need to overcome "bad breadth" - to think outside the box.

CHECK IN:
* Morning Pages
* Walks
* Artist/Play Dates
* Do Nothing
* Creative progress/ Challenges