Lessons from The Artist's Way

You know that book that changes your life if you let it?

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is one of those books for me.

I heard about this book before I even knew what it was about. I heard about it from other people, podcasts, multiple sources, but never really gave it much thought. I added it to my books to read list nonetheless. I kept on hearing about it and then I said, "OK, I'm listening and I will get the book."

It came at the perfect time, of course. I took one look at the book cover, the subtitle says "A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity". Yes!

This is more of a 12-week course or experience than a book really. And each week you explore different areas of your creativity. I didn't consider myself an artist when I picked up the book. But I did see myself as creating my own life. In a sense we are all artists - creating our own lives, aren't we?

Basic Tools

These are the basic tools used:

Morning Pages

• Write three pages of free-hand, stream-of-consciousness writing every day. You don't even need to read or understand what you wrote. It's really more of a release of what's on your mind before you start your day.
• Tip: I re-use the same notebook and write on the pages multiple times, turning it upside down even. The pages are unreadable now, but that's the point. I don't need to read what I wrote.

Artist Date

• This is a weekly solo date or experience to explore something that fills you up or interest you. Invite the energy of play and fun as you try something new.

Here are some Artist Date ideas I may or may not have done:

• Take a walk in nature
• Pay attention to what is growing in your yard
• Sit by a tree
• Go to a museum or a virtual museum tour
• Browse art fairs
• Watch Broadway musicals, documentaries, videos
• Enjoy Cirque du Soleil shows
• Go on a virtual Creative Mornings Field Trip
• Try a new hobby
• Take an online cooking class
• Learn to hula dance
• Try a ukulele class
• Go to the art supply store and buy some art materials
• Learn to crochet
• Go to an ecstatic dance experience
• Try a paint and pour class
• Go to a pottery class
• Learn to forage
• Plant a seed and let it grow

Trust the Process

I committed to starting the book and staying open to the process. Julia writes beautifully and gives examples of people who have done The Artist's Way and how their lives changed. I trusted the process and diligently did the morning pages every day. This was huge for me - I was never a consistent journal writer before. I dabbled in journaling here or there, but it was more of a diary of sorts whenever I did. The morning pages were just whatever popped into my head, no judgments, no reading them back even. Just letting it all out on the page.

And slowly but surely, I did notice the changes. I struggled with the concept of abundance and trust. I was an over-thinker, highly cerebral, curious about many things but sought to understand and learn about them. I was also a recovering perfectionist.

Lessons from The Artist's Way

Through the process of the Artist's Way, I learned to be more open.

To trust and surrender.

To relax and play.

To release my fears - of failure, scarcity, judgement.

To love - myself, my creator and my work.

I started to release what was holding me back - my fears, insecurities. Mind you, I still have them. I still hear the inner critic many times. But I have learned to say "thank you for your opinion" and let go.

I have explored writing poetry and painting watercolour -- and lo and behold I was having fun! Hahaha.

I still don't know where this journey will take me. But I have faith and trust that life is unfolding as it should for my highest and best. I will keep on walking and doing the morning pages and the artist dates. Listening and being led.

Who knows where this will lead?

I honestly never considered myself to be creative before. I mean I like photography, and I liked creating recipes. Somehow I still saw myself as not creative, not artistic. I was stuck in the limits of my mind and my conditioning.

Through this process, I opened up to the possibilities. I realized that the world is my oyster and the answers are within.

I continue to nurture my inner child, the artist within. I learned to love myself and allow time for self-care and self-love.

I am an artist.
We all are.

Creativity = spirituality. God/Universe created us and in turn we create - we create art, in whatever shape or form, we create our lives. We are all artists.

Have you done The Artist's Way? Do you have any suggestions for Artists Dates? Please share below!

Update

I wrote this post in 2021. It's been a few years, and I still do morning pages, I even bring my old notebook when we go on vacation as it's now part of my morning ritual.

I continue to embrace and explore my creativity. I listen to the gentle nudges of my intuition and follow my joy. I trust that I am being led. I wish the same for you.

Sending love,
Melissa