The Artist’s Way Week #1

Chapter One *Recovering a Sense of Safety*

QUOTES

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances, if there is any reaction, both of them are transformed.” C.G. Jung

“Go confidently in the directions of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” Henry David Thoreau

“Make your own recovery the first priority in your life.” Robin Norwood

PASSAGES

Young writers may be pushed toward lawyering, a talky, wordy profession, or into medical school cause they’re so smart. And so so the child who is himself born a storyteller may be converted into a gifted therapist who gets his stories secondhand.

Artists themselves are but ignorant of their true identity, shadow artists are to be found shadowing declared artists. Unable to recognize that they themselves may possess the creativity they so admire, they often date or marry people who actively pursue the art career they secretly long for.

And of course the fledgling artist does not know. There is just this dream, this feeling, this urge this desire. There is seldom any real proof, but the dream lives on.

For all shadow artists, life may be a discontented experience, filled with a sense of missed purpose and unfulfilled promise. They want to write. They want to paint. They want to act, make music, dance…but they are afraid to take themselves seriously.

“But do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really play the piano/act/paint/write a decent play?” Yes…the same age you will be if you don’t. So let’s start.

Most of the time when we are blocked in an area of our life, it is because we feel safer that way. We may not be happy, but at least we know what we are-unhappy. Much fear of our own creativity is the fear of the unknown.

As I create and listen…I will be led.

TASKS

1. MORNING PAGES

2. ARTIST DATE-
I spent my artist date this week coming up with a reading/blog project to review books I browsed while at Barnes and Nobles, over a cup of Cinnamon Dolce Latte of course.

3. List 3 old enemies of your self-worth.

4. List 3 old champions of your creative self-worth.

*Mrs. Ruckman- H.S. Creative Writing Teacher who took a look at my personal essay and poetry and asked me to submit my work to a national competition.

*Mr. Siskar- H.S. Art Teacher- For taking a student clueless about art and at the end of Studio class personally inviting me to sign up for Drawing and Painting I even though it was not something I thought I would be good at. (I did of course, and D/P II as well.)

*My Dad- telling me, instead of yelling at me to go to bed, when overhearing me sing Silent Night in bed. And attending every single concert.

*Commenters on my blog who tell me they enjoy my writing and voice. Including Elizabeth from Buffalo Spree who asked me if I would want to write for her magazine!

5. Imaginary Lives: If you had 5 other lives to lead what would you do in each of them?

*Teacher-3rd Grade
*Teacher-High School Social Studies
*Community Service Director- College/University/Non-Profit
*Grant Writer for Non Profit
*Work for Congress

Do something about one of them

6. Take your artist for a walk, the two of you. A brief 20 minute walk can dramatically alter consciousness.