The Artist’s Way Week #7- Recovering a Sense of Connection

*Week 6*

QUOTES

“Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know hoe, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.” -Agnes De Mille

“Trust in yourself. Your perceptions are often, far more accurate than you are willing to believe.” -Claudia Black

“When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate.” C.G. Jung

PASSAGES

Art is an act of tuning in and dropping down the well. It is as though all the stories, painting, music, performances in the world live just under the surface of our normal consciousness. Like an underground river, they flow through us as a stream of ideas that we can tap down into.

Once you accept that it is natural to create, you can begin to accept a second idea- that the creator will hand you what ever you need for the project. The minute you are willing to accept the help of this collaborator, you will see useful bits of help everywhere in your life. Be alert: there is a second voice, a higher harmonic, adding to and augmenting your inner creative voice. This voice frequently shops itself in synchronicity.

Learn to accept the possibility that the universe is helping you with what you are doing. Become willing to see the hand of God and accept it as a friend’s offer to help with what you are doing.

Jealousy is always a mask for fear: fear that we aren’t able to get what we want, frustration that somebody else seems to be getting what is rightfully ours even if we are far too frightened to reach for it.

Complete the following sentence…

If I didn’t have to do it perfectly, I would try…writing my books.


Why- True love and starting their families in Buffa
Action/antedoStop hiding from the idea of being happy and in ARCHAEOLOGY: An EXERCISE- Complete these phrases…

As a kid, I missed the chance to…travel with my family.
As a kid, I lacked… my own bedroom.
As a kid, I could have used…my energy to try out for something physical.
As a kid, I dreamed… of being President.
As a kid, I wanted… a little sister. (In addition to my brother!)
In my house, we never had enoughh…money.
As a kid, I needed more…time to be a kid
I am sorry that I will never again see…my dad say *I Love You*
I beat myself up about the loss of…my childhood. (Fighting with my dad)
For years, I have missed and wondered about…how my life would be different if Gma and Dad were still here and I spent my teenage years on

Finish these phrases.

I have a loyal friend in…so many people.
One thing I like about my town is…the community- feels like home.
I think I have nice…legs, boobies and a smile/laugh
Writing my morning pages has shown me I can…avoid and hide for no reason.
I am taking greater interest in…cleaning out the gunk and simplifying
I believer I am getting better at…loving myself.
My artist has started to pay more attention to…clutter.
My self-care is…improving.
I feel more…alive with possibility.
Possibly, my creativity is…ready to explode.

Make this phrase a mantra. “Treating myself like a precious object will make me strong.”

Give yourself time out to listen to one side of an album, just for joy. You may want to doodle as you listen, allowing yourself to draw the shapes, emotions, thoughts you hear in the music.

Take yourself into a scared space- a church, synagogue, library, grove of trees and allow yourself to savor the silence and healing solitude.

Create one wonderful smell in your house.

Wear your favorite item of clothing for no special occasion. (I always do!)

Collage: Collect a stack of at least 10 magazines which you will allow yourself to freely dismember. Set a 20 minute time limit and tear through the magazines collecting any images that reflect your life or interests. Pictorial autobiography. Include your past, present, future and your dreams.

Quickly list 5 favorite films. Anything they have in common? (Music/love)
Little Mermaid, Moulin Rouge, Back to the Future, Say Anything, When Harry Met Sally

Name your favorite topics to read about: politics, current events, women, friendship, love, exotic places, biographies, history.