The Artist's Way - 12 Weeks of Creative Recalibration

It’s been on my radar for a while to read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

My cousin, painter Belle Orton mentioned it to me a while back and I mentally filed it for future reference. Then I saw it sitting amongst a pile of books at a friend’s house, and she kindly let me borrow it.

So, harnessing the energy of a new year, I’ve started. And that, as I’ve come to realise, is the biggest step you can take with anything. Especially creatively.

It’s a 12-week course, spread over 12 chapters with two main tools: Morning Pages and a weekly Artist’s Date.

Morning Pages

Morning Pages is stream of consciousness writing first thing in the morning, intended to clear the mental static and help you connect with your creative inspiration.

I’ve been doing these for a couple of weeks now. I’m enjoying the morning ritual - love a little ritual! But I’ve also been feeling like it’s a waste of time. Wouldn’t I be better using this time to actually do something creative? Like breath new life into my atrophied blog for example?

Well, Julia discusses this - the resistance, the rebellion, the doubt, the judgement. So I’ve stuck with it, and glad I have. My handwriting muscles are toning up, and and my creativity is tuning in.

The book is peppered with quotes. Here’s one that perfectly captures the power of Morning Pages:

“A mind too active is no mind at all.”
- Theodore Rethke

Artist’s Date

This is time set aside once a week, specifically for nurturing creativity.

I recently stopped working on Fridays, which has given me one delicious day a week all to myself, to indulge in creativity, which is bringing so much happiness to my week. So Fridays are my Artist’s Date.

I make coffee, sit on the back verandah and write my morning pages in the crisp quiet. Then I make a loose plan for the day. I try and leave cleaning and socialising out of my day so I can devote it entirely to creativity. It feels like such a luxury.

When I was walking a few days ago I had the bright idea to write about this 12 week creative journey. So here I am on my Creative Friday, writing this, resurrecting my blog.

I hope it will give focus to all the things I want to apply this creative energy to – which has always been a problem for me. A dabbler but never a master. Maybe a better name for this blog?

I was chatting with a friend about this and sharing the ridiculous schedule I did for myself to try and fit everything in. She gently told me I could just relax and trust that whatever I’m doing (painting, writing, guitar, flowers etc) will happen in just the right way and there will be a thread through it all.

So, we’ll see. Who am I kidding anyway. As if I am truly going to stick to a strict schedule. Creativity needs space and freedom after all – but then there’s the procrastination element, one thing I am a master at.

Something great about getting older though - I do this less. That tick-tock, you’re one day closer to death, inner mantra is a great antidote.

So anyway, I hope you enjoy this journey with me. I can’t say exactly where it’s going to go or what you can expect, but hopefully something a bit more interesting than bills and spam.

I’m aiming to send something once a week to align with the chapters of the book – who knows, maybe it will inspire you to get in touch with your own creative vibes, however that manifests for you.

I’ll share anything I’ve been working on. Maybe a painting, a story, a new song learnt on guitar, things that have inspired me through the week, new music I’m loving. I imagine this will take more form as I go.

So, here we go!

Leonie x

P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts on each week’s post. Maybe something you’ve been working on, a new idea you’ve had, something that has inspired you, a creative block you’re experiencing…anything.