The Art of Listening in Connecting to Our Dreams -Artist Way Creative Workshop - Ch. 7

This connection the author, Julia Cameron, is referring to in this chapter is our connection to our personal dreams by developing active listening skills while doing these creative activities. With practice we learn to tune in to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, guiding us to do this, try that, and say these words. In these creative activities, we are becoming more willing to accept the possibility that our God is helping us with whatever we are doing, big, small, practical, or financially sound. We learn to let go of the fear that somehow our God finds our creations decadent or frivolous and our tendency to discount this guidance in our lives. Through taking the time in these creative endeavors like the morning pages, sensory walks, and artist dates, we remember that our God is the Great Artist and artists like other artists. Therefore, it’s natural to expect that God wants us to spend time in the relationship, supporting and encouraging our dreams and our creativity no matter what form it takes in our lives.

Julia Cameron also discusses the concepts of risk and jealousy and how they operate in unblocking our inner creative artist child. Art is taking risks, trusting the process, and allowing things to develop while we explore the possibilities. Last week we discussed perfectionism. Perfectionism in art prevents us from taking risks and trying new things or pushing the limits of conventional thought. Perfectionism causes us to erase and erase until we have torn a hole in the paper of the drawing we are sketching. Or it prevents us from handing in the manuscript because it is just not quite ready to be seen or judged by others. The more we take risks in our lives and in our creativity, the more likely we are able to listen to the Holy Spirit guiding us and not our Parasite.

“We cannot escape fear. We can only transform it into a companion that accompanies us on all our exciting adventures…Take a risk a day – one small or bold stroke that will make you feel great once you have done it” (Susan Jeffers). We need to challenge ourselves every day by asking ourselves “What would I try if I did not have to do it perfectly”?

Jealousy, on the other hand, is like anger, it points in the direction we need to go in our lives. What we notice others having that we do not or what others are able to do that we are not, is a sign pointing us in that direction for exploration. We may need to be realistic about what we are able to do or where we are able to go, but we can take the first step in that direction. If you are jealous of your artist friend's art studio, then maybe clean out a closet for some space to work. Figure out how to make progress one step at a time, instead of getting upset or holding ill feelings. Use the feelings of jealousy like the feelings of anger to get you to act and take some risks toward your dreams.

We made a toast to each other and our connection on this creative journey over the last few weeks and we began to work on our Wine/Glass Bottle Art Projects. Everyone took a different approach and used different mediums to create an upcycled Eco Art Piece, like the ones I sell in my online Art Shop. The fun in this project is anything goes, paint, collage, photo transfer, fabric, etching, string, yarn, macrame, glitter, feathers, sand, polymer clay, and other embellishments like buttons and stickers, etc. I personally like to use the bottles as a canvas to hand paint on and make unique centerpieces for your décor, with attention to details like finishing the edges and using battery-operated lights inside the bottles to create another level of ambiance. These projects are gratifying because we are also able to recycle items that would have only added to cluttering our earth with more waste.

Next week we are discussing Chapter 8 – Rediscovering a Sense of Strength and working on making jewelry. I intend on at least working on at least two pieces, a bracelet, and a necklace. The suggested supplies list includes:

Beads Cording of your choice

large eye needle for jewelry beading

You are free to use whatever materials you desire to create your jewelry, so I have only provided a minimum supply list for those new to the process.

Thank you and remember your assignment for this week is to take risks and ask yourself what would I try if I didn’t have to do it perfectly?