Walking for Inspiration

Quote of the Day:  When we walk, the two halves of our brains converse. ~ Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way

Yesterday, Sunday, I had the urge to take a walk after church. The service was sweet. I played piano. We were a small crew that morning, so the Pastor pulled up a chair and sat close to us. At the end of his message, he said a prayer. When he finished, a four-year-old boy came up to him and gave him a hug. He pulled him onto his lap and held him while we sang the hymn of the day. The songs I chose for the day were about "telling the story" and how God is with us on the journey. No matter where we roam, the Holy Spirit surrounds us. I suppose I was thinking of my oldest boy whose far away at college, starting his first classes today. I thought of my boys who were with me, ready to start a new school year. I thought of myself and all the new experiences I've already had this year, how far I've traveled, inward and outward.

So, my feet were ready for walking. My leg muscles were twitching to go, and my heart was open for inspiration. As I walked, step by step, I started thinking of the next play I'll be writing (as soon as school starts). I figured out how I'd create tension, interruptions, and some of the character dynamics. I heard the music. Ahh. I smiled as I walked along and tucked those ideas in my mind's drawer. This idea has been percolating for a while and it's soon ready to pour out.

Paths are everywhere. Short ones. Flat ones. Hilly ones. Paths through valleys and across mountaintops. Go to the edge today, and dare to take one more step.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a walk.

Artist Date

Quote of the Day:  The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.  The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. - C. G. Jung

I found that quote in the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been blocked, frustrated, or suffered self-doubt in their creative lives.  I first looked at this book in 2004 with my writer-mama-pal Roxane.  We worked on it and checked in with each other regarding our progress.  I am revisiting this book now with her and artist friend JeMA.  This goes along nicely with the Business class for Artists that I'm taking.

Julia Cameron encourages us to share what we've learned in this book.  Two basic tools for unblocking are journaling and the Artist Date.  She has some specific ideas about the journaling.  I believe any journaling is helpful.  I love encouraging people to write out their stories, feelings, expectations, fears, etc.  That is the purpose of my blog.

For the Artist Date this week, I bought myself a new camera.  The above photo is the first image on this camera.  JeMA took it while we were having our weekly check-in at the coffee shop.  Here's another one of me having fun...

So, I took a picture of JeMA laughing at me acting silly in a coffee shop.

Then, I went home and made good use of the rain.  Look, free water to wash the deck!  And, good little worker boys who don't mind working if they can get wet!  Plus, a neighbor boy who'd rather help us clean than go home.  He doesn't have any brothers, just one older sister who's hardly ever home.  I served them hotdog mummies and fruit for lunch.  You gotta pay the help!

Would you like to join me on the deck for iced tea, creative conversation, or a good read?

Some Artist dates might be buying yourself tools for your creative work.  Some might be taking a walk, looking at art, being inspired by nature or music.  It's taking time to nurture your creative child.

Journaling Prompt:  What would you like to do on an Artist date?