The Artist’s Way of Creative Recovery
“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.”
– Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
One day, I was chatting with my daughter in her room when I spotted a bright yellow and red book tucked away on her bookshelf. As if beckoned by it, I found myself compelled to peruse its pages for the second time in my life.
I hadn’t lost my creativity, per se, but I was spending way too much time looking at others’ work and not enough time making my own.
In the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, she says, ‘creativity is a spiritual issue.’ Any progress is made by leaps of faith, some small and some large. At first we may want faith to take the first dance class, the first step toward learning a new medium. Later we may want the faith and funds for further classes, seminars, a larger work space, a year’s sabbatical. Later still, we may conceive an idea for a book, an artist’s collective gallery space. As each idea comes to us, we must in good faith clear away our inner barriers to acting on it and then, on an outer level, take the concrete steps necessary to trigger our synchronous good.’
To truly embrace a purposeful life filled with our unique expressions, we must take courageous leaps of faith each day.
It's fascinating how our creativity shines through the ways we define ourselves. From the profile pictures we choose for social media to the colours we wear and the furniture we select for our homes, every choice reflects our individuality. We're naturally drawn to images, textures, and colours, as they evoke emotions within us.
Often, our self-presentation is influenced by those around us—family, friends, social media, and even the movies we enjoy. Deep down, we might find ourselves pondering, "Who am I?" and hoping that our next choice brings us closer to the answer.
I often ask myself, Who am I when I am alone in a room with a paint set and an empty canvas?
In other words, what parts of ourselves emerge when the ideas of others don't influence us?
Engaging in the exercises from her book—like writing morning pages, taking artist dates, and practicing affirmations—has been a dynamic journey. It's like kneading dough: pushing through when words feel stuck, folding back when habits resist change, and stretching our creative muscles to cultivate resilience.
Cameron says, “By holding lightly to an attitude of gentle exploration, we can begin to lean into creative expansion. By replacing “No way!” with “Maybe,” we open the door to mystery and to magic.”
This journey helps dissolve the inner barriers Cameron describes, allowing our artistic selves the freedom to dream and explore once more. Since starting The Artist's Way, I've gained clarity on long-forgotten experiences. There was a need for resolution within me that I hadn't recognized before.
It’s a powerful reminder that writing down our thoughts and desires is a profound way to explore and reconstruct our inner world.
“Leap, and the net will appear.”
― Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
In appreciation for your being here,
Shana Lee
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron