My work is about helping people get in touch with their soul’s purpose, their reason for being, their calling. I call it Life as Art. Now some of you may say, hey I’m no artist, but guess what, we are all artists in our way even if we never take up a paint brush, sculpt any clay, write a word for publication, go on the dance floor or act in a play – being a life artist is simply living your life as a work of art. So how does that work? Well, we can do it unconsciously as many of us do – or we can get in touch with our souls in a more direct way.
One of the more direct ways is to go on an artists date as inspiration. So what is an artists date? I credit Julia Cameron in her book The Artist Way with naming this concept. The way this works is you set aside time once a week to take yourself out into the world and find things that speak to you.
A commitment of time spent on yourself – once a week
Time spent solely on you – no companions allowed
It’s a date with your inner-artist, or your inner child
No errands, no cell phones, no dogs, cats or other distractions
Where you go on this date is your choice. Some people go to an art museum, some go to an art store and look at all the gougeous tubes of paint, paper, canvases and other art materials. Some go to a fabric or craft store, some simply go on a walk in nature, some go to a hardware store, some go to a book store, some might even go look at model homes, some might go listen to music at a concert or a music store, some might go to a play, some might go a kite store and buy a kite and fly it or go to a garden store or the Botanical Gardens if your town has one, or they might even go to a computer store and check out the latest new computer software or to a fancy food market – it doesn’t matter where you go as long as it is something that speaks to you. The trick is to feed your creative spirit. What have you been longing to check out or do for some time but have not given yourself permission to do it or told yourself you didn’t have time? This is your inner artist calling to you.
And by the way, don’t worry about it if what you want to do seems silly – it’s the kid in us that holds the soul’s desire – let that kid out! Remember, you’re going on this date alone anyway, so if at first you feel a little silly, no one will be there to take notice of that. While you are on your artist date don’t allow any of those old inner critics along for the ride – they are not welcome. If one shows up do what Wayne Dyer says to cold germs, tell them “You are not welcome here.”
As for your family or friends not understanding this or even if they give you a hard time about it don’t allow them to dissuade you. When you fill your inner artist with ideas and imaginings you will be a better friend, parent or significant other because you come back to them refreshed and enlivened. And by the way, don't be tempted to invite them along - they need to go on their own artitst dates. You can always get together with them later and compare notes, now won't that be fun!
When you first start out on this commitment to take yourself on weekly artist dates you may look ahead and find that some weeks you won't have time. What I suggest to people is that they make a list of various things to do that are of varying lengths of time. In the beginning it’s best to take at least an hour to do your first artist day. Personally I think two to three hours is best, this really gets you in the mood and builds a kind of foundation for the future. So in the beginning do something really special. Then later when you have a busy week, do one of your shorter activities.
One of the more direct ways is to go on an artists date as inspiration. So what is an artists date? I credit Julia Cameron in her book The Artist Way with naming this concept. The way this works is you set aside time once a week to take yourself out into the world and find things that speak to you.
A commitment of time spent on yourself – once a week
Time spent solely on you – no companions allowed
It’s a date with your inner-artist, or your inner child
No errands, no cell phones, no dogs, cats or other distractions
Where you go on this date is your choice. Some people go to an art museum, some go to an art store and look at all the gougeous tubes of paint, paper, canvases and other art materials. Some go to a fabric or craft store, some simply go on a walk in nature, some go to a hardware store, some go to a book store, some might even go look at model homes, some might go listen to music at a concert or a music store, some might go to a play, some might go a kite store and buy a kite and fly it or go to a garden store or the Botanical Gardens if your town has one, or they might even go to a computer store and check out the latest new computer software or to a fancy food market – it doesn’t matter where you go as long as it is something that speaks to you. The trick is to feed your creative spirit. What have you been longing to check out or do for some time but have not given yourself permission to do it or told yourself you didn’t have time? This is your inner artist calling to you.
And by the way, don’t worry about it if what you want to do seems silly – it’s the kid in us that holds the soul’s desire – let that kid out! Remember, you’re going on this date alone anyway, so if at first you feel a little silly, no one will be there to take notice of that. While you are on your artist date don’t allow any of those old inner critics along for the ride – they are not welcome. If one shows up do what Wayne Dyer says to cold germs, tell them “You are not welcome here.”
As for your family or friends not understanding this or even if they give you a hard time about it don’t allow them to dissuade you. When you fill your inner artist with ideas and imaginings you will be a better friend, parent or significant other because you come back to them refreshed and enlivened. And by the way, don't be tempted to invite them along - they need to go on their own artitst dates. You can always get together with them later and compare notes, now won't that be fun!
When you first start out on this commitment to take yourself on weekly artist dates you may look ahead and find that some weeks you won't have time. What I suggest to people is that they make a list of various things to do that are of varying lengths of time. In the beginning it’s best to take at least an hour to do your first artist day. Personally I think two to three hours is best, this really gets you in the mood and builds a kind of foundation for the future. So in the beginning do something really special. Then later when you have a busy week, do one of your shorter activities.
For example, you might take one of your work breaks and look at an on-line site that has beautiful images or has something that has a special appeal to you and just use ten minutes to check it out. Or you could go on a walk at lunch time and really pay attention to what you see along the way. Or stop on your way home and take a quick trip through a store that has something you’d like to know more about or drive through a neighborhood that has interesting houses. A little detour off the beaten path is always a way to engage your imagination.
I suggest to people that they create an artist basket – this basket will hold your list of activities, some crayons, colorful markers, artist paper, some string, yarn, a few magazines and books, rocks you have collected on your walks, whatever speaks to you. Make two baskets – one for where you work and one to keep at home.
Eckart Tolle talks about awakened doing in his book- The New Earth – Awakening to Your life Purpose and I see going on an artist date as just that – awakening you to what you are doing and what you could be doing if you answered your soul’s call.
I suggest to people that they create an artist basket – this basket will hold your list of activities, some crayons, colorful markers, artist paper, some string, yarn, a few magazines and books, rocks you have collected on your walks, whatever speaks to you. Make two baskets – one for where you work and one to keep at home.
Eckart Tolle talks about awakened doing in his book- The New Earth – Awakening to Your life Purpose and I see going on an artist date as just that – awakening you to what you are doing and what you could be doing if you answered your soul’s call.
I would love to hear from you on where you went and what you did on your artist dates so let me know by posting a note here on my blog. Until next Monday, have a wonderful and artistic week.
Blessings, Lorraine
1 comment:
I love this! The key is doing something you love or brings you peach or clariy on your own. Too often we let other's agendas influence our "art time." It is wonderful to share experiences but take some time to be alone with yourself in a setting that feeds your creative self.
Post a Comment