the artists way blog

NEW book!

2009-05-04T00:34:00.002+01:00

hello everyone!
it's been awhile, but real life has an uncanny way of catching up and for one reason or another, things got lost by the wayside...

anyhow, i'm back with a vengence to work on a new book and finally settled on this one...
i plan to start working through it on 28 june 2009
and i really hope you are still up for joining me!

the new blog can be found here.

xo

{the home stretch: week 12}

2009-02-16T12:42:00.003Z

when i first started reading about week 12, i noticed how relevant elizabeth gilbert's words from my previous post is. if you haven't had a chance to watch it yet, i urge you to grab a cuppa and settle down for the next 20 minutes or so and take a look. i'm pretty sure you won't regret it. particularly in light of this weeks recovery. our final week (or two!)...

the mystery of the universe, god, was something which triggered thoughts at the start of our journey, where do you views lie now, nearly 24 weeks later?

it would appear the humble ability to release ourselves to something greater is a common theme amongst our creative minds of today. do you agree? has synchronicity blessed your life during this journey?

and as we face the final steps together, where do we find ourselves looking into the future? are you stepping forward a different person?

for me personally these last days feel like yet another new beginning. i have not completed this course the way i had initially hoped and imagined, but i have completed it. that's not to say i won't be revisiting it; but i feel it is important to acknowledge what we have achieved, no matter if or how it falls short of our high expectations.

i am definitely planning to work on a new book, starting on march, 22 2009. i hope you will join me. in the meantime, good luck with this final fortnight, and i can't wait to hug you at the finish line!

{genius}

2009-02-13T09:45:00.001Z

i came across this following TED talk via a visit to gems blog and it just talked to me. it might just be what you need to ponder today. enjoy!

{week 11: recovering a sense of autonomy}

2009-02-08T18:52:00.002Z

our penultimate week and it's about recovering autonomy. reminding us who is really in charge of our creativity journey.

"as an artist my credibility lies with me"
i adore this line.
i'm going to make it my mantra, and remind myself every day.

it is so easy to get carried away sometimes.
to create for a goal that is so far ahead in the horizon, you forget the real reason why: the inner need. calling. desire. the now.

there was a lot in this chapter to think about, from the zen of sports to building your artist's altar. how much of this do you incorporate in your life?

nb: my apologies for the delay in this post. helen is away, and she left the blog in my trusted hands. but unfortunately i've had pc problems and other excuses i could use, but the bottom line is i dropped the ball. sorry. but i am back! and will be here promptly to lead us to the finishing line... can you believe it? we're nearly there!

and yes, we plan to continue with another book after a short break. some possible titles include: what we ache for by oriah mountain dreamer, life is a verb by patti digh, or the sound of paper by julia cameron.

i've learnt a lot from this experience here, and also by partaking in the fabulous book blogging group hosted by jamie ridler at the next chapter, and hope to pull it all together for a more personalised (and organised!) experience next time round. hope you will be joining me!

Welcome to Week 10

2009-01-20T19:39:00.002Z

I bet hardly any of you can believe that we're only two chapters away from completing TAW. I certainly can't. It seems like such a mammoth task at the beginning and yet if you just stick at it and silence the perfectionist in you it really can be done!

So a huge WELL DONE to all of you for getting this far! Yay!!!

So what does week 10 bring us? Ah yes, those wonderful "blocking devices" need to be looked at. Gulp. They can be such seemingly ordinary things, a bowl of ice cream, an hour in front of the TV, constantly finding something that "needs doing". I am especially good at this one.. "I can't possibly do my morning pages, this morning, I have shopping to get, appointments to get to, phone calls to make..." the list is endless. And they seem such a valid excuses! Yet I know deep down, that it's avoidance behaviour.. I know that I'm not doing my MPs because on that day I don't have the courage to face myself and see what's there: the demons, the insecurities, the fears.. And yet by avoiding this, I'm also avoiding: the lightbulb moments, the insights, the soul part of me that is only love.

However, remember that even just knowing that we're doing it is already halfway there.. Now, we just have to recognise it, send it love, and try turning the other way instead. So next time I feel the same pattern of "I can't possibly do the MPs this morning because....." I shall stop, take a breath and think actually, yes I can.. and face my demons and receive my delights.

So have courage fellow artsit's wayers, and use this chapter to really conquer your demons!

Good luck!

Fxxx

A new day dawning..

2009-01-09T12:50:00.002Z

It seems everything has been against me in the last few months and it's been one of those times where finding time for creativity has been especially difficult. First illnesses that lasted for weeks on end, then an internet connection that has been down for weeks on end.. not to mention my phone line. It seems I am being deliberately cut off from the outside world in order to look within! A great opportunity you might think but not so great when you're trying to write TAW posts!!

The illnesses have put paid to any kind of artist's dates or anything that necessitates going outside but as I am now feeling about a thousand times better I hope to reclaim that part of the process. Pen has been very understanding and it is her computer that I am actually now sitting at.

I think the greatest gift that TAW gives us is shining a great big spotlight on what isn't working in our lives, in order for us to then shift the spotlight onto what is working. Rather than driving myself mad with frustration at the situation I was in, I decided to look at what was good. For one, I spent a lot more time reading books, a very peaceful thing to do that brought a lot of joy. I have also had much more time to question myself; a la Dr Phil "How's that workin' for ya?" only to discover that whatever I was looking at, actually wasn't working!

So, I start this new year, full of health again (yippee!) and renewed vision with which to look at my artist self. I love Chapter 9 for what it says about not expecting to make some huge fantastic work of art in order to validate your artist status. I realised I had been doing this, and it had been keeping my stymied. If I couldn't create something amazing, then why create anything at all! Thankfully as ever, JC has shown me the way and I am now fully content with my first commitment of the year to creativity - an artist's crop once a month. AND, in the first month, which is this coming Sunday, I'm going to create my own special Secret Wish Jar!!!

So thank you to all of you who sent me kind thoughts whilst I was a little bit off the radar.. as you can imagine I haven't had much chance to look at your blogs for ages.. :-( but my provider assures me that I will be back online on the 19th, or the 20th, or the 21st.. (!!!!)

Happy New Year!!

Fxxx

{happy new year}

2009-01-08T01:07:00.005Z

good job week 9 is all about recovering compassion, so hopefully you will show me some and not hold it against me for this terribly tardy post!

first things first, HAPPY NEW YEAR wonderfully gorgeous, creative, fabulous and talented kindred spirits. may this be the year all your dreams start manifesting.

this week we kick start the programme again with week 9. remember: be gentle with yourself. there is no right or wrong way to complete the week. whether you do all the tasks or none, you are a valued member of this group. just commit to read the chapter and let the words marinate, the rest will follow... naturally, however that is.

and if you have a spare hour on your hands, you must check out this tele-seminar hosted by christine kane in the last week or so. it's excellent and inspiring. sets the perfect tone and intention for the new year.

updated: hmmm... for some reason the link won't work. if you do have an hour to spare (i think it's 1 hour 20 minutes long) email me at theartistswayblog@gmail.com and i will send you the email link i have.

{week 8: a sense of strength}

2008-12-28T15:33:00.006Z

i appreciate we should actually be moving into week 9 but, i thought we could take an extra week to regroup following the fesitivities so, effectively this is now a week 8 check in; and we will kick off with week 9 in the new year, on 4 jan 2009, instead. hope that's agreeable with you all!

how have you been finding week 8?

i have a confession to make.
my progress to date has been far from ideal and, to be quite honest, i should really give up and start again! but, i am enjoying this comunity far too much and, as i've said before, i so want to complete this programme however imperfectly it's done. so, i am just going to dive right back in now and pay no further thought to all the things i haven't done, or should have done, in the weeks preceding this. if you find yourself in a similar position, care to join me?

so week 8 has been all about understanding the foundations of true strength. strength of character. strength of faith. strength of self.

there was a lot this week (as always!) that resonated with me. particular julia's thoughts on taking baby steps. oh how true! i am ridiculously guilty of whiling away the hours (days, weeks and years!) fantasising about the critically acclaimed novel, or the oscar winning screenplay (and who will star in it!) or the life-changing workshops... i then find myself completely overwhelmed by the enormity of it all and have to find refuge in the telly for the remainder of the night!

or equally impotent, i start scolding myself for my naivety: who do i think i am, what a joke, don't even think about saying it out loud, putting it out there; not unless you want everyone to see you for the fool you are... and so it goes on.

regardless of whether my ego is having a party, or my inner child is curled up in a dark corner, the ultimate result is the same: nothing gets done.

but baby steps. steps so small and seemingly insignificant, i might even get it past my inner critic. now, that would be worth a go! the invite is still there: care to join me?

{merry christmas}

2008-12-25T00:07:00.001Z

wishing you a magical christmas and a blissful, peaceful and happy new year.

xo

Word of the year

2008-12-16T11:03:00.003Z

Over on Christine Kane's blog, guest writers are commenting on the 'word of the year' that they chose in January '08. What a wonderful concept! Though I didn't pick a word at the beginning of the year, in retrospect I would choose Lioness:

it's been a difficult year, but especially a difficult few months. I have been knocked down with infection after infection since September and have barely seen the light of day (this coupled with my already crippling condition of m.e.). In light of this, my word for the year is lioness. I choose it because one of my sisters reminded me of the power, strength, determination, resilience and femininity of the lioness, and that I reminded her of one. Positive words can make all the difference.

What is your retrospective word for this year? It can be anything! (The only stipulation is that it can't be a negative word). What's been fantastic this year? What has kept you going when the going was tough? What is your greatest achievement this year?

Over to you!

{shifting}

2008-12-08T22:56:00.004Z

oops, i'm a little tardy with my post this week but, i don't know about you, days seem to run away from me at the best of times ~ but in december particularly! can you believe christmas is only round the corner?

i remember when helen and i first started talking about this blog and we were trying to determine whether to run the course in 12, 16 or 24 weeks; it felt very important to me to try and be completed by christmas. for a couple of reasons in particular:
1. most people have less time around the holidays, with all the festivities to contend with, and i was worried that the extra pressure of tasks and morning pages would just be too much.
2. i thought it would be symbolic to complete the journey before the new year, so that we could all start afresh in 2009 with our rediscovered creative selves.

now that we are just over half way through, and can see the merits of spending a fortnight on each week, it was interesting to review my thought process and see how much i've shifted...

for starters, i realise that holidays or not, life is full of unknown obstacles and challenges. despite the best of intentions, i would be lying if i said i've had a single perfect week since the beginning of this journey; in fact it's been as much about learning to embrace the (my) imperfections.

secondly, i am actually quite excited about being immersed in the heart of the programme as one year draws to a close and a new one lies just over the horizon. the importance, significance, meaning, of what TAW represents is very much in the present, and i carry that through with me into the next year which is pretty powerful, don't you think?

so how are you doing so far? how are you feeling in the heart of week 7? do the holidays overwhelm you? or is it more time to relax and focus on yourself? what are you hopes for 2009?

{week 7: recovering a sense of connection}

2008-12-01T00:09:00.005Z

how apt it is that my first posting here in what feels like an age is all about recovering a sense of connection! it is definitely something i have missed over the last few weeks and i have been feeling my body and mind crave the constant inspiration shared between us here.

wow. can you believe we are over the half way mark now too? what an achievement. i think we can all greet 2009 with a real sense of pride. and i am already excited about the possibilities that will unfold for all of us in the weeks and months to come! can i just say how blessed i feel to be doing this with you!

okay, enough gushing, on with the week in hand...for me, the line: "if we are trying to think something up, we are straining to reach for something that's just beyond our grasp..." leapt of the page at me. that is me! always wishing, wanting, trying... now i am about to learn about doing.

and yes that means dealing with the age old enemy: perfectionism. was it just me, or does julia have the ability to read minds! but i love how she turns the idea on it's head: "perfectionism is not a quest for the best. it is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough - that we should try again" now i am about to learn about being.

i am ready. i feel like we are on the home straight now, when rewards and synchronicity will become more apparent, spurring us onto the finish line.
how about you? we're still in this together?

Week 6: check in

2008-11-23T12:03:00.002Z

Woweee, we are now half way through the course!! Can you believe it. A huge round of applause for everyone who is still with us. If we can get this far then of course we can all finish! Give yourselves a darn good pat on the back for what you have achieved so far.

I think now is a good time to remind ourselves to STOP TRYING TO BE PERFECT. It only leads to doom and gloom and a constant feeling of dissatisfaction. We weren't put on this earth to be perfect beings. If anything, we were put here to learn that we are imperfect but that we are fantastically imperfect. It doesn't take anything away from how fabulous we are..

So, as we lead into the second half of the course, let yourselves be filled with renewed vigour, determination and perseverance. You CAN complete this course, you WILL complete this course and most of all, you DESERVE to complete this course. Every time you feel overwhelmed, remember what the course is giving you, wonderful little changes to your life that you may not be aware of yet, but that you will be once you can look back on it.

Keep on keeping on everyone!!!

Welcome to week 6

2008-11-10T16:28:00.003Z

What an interesting week... Abundance!!

Writing about God in our morning pages is going to be very interesting. Do we even believe in him/her? If we do, are they a wrathful, judgemental God? or a loving, compassionate God?

What about our thoughts on money? Money is really just a manifestation of energy.. neither good nor bad. It just is. But do we feel this? Do we ever feel we deserve to have that little bit extra? It seems that if we half kill ourselves in jobs we hate we deserve to have it but if we sit around doing something we love, slowly and in our own time.. then do we deserve to be paid? To do something we actually enjoy and that wasn't that hard...?! Do we really allow ourselves that?

Why is it that an artist who is broke is considered virtuous, while the one that earns a lot is somehow less so.. isn't this wrong?

As Julia reminds us "you are the cheapskate, not God.

Lets change NOW. Lets buy ourselves those luxuries NOW. Lets believe in our rights to abundance NOW.

There is no better time to transform. NOW is the time.

Unanimous!

2008-11-08T11:55:00.002Z

Well, it's pretty clear we're all in agreement about switching back to the two week programme! Yay!

So let's get started. This means that tomorrow is another WEEK 5 check-in. Then WEEK 6 begins and lasts for two weeks, as does the rest of the programme.

Hopefully now we'll now all catch up!

GOOD LUCK!

Ch ch ch ch changes

2008-11-06T22:23:00.003Z

As we approach the end of week 5, I notice a lot of us are struggling to keep up. This includes me. Having caught an awful flu virus I have been laid up for the best part of a month.. needless to say TAW has gone out the window. I couldn't even stand up let alone set off on an artist's date so I'm way behind - still on week 4.

I do intend to catch up but here's the thing. I have loved having two weeks to complete each week, and having to go back to just one week has been a huge shock, and has made the task of catching up all the more daunting. I notice that sisterjulia is going to stick to the two week timetable and Pen and I have been discussing the same thing. But what do you guys think?? This is a blog for all of us.. Pen and I may be the moderators but you guys are just as important to the running of this blog..

So, here's the question.. shall we continue with a two week cycle for each week? Please do answer this question in the comments section asap as time is of the essence if we are to return to this schedule. We want to know what YOU want!

We look forward to hearing from you.

{week five: check in}

2008-11-02T17:50:00.002Z

okay, i have to put my hands up and admit that this week FLEW by and before i knew it, we are checking in again! and yes, i come with a bag full of plentiful excuses for why i've done nothing! but first and foremost: wow, trying to do this in 7 days is TOUGH! and personally, i am going to have to take an extra week for my week 5 to catch up.

having said that, as you may have sensed from my last couple of posts i have been struggling of late. and, like some of you, various personal events have taken precedent over my journey... but i am back! and i am coming back with a renewed vigour!

i'll let you in on a secret. i have been so apathetic with TAW this last week, i didn't realise i had misplaced my book until i came to do the check in today! shocking i know. but ironically that was the turning point. initially i admit i did think, "it's a sign, i'm obviously not committed, even the book can't be bothered to show up anymore!" but then i realised: i want this. i don't want to give up. anything worthwhile requires a commitment. and i forgot that for awhile there.

thanks for sticking with me, and making this such a fabulous place to be held accountable: without judgement or criticism, but just understanding and support. each and every one of you who leaves a comment or posts on your own blog inspires me, and i look forward to completing this journey together.

in the meantime please share how you have found completing the last week in just 7 days, and any pearls of wisdom you feel might help carry our tribe forward into week 6! well done everyone, we're nearly at the half way mark!!

{week four: check in}

2008-10-26T01:11:00.006+01:00

hello my fellow journey travellers. how are you doing? my body and soul is little fatigued and, if i am honest, i am floundering somewhat. sometimes i wonder if living in the real world can actually accomodate the demands of creative recovery and i truly need those of you out there juggling such a life, to please share your guide to survival!

i struggled tremendously with the reading deprivation, to the point of failure i would say, but honestly more out of habit rather than complete disregard for the task. there have also been many moments when i have questioned, as i imagine julia cameron would, whether i have placed my recovery as enough of a priority in my life, as i am so obviously lacking in the commitment i should be making towards it. and that has troubled me somewhat. but, as i think both helen and i have intimated in the past, this journey is as much about embracing our imperfections as it is about completing the artists way. and so, even if the journey is completed not to our perfect satisfaction: it will be completed regardless.

so congratulations to all those who stand here with me at the end of week 4. come rest your weary feet for awhile, as the pace picks up now, and we have just one week to complete each of the remaining weeks to follow.

Reading deprivation

2008-10-18T12:56:00.002+01:00

Some of us are just completing the reading deprivation week and some of us are just starting. Pen and I are just starting so to avoid temptation there will be no more posts until next weekend..

For those of you completing your week do share your experience with us!! For those of you starting... loads and loads of luck to you. We're all in this together remember so when you get stuck think of all of us around the world trying the same thing and it may give you the extra oomph to keep going.

THINK OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU CAN CREATE IN THIS WEEK!!

Loes from Secret Wish Jar has the most wonderful project ... creating your own secret wish jar or dream box. Have a look here. She also has a gallery where you can post a picture of your finished jar or box here. What a great project to do this week!

Alternatively, is there a painting you've had in your mind but haven't put on paper yet? Does your house/flat need a clear out and de-clutter? Are there people you've been putting off phoning? Have you got a long forgotten knitting kit you could try? There is lots to do this week, it'll just be different that's all. Piece of cake!! (gulp..)

Well, all that remains for me to say is a big good luck to everyone and see you next week!

Focus on: the artist's date

2008-10-15T08:15:00.001+01:00

From all the comments I've read I don't think there's one of us that doesn't struggle with the artist's date... that question of allowing ourselves to do something that is purely for 'us'. Just for 'us'. Some of us have forgotten what that even means and probably the first artist's date was filled with anxiety and guilt. I do hope though, that as we head into week 4, we are all finding it easier.

This is my strategy. Every time I feel that artist's date guilt, I remind myself that it really isn't just about 'me'. It's about the fact that the artist's date is to help me feel better; to be a happier, healthier person, and to feel more complete having integrated rather than denied my creative side.. and, that by doing this, everyone around me gets to be happier, healthier and better because as Ghandi said...

"Be The Change You Wish To See In The World"

So the artists date isn't selfish, it's about making a difference to the world around you, by starting with YOU!

Print out and laminate this quote by Ghandi, or any of the quote's in TAW book. Anything that, when you take out of your handbag and read, will help you overcome any artist's way guilt.

{week four: reading deprivation}

2008-10-14T18:01:00.004+01:00

i’ve already blown it this week, having spent the last two days frantically surfing the net and wondering why and how i will cope without the reliability of lily rose chen’s daily posting! then i realise it’s the dreaded week 4. reading is sustenance to me. how am i going to cope? obviously not very well judging by this start!

thankfully, again we have two weeks to work through this. and now, having thought about it, i think a week of reading deprivation could be very interesting... admittedly i am going to make excuses for why i have to read this week: because i have genuinely fallen behind on my studies and not reading this week would actually put my course in jeopardy! but i intend to cram in as much studying (reading) as i can so that i can procrastinate creatively and guilt-freely next week!

it will also be interesting because i spend a ridiculous amount of time on the internet reading other peoples words. admiring other peoples work. coveting other peoples lives... it will be fascinating to take away something so integral to my day and see how i replace it. a week without the internet... my god the sheer thought of that terrifies me! and actually excites me too...

so this is me signing off for week 4. i will still be around until the end of this week, but will officially cut myself off from the 19.10.08-25.10.08. if you are joining me in deprivation that week: good luck! and for those of you who have returned after a read-free week: how was it?

ps. i really wanted to do this project ali edwards did last month but, as usual, i spent more time reading about other people doing it instead of doing it myself! however the reading deprivation week might be the {perfect} opportunity... (of course i will read up on everything i need to prepare beforehand!) fancy joining me?

{week three:check in}

2008-10-12T11:10:00.003+01:00

week three. wow. how do you feel? for some of us, this may be the furthest we have travelled (so far) on the artists way! give yourself a big hug: you have done well!

judging by the blogs, there have been some personal obstacles and triumphs in the lives of many and, can i just say, by being here today: checking in (regardless of how many ticks you can make alongside the tasks) you have completed week three. congratulations.

personally i am still struggling. i have been easily distracted these last couple of weeks and i admit i have not given my journey the time or space it deserved. i let my morning pages fall to side (i actually made a conscious decision one night that i wasn't going to do my morning pages the next day because i wanted the extra lie in! what shocking message does that send my inner creative self?)

but enough about me! i will blog about that later on my site! this space is about you. your journey. this is about saying well done to everyone who has stuck on the path. this is about saying it is okay, regardless of how well (or not) you feel you have done so far. commitment is the key. perseverance is the battle. if you are here, you're still in it. and that is what is important.

thank you for sharing your journey with us and for giving me personally, and i am sure the others reading this, the support, encouragement, inspiration and most of all: understanding, to go on. here's to week 4!

Ode to a friend: task 5

2008-10-07T16:32:00.003+01:00

Task 5 in week 3 is the following:

"Make a list of friends who nurture you - that's nurture (give you a sense of your own competency and possibility), not enable (give you the message that you will never get it straight without their help). There is a big difference between being helped and being treated as though we are helpless. Describe which of these friends' traits, particularly, serve you well."

Number one on my list is Penny. She's my best friend and has so many great traits, I could fill this blog with them! In terms of my creativity, she is always willing to try new things, to take risks and always encourages me to do the same. She makes me feel like I can achieve anything and everything in the world and that nothing can stop me! If I am beginning a new project, she encourages me all the way. If I have a doubts she listens carefully to them and shares hers, so that I know it's not just me, and always offers great advice. And if this isn't enough, she is absolutely, fantastically, amazingly talented and creates beautiful art. I don't think I could do the programme without her!

So, that's my number one. Share your stories with us! Who are these friends in your life? Who are the people in your life who 'big you up?!', believe in you?, encourage you? Shout about them here! Write about them in the comments section of this post so that we can all big them for you too!!

Going my own way

2008-10-04T12:08:00.010+01:00

An important aspect of this week is protecting your creativity as it slowly emerges. I'd like to share this story with you.

I recently signed up to an oil painting class. I've never painted a thing in my life and don't think I have an ounce of ability, but in the spirit of waking up my creative self I thought I would give it a go. As you can imagine, I'm excited, terrified, happy and nervous. So I shared my little plan with someone close to me..

Me: "Hey, guess what, I've signed up to an oil painting class!!"
Them: "Oh. Where is it?"
Me: "It's in Kidlington"
Them:"Well that'll be a trek to get there won't it"
Me: Sound of a tyre being deflated

This is a good example of what Julia Cameron means when she asks us to be careful about who we share our journey with. The painting class is my fragile little project that is challenging me in every way and I can't afford to have it stamped on like this. Funnily enough, I won't be sharing any more information with this person! However, equally importantly, I haven't let it get in my way. I can see that this person is too afraid to discover their own creativity so needs to discredit mine. So I also forgive her, and go on my merry little way as she goes on hers...

I expect you've all come across a naysayer by now. Share your story with us so we can all raise our hands and tell you to IGNORE EVERY NEGATIVE WORD! Come back to this blog the very second someone is less than encouraging, we're all here for you!

{week three: reclaim your power}

2008-09-28T12:29:00.003+01:00

okay so week three here we come. and for some of us, it can’t come soon enough: to start afresh with a new week and to leave behind the seeming failures of last week! funnily enough, julia cameron actually talks about this feeling of “sluggishness” that seemed to plague a few of us last week, and phew, it is quite natural. lets just hope our affliction of it last week spares us for the week ahead then!

certainly from reading the chapter for the week to come, it seems like it is going to be a pretty heavy week. digging a little deeper. i like the idea of using the negativity: the anger, shame, fear etc as signposts though. acknowledging them and using them as markers to guide as forward as opposed to holding us back. i also like the excuse of using this week to pamper myself a little!

shame is also discussed in some depth and was something that hels and i were talking about the other night. we linked it to the “who does she think she is” syndrome. you familiar with that feeling? where you hesitate for fear of being judged? for those of you who feel equally unsure about claiming your creative rights, take a look here for some inspiration.

ultimately art is subjective. creativity is personal. the only person you truly need to appreciate your art is you. everything else is a bonus. so love yourself. trust yourself. give yourself the room, the opportunity, the courage, to explore who you are creatively...

i’m going to start a painting today that i’ve been wanting to do for a long time. i’ve never begun, because i am not an artist. i got a D in art at school! and i didn’t want to look stupid. i didn’t want people to see it and go, “er, why are you doing that? You can’t paint and it looks terrible!” i didn’t want to humiliate myself. and for people to whisper behind my back, "who does she think she is?"

but it keeps coming to me, and to quote one of my favourite sayings by anais nin: “and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”

i need to recover my sense of power. and learn it does not lie with what other people think of me. will you do something this week you’ve been putting off too?

{week two: check in}

2008-09-27T08:42:00.004+01:00

so, we're at the end of week two! congratulations! how have you done? how do you feel?

now i don't know if you're anything like me but: come the end of the first part of the week, i was like, "phew, thank god we have two weeks" and then suddenly, we're at the end of week two, and... er, i still haven't accomplished much. oops. if you're not like me, and you've had a stormingly successful week: well done! i am a little jealous and would love for you to share your tips for success here, but most importantly, good for you!

but yeah, i've struggled this week. big time. let's see: morning pages 10/14 and... 0/10 tasks. i'm a little embarassed, and was even tempted to embellish the truth somewhat so i didn't look so bad. but i guess that defeats the purpose...

so hels (flower) and i got together for some much needed girl time last night and found that we've both been feeling much the same (although she did accomplish some of the tasks!) which made me feel a little better: maybe it's like a week 2 funk?

i actually blogged a little about it recently and lily rose chen left a very interesting comment. she said: maybe "it's a sign of something... we've gone too far to go back but haven't gone far enough to see anything..." i like that. do any of you feel the same?

the more i marinated with that thought, the more it made sense to me. and when hels and i were talking last night, we shared some very similar apprehensions: yes, this journey is beginning to uncover some of our more hidden desires, but we are still anxious about embracing them through a lack of confidence, belief, faith [insert your word of choice here] and so it's a little like we are stuck between two worlds. and the trepidation of moving forward somewhat froze me (us) in time. but i realise now, inertia is a worse feeling...

we both also agreed that under normal circumstances this is often the point we would throw in the towel and say, "oh well, i didn't really do so well this week. i need to take a break and start the journey again properly next time" believe me, had it not been for this wonderful community here: that temptation was strong this week!

but as we talked we realised this was again because we have this unreal expectation that everything needs to be perfect. i mean what does properly mean? 14/14 morning pages, every task completed. every artist date a success? maybe. and for those of you who manage that, i am now super jealous (and incredibly proud of you). but for us, we realised last night that, although it is important to have goals and achievements. to strive for the best for yourself. it is equally, if not more important, to accept yourself. strive for perfection but embrace imperfection: because together that is what makes up who you are and, as helen said: we are all fantastically imperfect. and that is okay.

so for us this week, we are not going to beat ourselves up for what we didn't do. we are not going to let that stop us from moving forward. we are not going to give up. it's been a tough week. and i certainly haven't done as much or as well as i had hoped. i am not perfect, but that is okay. tomorrow is another day, and i am going to move forward. will you be joining me?

halfway point

2008-09-21T19:09:00.003+01:00

Well today is our halfway-through-week-two birthday! So have a glass of bubbly and a slice of chocolate cake.. look how far we've come already!! Only another week and we begin section 3: well on our way to completing a quarter of the course!! Fantastic!

WELL DONE!!

Do you know how many people long for the inner creator in them to emerge..? Slog on with their lives complaining but continue to do nothing about it?

YOU are NOT one of those people!!

It hasn't been easy, we haven't done all the MPs necessarily, or all the tasks, but that does not take away the fact that we are still HERE, we are still DOING it and we are a HUGE credit to ourselves and those who know us.. Think of yourselves as a pebble landing in water. The good you are creating for yourself filters out like ripples to have a positive influence on all those around you, not just your families, but your friends, your co-workers, hell, even the people we pass in the street. Because the more fulfilled you are.. the more positive an impact you have on others.

This week, can you think of the good stuff that TAW has brought you? Has it reminded you to appreciate the flowers in your garden and the fragrance they bring? Has it reminded you of just how lucky you really are? all things considered? Has it reminded you to take an extra five minutes to really appreciate your morning cup of coffee? Or your child's delighted giggle? The way the sun's rays filtered through the clouds? If not, use this week to really notice the good, the fabulous, the downright amazing. It is there, you will see it, it's just that sometimes, just sometimes, we forget to look.

Focus on: morning pages

2008-09-18T16:59:00.006+01:00

Ah, morning pages. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are the integral part of the programme and we gotta do 'em!

Some of you will jump out of bed in the morning to write them, some of you will need to be coaxed out of bed to put pen to paper. Some of you will loathe every single second of having to interrupt duvet time to write. I belonged to the latter category.

When I started TAW, I hated them... they interrupted my mornings, they made me write about things I didn't want to write about: to be blunt, I thought they were a complete pain in the arse.

Weeks and weeks later, and on attempt number 3 on TAW, they have slowly but surely become my friends. I can't say that I will ever relish setting my alarm even earlier to get them done, but once I am awake, I look over at my notebook and smile where once I grimaced. I resisted them for so long, and yet, once you release the resistance, in an instant they become what they are meant to be.. a repository for your thoughts, a vehicle for your inspirations, a friend.

Looking back, I was far too tough on myself when it came to MPs. I only had to miss a couple of day's worth before I would declare the entire enterprise a complete failure and give up on the programme. Looking back, I simply wasn't ready. This time, third time lucky, I am ready..

If you are struggling with your morning pages, persevere. They are a bit of a shock to the system, they do take some getting used to, and not managing them every day is OK! I no longer keep track of when I miss them as I found it too unhelpful.. the most important thing is that i do the pages on more days than i don't... 'nuff said.

A repeated theme throughout this blog is .. Be Good To Yourselves. The morning pages aren't about looking for perfection.. they're about looking for you.. As one of my favourite inspirational authors says:

I AM FANTASTICALLY IMPERFECT!!

Let your fantastically imperfect self take over here, not your unrealistic perfectionist self. The one thing to learn about perfectionism is that nothing can or ever will be good enough. Give it up. Give that part of you up. It is not your friend. Embrace your inner imperfectness instead, and be amazed by how your life changes.

So, one day out of seven or seven days out of seven: one page written or twelve pages written.. stop fretting, stop analysing and just DO IT! :-)

{who am i?}

2008-09-14T23:37:00.004+01:00

i don't know about you, but i've always envied those that seem to know {exactly} who they are: those who are confident and self-assured (but not arrogant). those who believe in their own abilities and self-worth (but not egotistical). those who celebrate life and their role in it with carefree abandonment and joy...

because i've always been a little uncertain. a little unconfident. a little fearful. but i'm ready to let it go now. i want to give it up and surrender to something bigger and better, because i know it's out there: i see it in those people i admire. and hell, it sure looks like more fun than the wistful wonderings i've been limiting myself too!

but this is not the first time i've tried.
i mean, i've started the artist's way on a number of occasions previously just to try and break through this cycle of discontent: to attempt to recover that sense of identity i know is hiding beneath the many roles i've adopted over the years. but each time i've struggled... and ultimately failed.

and week 2 of the artist's way goes some way in unearthing why that might be: self doubt. poisonous playmates. crazymakers. skepticism. and attention (or rather a lack of)... guilty, guilty, guilty... were any of those descriptions familiar to you? are you equally guilty of allowing (self) sabotage?

admittedly, over the years i've moved further away from personally sabotaging my creative recovery (although that little voice chirps on), but i've not quite managed to prevent others from doing it... i value advice from those around me very highly and i take things very personally. so it's been hard for me to truly look at those i call friends and consider their role in my life and whether they genuinely have my best interests at heart.

because the reality is i do have posionous playmates and crazymakers in my life. and i guess this time, this time, if i want to succeed on my journey ~ i will need to consciously distance myself from those who could hurt me. and i urge you to do the same. this is important. this is important for {you} because it is true: "as blocked creatives, we (often) focus not on our responsibilities to ourselves, but on our responsibilities to others. we tend to think such behaviour makes us good people. it doesn't. it makes us frustrated people"

i don't doubt this will all be easier said than done, but i am committed to myself this time. i am committed to my journey and i am going to try and release the secret doubt...

at the beginning of the this journey a comment was left by nadja contemplating the part god plays in the artist's way, and how this may affect her personal journey. certainly julia cameron places a lot on faith and the great creator. and week 2 calls for more direct consideration of this. what are your thoughts?

for me, i am willing to take her advice: "begin, this week, to consciously practice opening your mind" although my personal views on god are still somewhat undefined: i am open to forces of the universe to guide me... how about you?

and if not through god, where do you draw your strength and beliefs from? if you have been on this journey before, how have you dealt with your toxic playmates and the crazymakers in your life? your experiences and advice would be gratefully received here!

ultimately though, remember that we are in the early days of our journey. we are in this together and our emerging artists are vulnerable and uncertain, so should be nourished and encouraged. allow yourself the space you need. surround yourself with people who believe in you: you can start here! remember, you deserve this. you are worth it. and you can do it.

{week one: review}

2008-09-12T22:59:00.006+01:00

first things first: CONGRATULATIONS!
we have completed our first week and, judging by the poll results: overcome one of the first major obstacles! how do you feel?
lets 'check in' and see....

1. morning pages... 14/14? how did you find it?
there have already been various thoughts posted and, between us, we seem to have most bases covered! we have typists and traditionalists. we have big fans, and those that struggle a little. we have purists literally writing the moment their eyes open, and those that have more pressing commitments to attend to first...

personally i do it first thing in the morning. generally with barely one eye open ~ for the first page at least! i handwrite in a journal kept by the side of my bed and, as it is half the size of an a4 pad, i write 6 pages instead of 3... my handwriting is pretty much consistently illegible and, all in all, it certainly doesn't look like a creative tool!

but i have enjoyed it. even the mornings that i struggle to fill the lines... something inside me says: "this is worthwhile. persevere." and so i intend to.
how about you?

2. did you do your artist date this week?
despite having 2 weeks, i still only just managed to squeeze my date in today.
it's been great seeing (and sharing) the dates you have blogged about and, for those of you who haven't (or don't have a blog) please, please, please, feel free to use the comments section here to share your date with us!

for me, it was good to finally commit to doing something. in fact i had so much fun i think i am going to do a variation of todays date next week too! but i have to admit i found it difficult to give myself permission in the first place... not quite sure why that is and it's something i will keep a check on this week....

3. were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery?
nothing hugely significant for me, although i did enjoy the time travel exercises which i felt helped exorcise some demons! and i also found the imaginary lives a fun exercise too! in fact, i adopted one of my lives (actress) to help me through the (dreaded) role playing exercises i had to do during training this week!
what about you? any revelations?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

overall, i have to be honest and say, despite having 2 weeks, i still didn't manage to complete ALL the tasks. but i have felt less pressured and more able to accomodate the necessary changes in my life without feeling too overwhelmed by it all.

i've also truly, truly enjoyed sharing the experience through this blog, and reading the blogs of my fellow travellers. i genuinely found it reignited my motivation when i felt it waning, and inspired me to push on through when i might have given up. so thank you all for that.

and now: onwards and upwards.... you have one more day to tie up the loose ends of week one and then, on sunday: week two, here we come! are you ready?

updated: i just wondered whether there were any of you out there who felt like they really struggled with this week... who maybe feel like they got left behind, despite their best intentions, and don't feel they 'completed' week one... who may be considering giving up because of that...
for what it's worth, i just wanted to say: we would love you to stay on the journey with us. so what if you didn't manage your morning pages every day? there is always tomorrow to start again. so what if you didn't manage to post on your blog? it wasn't compulsory. so what if the artists date eluded you this week? we have another 2 weeks to come: double it up if you really want!
what i am really trying to say is, if you want to stay on the journey: stay.
the tasks are merely markers to help guide the way, but your intention is the most important thing of all. new beginnings are always difficult, but this is a safe space, where you will not be judged or measured against your accomplishments.
if you are out there and unsure whether to continue on to week two... your invitation is right here...

poll results

2008-09-08T13:01:00.004+01:00

Looking at the poll results it seems that week one is a particular toughy for most of us. I hope this time around you've all managed to hang on in there. Pen's genius idea of giving us two weeks to complete it it should have helped most of us through it. You've still got a few more days to go to finish up before focusing on week two, yes, week two. Let's ALL get to week two this time, we can do it!!

If you are struggling, don't let that put you off, if you miss a task, or the artist's date, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD and don't let it be a reason to quit. Be gentle and good to yourselves... (you can always sneak in another artist's date in the next week and come back to the task if need be). Give yourself time to get used to the structure of the programme and what it is you need to do.. it really isn't until week three that it gets easier to settle into it.

For now, congratulate yourselves on getting this far! For committing to the process, for signing up to this blog, for allowing your creative self to emerge. Just these three things deserve a HUGE round of applause to you all!

You have lots of help here at this blog, from us and from all the other participants. Let this be the time that you complete.. give yourself that gift.

Keep on keepin' on!

Tasks

2008-09-07T08:00:00.000+01:00

Is it me, or are some of the tasks really hard. Gulp.

I had to really dig down for some of them, they really did open up old wounds, some I didn't even know were there! If you are feeling this too, remember they are there to heal you, and if you can't see the light yet just trust that the healing is there and will become apparent later..

My advice is to take it gently... try and do the tasks where you're not interrupted so that if any tears need to come they do. Also, really dig down into your imagination for the more fun ones, remember no one else ever needs to read your tasks so try and feel the freedom of this and be as honest as you can. If you are able to share a task with the group by all means do, or even your experience of writing the tasks.

Here is one of mine:
Time Travel: Horror Story
At the age of 12 I was taken by my Mother to the local youth theatre. I hadn't wanted to go, but she wanted me to go. My mother was very conflicting to me: whilst always wanting me to 'achieve' and 'succeed', she simultaneously levelled un-ending criticism at me, and I felt like I could achieve nothing. At no point was the message given to me that I 'could' do anything I wanted, rather, that anything I did do was simply not good enough. This was the background to the night at the theatre.

If I had had even a shred of confidence I probably would have loved it. As it was, I stood there, mute, cringing in shame, feeling that though other children were good enough to participate, I, certainly, was not. The more pressure my Mother put on me the more I shrank away.

Needless to say I never joined, and felt immense shame at my perceived inadequacy compared to the other children. My Mother railed at me for not 'joining in' but even if I had, I knew I still wouldn't have been good enough. This contradiction was impossible to reconcile, and, at times, still is.

That was a toughy. But I enjoyed the Imaginary Lives task! My top five lives are:

Artist
Explorer
Writer
Dancer
Animal sanctuary worker

I hope you're getting on well with your tasks. You should all be able to breathe knowing that you have yet another week to complete them. BE GOOD TO YOURSELVES!

NB. Don't forget to check out the blogs linked on the right hand side. Many of you are writing about your experiences on your own blogs so there is a whole community of support out there for all of us. If you are struggling, please do tell us about it so that we can all send you lots of lovely messages of empathy and encouragement...!

Poll

2008-09-06T12:03:00.006+01:00

As a matter of interest, I know that for a lot of us, this isn't the first attempt at completing TAW. In order to see when motivation is most needed please could you let us know up to which week have you completed TAW previously.

For me, it is week three. For Pen, it is week four. Which is it for you? We have posted a poll on the right hand side of this blog. Please vote for the week you reached in your previous attempts (you can vote more than once).

Please remember, this is about failure, or focusing on the nots. This is about encouragement and motivation.

Let's help each other!!!

let's catch up!

2008-09-06T10:54:00.000+01:00

Our first week is nearly up! Wow, where did the time go!

How is everyone doing?

So far, I have managed to do the morning pages every day bar one. On that day I couldn't decide whether it was better to not do the pages at all (as I had missed the 'morning' window), or whether to do the pages later that day.... I did them later that day but am still not sure which is better... obviously, we should be doing them everyday, but do share your thoughts on what you do if you miss one...

I have also had my artists date: I visited the local library and spent a leisurely hour surrounded by books, just looking at the jackets and reading the synopses, with no actual purpose other than this. I can't say I have ever done this before so it was a real treat and I really enjoyed it.. I found it very liberating!

Has anyone else managed their date yet? What did you do? Please do share your experiences with the group in the comments section.

Good luck with your second week, I know I for one am much less overwhelmed knowing that I have another week to do the tasks. We will talk about them in the next post.

Hope everyone's having fun! And do share as much or as little as you like on this blog, it is after all, a community blog.

NB: Some of you may or may not know that there is a now an 'the artist's way workbook' with blank pages within which to write your tasks and check ins. This is the one I am using and I have found it really nice to use. It still contains all the information found in the original book, so you don't miss anything.

{mid week check-in}

2008-09-06T08:23:00.000+01:00

so we are mid way through our first week... how are you doing?

personally i’ve managed my morning pages every day and one task so far.
i also hope to have my artists date today...
what about you? have you struggled? have you found it a breeze?

for those of you who managed to fit in an artists date, what did you do?

it would be great if you want to share a mid-week check in.
anything concerning you? anything exciting you?

{week one}

2008-08-31T00:03:00.005+01:00

this is it. day one of our 16 week journey. the first of 112 steps. the beginning of a new way of being. of living. discovering....
welcome!

i love the quote above because i believe that is what we will discover over the next few months. and i thank you again for sharing this. we needed you.

so week 1. wow, where to start? i can only speak personally here but, despite the numerous times i have attempted the artist’s way, i’ve actually found it difficult to move beyond this chapter. not so much in terms of completing the tasks etc. but within. inside. banishing those, “core negative beliefs”.

looking back, i realise i may not have considered and completed each task as it should be.
with the seemingly limited time available, i did ‘pick and choose’ what i felt i could cope with: and often the morning pages and artists dates alone stretched me.

now that we have 2 weeks to ease ourselves in and, knowing the past pattern obviously doesn’t yield the desired results, i am going to attempt this journey with much more commitment and take the time to really think about my intentions here.

will many of you take advantage of the new moon and write your intentions down? i certainly will: both in my journal and on my blog. i am going to wholeheartedly give in to the law of attraction and spell out exactly what it is i want for myself. i am going to own it.

in fact i received a big idea yesterday, which i thought was particularly apt: “spend time every day getting clear on where you’re headed. we have to know what we want and where we want to go to be able to get there.”
very true. and not something i give enough regard to: hopefully the daily affirmations will keep me on track there!

old habits die hard though and changes can be difficult to assimilate. we may have the best intentions in the world, but sometimes things just don’t play out the way we would like them to. bear that in mind as you start your journey. have the commitment. faith and trust. but don’t beat yourself up. to quote a wise man: “our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail”. so if you forget to do your morning pages one day, or if you are unable to complete all the tasks in the week, or if you forget to use your affirmations. fine. do them tomorrow.
and we will all still be here. still ready to remind you how great you are and how you CAN do this.

so what tasks do we have to look forward to? obviously the intrinsic morning pages, that seemingly underpin the entire programme! i have often struggled with this, because a.) i am NOT a morning person and b.) i always seem to end up ‘journalling’, which i am not sure is the same thing... anyhow suffice to say, this has been a stumbling block in the past. but the morning pages warrant an entire post of their own, so we will come back to that... what have your thoughts and experiences been? do you have any helpful hints and tips you can share?

artists date: well we’ve started a small list on the sidebar here, so please email us with any other suggestions you have. the bigger the list the better!
tell us more about your dates ~ the yummy details that will whet our appetite!

time travel and imaginary lives: these could make for interesting blog posts/comments... maybe you could share yours?

affirmations and blurts: certainly with your affirmations, make them stand out each day. write them in bold bright colours, with B I G letters! Anything that makes them prominent.
these are important statements of who you are.
they may feel a little uncomfortable or awkward at first, but this is most likely because you do not recognise the creative talent that lies within you.
the more you work with them, look at them, FEEL them ~
the more comfortable you will become with them and the more they will become part of you.
for those of you who are planning to have an art journal run alongside you on this journey, the contract and affirmations are perfect for this! and if you can share some pics of your work: all the better!

most of all remember this is YOUR space here.
spill, share, celebrate, enjoy.
tell us about you: what you want from this journey. who you are. what you create.
and, to quote julia cameron, and my wish for all of us: “know this well: success occurs in clusters and is born in generosity. Let us form constellations of believing mirrors and move into our powers”

{new moon: new beginnings}

2008-08-30T10:41:00.000+01:00

for some of you this might be symbolic and i have to say, there was an element of engineering on my part to ensure we started on or around a new moon: after all it never hurts to have a bit of natural energy supporting us in the early days! for those of you who may be unfamiliar with the significance of a new moon, but are secretly interested, check out a this basic summary.

so with power of the moon behind us, let us step forth!
are you excited? i am! a little terrified too, but i think it helps that tomorrow is sunday, and i don’t have the pressures of work on top of starting my morning pages! having said that, i actually start a new job on monday morning, so it will be a challenge then i am sure. day 2 and i’m already tested!
what about you? do you foresee any particular days, or specific obstacles ahead?

i thought i would write a quick post today and share some thoughts on how i saw this blog being used on our cumulative journeys: and hopefully inspire some additional thoughts and ideas from you, that we can pool together and develop on.

certainly it seems we are very lucky and have a small but genuine number of people on board. i have really enjoyed visiting your blogs and i encourage everyone to take an interest in each others words, as it gives us the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better and offer encouragement along the way. i know for me this will mean a lot. particularly when the going gets tough – to have that kind and knowing support, will go a long way. sometimes all you need is for someone to say: “i hear you”.

for those of you who do not have blogs or may not feel so ready to share your thoughts/writing on such a public forum, hopefully you will still find the support and camaraderie through the comments section on this blog. and, should you chose to enter blogsphere, just send me a link and i will add you on to our ‘believing mirrors’ link list. Don’t feel you have to be a blogger to be part of this though. there are no boundaries on who or how involved you can be: that will always be open to you.

so what next?
well week 1 officially starts tomorrow. based on the responses we have received, it seems the majority are happy with a 16 week compromise, so it will be a relief to some knowing we have 2 weeks to kick start the programme.

every saturday and sunday there will be a post on this blog reflecting on the last week and also on the week to come. sunday will also be the day for check-ins. as helen said though: nothing is compulsory or expected. it is just here for us if and when we want or need it.

we hope that intermittently there will be other posts on here, either from ourselves or from you, to keep the momentum and motivation. and if you feel you would like to contribute to the blog directly, please email us at theartistswayblog@gmail.com

we really want this blogspace to empower us to stay on the journey through a shared sense of commitment and support, so if you have any other ideas on how this can be achieved, please let us know!

well the countdown well and truly begins now. see you tomorrow!

2008-08-27T21:11:00.000+01:00

my turn to say thanks so much for signing up at the artists way blog and i really look forward to this journey with you!

some of you may have already noticed helen’s (aka Flower) latest blog entry on the site: just a little motivator about getting ready for the programme and also a suggestion about extending the programme to 24 weeks...

i have to say i can see the merit in this, as i often fall behind on the tasks which inevitably leads to my giving up altogether!
however as not everyone has responded yet, and seeing as i am sending this email directly to some of you as well as posting on the blog, i thought i would make a third suggestion: a 16 week programme.

certainly for me, i often lose my way in those early weeks: when the new routine is still carving it’s place in my life and i am making room for the changes and tasks i want (need) to do. those early days are hard for, despite the excitement, i often feel overwhelmed and i end up struggling to stay on top of things as opposed to letting them marinate into being part of my life ~ which is ultimately what i want to achieve as part of this course: a new {creative} way of being...

so i wanted to suggest giving ourselves 2 weeks for each of the first 4 weeks of the programme: i.e. week 1 runs from 31 august – 14 september, week 2 from 14 september – 28 september, week 3 from 28 september – 12 october and week 4 from 12 october – 26 october.
this should hopefully give us the time and space to get used to the programme and how it needs to fit in with our lives, and then we can still complete the remaining 8 weeks before christmas! (we would actually finish on 21 december)

like helen said, we plan to work with the majority decision on this, so please email us your thoughts and/or leave a comment on the last post.
not long to go now and i’m excited! look forward to getting to know you all over the next 12, 16 or 24 weeks!

getting started

2008-08-24T13:24:00.000+01:00

A huge welcome to all those who have responded to this blog.. it's great to have so many of us on the same journey.

So let's get started!!

To begin with, we have a question.. like many of you, we too have struggled with completing the artist's way. One of the reasons is that we never feel we have enough time to complete the pages, the tasks, the date... so here is the first question we are putting to you all..

Should we stick to the original 12 week programme

or

Should we give two weeks for every one week in the programme, thus completing in 24 weeks?

We would very much like to know your thoughts on this and whatever the majority decide is what we will do.. Please email your preference to theartistswayblog@gmail.com.

In the meantime, you should now all be getting ready for the start on August 31st. Here is your checklist:

A good journal. The prettier and more inviting your journal is, the more likely you will want to write in it!
A good alarm clock to get you up that little bit earlier in the morning. ;-)
Find a moment to sit down to read and re-read the introduction to the artist's way.
Copy and paste the 'basic principles' listed on the right hand side of this blog. Any and every time you feel disheartened with the process.. read them again. Stick them on your mirror, fridge, or wherever you will see them on a daily basis.
Have fun. Though parts of this process are difficult and require a lot of soul searching, be good to yourself and remember to smile and know that this is your gift to yourself.
Write a list of artists date ideas. This isn't meant to take away your spontaneity, simply to remind you of ideas when you're not feeling spontaneous!! We have started a list on the right hand side of this blog.. please feel free to contribute to this list by sending your ideas to theartistswayblog@gmail.com.
Write the commitment letter/contract to yourself and post it where you can see it, perhaps next to the 'basic principles'. Remember what can be gained from seeing this process through. (The contract is also written at the bottom of the blog).
Be fearless. You CAN do this, You ARE worthy of this, You ARE a creative person.

Once we all get started, we will be asking you for contributions on the tasks and the artist's dates, plus anything else you would like to share, for posting on the blog. However, this is not obligatory, if you would like to contribute, go for it, if you would rather watch from the sidelines, please do that, or simply use the comments tool. This isn't a place for pressure..and there is no right or wrong. It is your comfortable place where you know others are undertaking the same process.

Good luck and get your pen ready for August 31st!!

believing mirrors

2008-08-14T21:44:00.000+01:00

as someone who has struggled with completing the programme in the past, i have created this blog space so that kindred spirits can come together to support and encourage each other through the coming weeks. as a nascent artist, i am all too familiar with the uncertainties that plague those early beginnings: the fear of failure. the fear of looking foolish. the lack of self belief. i look around at some of the artists i admire and wonder if i will ever have the same self confidence. will i ever be able to paint, write, photograph (insert your art here) as good as they do...

yet i know the answer deep within: i know that i can ~ that i do.
and i also know that you can ~ and that you do.
sometimes that is all it takes: when the going gets tough, you just need someone to remind you ~ "yes you can."
or as julia cameron says: you need "a believing mirror...someone who believes in you and your creativity."

so welcome. welcome to your community of believing mirrors. we are here to embrace you on this journey and remind you of what you can achieve. so even if you're feeling fearful or apprehensive, you can rest assured, knowing that faith in you is being held by others: together we got it covered.

for those of you who may still be a little unsure of what is involved: the artists way is a 12-week commitment, during which time we will be using the book and weekly exercises to guide us through the process of embracing and unearthing our creative self. how this blog features is going to be an organic and fluid process: very much determined and dictated by the community. there may be just two or three of us ~ in which case we can keep it cosy and intimate here. there might twenty or thirty, which would require a little rethinking! so until the actual start of the programme, i will leave that open for now...

all that leaves me to say is: i hope you will join us. things officially kick off here on sunday, 31 august 2008. so if you want to be part of the programme, please leave your email and/or the title of you blog and URL in the comments section.

i look forward to this journey with you and i hope the community that will come together here will flourish and inspire those within it to pursue their creative dreams and forge long and fruitful friendships which will grow and develop from these web pages and beyond.