The Artist's Way

Today is my first official day following The Artist's Way, a 12-week program developed by writer Julia Cameron that purports to unblock the participant’s creativity. It is, as the book’s cover says, “A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self”; “A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.” The program has apparently helped many thousands of people—writers, musicians, artists, dancers, you name it—recover their inner Creator, and I’m hoping it will do the same for me. Two people have recommended the book to me; one is now an award-winning author of young adult literature, and the other, a single mother of four young children, has recently taken up dancing and is training to become a full-time dance teacher.

There are two constant elements to the program, as well as additional tasks that vary from week to week. The first of the two elements is the daily writing of “morning pages,” three pages of stream-of-consciousness, uncensored brain dump that you do ideally first thing in the morning. I’ve actually been doing the morning pages since June, when I first purchased Cameron’s book. However I haven’t often been able to do them first thing in the morning because a) I like to sleep in and b) I usually have a fair bit to do in the morning, including kicking my youngest son off the computer so that I can get at it to do my morning pages. This, however, will change in the very near future, as I have recently built myself an office in my basement, bought myself my own computer, and am planning to wake up at 6:00 if I feel I can manage it. That way I really can do the morning pages first thing in the morning without being disturbed. The idea here is that you get all the crap and trivia that usually swills around your brain all day long out and on to the pages first thing in the morning, a sort of mental housekeeping and de-cluttering that frees your mind for creativity. You also get used to just sitting at the computer (or in front of a piece of paper, whatever you prefer) and writing, regardless of if you’re in the mood, inspired, have something to say, or not. Finally, in doing the morning pages you bring to light some of the stuff lurking in your subconscious; instead of weighing you down by hiding in the depths, the stuff comes out and you can decide what to do with it. The writing of morning pages acts as both therapy and meditation. That alone makes it worthwhile, regardless of its impact on your creativity.

The second constant of The Artist's Way is the “artist’s date.” I’m totally looking forward to this. Each and every week, you put aside a certain amount of time, perhaps two hours, to take yourself, and no-one but yourself, on a date. This should be something fun, not a duty. I’m considering going to buy underwear as one of my artist’s dates, but I realize that if I do, it has to be because I want to go try on frivolous, fun lingerie, not because I’m desperate to replace the graying fading items in my underwear drawer (which I am). Other options I’m considering are going to the farmer’s market, going to an old-fashioned department store in a little town near me that I’ve never been to even though I’ve lived here for 8 years, going to a flea market, going shopping in the trendy part of town, and going to see a movie in the afternoon. You don’t have to spend money; you can go for a walk somewhere you wouldn’t normally go, browse at a used book store, go to a free museum, or whatever catches your fancy. The artist’s dates are sort of a complement to the morning pages: in the morning pages you put ideas out there, and on your date you are open to receive new ideas and images and sensory input to replenish your “artist’s well.” I have to say that when I think of taking myself on a date, I feel like I’m young and carefree again, which I’m sure will be conducive to creativity. I also feel a little guilty and a little pressed for time, but I know that the world won’t stop if I take 2 hours a week for myself. I’m not even going to tell anyone about it. I’ll just do it.

In addition to the morning pages and the artist’s dates, Cameron assigns homework every week. For the first week, for example, there are a number of tasks that involve reflecting on people in your past who have been unsupportive or downright critical or negative towards any creative urges you expressed, and also acknowledging those who have encouraged you. She also wants you to become aware of your “censor,” the little voice inside your head that criticizes you at every step; in analyzing this voice and looking at its origins, you can transform the criticisms into positive affirmations: “How can you write, you have no talent” becomes “I am a very talented writer.” I admit that this exercise struck me as a little hokey to begin with, but when I started listening to my inner critics I was extremely surprised at what exactly they were saying, and how some of the affirmations in Cameron’s list worked so perfectly to counter these beliefs. For example, I realized that I’m afraid I’ll hurt people with my anger and harshness if I write the truth as I see it; one of her affirmations states “My creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness.” I’m also afraid that I’m being selfish and self-centered by following my passions; one of her affirmations states “I am allowed to nurture my artist.” Even writing that sentence, I hear a voice in my head saying, “But you’re not an artist, stop being so pig-headed!” To which I say that everyone has a right to devote time to their muses, regardless of their level of talent of potential for financial gain or what have you. Everyone is creative; nurturing the creative side of you is a deeply spiritual activity.

Finally, at the end of each week, you “check in” with yourself by answering a series of questions and reflecting on the past week. Apparently people experience similar emotions at similar times throughout the program: at week four people feel angry, at week seven, sad or exhilarated or whatever.

I’m pretty excited to be starting this program, and I’d love to hear from anyone out there who is also doing it or who has already done it!