Welcome to Chapter Seven of The Artist's Way
And how did you get on with Chapter Six?
Well, the good news is - I donāt seem to be angry anymore. For the past few weeks Iāve been really cross with my creativity or, rather, my lack of it. And naturally I blamed Julia Cameron and The Artistās Way.
However. I think Iāve turned a corner. Iāve been using my morning pages as a release for the anger. Often my anger turns out to be caused by something else and not my creativity at all. So that was interesting.
At the beginning of Chapter Six Julia says āthis week may feel volatileā and I wonder if Iāve already had that volatility? Itās quite possible that we experience different emotions at different times.
The other thing I noticed this morning was that I was looking forward to sitting at my desk. Granted, once I got to my desk I wasnāt fully productive but I did get some bits done Iād been putting off for a while. This may be a temporary lull in my anger but Iām hopeful that things are now getting better. Really hopeful.
Chapter Six is all about recovering a sense of abundance. Itās all about money, except, itās not - itās about luxuries such as time as well. This felt like a short chapter and it raised issues for me that I cannot quite put my finger on right now.
I did write down in my journal:
Do I believe money is bad? And wanting to earn good money from my art is something to be ashamed of?
And my reply was āyesā. But I donāt understand why and where that has come from so I need to do some more exploring.
How did you react to Chapter Six? I have to admit the exercises didnāt appeal to me at all - so Iām going to rely on my morning pages and explore more on the quotes that stood out for me on those pages.
In Chapter Seven (weāre over half way can you believe it?!) weāll be looking at āexcavating areas of genuine interest as you connect with your personal dreamsā. This is one of the themes I hoped to find answers to in The Artistās Way so Iām trying not to get my hopes too high for this chapter (and failing!)
[No video of my notebook this week as I just didnāt have too much to say - partly because I didnāt always fully understand Juliaās point and because I need more time to process.]
Commenting is, as ever, for paid subscribers only so you can add your thoughts safe in the knowledge they arenāt there for everyone on the internet to read.
Initially I was reluctant to read this chapter ...why? Having had a bout of chesty cold ( which saw me resorting to Antibitoics ) was reason enough Id thought ...but on closer attention..I have an uncomfortable aversion to the way the word " abundance " has been so overused in the last whilst . Why had Julia chosen that word , I thought ? I can't work out why the abundance word does irritate as over the last years I have participated in every online Mindful or other spiritual way of thinking programme imaginable and Abundance seems a word of choice for many .
But..I did go on to read the chapter and it clicked with me in may ways ...the luxury of time , the luxury of small things, so many ways luxury can be experienced without an abundance of money needed ..
Ive skipped the Money Madness exercise but the Tasks ..yep, they resonate . Especially the postcards to 5 friends , now we are in this day and age of digital communication ...a letter with a stamp on it is quite exciting . My last official letter to me was a speeding ticket and fine !
I had an artists date going to a movie recently ...again not a movie I would have normally chosen, but it was one that took me right out of my comfort zone ...I can't say I enjoyed it but I can't stop thinking about it ..." The Zone of Interest".
Yesterday saw me writing screeds in my MP ....I have a lot going on with my daughters family ,( work or lack of, finances , school education fees etc ) that was causing me anxiety and overwhelm ....but once my thoughts were on paper ..I felt I was able to approach everything more calmly and be the support person that Mums are supposed to be .
So something is working . I'm looking forward to this next chapter .
I am behind so I am just going with the flow of where I am at and not rushing things. Also I seem to have an issue with the various tasks as my mind seems to draw a blank with most of them