I am not a 'free willy-nilly' ...anything. At all. My entire life is spreadsheets and organization - and I actually think that this makes for a far more CONSISTENT capacity to be creative.
I like to look at bringing creativity through not as being a 'channel,' but rather as being a VESSEL. I feel like that word 'channel' comes with SO much baggage about the ever inspired artist who is just flitting around with creativity pouring through their veins at all times. I don't think that's actually realistic to a person who wants to make creativity a JOB or something that they do on a regular basis. Because inspiration isn't always there. And at the same time, being inspired, I believe, is a SKILL we develop over time, it's not something we just show up and 'are.'
The way I like to look at it is like this - Gabriel Cousins talks about 'vessel building' in a spiritual practice. He speaks to the idea that we show up, every day at a set time to meditate, we eat in a certain way, we do the practices we need to do in order to become the strong VESSEL that will then make WAY for the spiritual experiences/awareness to come through. We do the practices, we build the structure, we build OURSELVES in a way that promotes a mastery - and this actually is what facilitates the 'greatness' coming through. When we don't build the vessel, the cracks, the weak spots, the parts that haven't been truly built will leak the energy. The vessel will not be able to hold the inspiration, the light, the energy, and it will break - hello tortured artist. Hello one great work and that's it. Hello burnout. Hello having ideas you can't actually make manifest.
When the vessel is not built through discipline, it doesn't matter how much light is poured in, it will break. It will not be able to do the thing.
Just as we would never expect a dancer to be able to pull through a breath-taking piece without spending countless hours at the barre - doing the same exercises over and over again in order to build there bodies to a state of being ABLE to dance, just as we would never expect a great composer to bring through a masterpiece without working their scales over, and over, and over again, just as we would never expect a healing surgeon to do their work without having spent decades of their life studying, I don't think it's realistic to ask that any art or creative work to be brought through without structure. Discipline.
It's the structure, the form, the shape, the organization that MAKES the art, the experience, the expression valuable. Without the form, without the container - there's nothing.
I believe that we are the Divine in form, and that the more we strengthen ourselves via strengthening our container, the more we practice the art of being READY to receive via building ourselves up with that which actually FOSTERS our capacity to be a channel, the more we can create. The more we can be available when that stroke of genius comes. The more we can actually harness it instead of being thrown about by it, burned out by it or missing it - because WE are strong.
The structure is what makes the channel an effective channel.
Especially if we want to be consistent.
You have it figured Ro, you're already doing it. <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Aliyah. I love this idea of ‘vessel building’ and the process you describe feels right on. It’s given me an infusion of energy and direction for the day.
Rowan!! This! You honest, fabulous writing person!
Today I am starting my book for the fourth time. I started writing it a year ago and thought I would be finishing it now, not starting again. It has been an excruciating process of deconstruction, honesty, and shame triggering. I wrote about the underlying narrative in a newsletter just this week https://melissagilbert.substack.com/p/im-not-good-enough which I hope you get time to read.
I am so grateful for your honesty because ultimately you are giving women permission to set themselves free. The "truthiest truth" (A Glennonism) makes our hearts sing, enabling us to be the most whole, honest, glorious version of ourselves.
"50% more spouses" :-) I love this so much. I've experienced thrupleness and I can concur it is a WHOLE lot more stuff. Go, you brave humans. Melissa
That sounds amazing Ro. Finding your own way and doing it your way is the best thing.
You ask for writer stories, but I have a maker story, is that fun too?
Way before I got this nasty illness I was a sculptor and a builder, but my body has deteriorated in the last twenty years, so I became a knitter and textile creator. But my garden is missing a folly to sit in, and I have a yearning to make something. My way of working is headfirst and let the process sculpt what I make, my love’s way of working is planning and drawing and making sure everything is worked out before a saw is touched. I asked him if he would help me make my folly, but only if I needed him to hold something or carry something and not voice his distress about my process. He agreed. So I’m building my folly from stuff lying around, and old wooden ladder, a lot of hazelnut trimmings and willow branches, and I’m having such fun when I have energy. With a vague plan, and a lot of old skills it’s taking shape. And my love is patiently holding stuff in the right position so I can drill it in place, and trusting me and my process. It’s empowering and even if I have only snippets of energy I am getting there.
This is such a wonderful image of collaboration! And I saw a photo of your folly on Instagram and it's AMAZING!!! Bravo, Josh. You are eternally inspiring xoxoxoxoxo
I don’t know what is more impressive that you are building a folly all by yourself or you figure out how to get your partner to assist w/o input, my husband could never. You’re a wizard!
Thank you, Ro. I really enjoyed reading this. I think I might have a similar story, but in an opposite direction. I am and have been an ardent fan of plans, strategies, diagrams, and schemes, but, once beautifully established, they paralyze me or give rise to rebellion and/or boredom. I seem to get the most done when I simply dive in and tolerate (as in “be with”) that initial terrifying dust devil of chaos. A sense of order, engagement, and “Oh, this isn’t so bad,” does emerge - and it usually doesn’t take long.
btw: I got a burst of energy and eagerness when I read, “Live inside the story. Make this world accommodate the one you’re building in your imagination - your job here is to construct the doorway to that world, in whatever form works.” I’m off to build today’s doorway!
Ooooh, lovely! I LOVE hearing about how it emerges for you. The "dust devil of chaos" is an incredible image and it must take immense courage to trust it to cohere. Thanks so much for sharing this and for your support for the newsletter xoxoxox
We’re all unique humans, with a unique pattern of needs & idiosyncracies, so it makes sense that we would have a unique pattern of processes that support our creative work (& lives). Other people’s creativity often looks right to us, but we can misread ‘right for them’ into ‘right for everyone & therefor it must be right for me’. Its not the comparison, its the judgement. Always a pleasure to see Wild Inventures in my inbox so I am grateful for whatever process supports that & the novel I hope to one say read.
This is so true, Michelle. It's a funny quirk of human creatures to universalize our perceptions of other people's processes (in anything!). I'm so grateful you read these missives, and thanks for the support xoxoxo
Great honest writing, about the struggle and the satisfaction of your creative process in formulating your writing. As always love the humour you infuse your writing with ;)
Embrace the nerd! My go-to is excel and I have created graphs, charts and pivot tables for everything from my pregnancy, to book lists to remodeling projects. The process is the same even when a spreadsheet isn’t required, sigh. It is a very left brain/#1 activity but that framework allows my right brain/#3 to be free and focused.
When I created the vision box, before I started I had to sketch out each side with a project plan. But that structure allowed my right brain/#3 to create things my conscious brain did not plan. I was completely surprised by something my hands created. Would those slivers of magic appeared if I hadn’t already created the boundaries? Maybe, sometimes but not consistently. Not like that.
Even this act of responding is a practice of boundaries. Using your essay as a writing prompt, a boundary. I have been bouncing around the idea of boundaries enmeshment in creative all week. Well in between a nasty cold.
I wonder if it has to do with act of making art. Art as craft has by its nature an audience. It is created not just for beauty, not just for the joy of creating but for a purpose. It was created to be used. A storyteller is a weaver of words instead of silk. A connection even if just to one is inherently border, there is a us. A community as well is a border or boundary.
So it is the craft that necessitates the order, the structure, the pivot tables & Scrivener of it all.
YES! I vibe with this SO deeply.
I am not a 'free willy-nilly' ...anything. At all. My entire life is spreadsheets and organization - and I actually think that this makes for a far more CONSISTENT capacity to be creative.
I like to look at bringing creativity through not as being a 'channel,' but rather as being a VESSEL. I feel like that word 'channel' comes with SO much baggage about the ever inspired artist who is just flitting around with creativity pouring through their veins at all times. I don't think that's actually realistic to a person who wants to make creativity a JOB or something that they do on a regular basis. Because inspiration isn't always there. And at the same time, being inspired, I believe, is a SKILL we develop over time, it's not something we just show up and 'are.'
The way I like to look at it is like this - Gabriel Cousins talks about 'vessel building' in a spiritual practice. He speaks to the idea that we show up, every day at a set time to meditate, we eat in a certain way, we do the practices we need to do in order to become the strong VESSEL that will then make WAY for the spiritual experiences/awareness to come through. We do the practices, we build the structure, we build OURSELVES in a way that promotes a mastery - and this actually is what facilitates the 'greatness' coming through. When we don't build the vessel, the cracks, the weak spots, the parts that haven't been truly built will leak the energy. The vessel will not be able to hold the inspiration, the light, the energy, and it will break - hello tortured artist. Hello one great work and that's it. Hello burnout. Hello having ideas you can't actually make manifest.
When the vessel is not built through discipline, it doesn't matter how much light is poured in, it will break. It will not be able to do the thing.
Just as we would never expect a dancer to be able to pull through a breath-taking piece without spending countless hours at the barre - doing the same exercises over and over again in order to build there bodies to a state of being ABLE to dance, just as we would never expect a great composer to bring through a masterpiece without working their scales over, and over, and over again, just as we would never expect a healing surgeon to do their work without having spent decades of their life studying, I don't think it's realistic to ask that any art or creative work to be brought through without structure. Discipline.
It's the structure, the form, the shape, the organization that MAKES the art, the experience, the expression valuable. Without the form, without the container - there's nothing.
I believe that we are the Divine in form, and that the more we strengthen ourselves via strengthening our container, the more we practice the art of being READY to receive via building ourselves up with that which actually FOSTERS our capacity to be a channel, the more we can create. The more we can be available when that stroke of genius comes. The more we can actually harness it instead of being thrown about by it, burned out by it or missing it - because WE are strong.
The structure is what makes the channel an effective channel.
Especially if we want to be consistent.
You have it figured Ro, you're already doing it. <3 <3 <3
Oh YEAH. The vessel is a brilliant analogy. Thank you!!! xoxoxoxox
Thank you, Aliyah. I love this idea of ‘vessel building’ and the process you describe feels right on. It’s given me an infusion of energy and direction for the day.
Love to hear this Laurie! <3
Aliyah, yes!!! That was beautiful explanation. I often think of writing poetry as catching poem. There is a preparation to it, a practice behind it.
Art as craft is not a simple thing. I always thought of it as filling the cup. But now I will think of it as strengthening the vessel.
Love it!! <3
Rowan!! This! You honest, fabulous writing person!
Today I am starting my book for the fourth time. I started writing it a year ago and thought I would be finishing it now, not starting again. It has been an excruciating process of deconstruction, honesty, and shame triggering. I wrote about the underlying narrative in a newsletter just this week https://melissagilbert.substack.com/p/im-not-good-enough which I hope you get time to read.
I am so grateful for your honesty because ultimately you are giving women permission to set themselves free. The "truthiest truth" (A Glennonism) makes our hearts sing, enabling us to be the most whole, honest, glorious version of ourselves.
"50% more spouses" :-) I love this so much. I've experienced thrupleness and I can concur it is a WHOLE lot more stuff. Go, you brave humans. Melissa
Thanks Melissa! Love this - and your piece!
That sounds amazing Ro. Finding your own way and doing it your way is the best thing.
You ask for writer stories, but I have a maker story, is that fun too?
Way before I got this nasty illness I was a sculptor and a builder, but my body has deteriorated in the last twenty years, so I became a knitter and textile creator. But my garden is missing a folly to sit in, and I have a yearning to make something. My way of working is headfirst and let the process sculpt what I make, my love’s way of working is planning and drawing and making sure everything is worked out before a saw is touched. I asked him if he would help me make my folly, but only if I needed him to hold something or carry something and not voice his distress about my process. He agreed. So I’m building my folly from stuff lying around, and old wooden ladder, a lot of hazelnut trimmings and willow branches, and I’m having such fun when I have energy. With a vague plan, and a lot of old skills it’s taking shape. And my love is patiently holding stuff in the right position so I can drill it in place, and trusting me and my process. It’s empowering and even if I have only snippets of energy I am getting there.
Love Josh
This is such a wonderful image of collaboration! And I saw a photo of your folly on Instagram and it's AMAZING!!! Bravo, Josh. You are eternally inspiring xoxoxoxoxo
Josh
I don’t know what is more impressive that you are building a folly all by yourself or you figure out how to get your partner to assist w/o input, my husband could never. You’re a wizard!
Thank you, Ro. I really enjoyed reading this. I think I might have a similar story, but in an opposite direction. I am and have been an ardent fan of plans, strategies, diagrams, and schemes, but, once beautifully established, they paralyze me or give rise to rebellion and/or boredom. I seem to get the most done when I simply dive in and tolerate (as in “be with”) that initial terrifying dust devil of chaos. A sense of order, engagement, and “Oh, this isn’t so bad,” does emerge - and it usually doesn’t take long.
btw: I got a burst of energy and eagerness when I read, “Live inside the story. Make this world accommodate the one you’re building in your imagination - your job here is to construct the doorway to that world, in whatever form works.” I’m off to build today’s doorway!
Ooooh, lovely! I LOVE hearing about how it emerges for you. The "dust devil of chaos" is an incredible image and it must take immense courage to trust it to cohere. Thanks so much for sharing this and for your support for the newsletter xoxoxox
We’re all unique humans, with a unique pattern of needs & idiosyncracies, so it makes sense that we would have a unique pattern of processes that support our creative work (& lives). Other people’s creativity often looks right to us, but we can misread ‘right for them’ into ‘right for everyone & therefor it must be right for me’. Its not the comparison, its the judgement. Always a pleasure to see Wild Inventures in my inbox so I am grateful for whatever process supports that & the novel I hope to one say read.
This is so true, Michelle. It's a funny quirk of human creatures to universalize our perceptions of other people's processes (in anything!). I'm so grateful you read these missives, and thanks for the support xoxoxo
Great honest writing, about the struggle and the satisfaction of your creative process in formulating your writing. As always love the humour you infuse your writing with ;)
Thanks Sally! Appreciate it. xoxoxo
Embrace the nerd! My go-to is excel and I have created graphs, charts and pivot tables for everything from my pregnancy, to book lists to remodeling projects. The process is the same even when a spreadsheet isn’t required, sigh. It is a very left brain/#1 activity but that framework allows my right brain/#3 to be free and focused.
When I created the vision box, before I started I had to sketch out each side with a project plan. But that structure allowed my right brain/#3 to create things my conscious brain did not plan. I was completely surprised by something my hands created. Would those slivers of magic appeared if I hadn’t already created the boundaries? Maybe, sometimes but not consistently. Not like that.
Even this act of responding is a practice of boundaries. Using your essay as a writing prompt, a boundary. I have been bouncing around the idea of boundaries enmeshment in creative all week. Well in between a nasty cold.
I wonder if it has to do with act of making art. Art as craft has by its nature an audience. It is created not just for beauty, not just for the joy of creating but for a purpose. It was created to be used. A storyteller is a weaver of words instead of silk. A connection even if just to one is inherently border, there is a us. A community as well is a border or boundary.
So it is the craft that necessitates the order, the structure, the pivot tables & Scrivener of it all.
BOUNDARIES. Yes. I always love your responses, and your pivot tables make me feel SEEN! xx
Did I miss an announcement? No updates for so long on a paid subscription. Hope everyone is well!
As the Indigo Girls said, "It's only life after all." Got to keep laughing at ourselves. <3