Methods of Re-Creation - Part IV
Get out of Character
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Methods of Re-Creation (Part IV)
We’ve been exploring ideas regarding inspiring your Muse. We normally think of a Muse as a force, or being, or a part of our subconscious that delivers inspiration from the Mystery to us. But it’s not a one-way flow from Muse to Artist. You are in a relationship with your Muse and your job is to inspire each other. If you find that your creative wellspring has run dry, that you can no longer hear the Muse’s whisper, and that you can no longer bring forth ideas from the Mystery, you may have been neglecting to properly nourish your Muse.
This series is exploring ways to to just that - to re-create your Muse and yourself so she will, once again, grace your studio, writing desk, or dance space and start inspiring you.
We started our exploration into The Muse a few weeks ago. And, for the next few weeks, I’ll outline ways that I’ve been able to bring my Muse, along with joy back into my life.
If you missed any of the previous articles you can catch up by clicking the article name below:
Methods of Re-Creation - Part I
(Journaling, Nature, Creative Play)Methods of Re-Creation — Part II
(Meditation, Reading, Meditative Living)Methods of Re-Creation — Part III
(Noticing, Gratitude, Music)
On to today’s post:
Get Out of Character
Do something you wouldn’t normally do, get “out of character,” create an alter ego and become a full, free, and sovereign human being! Shake things up! This can have a profound psychological effect.
For me, this “getting out of character” involved growing my hair out (I’ve since cut it). For most of my life I’ve been a businessperson: buttoned up, clean cut, nicely dressed, and short hair. After my creativity burned out (and partly because of the lockdowns and the difficulty of reliably scheduling a haircut), I simply threw caution to the wind and grew my hair out and dressed like a beach bum until someone referred to me, while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, as “Hawaiian Jesus.” I wore a baseball cap when I went for my morning runs. I looked like Forest Gump when I ran. Some of you have probably seen my hair in our webinars or on The BoldBrush Show and wondered, “Who is this hippie?”
It felt good to do something different. If felt free. It felt slightly defiant. It felt like a clean break with the past and a “new me,” facing the future, creatively and suddenly things were alive with possibilities again. It also helped me look the part as a newly converted meditator and “tree hugger” so it kind of fit with my new “persona.”
Like Samson, I drew strength from this act — not physically, but in my soul, creatively. It was a small act against society’s programming that has since led me to see through that indoctrination and programming in many areas of my life.
I didn’t realize all these things at the time, but looking back, I can clearly see my soul was yearning for something different and it all started with this small act. Now, many years later, I feel well and am steadily walking the path of creativity, and I have cut my hair, not so much out of obligation, but I’ve realized the realities of taking care of long hair. I’d rather be spending my time creating than caring for hair. I feel for anyone with long hair —it’s a lot of work! I also learned that sometimes, if you have long hair, you accidentally eat your hair, lol.
To be clear, I’m not saying to grow (or shave) your hair, I’m just saying to mix it up. If you are struggling creatively and a crazy urge pops in your mind, perhaps, just perhaps, do it!
This piece is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, The Sovereign Artist.
Inside of each of us lies a divine force - The Sovereign Artist within - a remarkable force to bring joy, peace, creativity and love back into our lives. This approach to the creative process saved me, and it can save you too, perhaps it can save us all. Connecting with The Sovereign Artist manifests as an explosion of creativity, peace, and quiet inner joy. It transforms the artist into a reflection of itself - sovereign, free, joyful and loving. If that is of interest, please click the button below to join the book’s waitlist.
Creatively,
Clintavo
Sum Ergo Creo
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Love this. Get out of the same. Great advice!