Without Words
- At August 27, 2018
- By Write in Community
- In Blog
3
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. – Friedrich Nietzsche
What better place to talk about creative flow, the magical experience where actions and awareness merge, than dancing? Scott Barry Kaufman describes flow when “one’s mind is fully open and attuned to the act of creating.” Where a sense of wholeness arises, and we move away from the cerebral to the body. Everything feels engaged and meaningful.
Read More»A Master Craftsman
- At May 21, 2018
- By Write in Community
- In Blog
- 9
The following essay is a salute to my father and to all fathers who make a positive difference in their children’s lives.
Although my father was a private person, his beliefs were evident in how he treated the earth as if it were holy, and the many ways he applied the wisdom of nature to his life. He didn’t just think about how he valued the planet, he lived out that basic precept in the activities of each day, his life exemplifying what he believed. Coming from the old school of farming, he knew that all things mattered.
Read More»King of the Mountain
- At October 23, 2017
- By Write in Community
- In Blog
- 4
“A person’s identity is like a pattern drawn on a tightly stretched parchment. Touch one part of it, just one allegiance, and the whole person will react, the whole drum will sound.” – Amin Maalouf
Fred’s family was on a different scale than most families. He had seven brothers and one sister, and all the brothers slept in one small bedroom. Growing up poor, Fred said they banked on their creativity for fun since they had few material resources and money for games and toys. Their bedroom became the playground. Fred didn’t have the name for it then as he watched his siblings play — creative identity– but he said Cynthia Heimel was right: “There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.” And Fred figured out which was true for his brothers.
Read More»Life’s Lessons: Learning What’s Possible
- At August 21, 2017
- By Write in Community
- In Blog
- 8
“We are cups. Constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” – Ray Bradbury
The Buddhist adage, “When the student is ready, the teacher will come” resonates with artists of all ages. Whether we are muddling along or cycling fast, we are here to learn life’s lessons. Yet, sometimes, it feels like we’re standing still in a crowded intersection. Stepping into the stream of a creative life takes boldness and a great deal of pluck. We’ve been here before. Remember riding up a steep hill for the first time and knowing you have to come down?
When women at a certain golden age step back and reflect, we notice our lives are like a crazy quilt full of heart punches and make do patches. Zigzag patterns of ups and downs mark our journeys. Each stage of our development offers another piece of knowledge to mix in, all part of the great soup of life. Choosing motherhood or career over being an artist doesn’t always have to happen. When we step back, we recognize that both are possible once we accept the flow or dam of the creative life.
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