Over the last six weeks I've been tackling one of the most well-known spirituality and creativity program, The Artist's Way. Written by Julia Cameron in 1992, this 12-week self-help course leads readers through countless journaling exercises, hours of present versus childhood analyses, and guided action to tap into creative expression in all forms. To document the midpoint milestone I reached a few days ago, I've compiled all of my reflections thus far!
Week 1
I’ve been feeling pretty inspired over the last month and except that doing this program will support maintaining that sense of inspiration week over week if I hit any speed bumps.Thus far, I’ve learned how to complete the 3 pages of daily free writing (Morning Pages) in a way that doesn’t make my arm feel like it’s going to fall off. Small victories! By the time I get to page two, I’m finding my mind is clearer and calmer rather than swirling with what my to do list is for that day. Further, I’ve had fresh ideas come through as I’m in a state of allowing my mind to wander.
Throughout the week, I’ve also integrated several mini artists dates, channeled 5 affirmations, and reflected on ways I can live a more creative lifestyle. We can live at a higher vibration (i.e., feeling energized, motivated, seeing signs, receiving messages/aha moments, and more) when we direct our efforts towards embodying a limitless version of ourselves. Even just seven days in, I’ve been getting a small preview of how that could manifest for me…
Week 2
I was wondering if I was doing enough creatively to really qualify. However after some quick reflection I remembered just how productive I’d been this week with major progress with my website, psychic business, networking, socializing, playing, etc. The Week 2 tasks were more or less taking inventory of your life, specifically how you spend your time. From here is where I’ve gotta start implementing those callings to recalibrate to ensure I’m doing more of what refills my cup and fosters inspiration.
The Morning Pages have gotten even easier and have acted as a fantastic platform to iron out ideas and plans, and even channel insights from my guides. I don’t mind the idea of continuing this practice even after the program ends but maybe cutting down to two pages for the purposes of time — even messily writing quickly takes a while for three full notebook pages!
Overall, this was a week of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and increasingly feeling more comfortable doing so. I’m looking forward to diving into Week 3 content because there are a ton of journal prompts and little daily activities, which I know will be supportive for my growth!
Week 3
This week involved many reflective and thought-provoking journaling questions, which you know I loved!:
Wrote a letter to hypothetical future critics about my current journey and aspirations
Evaluated how I’m caring for myself and my surroundings
Found gratitude with my growth in outward expression
Identified 5 childhood accomplishments
Flagged bad habits
Admired nurturing friendships
Reminisced on childhood joys, dreams, and perceptions
Took stock of my self-trust and expression and ways to further expand
Additionally, I made strides in building out my business and laid some foundation for the future. The sparkle in the air of excitement, pride, and passion is so palpable. Speaking of… the Full Moon in Capricorn on Friday signaled the end of a 6-month manifestation cycle from the New Moon back in December. Per my normal ritual, I reread the list of manifestation seeds I’d planted and was struck by what I’d written: Joy, Passion, and Deep Alignment. I can say with absolute conviction that these past six months have brought me so much joy and laughter, new and renewed senses of passion, and a feeling of deep alignment with my path ahead. I had chills when I read this list!
Back to The Artist’s Way, I started a daily breath work practice with a meditation app to follow through with a Week 2 recalibration idea, reduced my phone screen time, and did some trip-planning research! Looking to continue that momentum and more with the Week 4 tasks. I also want to challenge myself more this coming week with my Artist Dates and do something outside of the house with more visibility, more on that in my next update!
Week 4
The activities entailed revisiting the Week 1 Affirmations for revision or replacement and scaling back consumption of others’ ideas. The later was tricky because I’m always listening to podcasts, reading, and trying to keep up with the news. My strategy was directing my consumption towards more lighthearted sources, aligning with the healthy escapism childhood lesson from Week 3.
The program also called for creating a series of lists about: hobbies that sound fun, things you never do that sound fun, skills that seem fun-to-have, and activities you used to enjoy doing. I didn’t complete any of these activities this week but maybe that’s coming in future weeks?! It was an expansive exercise to recall things I’ve seen others do but never really considered tackling or let fall out of my life over the years. I think it was a great way to dream up a bucket list actually!
But the week wasn’t over yet! We also were asked to write two letters to ourselves, one from the perspective 80 years old and the other 8 years old. The former felt very motivational, encouraging my current self to keep going and reassuring that my manifestations and hard work will come to fruition. For the child letter I added a special twist I’ve read about and been meaning to try – writing with my non-dominant hand. If you’ve never tested this out I definitely recommend!
Morning pages this week were a bit of a sore spot... I was so eager to leap up and start my day, the felt like a delay, caging my momentum. The bright spot there is my motivation to achieve is laser-focused!
Week 5
We were tasked with selecting a new project to channel our creative energy. The timing here was absolutely hilarious because the week before I’d “finished” my last major project of launching my website and had legit scheduled time to focus on my next initiative — secret for now!!! I dedicated time to brainstorming, mapping out the vision, and creating a to do list to support it coming to fruition. Another activity for Week 5 was to collect images that reflect our dreams, which was fun and reflective exercise. I generated a list dreams, whether grand or practical, and took to Pinterest to select pictures that captured the essences. I’ll be interested to revisit this board down the line to see which ones I achieve and to of course add more!
The journaling questions this week were primarily oriented towards emotions (e.g., biggest joys vs lacks, sources of guilt/worry/sadness, as well as what’s draining). I noticed the theme of connection existing on both ends of the spectrum; filling me with happiness or missing/lackluster connections triggering unhappiness. It’s truly a double-edged sword and all about striking that right balance across the board. Clearly, it’s hard for any of us to achieve balance in every corner of our lives, but at least we can aspire to develop strategies to manage them and spin those plates with more ease. My sources for negative emotions also tied to personal wellness, financial stability, and dun dun dun the future! Totally normal for pretty much everyone on the planet, but still valuable to hold the mirror up and identify how I can take action.
Additionally, we were asked to create lists of the 19 things we’d love to do but aren’t “allowed” to and 18 wishes. In combination, these lists challenged me to keep thinking bigger and outside of my comfort zone (and conventional sense of self). Similar to the Pinterest Board, I’m looking forward to revisiting what I wrote later and down the line repeating this exercise to encourage expansion. Last but not least, I did free writes on blocks I have (esp. benefits of staying block and whether anyone in my life is keeping me blocked). Another pointed deep dive into the spiritual depths and clearing I’m being called to navigate through next!
Week 6
The theme was a fusion of luxury, money wounds, and shifting to an abundance mindset. Super timely for me given where I’m at in life and astrologically hilarious because Venus (i.e., self-love & embrace of luxury) moved into Leo this week (i.e., my 2nd House of personal assets and self-worth). PLUS I booked a massage several weeks ago and had no idea that embracing luxury was the main mindset for Week 6. Don’t you just love when it’s right in your face that energy is working for you?!
I was fortunate enough during my childhood to not feel a sense of financial scarcity and yet I was always the one to save save save. It makes you wonder where exactly that came from when I had so many years of being resistant to spending my own money. Since being in the workforce I’ve made more of an intentional shift to “treat yo'self,” while still maintaining a thread of that innate operating mode of no overspending or buying in excess. It’s likely the origins of the mysterious wound (esp. Fear) may stem from the journal prompt “To Have More Money I Need To…” My immediate answers centered on working hard, being strategic, moving out of my comfort zone, investing, etc. I believe the true gem revealed itself later: “not do too much work for free or undervalue myself"
Overall (including outside of the prescribed exercises), I’ve continued to generate tons of ideas every weeks since starting this program. Week over week I pick the ones that intuitively feel like priorities, but this week I received a ton of signs and synchronicities supporting two that I’d positioned as long-game expansions to my services list. Trusting the reinforcement to move those way up the list!!
Up Next in The Artists Way
Check back in late August to hear how the rest of the program pans out for me! Already completed this program or thinking about starting it? Share your experience or any questions you have in the comments!
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