March Creativity

The month of March is filled with a riot of color and activity. It’s a fresh, youthful, quick-flowing month - the start of something new. In March I do the work; I tend and nurture my family, my garden, and my projects. March is a month for being a physical creature; for feeling all sensations, and being really present in my body - playful and young-in-spirit.

In the winter I dreamed dreams and made plans, but as spring approaches, it's time to get into action. Today I have a wide-open day to fill with the work of creating my vision here on the earth. 

Agenda:

1. Read "The Creativity Book"

2. Simple projects list

3. Build energy for creativity

1. Read "The Creativity Book":

A few years ago I started but didn't finish this book by Eric Maisel (one of my favorite writers). The subtitle is "A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance." Who doesn't want that?

I've just begun Part 6: Use Yourself. This section is all about accepting myself as the expert on my own creative projects, and trusting that my instincts and knowledge will guide me.

Maisel lists 75 traits of a creative person, and suggests that I work on self-improvement. This week's task is to Take a Multi-Vitamin, and work on building the traits that I lack (ambitiousness, anxiety tolerance, energy, flexibility - to name a few), one trait at a time. 

3. Simple projects list:

It's almost spring and I want to use full effort for my art. This is one of my intentions for Lent, because art gives my life meaning, which in turn builds my resilience. 

I'm pretty sure that my lack of energy for art right now is because I haven't found an exciting project: I need something juicy, that grabs my heart and makes me squirm. 

And it's not as if I don't have ideas about what that might be. I've been thinking about weathergrams, sewing story pictures, Earth Care banners, craftivism and give-away art. I've been longing to paint an abstract on Hope. Also, teaching how to Transform Your World, how to make signs for rallies, and craftivism gatherings. Also, writing a Nature-Culture book. And of course, art with my grandsons, and making a fine new mud kitchen sand pit!

Where to start? I need to choose just 3 projects; my simple projects list this week is:

1. Make a new banner to take to rallies: Something along the lines of "One Earth; All Life". (First task: Draw a design).
2. Write a Transform Your World lesson, and send assignment.
3. Finish digging new sand pit, and cut and build a counter; get pavers and sand.

3. Build energy for creativity:

Inner synergy is when your body, mind, spirit, and heart are all cooperating to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. I love the image of "an explosion of inner synergy," and I've experienced that passion spontaneously, and I know it's possible to harness that energy when you want it and need it.

Step one is to choose any project or task that is a priority, that connects to your values and principles, something you want to do soon; something a little challenging but within your abilities, such as making a banner. Today I will made this plan: 

1. Engage my mind: Create a clear vision with a visualization and a sketch. Write an intention, make a list of the supplies and steps, and put them in my calendar.
2. Engage my heart: Identify the love component - write about and visualize who this project might benefit, and send the "pink light of love" to myself and the people who will see my banner.
3. Engage my spirit: Choose a mantra that will remind me of the deepest reasons for the project: One Earth; All Life. Use this as a focus for my daily awareness practices.
4. Engage my body: Get prepared - schedule a time to physically do the project; gather all the supplies; prepare a space.
5. Start a fire: Mentally review my intention; touch my heart and see the earth in need; reciting the mantra One Earth; All Life; dive into the next step on my list.