Find My Direction

It's been a tough week, with a sick kid and a cold myself. I'm really ready to get some work done. But first, I need to find my direction.

 

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

2. Beginner's mind meditation for creativity

3. Pre-K school plans

4. Projects for the week

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being":

I starting this book by Barnet Bain  (2015) before Christmas, and am finally getting back to it. It's subtitled "Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work". He claims that your life is a creative act, and we are the writer of our life story. "That knowing is a fundamental shift in perception -- a transformation. It happens when you are intimate enough with your past that you are able to create a an original framework that is yours alone ... living from the inside out... Every act is a creative act."

I can creatively redefine and reimagine my life at any time. I just need to figure out my next part in the story of my life, and that just takes an understanding of my Self. 

"Creativity is a relationship you nurture..." It requires a conscious admission of a particular state of mind. Our medium is our BEING, our presence. "You will find your real work in your values and what matters most to you; in your creative ambitions; in your skills and abilities; and of course in your strengths, talents, and gifts." 

"To harness a personal creativity that that can touch the whole world ... it requires becoming connected to your passion, to your excitement, and to your enthusiasm."

This is a book of perspective, too, to help jiggle me out of the straight line way I usually think into something new. Use the exercises with consistency in order to stay focused on my destination. Practice grounds us and allows our ambitions to take root and grow.

I jumped forward to a practice on how to Jump Start a Creative Project:

1. Relax my mind and body. 
2. Grab a random selection of images and topics by picking a random word from a book (guidance, physical labor), by searching random images (lady bug, unicorn), by looking outdoors (sparrow), by searching random topics (gypsies).
3. Take some time to turn these words and images around in my mind, upside down, opposite, metaphorical, humorous. Let my imagination trigger fresh connections and associations, and follow where they lead.
4. Ask: What is the next step for me to take?

4. Beginner's mind meditation for creativity:

My theme this year is Creative Perspective: 

Creative perspective: To keep a positive and broad perspective; shift my perspective to help myself find equanimity, and also expand my perspective (think outside the box), having the courage to take experimental risks and express myself honestly with words and art.

On Thursday through Monday I take time to review and plan how I will act on this theme. Today I start with a beginners mind meditation for creativity. Beginner's mind is dropping expectations and preconceived ideas, seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, curiosity and wonder.

Today I settle into meditation, and ask the query, "How can I utilize all the craft skills I have built over my lifetime to help me to spread my message of Nature-Culture? Specifically, this winter: The super fund bill, clean water bill, and climate change.

• Design a winter clean air / climate ceremony, to build energy for action.
  
• Paint butterflies and rainbows in my home.
• Wear my message on my Earth coat.
• Write my climate story.
• Pine cone tags craftivism, Trout stencils
• Little gifts with a message: Seed charms
• Art classes: Watershed watercolor project
• Retreat for butterfly reciprocity

5. Pre-K school plans:

Today I will choose next themes, brainstorm projects, and define the nature and skills goals; on the weekend I will gather books and supplies (and take time to stash away the last projects and supplies); and I will do all the prep and making samples on Monday.

Next week's theme is Worms: Ideas-

• Th: List needs, order worms
• F: Collect bottom bin and other pieces
• S: Make my worm bin 
• T: Read worm books (Add worms! Feed worms). Dirt and worm painting.
• W: Look for worms outside - different kinds? names?

6. Projects for the week:

Each week on Thursday I plan the projects I will work on in the next week - one or two kid projects, and one or two Unicorn projects (those that feed ME). This next week I will:

Th: Calendar project with Aldo 

F: Finish a Worry Monster

S: Work on my Earth Coat- sew pocket 

Sun: Paint butterflies; Plastic bag crochet 

M: Design an E-Book blog

T: Dirt and worm painting 

Th: New MLK sign
F: Earth coat- sleeves

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time. 

Today I will list specific goals for each day's creative projects, put them on my calendar, also itemize the supplies and preparation steps.