The Artist's Way

This is a really good book that addresses many issues that musicians may experience through the course of playing music. While I haven't actually followed all the suggestions in the book, several times in my life I have found inspiration, as well a good, positive point of view. In piecemeal I may have read the book 2 or 3 times.

I would suggest this book to anyone who is in involved in the creative process, who wishes they were more involved in the creative process, is frustrated by the creative process or has bad memories/feelings associated with the arts and creating.

Main ideas

Julie Cameron goes through a process of showing the reader how to become more in touch with 'creative electricity', i.e. the creative spirit. The process involves several daily and weekly practices. Each chapter shows the reader the next portion of the 'spiritual path to higher creativity'. Here are the three main tools that help the reader in their artistic journey:

• The morning pages. Keeping a private journal where you allow thoughts to spill out onto the paper right when you wake up. This is a good way to reconnect with your feelings and dreams, unstop emotional and creative damns and to heal (or cleanse) yourself, among many other things. Of course she explains the idea a lot better!
• The artist date. Once a week, it is a "especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist". It is time spent alone, maybe at the beach, at the musuem, or the bowling alley.
• The Creative Contract. This is a way of formalizing the beginning of the class, so that the reader commits him or herself to the process.

Chapters

Each chapter contains a different step of the journey to a closer understanding of one's artistic self. Some of the steps may not be easy; if one finds their creativity blocked, then there are probably adjustments that one must make before finding more creative freedom. The structure of the book acts as guide through possible obstacles to a higher place.

1. Recovering a Sense of Safety
2. Recovering a Sense of Identity
3. Recovering a Sense of Power
4. Recovering a Sense of Integrity
5. Recovering a Sense of Possibility
6. Recovering a Sense of Abundance
7. Recovering a Sense of Connectin
8. Recovering a Sense of Strength
9. Recovering a Sense of Compassion
10. Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection
11. Recovering a Sense of Autonomy
12. Recovering a Sense of Faith

Summary

If you get a chance, read some it online, or borrow a friend's copy or go to the library, I hope you check it out. Best wishes!