July 8, 2007
Tapping into Synchronicity
As I get ready to leave for a short vacation, I'm faced with appointments,
deadlines, arranging for someone to water my plants – while I
maintain some sense of balance for my Self. Despite the long "To Do" list,
I take a walk, work in the garden or journal to take a break, knowing
that everything will get done before I leave on my trip. Even when I'm
not preparing to travel, I make sure I have "play time" to replenish my
Soul. I cook, read, write, exercise, garden, walk – to help me stay
centered, feel creative and full.
Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way and The Artist's Date
Book uses two main tools to access her creativity – Morning Pages
and an Artist Date. You may not be an artist, per say, but you do create
every day of your life in your work, home and in your relationships. How
often do you feel stifled at your job, or overwhelmed by the demands of
family life? Do you often feel used up, depleted, drained, dry or empty?
When you constantly give to others, work intensely, and spread yourself
to thin, as Julia says, "You over-fish the pond". There are times you must
take a long break and do nothing, to just "be" – to relax and get
re-energized. But how can you replenish the pond without going on a long
vacation?
By simply using Julia's tools of daily journaling and taking a weekly
play date – you restock the pond. Don't have time to journal? Or
take time out to explore the world? Look at it this way, if you pour from
the pitcher long enough, without refilling, you'll run out of water. With
journaling and going on an artist date or play date, the pitcher is constantly
refilling. By consciously taking the time to refill your Self, you bring more
creativity into your life, and synchronicity steps in – you'll be in the
right place at just the right time for positive things to happen. What do you
do to replenish your pitcher – to fill your Soul?
For years, I've used Julia's tool of the Morning Pages. It's been very liberating
for me to write in long-hand, three pages or more of private free-flowing words,
ideas and thoughts in the morning, before I start my day. I'm not concerned with
spelling or punctuation, or staying within the lines – I just write! I show my
writing to no one, and don't reread it later on. It means setting the intention and
rescheduling my time to write – daily or as often as I can. I know that all
things that matter to me take time, and it takes a commitment to do the Morning
Pages, but the benefits are endless.
When I first started writing, it consisted of unhealed events, gripes about my life,
and sometimes a list of what I needed to do that day. After about a month of writing,
it evolved into ideas that I was passionate about in my life. My writing focused more
on the present, what I was grateful for and seeing the possibilities in every thing
I do – not reliving the past. Julia comments that with Morning Pages, you are
"telling the Universe what you would like more of, what you would like less of, and
what would move you closer to your dreams". Writing taps into the Universe's
synchronicity.
The Morning Pages are meant to jump start your day, fresh and positive. Journaling is
a safe way to express yourself, let go of past events, and let go of things that are
troubling you. Instead of chewing, stewing, and filling your head with all that is
your life – you release it. Writing frees your mind to focus foward to your
passions. Be aware of trends of thinging in your writing. If you're stuck on something,
that something may require more attention. It may require taking action in another
way.
The other tool Julia recommends to replenish your creative Self is an Artist Date –
a weekly scheduled solitary time to play. Taking an artist date helps you restock the
pond of ideas, energy and inspiration. When you play, you step out of your normal day
and are able to hear guidance from within. Have you ever gotten stuck on a project,
taken a break from it, and while taking the time out, found a solution? An artist date
is about giving your brain space away, seeing new things, exploring and being creative
in a different way.
The artist in you may draw, play music, scrap book, take photos, design a garden, furnish
your home, organize family events and more! You are a creative being in so many ways, and
when you use your creativity, you draw on your inner well. Taking an Artist Date replenishes
the well and taps into the Universe's synchronicity. More and more often, you are in the
right place at the right time to receive ideas, hunches and signals that move you into
harmony and balance. Ready to tap into synchronicity?
First, start by setting the intention to write three pages in long-hand every day for at least
21 days, preferably in the morning, and see what happens. Buy a few spiral bound notebooks
or use the back of used copy paper. Don't edit, correct spelling, or reread it –
just write and let the words spill out. You'll be amazed at how freeing it is and what
surfaces. Remember, this process is about telling the Universe what you want more of,
less of, and what would move you closer to your dreams.
Second, take an Artist Date or play date once a week (or more if you're feeling empty).
Here are a few suggestions from Julia's The Artist's Date Book: color in a coloring
book, go to a planetarium, write a fairy tale, play dress-up, visit a playground, collect
beautiful leaves, sew bells on the toes of your sleep socks, or experiment with a new food.
Decide what you want to do, mark it in your calendar, and don't give up this play time.
If you're feeling too empty to come up with date ideas, buy Julia's book, it's full of
365 creative ways to restock your pond. Simply, write and take an artist date –
start tapping into synchronicity and creativity will fill your Soul.
Warmly,
Belen Carmichael, NLC
Life Coach
Resources:
The Artist's Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
The Artist's Date Book, a Companion Volume to The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
NEW Audio Book Release!
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It is about seeing the world through new eyes – seeing the world as a
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Copyright 2007, INNERGY Coaching, LLC -
Belen Carmichael
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