I've just read Chapter 3 now. I took a break from everything except family last week, to enjoy our first vacation all together in five years.
I agree with your synopsis of the chapter, Clare. I found her ideas about anger and shame to be helpful, but synchronicity/serendipity could benefit from more nuance. I understand synchronicity as an extension of positive affirmations introduced earlier, and I have no doubt there is benefit in going with the flow rather than being overly strategic (I tend to strategize and analyze everything, so this is very difficult for me). But I also feel like attributing opportunity to synchronicity can also minimize the work done by an artist to get to that point – small steps are usually preceded by other small steps that culminate and lead to opportunity. Opportunity doesn't necessarily happen the first time you take a small step in the direction of a dream, so I feel this might set some people up for disappointment if the expectation is there to get what you want simply by "stepping in the direction of a dream." (My pessimistic nature is showing and perhaps this is something I need to work on, lol.) And some of what she says is a very privileged take on life, e.g., "first choose what you would do. The how usually falls into place of itself."
I wrote down many meaningful ideas from this chapter and will think about them more!
Hi Tracey, I really hoped you enjoyed your vacation last week. It's so important to take that rest time when it comes along. I hope it felt restorative for you 💕
I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 3 of The Artist's Way. I agree with you on the importance of taking small steps towards bigger goals. I think we can leave space for synchronicity while also planning and strategising around our work. It doesn't have to be an either/or.
Perhaps it's just me but I think a little pessimism is a useful thing when it comes to creative work. I find it much more sustainable to keep my hopes and ambitions modest, and be happily surprised when things work out rather than being crushed when the universe doesn't align to bring my dreams to life. A little healthy skepticism is a useful thing. I suspect the author would encourage me to leap more and believe the net will appear and maybe someday I'll feel safe enough to do that. But for now, I'm happy to plod along with my work knowing that it's all building toward something bigger. I suspect it'll feel more logical (or perhaps even magic) in hindsight than it does when I'm in the trenches of creation, but that's OK with me. I'm happy to see what unfolds 💕
HI, all. Lovely to read comments & congrats on your lovely interview, Clare.
Many jigs & reels this week and subsequent reorientation - all to say a delay in posting this small note. It was a large chapter and much to take in, thoughts jotted briefly:
Anger as action's invitation - I don't think mine is waiting for the invite.
The universe will reward you for taking risks on it's behalf.
And yes, chance can be powerful -
I'm taking the chance to check in myself more often and have been trying, when I can, immediate commitments to a creative act or acts - even if it's the sight of a pheasant who took her time coming up the lawn the other day, yesterday's fox arriving with the sun and the herringbone pattern temporarily left in her wake or the blanket I've been knitting since we commenced The Artist's Way - and even when I've been a bit pressed for time, the resolute coming through in the mourning pages.
A handy enough tool, too, the phrases or concepts that irritate - to make notes of these.
A for instance - we must we patrol our boundaries.
I am exhausted patrolling. Since antiquity exhausted.
Not related to Cameron, it's been a really tough week. And last week.
Action has magic, grace and power in it - a profoundly lovely combination of words.
Hi Michelle, it was indeed a meaty chapter! I feel like a short pause is necessary after all that talk of anger, shame etc.
I'm sorry you've been having difficult weeks. I hope this community experience is offering a brief respite from the hard times 💕
I loved reading about all the nature you've been witnessing too. I'm in Dublin where we do see the occasional fox, but it's been a long time since I saw a majestic pheasant. What a treat!
I was not familiar with the Jungian origin of the term synchronicity, in fact I was not very familiar with the term in the first place and a Substack reader wrote to me two days before I started reading chapter for Week 3 about the synchronicity between sth I wrote in a recent post and personal growth that he is doing. And then I came to read about anger (which I am processing myself) and synchronicity and I thought, ah the magic of the universe.
In this morning's pages, I was struggling with an issue and I ended up asking myself, directly, What is it, that you want, Liza? And the answer just spilled out of me on the page in the most natural way, and I felt much calmer. And then one of the things I asked for happened, and I realised that while I wanted it to happen, it didn't make me feel good, so that again, was a moment of clarity and deep learning.
I love when that happens during Morning Pages. It feels like the answer was there all along, I just had to take a moment to ask the question. If there was some magical solution to finding answers to life's messiest questions, I'd pay anything to access it. Turns out that in a lot of cases, the only thing I need is to take some quiet time to write.
It's great to hear about your experiences with synchronicity too Liza. I haven't noticed any in my own life yet, but your experience is giving me hope 💕
Great review again Clare. I agree with you on that jump and it will appear mentality. I think it usually is promoted by people who have something to fall back on then, clutched onto by people who need it - but it is not a mantra that in my experience is true. That doesn't mean we can't leave space for beautiful surprises. But we should help cushion and support ourselves as much as possible. Especially if we live with trauma and instability can be re-traumatising.
You're so right, Catriona. We can leave space for possibility, while also supporting ourselves through the reality. Or at least that's what I'm trying to do this week 🙃
Honestly I think that’s key and what it is really all about. Leaping doesn’t mean from the height of a mountain. It could just be a couple of feet ❤️ I am thoroughly enjoying going back over your posts and the comments.
When it comes to SHAME and CRITICISM, I know I have been my own worst enemy, that the Inner Censor has been far harder on me than any one else. I am working hard on befriending that censor, to see it also as fear, and the insecure ego self wanting to protect me from disappointment. I tell her I hear what she is saying but I am going to try anyway. I am going to put my work out in the world and see what happens. I am strong enough to take the risk.
"I am strong enough to take the risk" is an incredible line. I'm going to borrow that one Amy, for the times that similar voices in my head encourage me to "ssshhhhhh and not bother people". People need to be bothered! It does them (& me) good. Thank you for the inspiration 💕
I really enjoyed reading your Beyond questionnaire, Clare, and getting to know you better. My heart hurts for the loss of your mom at such a young age but such wise and loving counsel your sister gave you.
Clare, such a thoughtful review of Week 3 and hello to the community of artists here.
When I opened this chapter in the book and saw it began with ANGER, I said, There we go, synchronicity, even if it's on a theme I don't really welcome.
You see, I suffered a sudden wrenched low back issue on Feb 25, a week before I was scheduled to go with my daughter and her boyfriend to Machu Picchu and Chile for a month. The worst possible timing. I had to cancel as my condition worsened and it became clear a 12-hour flight to Lima was not in the cards for me, nor the ascent to Machu Picchu. I stayed behind to heal. You'd think that would make me angry. But Anger and I have not been friends, not ever. As a child, I grew up with my father's explosive temper and while it was rare, it was a storm I dreaded and when he erupted, I cowered and got very, very small so as not to be in the line of fire. I learned that anger was white-hot, uncontrollable, dangerous, damaging, to be avoided. When my own anger emerged, as it quite naturally should, it was shut down by my well-meaning mother as "not nice," encouraging me to keep that emotion in check, to be "A role model" for my younger siblings. Sadness was acceptable. Disappointment was acceptable. But not anger. The few times my anger erupted in my troubled marriage, it blew up like a storm inside me, seemingly coming out of nowhere, scaring me and startling my ex, who responded with his own anger. That I couldn't predict when my anger would burst forth further confirmed that it was an uncontrollable, negative force inside me to be tamped down.
So fast forward to this sudden eruption of low back pain, the worst I've ever had, at 64, just before a longed-for trip and as my new chapter in Barcelona is beginning as a divorced woman wanting a fresh start. Why now?, I've been wondering. And my myofascial release and yoga therapist did a zoom diagnosis (she's met me twice in person at her retreats and knows my body well) and said she "100% saw anger and fear" in my posture. Well, what do you know. Me, angry? What do I have to be angry about? So then I turned to Week 3 and Jane's invitation to see Anger as healthy fuel, that it points us in a direction we need to go in, to take the actions we need--then just maybe I can let my anger in and not be afraid of it. I am working through that this week in my morning pages.
Wow, what a story! You had me on the edge of my seat Amy, even in a comment :) I think this could make a beautiful newsletter post one day. You might still be in the middle of the story, but I think it could help a lot of people.
I find it fascinating how emotions show up in the body. I remember a therapist pointing out once that I kept loosing my voice at a time in my life when I was drowning in secrets. My body's aching reflected my own psychic pain.
Our bodies are so much wiser than we give them credit for. They have so much to teach us, if only we can be quiet long enough to hear them. I hope that it's been useful to explore these themes in your Morning Pages this week, Amy. And I hope that the pain in your back has healed. 💕
It is definitely healing slowly but surely and thanks for the kind words on sharing this story in my newsletter, I have begun to in recent weeks but there’s more to explore. The body keeps the score, a truism that is so very true. Getting quiet enough to hear our bodies is the key, you’re right
Mmmmmm…so wonderful. I’m really out of it and scrambling to get anywhere near center right now so I hadn’t realized you were doing this. The Artist’s Way changed my life in 2000. I’ve revisited it a few times since then and done some of her other courses. I’m so excited to read about your thoughts and’s feelings with this chapter.
Anger and Shame. Ugh. Yes. I’m very curious to hear how you deal with the “healing through art” shaming backlash after you’ve written about things that many people would prefer we keep in the dungeon and keep our muzzles and choke-chains on.
So many of the big Tools and Toys I utilize came from this course. I find it interesting that you used the word “Tinkering.” That is actually what I officially named it on my publication here. Because this course did encourage me to constantly delve into the creation first, and the logistics of what to do with it as the after thought. Yet that IS how I feel—that I’m constantly tinkering with my toys. It’s what keeps me up until 4 am in one of those big New Surges you said you love, and it’s what keeps me excited in revision or exploring new places to post my words. Just…tinkering with it all in my mad scientist lab. 🤣🤪🤓
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with one of my favorite artistic tools…toys…transformational wonders. ✨💖✨
Welcome Alexx. I'm so glad you're here. Lots of folks are dipping in and out of this experience, so please feel free to follow along in whatever way makes sense for you!
I'm glad The Artist's Way has been useful for you. It's far from a perfect book, though it's been enormously helpful in my life too. I'm very reliant on my Morning Pages, and have been finding a new rhythm with Artist's Dates too.
I love the word "tinkering". It's a great title too! It evokes invention for me, and the strange process of bringing something new into the world. I wish you lots of fruitful tinkering through the coming weeks 💕
Thanks. 🥰 I wish you tons of tinkering and many breakthrus too!
Imperfect book: oh yes. I had to do some translating for my Recovering Catholic sensibilities, and of course, it was written in the 90s. Having first done it in 2000, I had to translate and adjust mindset much less back then.
Indeed. When I was developing the habits, I didn’t let go on with the book until I had consistently done pages and my artist date. So it took me 14 weeks, not 12. So glad I did that. Looking forward to reading more of the adventure!
Thanks Alexx. I'm excited to see how it'll unfold too. It took me more than 12 weeks when I did it last year too, but I think a slower pace has actually helped make it more sustainable for me. 💕
I got quite engrossed in Week 3 and although week 2 had me thinking do I really want a break after week 3, I’m looking forward to it so I can digest all three chapters more fully but especially chapter 3. It seems to be asking me to sit with it more deeply than I did first time around so I’m going to do just that.
Me too! This week's chapter is a meaty one, and I feel like I need a bit more time to integrate it. I'm hoping a brief pause will give me some space to breathe, before diving back into the coming chapters. 💕
I've just read Chapter 3 now. I took a break from everything except family last week, to enjoy our first vacation all together in five years.
I agree with your synopsis of the chapter, Clare. I found her ideas about anger and shame to be helpful, but synchronicity/serendipity could benefit from more nuance. I understand synchronicity as an extension of positive affirmations introduced earlier, and I have no doubt there is benefit in going with the flow rather than being overly strategic (I tend to strategize and analyze everything, so this is very difficult for me). But I also feel like attributing opportunity to synchronicity can also minimize the work done by an artist to get to that point – small steps are usually preceded by other small steps that culminate and lead to opportunity. Opportunity doesn't necessarily happen the first time you take a small step in the direction of a dream, so I feel this might set some people up for disappointment if the expectation is there to get what you want simply by "stepping in the direction of a dream." (My pessimistic nature is showing and perhaps this is something I need to work on, lol.) And some of what she says is a very privileged take on life, e.g., "first choose what you would do. The how usually falls into place of itself."
I wrote down many meaningful ideas from this chapter and will think about them more!
Hi Tracey, I really hoped you enjoyed your vacation last week. It's so important to take that rest time when it comes along. I hope it felt restorative for you 💕
I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 3 of The Artist's Way. I agree with you on the importance of taking small steps towards bigger goals. I think we can leave space for synchronicity while also planning and strategising around our work. It doesn't have to be an either/or.
Perhaps it's just me but I think a little pessimism is a useful thing when it comes to creative work. I find it much more sustainable to keep my hopes and ambitions modest, and be happily surprised when things work out rather than being crushed when the universe doesn't align to bring my dreams to life. A little healthy skepticism is a useful thing. I suspect the author would encourage me to leap more and believe the net will appear and maybe someday I'll feel safe enough to do that. But for now, I'm happy to plod along with my work knowing that it's all building toward something bigger. I suspect it'll feel more logical (or perhaps even magic) in hindsight than it does when I'm in the trenches of creation, but that's OK with me. I'm happy to see what unfolds 💕
HI, all. Lovely to read comments & congrats on your lovely interview, Clare.
Many jigs & reels this week and subsequent reorientation - all to say a delay in posting this small note. It was a large chapter and much to take in, thoughts jotted briefly:
Anger as action's invitation - I don't think mine is waiting for the invite.
The universe will reward you for taking risks on it's behalf.
And yes, chance can be powerful -
I'm taking the chance to check in myself more often and have been trying, when I can, immediate commitments to a creative act or acts - even if it's the sight of a pheasant who took her time coming up the lawn the other day, yesterday's fox arriving with the sun and the herringbone pattern temporarily left in her wake or the blanket I've been knitting since we commenced The Artist's Way - and even when I've been a bit pressed for time, the resolute coming through in the mourning pages.
A handy enough tool, too, the phrases or concepts that irritate - to make notes of these.
A for instance - we must we patrol our boundaries.
I am exhausted patrolling. Since antiquity exhausted.
Not related to Cameron, it's been a really tough week. And last week.
Action has magic, grace and power in it - a profoundly lovely combination of words.
Goodnesses to all.
Michelle
Hi Michelle, it was indeed a meaty chapter! I feel like a short pause is necessary after all that talk of anger, shame etc.
I'm sorry you've been having difficult weeks. I hope this community experience is offering a brief respite from the hard times 💕
I loved reading about all the nature you've been witnessing too. I'm in Dublin where we do see the occasional fox, but it's been a long time since I saw a majestic pheasant. What a treat!
I hope things have eased up a bit for you
💕💕
I was not familiar with the Jungian origin of the term synchronicity, in fact I was not very familiar with the term in the first place and a Substack reader wrote to me two days before I started reading chapter for Week 3 about the synchronicity between sth I wrote in a recent post and personal growth that he is doing. And then I came to read about anger (which I am processing myself) and synchronicity and I thought, ah the magic of the universe.
In this morning's pages, I was struggling with an issue and I ended up asking myself, directly, What is it, that you want, Liza? And the answer just spilled out of me on the page in the most natural way, and I felt much calmer. And then one of the things I asked for happened, and I realised that while I wanted it to happen, it didn't make me feel good, so that again, was a moment of clarity and deep learning.
Very powerful stuff.
I love when that happens during Morning Pages. It feels like the answer was there all along, I just had to take a moment to ask the question. If there was some magical solution to finding answers to life's messiest questions, I'd pay anything to access it. Turns out that in a lot of cases, the only thing I need is to take some quiet time to write.
It's great to hear about your experiences with synchronicity too Liza. I haven't noticed any in my own life yet, but your experience is giving me hope 💕
Great review again Clare. I agree with you on that jump and it will appear mentality. I think it usually is promoted by people who have something to fall back on then, clutched onto by people who need it - but it is not a mantra that in my experience is true. That doesn't mean we can't leave space for beautiful surprises. But we should help cushion and support ourselves as much as possible. Especially if we live with trauma and instability can be re-traumatising.
You're so right, Catriona. We can leave space for possibility, while also supporting ourselves through the reality. Or at least that's what I'm trying to do this week 🙃
Honestly I think that’s key and what it is really all about. Leaping doesn’t mean from the height of a mountain. It could just be a couple of feet ❤️ I am thoroughly enjoying going back over your posts and the comments.
When it comes to SHAME and CRITICISM, I know I have been my own worst enemy, that the Inner Censor has been far harder on me than any one else. I am working hard on befriending that censor, to see it also as fear, and the insecure ego self wanting to protect me from disappointment. I tell her I hear what she is saying but I am going to try anyway. I am going to put my work out in the world and see what happens. I am strong enough to take the risk.
"I am strong enough to take the risk" is an incredible line. I'm going to borrow that one Amy, for the times that similar voices in my head encourage me to "ssshhhhhh and not bother people". People need to be bothered! It does them (& me) good. Thank you for the inspiration 💕
You are so welcome to that line, Clare.💗
💕💕
I really enjoyed reading your Beyond questionnaire, Clare, and getting to know you better. My heart hurts for the loss of your mom at such a young age but such wise and loving counsel your sister gave you.
Thank you Amy. I'm so glad you enjoyed it 💕
Clare, such a thoughtful review of Week 3 and hello to the community of artists here.
When I opened this chapter in the book and saw it began with ANGER, I said, There we go, synchronicity, even if it's on a theme I don't really welcome.
You see, I suffered a sudden wrenched low back issue on Feb 25, a week before I was scheduled to go with my daughter and her boyfriend to Machu Picchu and Chile for a month. The worst possible timing. I had to cancel as my condition worsened and it became clear a 12-hour flight to Lima was not in the cards for me, nor the ascent to Machu Picchu. I stayed behind to heal. You'd think that would make me angry. But Anger and I have not been friends, not ever. As a child, I grew up with my father's explosive temper and while it was rare, it was a storm I dreaded and when he erupted, I cowered and got very, very small so as not to be in the line of fire. I learned that anger was white-hot, uncontrollable, dangerous, damaging, to be avoided. When my own anger emerged, as it quite naturally should, it was shut down by my well-meaning mother as "not nice," encouraging me to keep that emotion in check, to be "A role model" for my younger siblings. Sadness was acceptable. Disappointment was acceptable. But not anger. The few times my anger erupted in my troubled marriage, it blew up like a storm inside me, seemingly coming out of nowhere, scaring me and startling my ex, who responded with his own anger. That I couldn't predict when my anger would burst forth further confirmed that it was an uncontrollable, negative force inside me to be tamped down.
So fast forward to this sudden eruption of low back pain, the worst I've ever had, at 64, just before a longed-for trip and as my new chapter in Barcelona is beginning as a divorced woman wanting a fresh start. Why now?, I've been wondering. And my myofascial release and yoga therapist did a zoom diagnosis (she's met me twice in person at her retreats and knows my body well) and said she "100% saw anger and fear" in my posture. Well, what do you know. Me, angry? What do I have to be angry about? So then I turned to Week 3 and Jane's invitation to see Anger as healthy fuel, that it points us in a direction we need to go in, to take the actions we need--then just maybe I can let my anger in and not be afraid of it. I am working through that this week in my morning pages.
Wow, what a story! You had me on the edge of my seat Amy, even in a comment :) I think this could make a beautiful newsletter post one day. You might still be in the middle of the story, but I think it could help a lot of people.
I find it fascinating how emotions show up in the body. I remember a therapist pointing out once that I kept loosing my voice at a time in my life when I was drowning in secrets. My body's aching reflected my own psychic pain.
Our bodies are so much wiser than we give them credit for. They have so much to teach us, if only we can be quiet long enough to hear them. I hope that it's been useful to explore these themes in your Morning Pages this week, Amy. And I hope that the pain in your back has healed. 💕
It is definitely healing slowly but surely and thanks for the kind words on sharing this story in my newsletter, I have begun to in recent weeks but there’s more to explore. The body keeps the score, a truism that is so very true. Getting quiet enough to hear our bodies is the key, you’re right
Mmmmmm…so wonderful. I’m really out of it and scrambling to get anywhere near center right now so I hadn’t realized you were doing this. The Artist’s Way changed my life in 2000. I’ve revisited it a few times since then and done some of her other courses. I’m so excited to read about your thoughts and’s feelings with this chapter.
Anger and Shame. Ugh. Yes. I’m very curious to hear how you deal with the “healing through art” shaming backlash after you’ve written about things that many people would prefer we keep in the dungeon and keep our muzzles and choke-chains on.
So many of the big Tools and Toys I utilize came from this course. I find it interesting that you used the word “Tinkering.” That is actually what I officially named it on my publication here. Because this course did encourage me to constantly delve into the creation first, and the logistics of what to do with it as the after thought. Yet that IS how I feel—that I’m constantly tinkering with my toys. It’s what keeps me up until 4 am in one of those big New Surges you said you love, and it’s what keeps me excited in revision or exploring new places to post my words. Just…tinkering with it all in my mad scientist lab. 🤣🤪🤓
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with one of my favorite artistic tools…toys…transformational wonders. ✨💖✨
Welcome Alexx. I'm so glad you're here. Lots of folks are dipping in and out of this experience, so please feel free to follow along in whatever way makes sense for you!
I'm glad The Artist's Way has been useful for you. It's far from a perfect book, though it's been enormously helpful in my life too. I'm very reliant on my Morning Pages, and have been finding a new rhythm with Artist's Dates too.
I love the word "tinkering". It's a great title too! It evokes invention for me, and the strange process of bringing something new into the world. I wish you lots of fruitful tinkering through the coming weeks 💕
Thanks. 🥰 I wish you tons of tinkering and many breakthrus too!
Imperfect book: oh yes. I had to do some translating for my Recovering Catholic sensibilities, and of course, it was written in the 90s. Having first done it in 2000, I had to translate and adjust mindset much less back then.
Indeed. When I was developing the habits, I didn’t let go on with the book until I had consistently done pages and my artist date. So it took me 14 weeks, not 12. So glad I did that. Looking forward to reading more of the adventure!
Thanks Alexx. I'm excited to see how it'll unfold too. It took me more than 12 weeks when I did it last year too, but I think a slower pace has actually helped make it more sustainable for me. 💕
Indeed! Can’t rush The Muse. Especially when it’s learning crucial things. 🥰
Exactly! 💕💕
I got quite engrossed in Week 3 and although week 2 had me thinking do I really want a break after week 3, I’m looking forward to it so I can digest all three chapters more fully but especially chapter 3. It seems to be asking me to sit with it more deeply than I did first time around so I’m going to do just that.
Me too! This week's chapter is a meaty one, and I feel like I need a bit more time to integrate it. I'm hoping a brief pause will give me some space to breathe, before diving back into the coming chapters. 💕