Explorer’s Mindset for Creative Living
How do we live a creative life? Here’s an idea….
When You Wish
“Each of us has a dream, a heart’s desire that calls to us. And when we’re brave enough to listen and bold enough to pursue, that dream will lead us on a journey to discover who we are. All we have to do is look inside our hearts and unlock the magic within.”*
I was sitting in the Tiki Birds attraction with my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law. The same exact birds with their mechanical sounds and movements that I saw when I was a kid…decades ago. As I watched, I had a flashback of hearing rain and sitting in the room with my mother, dad, and brother back in the 1970’s. I don’t have many actual memories of my father when he was still alive. He died in 1981 after a long illness so having that memory was very special. And then, the program concluded with the sound of intense rain and I knew the memory was true and that our family had come back to life in that Tiki Bird show, if only for a few moments.
The last time I was at Disney World, I was celebrating my 30th birthday and my daughter was five. Now, she’s in her 30’s and her daughter is four. Experiencing it through my granddaughter’s heart opened a doorway for me to remember…to embrace my imagination, my child self.
The short time we were there, we claimed every moment of magic we could. My tech savvy daughter and son-in-law kept us moving from princesses to roller coasters to shows in a seemingly endless parade of fun. One day over eight miles walking…the next day over eleven miles of walking and opening to the creative genius of the Imagineers.
I’d forgotten what a roller coaster junkie I am and the two new ones, Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy, were epic. And new, mega-famous princesses and stories and attractions related to the new characters were top rate in regard to animation, presentation, and WOW factor.
Many Disney World attractions have changed over the decades since I visited; however, a few remain the same. And that familiarity opened the door to a treasured memory from my own childhood while I created new ones with Emily, Max, and Kevin.
Even though I returned home utterly exhausted, I feel a deep sense of renewal and opening, of looking within and listening to my heart so the magic within can be unlocked once more.
*Introduction to Disney World fireworks presentation each night.
On Being Available
A few weeks ago I spoke with a woman who does amazing work to help clear old patterns. Out of our conversation a little gem surfaced and it has changed how I look at life and therefore changed my life.
I was telling her how frustrated I was about my life’s work…that it felt like I was trying so hard to find the right way to express my gifts and help in the healing of the world and just didn’t know how to proceed any more. She said, “Your only task is to be available.” I knew that and yet when she said those words it was like a sun of awareness began to glow within me.
So each morning and during the day I pause, calm my mind and say to the Universe: “I am available.” I envision myself as open…open mind, open heart, open body…and affirm this simple statement.
It might be simple but it has moved powerfully through my life. I’ve given up the chase for ways to make a difference and have grounded myself in openness. The anxiety of fulfilling my purpose has subsided as I seek spiritual partnership with Divine Inspiration. I root myself in the present moment with no running towards something. If you wish to use my gifts, then here I am. Use me.
This practice has also helped clarify three foundations of my life–Nature, Music and Photography. I feel myself directed back to these touchstones as I affirm my availability. Like the loving arms of the Earth Mother giving me gentle nudges back to these constants in this life.
Oddly enough, ceasing to seek for ways to use my talents has opened the floodgate and I find my creativity pouring forth in ways I never dreamed it could move. I’m no longer expending energy on thinking and pondering and worrying. That energy goes into the flow of creativity as it moves from the neutral ground of openness within me out into manifestation.
If you are constantly talking to someone you can’t hear what they are saying. So I’m listening with an open heart and mind. I’m here. I am available. And now, I’m in that yummy creative flow.
Creativity
Creating something from nothing is an act of magic. It is an act of courage. We move into the realm of possibility when we surrender to the force of creativity.
And it is a force. But what is it that calls us to tap into that force? What moves us from ideas into action?
I imagine a gigantic cauldron of star dust, a cosmic soup, that contains every possible particle of the creative process. I lean over the cauldron and dare to look into its depths and touch the surface with my finger. It ripples and boils with potential and invites me to dip my hands into its richness. I stir that soup of infinity and watch as ideas bubble to the surface. Yes….that! And that! Oh, wow, look at that!With gratitude I enfold the ideas into a medicine bag for safe keeping and journey back to waking consciousness, ready to create.
It’s easy to ignore the creative ideas that enter our minds. It takes courage to follow through and even more courage to share what we create with others. But here’s the thing: the act of creating changes the world for the better, even if we never share it with another soul.
So here’s an invitation to dip into the cosmic soup, lovingly take the ideas that surface and use them to create something simply for the fun of it. When we do this we change the world.
To see more of my creations, please visit my website and explore the BOOKS page, SPIRIT MEDICINE DESIGN page and PHOTOGRAPHY page.
Freedom to Be
Last night I met a six year old boy who created a camera out of driftwood. He instructed me to push a button on it and anything I photographed would come to life. It took him only a few moments to invent this magical tool.
I was photographing him and his parents at the beach. The hour-and-a-half we spent together was fun and enjoyable but the true gift was much more than this.
So many times society takes creative souls through a deadening process. Trying to keep someone in a small realm of acceptable norms kills the creative spirit within us….and makes us think we are not okay because we are different. And let’s face it, we’re all unique and ‘different’ at our core.
I’m sure many who read this understand what it’s like to think differently or express yourself differently. I have met a great number of people who have lived their entire lives in emotional pain because they are ‘different.’ Their creative genius can be lost…and that’s a loss for all of us.
This youngster was such a light and could imagine inventing something from anything. I ‘saw’ him as a young adult creating solutions to problems on our planet or inventing brilliant new things never before conceptualized…so powerful was his ability to invent. Major credit goes to his parents who champion him and his amazing inventive skills.
He inspired me to give myself permission to create with wild abandon and imagine my life in ways I’ve dared not even dream. I’ve spent today reflecting on freedom and wholeness and self-permission.
It was ‘just’ a photo shoot that almost didn’t happen…but what a loss it would have been to miss meeting these beautiful souls. How grateful I feel for this old soul in a young boy’s body reminding me to gift myself with the freedom to be.
(A special thank you to this wonderful family for giving me permission to share their images).