I really enjoyed reading your post. In the 1990’s I did a lot of inner work through “the Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. When I took a leap of faith of starting a decorative painting business (feeling it was the right path) the opportunities completely stopped. I was devastated thinking did I get it wrong. But I persevered. It slowly grew and evolved. Just wasn’t immediate. I always try to listen to my inner path. I thank you for writing this. Look forward to your book.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's funny you mentioned "The Artist's Way." The ideas that brought me out of inner darkness and back into the light are the ideas that eventually became the book I am working on. But I've since read The Artist's Way and I kinda/sorta independently "recreated" what was in that book as an intuitive way of reawakening creativity in my self, and thus reconnecting with my soul and ultimately it brought me back to a completely felt experience of God.
Here's an excerpt from the Intro of my book, The Sovereign Artist, where I pay homage to The Artist's Way (and The War of Art):
After I had established myself as “someone who writes,” and had built a decent sized following, I happened to read two books that I’ve always heard about, but had never read previously: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield (I highly recommend both).
While reading those two books, I realized that the way in which I had saved myself, and recovered the color and joy of life, had been my own independent re-invention of what those two books recommend! My version is different, of course, but the path of this book and those two venerable volumes tread through the same magic forest.
How much I needed to read this! It’s odd stumbling across this post now — I don’t ever have time or headspace or solid footing to read much beyond brief blurbs in posts. What allowed me to be on this page today? I am in great turmoil and am experiencing things that are shaking my very existence. I have prayed more and more, I have started feeling, seeing, hearing, sensing God’s presence at times when I need it the most — when I am spinning around in a sometimes daily vortex and drowning in it. I went from hearing a calling once or twice a year to every few months to every Sunday and now to almost every day. Something is happening, and I read this and finally fully appreciate the meaning of the parable of the talents.
I am saying a prayer for you now Robert. I believe the world is on the verge of a great spiritual awakening. I know I have awakened to the fire within in the past few years, and many I know are feeling God in a new way. The world needs people to awaken. It sounds like that might be happening to you. I am sorry to hear you are in great turmoil. The world is calamitous of late, and the only solution I have found (my life is chaotic as well currently) is to find the calm beyond all calmness that can only be found in the deafening silence of God, which can only be found within.
Thank you for your prayer. The silence is absolutely deafening — and is surprisingly not silent at all as I allow myself to fall into it more and more.
I’m painting… and painting… every day. I have to. It makes me happy and fills a need. Is it “practical?” In an economical sense, I guess not. But I’d be impoverished without it.
I just like painting, I paint consistently every day and it makes me happy , so I appreciate hearing from others who feel that same sense of inspiration.
Even though I am not a Christian, it was promising and assuring to follow ourselves without caring for others judgey eyes. It felt relieving to hear the words of God and have faith in God.
I read this finally after postponing it for 3 days. And I have given up mostly on being smth I am not. I have realised I should be what I wish to be rather than what world forces me to be. Your post helped me to make my ideology more stronger.
It matters not what you call yourself or even if you believe anything at all. We all hear and feel the creative calling inside. The Christ consciousness I speak of (which I referred to as other names) is available to all of us at any time. You don't have to consider it "Christ" though. Hindus call it Kutastha Chaitanya. It is a universal, pure, and unchanging consciousness that is immanent in all creation. It is often described as a state of oneness with God. You don't even have to believe in God. If you meditate, sit quietly, go deep inside, feel the call of wonder, beauty and goodness, and don't turn away from the things you feel you truly are, you will find it and the Kingdom. If it helps, you can think of these things simply as forces that pervade the universe. Even science knows the whole universe is an illusion of sorts made of vibrations in quantum fields that pervade everything and that there is undeniably a force of transformation that is evolving things to ever more order and complexity. They have theories as to why that is happening. That divine drive/intelligence/song is the Logos which some call the Christ Consciousness and others call other names. Organized religion we have to be careful of or it can lead us down dogmatic explanations that don't want to be questioned. True spirituality consists of being completely open minded to any truth, even if it disagrees with our previously help beliefs. These truths we can learn to discern for ourselves. I agree with you, don't let the world force you into a box that isn't a box you want to be in.
I find may self on the end og journey. It was funny I ecspected trumpet sign of God. Do you know have I was shooked when I hear voice in english. Terrible. You notice that I writh english like he come and bay felling.
Voice say: You dont need to learn nothing
you dont need to go nowhere
you are Home.
That was so gentle.
Magical.
From that time Im leaded bay heart. I stop learning I prefer teory we know everything but we forget. That is closer to may acsepting.
Your words strike to the core. Having been raised in an evangelical environment listening to the sermons of the talents, you bring it to life for me as at a time when I’m ready to listen with spiritual ears. Having gone left instead of right when I was starting out adulthood, I took the practical path and here I find myself at a crossroads at the age of 54 with time running out. Stay the course and become debt free in a couple of years to fully do the work God has entrusted me to lift people through my art or what if I don’t reach a couple of years? I’m trying to shift my thought process out of corporate America to follow the talent gradually. Thank you for this gift. God Bless.
"Midway upon the journey of my life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost" - Dante, The Divine comedy.
The purpose, I have come to believe, of a mid-life crisis, is to wake us up. A spiritual awakening. We should use the wake up call not to chase power, second marriages to a younger spouse, or sports cars, but to find what we are being called to do. To some degree, it makes sense to pursue material things first and have a level of security when we later turn to spiritual things. Don't give up, plenty of people, especially creatives, have accomplished much in the autumn and winter years of their lives. I am in the same boat and am excited to see where writing goes, after having been a software developer for most of my career.
I’m a solution architect with a 20 billion dollar private company and so I know you know what I’m talking about. Yes, we have a calling just need to get off the hamster wheel and time it right. Upgrading my subscription to support your writing journey, its giving me much value to strengthen my thoughts. Thanks
Yes. We have a dearth of courageous men. Very few people truly know who they are and so just kind of blow around in the winds of propaganda adopting beliefs they have been spoon fed. The first step is always to “know thyself.”
I normally brush past your Bold Brush emails but this morning I found the topic interesting as I am at a major crossroad in my life. Starting over at 72 after my 21 year marriage ended due to a cheating spouse. It destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself and my life. It rocked me to my core and I have not painted since discovering the betrayal nearly a year ago. The divorce is final. The house has finally sold and I am now free to embark on a new life alone. Your words have encouraged me in that I know all this was part of the Lord’s plan and He is wanting so much more for me. Your article has given me so much to think on as I do know that I have been given many talents to spend, grow and use as God intended. Looking back, I can now see that I wasn’t fully being myself and was keeping myself small to keep someone else happy who was clearly unhappy with the life I thought we were building together. I hope and pray that I will have the courage to be my weird and bold self so that I can truly increase the talents I have been blessed with. Thank you for your lovely writing. So glad it called to me this morning.
Linda, I am so sorry to hear what you've been through these past few years. Thank you for having the courage to share your story and for letting me know that you found encouragement in my writing. My heart soars to know that it may have brought you even a small amount of hope. That is why I write. That is why we all create Art. To help and express ourselves, yes, but also to send inspiration and energy to others across space and time. I am glad you have realized you weren't being fully yourself since the quest to become our true and full self is the mission that we are on. Thank you again.
Beautifully expressed, thank you for sharing this. I don’t recall The Talents Parables so this was particularly interesting.
I read The Artist’s Way a number of years ago and it still features as one of the oldest habits of mine now. Other than painting I can’t think of many habits I have managed to stick with!
I look forward to your book - it feels like another life touching treat is in store for us!
I really enjoyed reading your post. In the 1990’s I did a lot of inner work through “the Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. When I took a leap of faith of starting a decorative painting business (feeling it was the right path) the opportunities completely stopped. I was devastated thinking did I get it wrong. But I persevered. It slowly grew and evolved. Just wasn’t immediate. I always try to listen to my inner path. I thank you for writing this. Look forward to your book.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's funny you mentioned "The Artist's Way." The ideas that brought me out of inner darkness and back into the light are the ideas that eventually became the book I am working on. But I've since read The Artist's Way and I kinda/sorta independently "recreated" what was in that book as an intuitive way of reawakening creativity in my self, and thus reconnecting with my soul and ultimately it brought me back to a completely felt experience of God.
Here's an excerpt from the Intro of my book, The Sovereign Artist, where I pay homage to The Artist's Way (and The War of Art):
After I had established myself as “someone who writes,” and had built a decent sized following, I happened to read two books that I’ve always heard about, but had never read previously: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield (I highly recommend both).
While reading those two books, I realized that the way in which I had saved myself, and recovered the color and joy of life, had been my own independent re-invention of what those two books recommend! My version is different, of course, but the path of this book and those two venerable volumes tread through the same magic forest.
How much I needed to read this! It’s odd stumbling across this post now — I don’t ever have time or headspace or solid footing to read much beyond brief blurbs in posts. What allowed me to be on this page today? I am in great turmoil and am experiencing things that are shaking my very existence. I have prayed more and more, I have started feeling, seeing, hearing, sensing God’s presence at times when I need it the most — when I am spinning around in a sometimes daily vortex and drowning in it. I went from hearing a calling once or twice a year to every few months to every Sunday and now to almost every day. Something is happening, and I read this and finally fully appreciate the meaning of the parable of the talents.
I am saying a prayer for you now Robert. I believe the world is on the verge of a great spiritual awakening. I know I have awakened to the fire within in the past few years, and many I know are feeling God in a new way. The world needs people to awaken. It sounds like that might be happening to you. I am sorry to hear you are in great turmoil. The world is calamitous of late, and the only solution I have found (my life is chaotic as well currently) is to find the calm beyond all calmness that can only be found in the deafening silence of God, which can only be found within.
Thank you for your prayer. The silence is absolutely deafening — and is surprisingly not silent at all as I allow myself to fall into it more and more.
Blessings and Peace. +
I’m painting… and painting… every day. I have to. It makes me happy and fills a need. Is it “practical?” In an economical sense, I guess not. But I’d be impoverished without it.
Exactly.
I just like painting, I paint consistently every day and it makes me happy , so I appreciate hearing from others who feel that same sense of inspiration.
Even though I am not a Christian, it was promising and assuring to follow ourselves without caring for others judgey eyes. It felt relieving to hear the words of God and have faith in God.
I read this finally after postponing it for 3 days. And I have given up mostly on being smth I am not. I have realised I should be what I wish to be rather than what world forces me to be. Your post helped me to make my ideology more stronger.
Thank you so much. 🙌
It matters not what you call yourself or even if you believe anything at all. We all hear and feel the creative calling inside. The Christ consciousness I speak of (which I referred to as other names) is available to all of us at any time. You don't have to consider it "Christ" though. Hindus call it Kutastha Chaitanya. It is a universal, pure, and unchanging consciousness that is immanent in all creation. It is often described as a state of oneness with God. You don't even have to believe in God. If you meditate, sit quietly, go deep inside, feel the call of wonder, beauty and goodness, and don't turn away from the things you feel you truly are, you will find it and the Kingdom. If it helps, you can think of these things simply as forces that pervade the universe. Even science knows the whole universe is an illusion of sorts made of vibrations in quantum fields that pervade everything and that there is undeniably a force of transformation that is evolving things to ever more order and complexity. They have theories as to why that is happening. That divine drive/intelligence/song is the Logos which some call the Christ Consciousness and others call other names. Organized religion we have to be careful of or it can lead us down dogmatic explanations that don't want to be questioned. True spirituality consists of being completely open minded to any truth, even if it disagrees with our previously help beliefs. These truths we can learn to discern for ourselves. I agree with you, don't let the world force you into a box that isn't a box you want to be in.
I find may self on the end og journey. It was funny I ecspected trumpet sign of God. Do you know have I was shooked when I hear voice in english. Terrible. You notice that I writh english like he come and bay felling.
Voice say: You dont need to learn nothing
you dont need to go nowhere
you are Home.
That was so gentle.
Magical.
From that time Im leaded bay heart. I stop learning I prefer teory we know everything but we forget. That is closer to may acsepting.
Have a nice evning
everything is truth
I dont have time to lie
and olways to remember what I say last time
weist of time
bay
Thank you Rajko for your comment.
Welcome olways
you are olways welcome. I have one rule if I like I comment If I dont like I dont say nothing.
On the ather I work mostly afternoon so I cant comment
my rule. Most of you are Amezing and I fell that is place to say THANK YOU ALL.
And one thing you wont here from me arguing about writh or wrong. That is not me any more. That Person is gone I fell forever. good night frends
Love this post. Thank you. Very inspiring.
Thank you so much!
Your words strike to the core. Having been raised in an evangelical environment listening to the sermons of the talents, you bring it to life for me as at a time when I’m ready to listen with spiritual ears. Having gone left instead of right when I was starting out adulthood, I took the practical path and here I find myself at a crossroads at the age of 54 with time running out. Stay the course and become debt free in a couple of years to fully do the work God has entrusted me to lift people through my art or what if I don’t reach a couple of years? I’m trying to shift my thought process out of corporate America to follow the talent gradually. Thank you for this gift. God Bless.
"Midway upon the journey of my life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost" - Dante, The Divine comedy.
The purpose, I have come to believe, of a mid-life crisis, is to wake us up. A spiritual awakening. We should use the wake up call not to chase power, second marriages to a younger spouse, or sports cars, but to find what we are being called to do. To some degree, it makes sense to pursue material things first and have a level of security when we later turn to spiritual things. Don't give up, plenty of people, especially creatives, have accomplished much in the autumn and winter years of their lives. I am in the same boat and am excited to see where writing goes, after having been a software developer for most of my career.
I’m a solution architect with a 20 billion dollar private company and so I know you know what I’m talking about. Yes, we have a calling just need to get off the hamster wheel and time it right. Upgrading my subscription to support your writing journey, its giving me much value to strengthen my thoughts. Thanks
🙏 Thank you
This is probably one of the best articles I read about creativity in a long time.
Thank you. I truly appreciate it.
Wow, how interesting is that!!! Thanks for letting me know. Hope you have great success.
Thanks again Clint for your writing
Thank you!
Yes yes yes. Synchronicity here, finding this after asking about the kinds of wealth Sahil Bloom missed. Love this. Thank you
Thank you for sharing this.
A good friend of mine told me well over twenty years ago that America lacked men of courage. He was right then, and he's still right.
Bill Alexander, the famous TV artist from the 1970s and 1980s, used to talk about "creative power."
Yes. We have a dearth of courageous men. Very few people truly know who they are and so just kind of blow around in the winds of propaganda adopting beliefs they have been spoon fed. The first step is always to “know thyself.”
I normally brush past your Bold Brush emails but this morning I found the topic interesting as I am at a major crossroad in my life. Starting over at 72 after my 21 year marriage ended due to a cheating spouse. It destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself and my life. It rocked me to my core and I have not painted since discovering the betrayal nearly a year ago. The divorce is final. The house has finally sold and I am now free to embark on a new life alone. Your words have encouraged me in that I know all this was part of the Lord’s plan and He is wanting so much more for me. Your article has given me so much to think on as I do know that I have been given many talents to spend, grow and use as God intended. Looking back, I can now see that I wasn’t fully being myself and was keeping myself small to keep someone else happy who was clearly unhappy with the life I thought we were building together. I hope and pray that I will have the courage to be my weird and bold self so that I can truly increase the talents I have been blessed with. Thank you for your lovely writing. So glad it called to me this morning.
Linda, I am so sorry to hear what you've been through these past few years. Thank you for having the courage to share your story and for letting me know that you found encouragement in my writing. My heart soars to know that it may have brought you even a small amount of hope. That is why I write. That is why we all create Art. To help and express ourselves, yes, but also to send inspiration and energy to others across space and time. I am glad you have realized you weren't being fully yourself since the quest to become our true and full self is the mission that we are on. Thank you again.
Beautifully expressed, thank you for sharing this. I don’t recall The Talents Parables so this was particularly interesting.
I read The Artist’s Way a number of years ago and it still features as one of the oldest habits of mine now. Other than painting I can’t think of many habits I have managed to stick with!
I look forward to your book - it feels like another life touching treat is in store for us!
I love this writing! It's so true.