The Big Peace

Is swimming an artist's date?

Is swimming an artist's date - or is that cheating, asks Antonia today?

What do you think? I've already get us all cheating on the morning pages by doing them in the afternoon/evening so a bit wary about saying 'whatever'.

So have referred back to Cameron's wise words:

"An artist's date is a block of time - perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers......no lovers, friends, children or taggers on of any stripe.....

Spending time in solitude with your artist child is essential to self nurturing. A long country walk, a solitary expedition to the the beach for a sunrise or sunset, a sortie out to a strange church to hear gospel music, to an ethnic neighbourhood to taste foreign sights and sounds - your artist may enjoy any of these. Or your artist might like bowling."

Your artist, Antonia, might like swimming.

How is everyone else doing with their artist date ideas.

Thank you Marilyn for inspiration from this blog!

http://theartistswayblog.wordpress.com/artists-date-ideas/

I'm off tomorrow for The Big Eat retreat. So not around to blog. See you over the weekend, I'm sure.

And tune in for Sunday's instalment. We are leaping into chapter 1 and rediscovering a sense of safety.

xxxx

The afternoon pages

Well, I procrastinated some more, had a nap, and then finally at 2.30pm got round to doing my morning pages.

only a page and half. (but really, really big pages, honest) and what a load of old drivel. But I'm off the starting blocks.

How are you all doing? And what's the ruling about the pages? Can I make a suggestion that as long as we do our pages every day - we can do them in whatever time frame we want versus just the morning. I know why the morning pages work in the morning but I suspect with my son, the dog-walking, the general chaos in my house - these will be the perfect excuse not to write them.

So I'm giving myself permission to do the afternoon/evening pages.

What will work for you?

Is anyone else procrastinating?

I'm faffing and fuffing around. I can't find the right notebook to write my morning pages in, I don't know what to do for my artist's date, I'm reading a great novel right now so can't quite finish Cameron's introduction and I haven't signed my contract. Have I spent hour a day on the book yet? I don't think so.

Classic procrastination techniques for me! Procrastination is my greatest skill (after napping.) I love The Artist's Way, I know it's going to lift me to another level, I've persuaded everyone to join me on the journey.....and here I am.....doing nothing! Not until I get the right notebook.

I procrastinate because I'm scared - what of? I don't know. Changing my life, getting out of my comfort zone, leaping and then falling flat on my face. It's called a comfort zone for a reason.

Tonight I forced myself to read the 'basic principles' introduction and read the line: 'Leap and the net will appear'.

I know it's my thing but she's right.

Tonight, I'm leaping and commit to starting my morning pages  - on my son's homework pad if I have to (that'll shake up those teachers - I always seem to swear at lot in my morning pages - is that just me?)

HOw are the rest of you getting on?

The Artist's Way: the warm up

I am delighted that so many of you have signed up to walk the Artist's Way with me. (over 250 of us!)

I love The Artist's Way and always name it as one of my top five life changing books. When I first completed Julia Cameron's course, it affected me profoundly. My creativity - always one of my top values - seemed to explode. Yes, I started to write more creatively - I wrote a screenplay, started a novel, a blog and about three new projects but it was more than just that. The Artist's Way helped me think and create from a different paradigm. The Big Peace was directly inspired by this course.

In short, it changed my life. Let see if changes yours.

Let's get started.

This week, let's read the introduction and basic principles so we can start next Monday on week 1.

 I have recommended this book to all my clients and some get very alarmed by the use of the 'God' word but as Julia Cameron explains - you don't have to believe in God or have any kind of spiritual beliefs to do this course. YOu just have to do the work and exercises and suspend judgement.

Cameron suggests that we create a weekly schedule to work through this book. Shall we set a schedule now?

HOw about I post instructions/comments every sunday night and we endeavour to read the chapter and complete the exercises by the following sunday. I will blog on my thoughts and you can post your thoughts and comments as we go along and support each other.

Cameron suggests we spend about an hour a day doing some work on this course - perhaps one or two exercises a night? But she doesn't expect us to do all of them - just the ones that appeal to us and those we most strongly resist.

Homework for this week:

Read Introduction and Basic tools chapters.

Get your head around the morning pages (one habit I still have to this day...but they are usually my 'evening pages) 3 pages of long hand writing - just vomitting out your thoughts on to the page.

"The morning pages are the primary tool of creative recovery," says Cameron.

So try it out this week.

The other exercise is to book your first artist's date. Two hours weekly dedicated to a play date with your inner artist. Last time I did this course, I was so resistant to this, I had to work myself up to two hour slot - starting with a 10 minute artist's date. 

Finally, this week, sign your contract. 

I, .............., understand that I am undertaking an intensive, guided encounter with my own creativity. I commit myself to the 12 week duration of the course. I, ..............., commit to weekly reading, daily morning pages, a weekly artist's date and the fulfillment of each week's tasks.

I, ............., further understand that this course will raise issues and emotions for me to deal with. I, ......................, commit my self to excellent self care - adequate sleep, diet, exercise, and pampering -for the duration of the course.

 

----------------------------------

(signature)

 

___________

(date)

(Perhaps print this out and stick it on your fridge)

Ok.....we're off the starting blocks.

Another brilliant night!

Wow! I gave a talk last night after being invited by John Williams, leader of the Scanners tribe. (highly creative people with millions of great ideas!) http://www.scannercentral.co.uk/

I had a ball! It was sold out with 76 people in the room - and I had to do my talk sitting on the bar! Now that's my kind of talk! Loved it - loved the amazing people that I met and  chatted to. With the scanners tribe, I feel I belong - lots of creative people who like to have a glass or two of wine - wonderful!

Just have to mention the lovely Libby who I coached live on stage - or live on the bar. Libby has created an amazing idea of creating a 'sewing circle' - where you recycle old fabrics - and transform your old curtain into a glamorous clutch or last season's skirt into a kitsch 50s apron. They have workshops galore - loved it. www.thestudiolondon.co.uk

I also met Ann - who has asked me to talk at her creativity weekend. She's flying over top american experts, as well as top authors and agents - and er, me, now!
http://designyourcreativelife.wordpress.com/

And a big hurrah for the lovely Daniel of http://www.futurebility.co.uk/
- who turned my inner peace machine (www.emwave.com) as green as I've ever seen it. Now, there's one happy man!

Thanks to everyone who came to support me. Apparently the talk was recorded so will post it up once I've received it.

The one big thing I took away from the night - was how passionately I do feel about The Big Peace work. I threw my notes away and spoke from the heart (well, from the bar!) and I did feel absolutely sure that I'm on the right path.

That was a yes, then!

Over 200 over you have signed up to walk The Artist's Way with me - how wonderful is that!
Keep your eyes peeled next week. We will start on Monday (26th) with the introduction and rules etc. For now, buy the book, if you haven't already got it and perhaps read the introduction.

One of my colleagues sent me this wonderful film yesterday - an amazing array of statesmen and personalities in 'the third act' of their lives (as Michael Parkinson says) all talking about wisdom.

It's lovely. www.wisdombook.org 

The Artist's Way - want to walk it with me?

I was talking this morning about Julia Cameron's best-selling book The Artist's Way. Essentially, it's about creative recovery but often it's a great book for life recovery too.

Just a thought. Would anyone like to do the 12 week course with me via this blog?

There is a weekly chapter with exercises to follow but that might be a wonderful way to start 2009? Perhaps we could start the introduction chapter week commencing 26th January so we're ready to start the 12 week course in February?

I think I may have just got a book deal with Hay House for The Big Peace! Just waiting for contracts to be signed. How exciting is that! Especially wonderful for me as Louise Hay, the founder of Hay House and author of You Can Heal Your Life as been one of my inspirations for so long. And Hay House publish so many of my favourite authors - from Dr David Hamilton to Michael Neill.

So if I'm going to be writing away for the next few months, I may need some creative inspiration so The Artist's Way is just the ticket.If you want to join me, sign up here.

Trust, be, now

I'm having a mastery lesson about staying in the present. When I saw my sister in law this weekend, I found myself gripped by fear. For her, for my family. Of course, she's calm, fabulous and amazing as ever - looking ever so glamorous in her platinum blonde wig.

When does fear ever, ever help? The only power we have lies in the present. Fear of the future, anxiety, dread about what life may bring - what a useless state to be in - for everyone concerned. You're not a fortune teller. Who knows what the future may bring...for good or for bad?

All we can do is TRUST. Trust that what ever happens, we will handle it. I think that was Susan Jeffers' (feel the fear and do it anyway) quote when she was going through breast cancer.

Be in the present and trust. Be creative and dynamic and powerful in the present moment and drag yourself away from that brooding past of hurts and anxiety (and hope) of what the future may bring.

The only place we are alive is the present. Right here, right now. Ask yourself these questions: How do you want to feel? What can you do? What do you want to do? Trust, be, now.

If only...give it up.

I'm about to fly up to Newcastle to see my brother and sister-in-law and my 11 year old nephew. It's his birthday. I remember his very first birthday and blowing the candles off his cake and now he's 11??? How is that possible? I've blinked and 11 years have gone.

When he was born I was in my twenties (just!) and so much has happened to us all in that span of time.

And how I've wished away my time, wasted time, loved my time, hated my time on this planet. And that feels all the more poignant as my sister in law battles breast cancer for the 2nd time. She's 37. 

How I have taken life for granted. How I have huffed and puffed and stamped my foot because things are not to my liking when I perhaps should suck on that air and be grateful for everything that I have and for all the people that I love. For everything, really.

But how quickly I forget. I lost both my parents to cancer - they both died young and I swore to myself that I wouldn't forget to live every second, to love the life I had, to live my life to the hilt, to appreciate my life. 

And year or so passes (a second passes) and I find myself grumbling and huffing and puffing that 'if only' this was happening or 'if only' that was happening.

I loved Marianne Williamson's latest book The Age of Miracles and when I'm grumbling about my lovely life, I hope that I can remember her wisdom. 

" Most people, men and women, have had the experience of ageing, looking at a picture of themselves when they were young and thinking, “I thought that was inadequate?” But when I was younger, I was thinking, “If only I had another job, it would better. If I only lived in another place, it would be better. If only I was in a different relationship, it would be better. So, the real issue is not age. The real issue the ‘if only’ mindset. Give it up. Live in the present. You are who you are, not who you might be one day. Your life is what it is, not what it might be someday.”

And if you're my Big Leaping client Sue Donelly that 'what is' is fabulous.

Sue has just turned 50 and rather than grumble, she set up a website. www.feelfabat50.com

Sue has fully embraced being who she is and she's showing how to do it in style.

Magnetic Abundance on the fridge

Happy 2009, everyone!

My party was a triumph! Great company, great laughs, beautiful 'chinese wishes' flying up into the sky at midnight and dancing to Mamma Mia 'til dawn. The theme was opportunity/crisis and I felt that it was a great way to end the year and wonderful way to begin 2009. I got everyone to write on their 'Chinese Lanterns' - what they wanted to let go of and what they wanted to create in 2009.

This is where I got the idea from - it was truly magical. 

It was a lovely night - a real affirmation of good people, good laughs and great lives. Loved it!

2009 has hit and am very excited by one of my client's new projects. Kate England is a swedish designer - she designed the cover of my Big Peace CD and she's just come up with a brilliantly simple way to organise our lives - fridge magnets. Inner peace via fridge magnets???? Yes! Actually. Bear with me.

What you focus on expands and where do I spent a lot of my time? The fridge (trying to warm up in this weather!) - so imagine having your dreams/your life diary/your vision board pinned to the fridge with 'life organizer' magnets. Fantastic!

I've just ordered my first batch to put my vision board up on my fridge. I've always been a bit shy about sharing it with everyone but the magnets are so groovy, that I don't care.

Check out Kate's blog and website: http://www.lifeorganizerblog.com/

I feel more organised just looking at it.

I'm also trying to source a really big magnetic board for my office so I can be creatively fabulously magnetic in my office too.

My fridge may get a little crowded.

Kate has also come up with the brilliant idea of creating 'power words' to be the focus on the day/month/year - words such as effortless or genius or abundance.

Wow! Just log on to the website and see why I'm so enthusiastic. 

And this is the lovely Kate - isn't she lovely?