Checking in--The Artist's Way thoughts, revelations, ramblings

I finally sat down and went over some of my reading, notes, etc. yesterday as I needed to "tune in" to the AW. I had not done morning pages in almost a week, although I have been "writing out" things on the blog and pondering on alot of my "junk". Does art count as "morning pages"??? I feel my artwork is like a journal of what is going on inside me. Now, Julia Cameron says something about this, I believe in chapter four to the effect of being more creative if you get all that junk out on the morning pages. Sometimes I kind of think, "This is analysis, paralysis", meaning, I'm analyzing my navel too much and not moving forward. I just want to get to my desk and make something and now I'm breaking my flow by making myself sit down and do MP's! But then I think, "oooo, the book says that if I'm avoiding MP's, I must really need to do them now, so I better get on with it." Now, I know that much of this introspection IS helping as I am letting my "true" self emerge (and I see more of 'her' lately), but sometimes I just get tired of it and want to take a break from the thinking about what I'm thinking about and why I'm thinking about it and what, who, where raised me and how that impacted me and that does that mean I'm screwing up my KIDS???? Ok, I guess I do need to go to my room and do my morning pages as all this junk is now coming out on my blog and I'm rambling on and someone is going to write me and tell me I need to take some meds or something....ha ha...
But, anyhoo, let me get to some positive stuff on my "Artist's Way" journey from this week.
1. I didn't cut out reading, but I read less and I found that as a result, I talked to my friends more and talked on the phone more (which I don't like to do), but actually picked it up and rang a few friends and had delightful conversation.

2. I actually came up with an Imaginary Life story!!!! Back in the beginning, I had posted that I could not come up with one.....well, it was "buried deep within my psyche...ha ha..." Guess what? It's a BALLET dancer!!!! I realized it when I was driving home one evening and I passed our local ballet studio (in which my daughter attends) and I could see the dancers up at the window. then I thought, as I gazed longingly---oh my gosh---that's it. I've imagined that life before! I still do as when I am picking up my daughter and I see the adult class beginning, I want to go right in and join them!! So I think that's progress.

3. I like the "speed kills the censor" saying that Julia mentions. That made me chuckle, so I quickly completed the "I wish list..." (p. 102).

4. I admit, I am an the absolute "VIRTUE TRAP" (chapter 5) Poster child. I was raised that you do unto others, not yourself. a hard habit to break! ARtist's Way has dispelled this myth to me as I now see it as an "excuse" to remain creatively blocked.

5. Lastly, I must let you go if you have gotten as far as reading this last one, since I'm sure you don't have this kind of time to continue to listen to my ramblings and I will be the virtuous person that I am (LOL)and end with a the Artist's prayer I wrote, (chapter 4 suggestion). I wish everyone a creatively blissful week!

My Artist's Prayer
By Lia (aka Art Junk)

I PRAY THAT I CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
WITHOUT FEAR OR
REGRET

I PRAY THAT I OPEN DOORS OF POSSIBILITY, LOVE, AND GIVING AS I EXPRESS MY
CREATIVITY

I PRAY THAT I CAN GIVE REST AND SOLICE TO MY SOUL
AND THAT OF OTHERS

I PRAY THAT THROUGH MY CREATIVITY, I CAN SHOW MY FAMILY WHO I AM AND HOW MUCH
I DEEPLY LOVE THEM

I PRAY THAT THE WELL OF CREATIVITY INSIDE ME BRINGS FORTH GOOD

I PRAY THAT I CAN FACE, SLAY AND CONQUER THE DEMONS WITHIN THAT KEEP MY CREATIVITY
AT BAY

I PRAY THAT I WILL INVITE MY ARTIST TO STAY
BE COMFORTED
BE SAFE
BE WELCOME
AND BE LOVED
EACH
DAY
of
MY
Life.

AMEN. --LK