The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Artist’s Way
(Tarcher/Putnam, orig. 1992)
I first discovered The Artist’s Way quite a few years ago. I’d heard it mentioned, over and over again, in various writers’ forums, artists’ communities, by friends and acquaintances. It was at a period when my writing had gone stale, and I’d grown creatively lazy, that I finally purchased a copy for myself. I believe it was in 2002, a year of extreme highs and lows in my life (how I’m tempted to ask, “aren’t they all?”), that I decided to actually participate in the program.
I worked through the book alone, writing out my morning pages, doing my “artist’s dates” the best way I could (as I was at the time without a vehicle), faithfully following the exercises. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a new sense of peace, self-worth, and enjoyed a series of serendipitous occurrences which seemed to be far more than coincidence.
I’m now, once again, going through one of those “high and low” phases of life, and finding more of a need than ever to tap into the creative energy of the universe. I’d been gazing across the room at my copy of The Artist’s Way for several days when serendipity struck again.
Out of the blue, someone on a dog list I frequent mentioned that she had also picked up her copy and decided to work through the program. I wrote to her privately, at the same time that yet another person responded on the list that she, too, was about to revisit the book. A fourth had expressed the need to start painting again, and was interested in the program as well.
We suddenly had found ourselves a perfect little “cluster” (as described on Julia Cameron’s website, theartistsway.com), are now writing our morning pages, setting up dates with our inner artists, and once again exploring the connection to our own creativity.
The subtitle of The Artist’s Way is “A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity”, and that certainly is a good description of the program. This is not just a book, but has grown into a world-wide community of thousands of interconnected souls, who will probably never know of one anothers’ existence, but who have all used Julia Cameron’s blueprint to reconnect with their inner artist. Although it is a very spiritual walk, Cameron does not attempt to steer one’s beliefs, and encourages each person to find that connection in their own private way. Through a series of activities, which begin with the two essential tools of morning pages and artist’s dates, The Artist’s Way leads the participant both into the depths of their intuitive center, and outward into the universe to tap the inflow of creative energy. It reconnects one with their inner child, and encourages that child to Create.
The Artist’s Way, despite the title, is not just for visual artists. Cameron herself is a writer, in fact; a screen-writer with award-winning credits as well as an author of many marvelous books. Painters, photographers, writers, poets, musicians, actors, dancers … all who wish to live a more creative life will find benefit from this program. By this, I do not simply mean all who wish to create some kind of art … but anyone who wishes their life to be more intuitive, creative, fulfilling. Any person who would like to tap the joy that is locked up inside themselves, and bring it to the surface, can be helped toward that goal through The Artist’s Way.
My words make this book sound like a magic wand, but it’s not. In fact, the program will not give anyone anything they don’t already have. It simply helps a person to locate, and utilize, their own resources. It teaches one to listen to the inner voice, to open up to the inspiration of the universe, and to access the flow of creative energy so that they can create what is already inside them.
I’m eagerly looking forward to following the program to its conclusion again, and intend fully to continue my morning pages and artist’s dates long after I close the book. I hope this little piece of encouragement may help others to find the same satisfaction, as well.
Julia Cameron, in addition to The Artist’s Way, has written many other books which all, in some way, encourage creativity. Follow the link to her name to discover these titles, which include offshoots of the original Artist’s Way as well as many other works. In addition, a great deal of wonderful information is available on her website.
Enjoy your day, and enjoy your life, as you seek the path to higher creativity!
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Great blog!!! Very informative and inciteful. Excellent!!!
Thank you, Paul!
This was one of the first books I studied when actively involved with writing. It was this book of which the prompt I heeded led me toward the story of my book, The Long Night Moon. I still refer to it now and then. It helped me to connect to my inner self that has becomes a guiding tool in every thing I write. Also, I’ve found some like-minded friends through this book; it must have lightning-rod capabilities and pulls these kindred souls together! This book also gave me the impetus in writing an essay that won me a National Bronze Merit Award in 2003. The article was: Here’s Memories. The story told of cleaning out the attic, and the chronicling of the lives of my children; and the final item was empty coat hangers that was symbolic of the empty spaces that had once filled with laughter, tears, noises, and the full-speed-ahead lives of irrational teenagers!!! I still hear them at times…and I smile inwardly.
Willie, thank you so much for stopping by. I’m so please to chat with other fans of The Artist’s Way. It’s wonderful to know how much it helped you toward your creative success!