Tuesday Truth.
Number 62.
Hey all!!
I hope that everyone is doing well.
As I shared in my recent “What I’ve Been Reading Lately” post, I’ve been working through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I started week 4 on August 4th. Imagine my surprise when she brings up reading deprivation. She shares that for most blocked creatives reading is an addiction. Consuming other’s words instead of spending time in our own thoughts and feelings and words. Since the book was written in 1992, I wondered what that meant for other forms of consumption.
It is meant to be a conscious unplugging.
And so I spent a week without reading, watching TV, surfing the internet, or going on to social media. I set a timer for email checks as I did have things I’d need to respond to and some papers that I needed to sign.
Toward the end of that week, I tried my first attempt at astrophotography. One of the attempts was the photo that makes up the background of the quote above. I also recently shared this photo on Instagram. I enjoyed the journey of learning something new. While part of the experience was about making time for our creativity, which I did, I also found that I was more present for my family. I had no distractions and so I gave them my full attention.
It is still important to have boundaries or else you’ll never get to your creative work.
…and that’s an area where I still need to do some learning.
Even still, this process, this journey, has forced me to dig deeper. To search out those hidden creative parts of myself. To understand my own desires. I’m about to start week six of twelve and I would recommend this book to anyone looking to unblock their creative spark.
In other news, Mr. D recently turned 19. I can’t believe that my kids think they can keep growing up!!
Although growing up, in some ways, is just a state of mind.
Tonight, I think I’ll stand under that inky sky, close my eyes, and spin round and round.
What are you doing to seek out the depths of your imagination in these wild times?
If you are just doing your best to maintain a grasp on sanity, then that is the space you need to hold. Your creativity and imagination will always be there waiting for you when you are ready.
Sending you all love and light! Stay safe out there! xx
Let your light shine!
Amy
To be honest I’m not altogether certain that I am doing anything to seek out the depths of my imagination in these wild times. [a great phrase] I need to keep my creative spark going and can’t help but feel that when August, my least favorite month, is over I’ll get back to being more like me, despite the times in which we live. Rationalization? Maybe… but I’m going with it.
I think that sounds like quite the plausible rationalization! 🙂 I do hope that September brings you back to feeling like yourself, Ally! It’s my birthday month so I’m a little biased toward September. 😉
I too have been photographing the stars. Your first foray into astrophotography is marvelous! It’s addicting!
I bought one of the books you mentioned in your last post. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I’ve enjoyed several of her other works so thought I’d break up my Sci-fi genre with something else and broaden my scope of reading a bit, and I had the piano tuned and have started loosening up my fingers. I’m only playing scales and Hanon exercises right now, but it feels good to sit at the piano and bang something out.
I hope you twirled under the stars. I am hoping for a clear night so I can too. 😀
Thank you so much, Deborah!! It is addicting to be sure. The weather hasn’t been cooperative, but I will definitely be shooting some more night skies.
Let me know if you enjoy The House of Mirth. I really liked it. Good for you playing the piano!! I was about to break out my guitar and relearn the few chords I know when my oldest decided that he’d like to give it a try. He’s artistically inclined so it came easy to him. lol.
I did twirl under the stars, from my porch instead of the lake’s shoreline…but I’ll take it! I hope you get a clear night soon. 🙂
It’s so smoky here from the CA fires and air quality so bad I don’t think I will be able to get out this week for some wide field astrophotography. I hope you do!
I hope the air quality gets better!! We’ve had many clouds and I’ve been busy putting out fires (thankfully not literal ones!) so I haven’t had a chance to get back out.
Wow! love the starry photo 🤩
Thanks so much, Dee Dee!!! xx
Hi Amy, Your truths and quotations often arrive in my inbox when I need to hear them and extra appreciate the wisdom. The “….gently closing your eyes” reminds me of words from a past yoga teacher……..”soften your eyes.” My entire being would relax as it does with your quote, Amy.
An interesting phrase “conscious unplugging.” I will find your photo on Instagram. I am intrigued. I like your phrase “dig deeper.” We will be on our two week, unplugged Long Beach camping trip on the true West Coast of the Island. I am curious what the Universe will teach me this year. You are a wise woman, Amy. Thank you for sharing your spirit and your words.xx ❤️
I’m so glad that I arrive in your inbox when needed, Erica! You know I believe deeply in synchronicity so the Universe is working its wonders. 🙂 Savasana is my favorite part of yoga! Just relaxing and letting the practice soak in and all the stress melt away.
Oh! How fun! I hope you’ll be sharing all about your camping trip when you return. British Columbia has long been on my wish list of places to visit. All the photographs I see from there are so stunning. I’m pretty sure my mom discovered that some of our family that remained in Canada live there. Hmmm…
I hope the Universe teaches you many beautiful things. Thank you so much for your kind words, Erica. They bring me much joy. xx
Lovely post and food for thought. In my case, my imagination is a life saving device right now. September is on its way. It means back to school for my daughter. It means trouble for us. Anxiety nights, stress, days starting with tears… When I need to get my mind elsewhere, I travel back in time and work on my genealogy. Searching informations on old town records absorbs me completely. “Consuming my ancestors’ lives instead of spending time in our own thoughts and feelings”. And that’s a relief.
Well done on your astrophotography. You ended up with a great result. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much! We have just returned to schooling this week and the majority of it is online so I’ve been busy getting everyone prepared for that. Daydreaming does help in those spare moments. 🙂 I haven’t been doing any genealogy research recently, but I know exactly what mean about how searching for information on them can absorb you completely!