Meditations of an Artist III
Recovering a Sense of Power
Themes of this week are: Anger, Synchronicity, Shame, and Growth
9 May 2025
Chapter three opens with the foreshadowing that this week will ask us, as the creative, to "consciously experiment with spiritual open-mindedness;" we are likely going to encounter bouts of strong emotions..
...of anger, of joy, and of grief.
These emotions, of course, are extremely valuable to an artist as they are often the driving force behind the creative process. Artwork serves as an emotional outlet which otherwise may have been suppressed (much to the artist's dismay) deep within oneself.
10 May 2025
The first topic of this week is Anger. We are informed that anger is the emotion that shows us what our boundaries are.
An important assertion is made in the initial paragraphs which I think is important to meditate on - anger is not meant to be acted out. Anger is instead meant to be the fuel which points one in the direction they are meant to go. Cameron states anger should be a message we are then meant to translate into a productive and healthy outcome.
Anger is a tool, NOT a master! It is a power to be harnessed and an internal force to be listened to, as it will often drive us to better ourselves.
11 May 2025
The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf - Shakti Gawain
Synchronicity is the fortuitous intermeshing of events. Commonly known by the phrases "ask and you shall receive. Knock and it shall be opened to you..," or "Watch out what you pray for; you just might get it." The very idea that our destines, and our most wild desires are very much attainable by our own hand.
Leap, and the net will appear!
On synchronicity, Cameron writes:
We like to pretend it is hard to follow our heart's dreams. The truth is, it is difficult to avoid walking through the many doors that will open.
In other words, the great Goethe once wrote:
Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin in. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.
It is no secret that the power of success lies within our very being. Though, often, we as artists are too caught up in doubt and fear to fully and confidently commit to our dreams.
12 May 2025
The argument arrises, that is not fear which holds the creative back from obtaining their dreams and their glory - but shame.
Shame is controlling. Shame is an attempt to prevent one from acting in a way that brings about embarrassment.
The act of creating art exposes a society to itself, casting light onto a lingering darkness. On things most often ignored.
Shame can only be combatted by one's willingness to reassert self-praise and self-love. Shame comes to an artist by means of cruel attempts at critique often by those who have not taken the time or effort to seek out understanding a work. It is very possible, these types of reactions are driven by their own shame! Their own self-doubt is then projected onto you, the creative, as a means of bringing you and your dreams, your passions down to their level.
14 May 2025
Growth is an erratic forward movement. Much like healing, it is not linear. One will find that one week they are filled with powerful creative energies, and perhaps the next week they cannot bring a single idea out onto paper. Understanding these ebbs and flows for what they are, is growth.
On the topic of growth, Cameron asks us to practice being gentle and kind to ourselves in small ways. Nourish your body, ensure you are generous with yourself.
15 May 2025
This week has been all about recognizing or, for some, rediscovering their power.
Power over growth, power over their confidence, and power to allow the universe's gifts to flow to them.
It also reminds us of our power to create boundaries between ourselves and those around us which are not looking to support us in our creative journeys. To also hold power over our more strong emotions such as anger, and to use them in a way that is conducive toward our goals and creative dreams.
Before beginning The Artist's Way, I had heard from many artists that things began to get more rough around the third or fourth week. I believe this is due to how much we are asked to look within ourselves in this path. We are required to become more familiar with aspects of ourselves which may have been suppressed...which are maybe uncomfortable.