I am sitting in Santa Fe with my morning cup of Irish Breakfast Tea. This morning I am sitting in our living room starting to do my morning pages of writing as encouraged by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way and Natalie Goldberg in Writing Down the Bones.
I would like to write beside a fire in the kiva fireplace while I do my morning pages so I just started a fire. Actually, I just lit the fire starter. Time will tell about the fire.
Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg are both authors who have migrated to New Mexico and its open spaces to continue their writing and teaching. I recently read an article written about them in the New Mexico Magazine. They are friends rather than competitors. I like that a lot. I believe they can be supportive of each other because they both seem to “get it”.
Lighting fires is not something I am very good at because I have not had much experience with fire. I’m not sure if it matters if I watch the fire closely or light the fire starter and put it out of my mind.
Do thoughts and wishes, attention and concentration make any difference in creating a fire? “A watched pot never boils.” Does that also mean “a watched fire starter never burns”? How about a wish? “A watched wish never happens?”
I will add a little of the small pieces of wood and bark left in the bottom of the wood basket to the fire.
I have read, suggested, even given Gregg Fraley’s book, Jack’s Notebook, to family, friends and even a few people professionally. I think there are some solid ideas about Creative Problem Solving and creativity in this book. Yet, I still seem reluctant to commit to thinking about what I would like to do, creatively, with my life. I guess I am thinking about it some or I wouldn’t be suggesting the book to other people.
I will add a tall sliver of wood as the flame is beginning to catch on.
I am also re-reading Marney Makridakis’ book, Creating Time. I am making little inroads into choosing to sculpt my time rather than just ignore my choices and keep zizzing mindlessly through my day.
I now have a fire started!
Maybe the little ideas of kindling I am having as I continue reading and learning about creativity can help me direct myself toward where I would want to go.
There is no need to try to burn the whole rick of wood all at once.
Part of the enjoyment of a fire is watching each piece of wood burn to see how the flame from each log join together to create the elemental dance of fire.
Just like fire starting, creativity is not a competition or a mission judged by success or failure. It is the process of building with small thoughts and ideas on the ashes and embers of past experiences. Sometimes a little fire starter helps as well.
I also am learning that both fire and creativity require fuel to continue to burn.
What a joy to see what happens next with the dancing flames of creativity.
What are your favorite fuels for keeping the flame of creativity burning?
In addition to my random thoughts this morning, I would also love to share more photos of our recent trip to Italy. These are from Genoa and Venice. Ciao for now.