Magickal Realism

This is part of my work in the Julia Cameron Artist’s Way series. The work this time is from the book the Sound of Paper. The responses are self-examinations and assessments based on work through a daily series of exercises. While I do keep some material offline as it can be very personal and jarring, I often opt to be fairly open about my experiences, both positive and negative.

The exercise here is a “in a perfect world” scenario – a list of 10 things that would make life better.

In a perfect world…

I would winter in Hawaii. I would have a small car run on McDonald’s grease to get to and from decent coffee shops with a minimum of guilt. I would have that ergonomic desk chair so I could finish my work at a reasonable time. Pilates would burn a lot more calories than it does. A fabulous coffee shop will replace the closed pool hall across the street. My apartment would be clean, and I would be unconflicted about my perfumery stuff. No one would ever have reason to talk to me about aliens in a spiritual context. I would have the best, most suited-to-me writer’s group to go to for feedback like EVER. All my writing project would flow freely and fluidly from one to another. I could travel whenever the whim took me.
Filed under: Tasks, The Sound of Paper

This is part of my work in the Julia Cameron Artist’s Way series. The work this time is from the book the Sound of Paper. The responses are self-examinations and assessments based on work through a daily series of exercises. While I do keep some material offline as it can be very personal and jarring, I often opt to be fairly open about my experiences, both positive and negative.

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25 Things I association with sophistication.

Wine bottles – not wine itself, just the bottles. I think the shapes made are beautiful. Perfume. I love high end perfumes. The substance matters, but again, I love the bottle shape. Oriental/decorative carpets. Museums. Elegant and elegantly placed scented candles. Pumps. Scarves – but only when worn EXACTLY right. Books; large art picture books/pictorials, classic novels, and even electronic books. Original paintings. Opals. Lipstick brushes. Cheese plates/cheese. Breakfasting on my balcony. Sidewalk cafes. Antique shops. Scented candles, with no metaphysical purpose. Art house/indie movies. Metal arm bangles. Orchestral music. Old time comedians; Red Skelton, Danny Kaye. Live theater. Art Deco. Masquerades. discussion salons. Silk.

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Filed under: Tasks

Reblogged from The HeSo Project:

“Many of us wish we were more creative. many of us sense we are more creative, but unable to effectively tap that creativity. Our dreams elude us. Our lives feel somehow flat. Often, we have great ideas, wonderful dreams, but are unable to actualize them for ourselves. Sometimes we have specific creative longings we would love to be able to fulfill – learning to ply the piano, painting, taking an acting class, or writing. Someimes our goal is more diffuse. We hunger for what might be called creative living …

I only wish I could schedule these reblogs. More people who benefit from the Artist’s Way.
Filed under: Tasks

This is part of my work in the Julia Cameron Artist’s Way series. The work this time is from the book the Artist’s Way at Work: Riding the Dragon. The responses are self-examinations and assessments based on work through a daily series of exercises. While I do keep some material offline as it can be very personal and jarring, I often opt to be fairly open about my experiences, both positive and negative.

Final week on Riding the Dragon. The next book on deck: the Sound of Paper.

1. I don’t need to recommit to morning pages, I’m pretty well committed to them now. They help. I think they’re doing nothing, then I skip a few days, and I realize how very much they actually do. I suspect using a neti pot may be quite similar in some ways.

2. Time-outs do need some re-commitment. Part of my issue is just that I run out of energy and don’t want to do that, yet doing the time out recharges me. This week I went to the Mirror Maze for a time-out. It left me questioning reality in significant ways, and was worth the trip – and the Crowd Cut coupon. These photography walks, visits to new shops alone, the act of seeking new experiences - it all builds up a reserve I can draw from.

3. I have noticed synchronicity. It’s not always a synchronicity of opportunity – sometimes it’s a synchronicity of affirmation. I’d say the affirmation happens far more often than the opportunity type, perhaps because at this point it’s what I need more.

4. Oh, I intend to celebrate.

Filed under: Riding the Dragon, Tasks, Weekly Check-In

This is part of my work in the Julia Cameron Artist’s Way series. The work this time is from the book the Artist’s Way at Work: Riding the Dragon. The responses are self-examinations and assessments based on work through a daily series of exercises. While I do keep some material offline as it can be very personal and jarring, I often opt to be fairly open about my experiences, both positive and negative.

This is a letter from my inner mentor, to myself.

Dear Diana,
You are trying to do two things at once. Three was too much, but you can manage two, especially as they’re all part of the same spectrum and many other writers are in your boat. You have a passion to pursue, and you have something you’re also passionate about that is a bit more saleable. These are all good things. You do need to work longer. It’s just at that time now. Getting up earlier will help, but you do need to put more hours in. Try putting in an hour a day on your social networks.

Maybe put in an extra hour of writing at night, and save TV time for the weekends. I know this is hard for you, but of anyone, you can do this. Don’t curb your social time – you need it more than you know. I think your formula of seeing different friends once a month is effective. You do need to find or start a writer’s group. It all seems like a lot and it is, but you need this now. You and Mike will have to work out doing the laundry and getting the house cleaned some other way, because right now you’re both buried in projects. Sometimes life gets messy. It’s not like you don’t know how to clean up.

Get out, write out, be out. I know you hate Diamond’s Coffee shop, but it’s what’s close so you may need to befriend it. Or go back to hanging at Espresso Royale. Writing should come in an easy flow, and it should be your flow.

You know what to do.

Love,

Your Inner Mentor, the Priestess

Filed under: Riding the Dragon, Tasks