[aschearer]

I recently stumbled upon "Artists Way a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" and really resonate with a practice it puts forward: "morning pages" and "artist dates." The exact nomenclature isn't important, but the idea of a "signal and response" pattern is, in my opinion, spot on. Like meditation, it's one of those things that sounds far fetched but that you can try for yourself -- and the results will speak for themselves.

[radix7]

I saw another post here about this book a few months ago and gave it a shot. I lasted about four weeks before giving up on it. I found the process of writing morning pages to be thoroughly unpleasant and it did nothing to spark any creativity in me. I also found the premise of 'someone in your past told you not to be creative' pretty hard to relate to.

Similar to meditation, really. My experience seems at odds with everyone else and I'm clearly the weirdo for not getting anything out of it.

[aschearer]

Meditation is a good analogy. I haven't found sitting and meditating for 15-30 minutes especially mind-expanding. Listening to music and walking my dogs, however, sometimes takes me somewhere expansive. That is to say, I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all rule here. More like we should experiment with ourselves and our patterns, and that we can use the signs left behind by fellow travelers as a cue to look more closely in certain areas.

With all that said, 1) I don't think it's important to literally write "morning pages" (nor does Ms. Cameron, in my reading). It's important to find the correct medium _for you_ that manifests ideas in the world. 2) I think the signal-response pattern _is important_. It's not enough to put thoughts/feelings/whatever into the world. You need some means for things to return to you.

Flip it around though, as a fellow weirdo -- what stimulates your creativity?

[radix7]

>I don't think it's important to literally write "morning pages" (nor does Ms. Cameron, in my reading).

From my reading, it seemed like literally writing pages was absolutely essential, regardless if writing is your preferred medium or not.

>what stimulates your creativity?

Nothing I've been able to find yet. That's why I'm willing to try weird new age-y books mentioned on HN.

[aschearer]

Well I'm just a dog on the net, so what do I know? Best of luck in your journey. I hope you find what you're searching for!

[broscillator]

Dude I'm on week 5 of this book rn, the morning pages really are quite something.

The artist dates were harder to incorporate at first but I think I got the hang of it.

[aschearer]

I was fortunate to stumble upon the practice by accident. I was journaling just because, and my two dogs ensure I have plenty of solitary walks through nature. It really is incredibly important to have that time, and to maintain a curious, open mind.

Likely there are other ingredients. Some sort of catalyst may be needed for the process to get into gear. (Full disclosure, I'm still partway through the book so perhaps Ms. Cameron discloses them, but I stand by signal-response practice from direct experience.)

To hazard a guess, I would say joy/wonder may that catalyst. Or rather, our sense of wonder will lead us to joy which triggers the necessary inner reaction.

I'm curious to hear more about your experiences.

[broscillator]

I too had a journey with journaling already, but the very specific and clear parameters of the morning pages really made it click. I still actually journal on my laptop, but the purpose of journaling has become clearer. The morning pages are not intended to be read, but the journal is.

> Likely there are other ingredients. Some sort of catalyst may be needed for the process to get into gear.

Are you talking about the process outlined by the whole book and her philosophy, or something else? If so I think it's just life. If I had picked up this book 10 years ago I would not have been able to read past all the allusions to god. I still reject that concept, but I'm a lot more spiritual and I'm able to translate into my own beliefs or look past it when it gets a bit too heavy.

I think it's hard to start from absolute 0 and pick up this book and follow through. I was already on the path of nurturing my inner artists and general self discovery and this book reached me through a dear friend and it was exactly what I wanted.

What week are you on? I had an interesting 4th week because I'm a heavy reader, and I decided to cut off social media too.

[aschearer]

Thanks for sharing, that's interesting to read. I've just finished the third chapter -- but I'm really just reading through at this point, not following the course. I've just come out of a long creative project, so I'm grazing. I agree with you that the book can be off putting if you aren't in the right frame of mind. I, too, would have scoffed reading it in the past.

The catalyst comment was more my ruminating about the creative process. Like I said, I think the signal-response element is critical, but perhaps not sufficient. Could you spend years in that pattern and not experience any benefits? If so, what's the missing ingredient? I wonder...

[broscillator]

> If so, what's the missing ingredient? I wonder...

I see what you mean, I think personally that ingredient is belief in a higher purpose, in the sense that my creative act is not just a capricious enjoyment on my part, or even a key component of my mental health, but that it can serve a function for other people and that that is the opposite of being selfish.

I'm still coming to terms with this idea.

I'm curious about your project if you don't mind sharing. I had a moment like that a few months ago and this book reached me after that. And FWIW my friend mentioned she re-reads the book and does the exercises every year, I can see myself doing that, and it's made it easier to not berate myself for not doing all of the exercises.

[aschearer]

That's an interesting theory and certainly meshes well with the book's thesis!

My project was a video game I co-created called "You Will Die Here Tonight." After many years, we finally shipped! I find there's something special about actually finishing work. That growth occurs up in the thin air at the summit, if you catch my drift.