On The Wings of Dreams
The Spirit of the Earth
Winter Solstice Theme: Exploring the Creative
Where, oh where, has our creativity gone?
Anyone missing the sunlight? Yes, here we are in the midst of the darkest time of the year. The month of the Winter Solstice (this year on the 22nd), December holds very few hours of daylight for our enjoyment. Add into that equation the busy preparation for the holiday season, and it seems the best we can do with our creative energy is wrap a pretty package. And even once the sun returns to its season of waxing on the solstice, we hardly notice it until around March.
It all sounds rather dark and gloomy, yes? Especially when we consider how many of us fall into depression after the New Year makes its grand entrance! Well, I dislike waste of any kind, especially when it is juicy and creative. Time to switch perspectives.
Unfortunately, the words creative and creativity have become all but meaningless from overuse. Even self-expression has lost its punch, too - having a rather narcissistic ring to it. Let’s face it, you can’t order creativity at the drive-thru. The muses are tricky, secretive and shy. They are also stubborn and seem to show up only on their own terms.
Initially, I struggled with this topic. There has been so much written on creativity – some of it helpful and some just plain not. How to talk about creativity in a way that is concretely helpful? How to shed some light into these dark months and show how wonderful they can be? The answer came during a recent extremely challenging travel experience. Cancelled flights and luggage lost and there it was, staring me in the face.
The path that leads into our creative source is to step outside of our comfort zones with a cheerful, curious disposition. Three thousand miles away from home, with nothing but the clothes I was wearing and a few essentials in my backpack – I shut off my whining, complaining voice and stepped into the experience.
Now, I was in the smack middle of San Francisco, and I am NOT a city person by any stretch of the imagination. I could have chosen my old patterns of thinking that say to me, “I hate crowds and concrete and noise!” Instead, I threw myself into the alien rhythms and entered what Zen students call “Beginners Mind.” Basically, it is viewing your world and experience like you are three years old and your subjective likes and dislikes are not yet in place.
What happened was beautiful and amazing. Without my literal and figurative “baggage”, I was laughing, I was writing short stories and slice-of-life vignettes. I felt creative and inspired and free!
How can we apply this lesson without the stress and expense of my experience? Well, lose your baggage. Put it down! Structure your day differently. Step outside of your comfort zone. Pretend as if you have never seen your life before, and look at it with those three year old eyes. Slow down and really observe. Question your routines and see what inspiration arises. Because it will arise - honestly.
Creativity is not confined to particular art form, although you may find yourself writing, painting, dancing… whatever! The trick is, if you set aside what you think you know, and what you think your life is about – even temporarily – you will reap the rewards of new inspiration and an incredible sense of freedom.
Dark months, smark months! There is no depression here! There are only limitless areas of our inner world to explore as we realize that our lives are not set in concrete. Our lives are organic, fluid experiences that thrive on a little shaking up of perspectives, now and then.
We can become like seeds planted under winter’s frozen soil. Who knows what flower we will become in the spring? For now, in the dark, we can dream away – play with our lives and experiences wherever possible. Don’t put your tree in the same corner you have year after year – shake it up! As nice and comfy as our routines can be for us, if you are looking to invite the creative spirit into your life – you’ll need to give her something interesting and new to experience!
I’d like to end this month’s essay with the metta prayer – very appropriate for this season of renewal and rebirth.
May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free!
Happy Holidays!
Peace-
Tee
p.s. I’d love to hear from you! Email me at teespirit@gmail.com
