June 2006Greetings All -- It's time for another class! With so much going on in my life, there's been little room for teaching, but I'm thrilled to report I'll be facilitating an Artist's Way Intensive this summer (based on, of course, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron). This course will move you out of creative inertia or help give structure and accountability to your existing creative projects. It will be six consecutive Thursdays beginning July 14, from 7-9 p.m., and the fee is $350 ($325 for registration before June 30). It will be held in Hoboken. Drop me an email or give me a call for more info. OH SO STILL
Practice not-doing, must have read this verse 25 times over the course of the last two years. In truth, I have incorporated more stillness into my life and I do treasure my time to reflect and meditate. But what I have found out in the last month is that one cannot always plan stillness. For example, if I wanted to plan to be still on a trip, I would probably go to Tibet or a little retreat in Taos. I wouldn't, however, journey to Paris with that intent. Imagine my surprise, then, that it was in that very place, the city of art, glitz and urban grit, that I went deeper into myself than ever before. I encountered a kind of stillness I hadn't experienced or, frankly, ever tried to achieve. I don't know if one can really envision this particular brand of not-doing until one is immersed in it. I know I couldn't have, but I highly recommend it. While in Paris, a series of circumstances one day forced me to go within and ask myself questions I'd been afraid to ask for a very long time. And to sit with my thoughts in a way I hadn't before. The more still I became and the more I pushed away the fear around that, the more swiftly and clearly the answers started to come in. Simple, profound insights. Sweeping changes I needed to make. People I needed to show my appreciation to. My need for movement, but right movement. Since returning, I have begun to address all of it in a thoughtful way and it's been invigorating. So the advice I'm imparting here is this: Be open to stillness anywhere. Pay attention to its messages. Let things be what they're supposed to be, not necessarily what you envisioned them to be. Last year I needed a break from a streak of "spiritual" books I was reading, so I naively reached for The Stranger by Camus and realized it was the most spiritual of all. Sometimes that's how it happens. BOOK FLASH: Erin Weed is one of those people you meet whose energy is contagious and whose life philosophy is inspiring. Her new book, The College Girl's Guide to Protecting Herself, is chock full of good information. I am proud to have had a part in it as its editor. Order your copy here: http://www.shopgfb.com/html/collegebook.html |
