The Artist's Way
From blocks to breakthroughs: how one book changed everything and taught me to trust the process.
Today I had a phone call with a very good friend of mine, Jaz. “Now I’m onto my third post, what should I write about?” I asked her. The third post feels quite important somehow and I’m feeling a slight pressure on this, since I’ve really been enjoying your response. I’ve loved your reading your comments and direct messages on socials. These posts have been a pleasure to write and a great source of motivation for me too.
Jaz suggested that, since it’s the third post, perhaps I should talk about something very meaningful for me and something that not only has helped me but could help others.
Instantly, one book and one author came to mind.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
The Artist’s Way is like a bible for creatives, filled with tools to help you discover—or recover—your creative self. As we navigate the woodlands of our internal process, each page is layered with enlightening quotes from a myriad of artists that remind us it’s possible. A heartening reminder that, whilst this may feel like uncharted territory, countless artists have courageously walked their own versions of this path before.
It’s the book I’ve gifted more than any other. Time and time again, I’ve gladly replaced my own copy after sharing it with friends and fellow artists because of how transformative it’s been for me. In fact, I even discuss her work in my conversation with Jason Silva, filmmaker, storyteller and host of the eight-part National Geographic series, Origins: The Journey of Humankind and host of Nat Geo Emmy-nominated series Brain Games here.
From taking yourself on weekly “artist dates” to practicing Morning Pages (a game-changer, especially when dealing with writer’s block), The Artist’s Way is brimming with tools to help you reconnect with your creativity. But what has moved me most—perhaps because it’s so simple yet profound—is Julia Cameron’s exploration of the spiritual connection to creativity.
The Basic Principles of Spiritual Electricity
Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.
There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life—including ourselves.
When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.
We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.
The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.
As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move towards our dreams, we move toward our destiny.
Through my own process of taking action and receiving feedback in varying ways, every single principle on this list has proven itself to be true for me.
And I’ve been contemplating the final point in particular for years.
Choosing the pathway of being an actor—or an artist of any kind—will be riddled with challenges. You’re essentially forging your own path because there are so many variables. Some people have a different set of opportunities and advantages that you might not initially have. Or you might find yourself up against your own mind and self-confidence. When we were on the cusp of making our feature film a couple of years ago—I was stressed out of my mind. It felt like the odds were being stacked up against us and that dream that I’ve been working on for my entire 20s was being kicked to the curb. In moments like these I think our creative integrity really gets challenged. If this is causing you so much stress then why are you doing it?
There are some wonderful treasures on the internet and I remember one video my wonderful friend Roberta shared with me on this. It essentially reminded us that whatever we choose to do in life, it will always come with some challenges. So which challenges are you willing to work with?
Around the time of the stressed event aforementioned, when I was wondering if there was another option to this stress, I watched Uta Hagan’s Masterclass on Acting which draws from her book Respect for Acting. I remember enjoying the class so much that I had to digest it in stages and savour every lesson she was sharing. As I diligently wrote notes in my notebook and rewound sections to make sure I captured every detail, I found myself caught in the act—pen in hand—fully absorbed. And in that moment, I was reminded of something fundamental: this passion I have, this “creative dream and yearning,” doesn’t feel like a choice. It is something that I have been programmed with and maybe, just maybe, according to Julia’s philosophy, came from a divine source.
*Thanks to Alex Marx whose acting classes and chalkboard (pictured above) led to me to discovering Julia’s work in the first place.
What I have found to be absolutely true, for me, is that as I have faced my dreams head on and stopped denying that this is a gift to know what brings you energy and life, I am now working on projects that are setting my soul alight. I am part of a theatre piece that is not only an incredible story (imagine Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black meets Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca all wrapped up in the style of a traditional ghost story) but is fun to play and my collaborators Joanna Holland and Stéphanie Joalland are a blessing to work with; they’re extremely considerate, encouraging and intelligent women who inspire me to want to make us all proud.
What the path of making our feature film is teaching me, is that everything has its time. Every challenge is an opportunity and every rejection is redirection to what you really want. We have to trust our process, trust our timings and trust ourselves. Take action on our creative impulses, intentionally follow through on our ideas and in doing so, “many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected”.
When we show up for creativity, it shows up for us.
Have you noticed this?
You are so right Louise. Everything has its time, but I also think everyone has their time, if you just keep looking (or showing up).
You told me about this book a couple of years ago and I diligently worked my way through it, and I loved doing so.
Did it transform my life?
Well not immediately. But it began the process of changing my focus and the way I see the world. And that is the key. Perhaps before I read this book I didn't even know where to look. Now I really do and low and behold opportunities are presenting themselves in a way I would never have thought possible even a year ago.
Oh gosh the quotes. ❤️ That's a beautiful one. 100% agree. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts this week. Always a pleasure to hear from you!