The Artist's Way ~ Week 2: Recovering a Sense of Identity

This past week's theme was Recovering a Sense of Identity. Actually, at fifty-seven, I have a pretty strong sense of identity -- not that reminders aren't helpful. This next week -- Recovering a Sense of Power -- in which she talks about faith, and shame -- is going to be a challenge.

Again, though, all of this, the assumptions behind it, remind me of my privilege, and my limitations. This book is written for those of us with resources of all kinds -- health, time, wealth (by which I mean, our Western standard of living.) It is rich with ideas that are useful, helpful, for us individually, but -- I think -- can be downright dangerous when expanded into the political and economic world we so safely ignore.

The idea that if we pay attention, the universe will respond to support us, is a useful one -- assuming you aren't a woman in Darfur, or a girl in Afghanistan. There is such a thin and jagged line between the importance of taking responsibility for our own lives, and the temptation to blame others for their suffering. I just wish Cameron would explicitly note that her audience is a small one; that not all of us have access to these lovely synchronicities.

I know, I've mentioned this before. Perhaps I will tire of it soon.

For me, of course, within the boundaries of my own life, I do have access. I've continued the morning pages, and am reminded of their value. For one thing, I remember my dreams every morning, and for me, dreams and writing are intertwined. If I don't record my dreams, I do not write.

I am following the rule of not going back and reading what I've written -- and once written, for me, it's fairly well forgotten. So I have a difficult time with this week's question: What were you surprised to find yourself writing about? Well, nothing. Partly this is because I've done this kind of writing for years, and partly it's because I don't remember.

I did some of the other tasks, as well. I made a list of other lives; I made a list of things I like to do; I made a list of small changes. All the lists were longer than I expected them to be.

I had an artist's date planned for today, but illness intervened. However, it seems to me that this entire week has been an artist's date. A visit from an old friend, with more time to talk than we've had in years, brought my young self back to me. This is a person I speak with deeply; he elicits aspects of myself that are usually well hidden. Of course, now I miss someone I didn't miss before. There is always that other side.

And then, Niki brought an artist's date to me:

Drawing pencils; colored pencils; sharpener & eraser; a purple pencil case; a happy sketchbook -- and a pink tiger!! Woo-hoo!!

Henry wants the tiger, but it's mine.

Comments

[kat]

i've thought of that also, sb, about how this can't possibly apply to everyone. i suppose it's aimed at the people who would pick it up and read it. and it does make me feel fortunate enough to be in a place where i can get somethign out of it.

and yay for an ad brought to you! there's simply nothing better than a pink tiger. ehehe...have fun!

[Paint Chip]

Much like you I tend to forget what I've written, at least to some extent. And I've been good about not looking back at my mp's. But I am wanting to turn back to them because I think looking at them will help me move forward, rather than experience the ... "Now what was that thought I processed this morning?" kind of feeling I get sometimes by the end of the day.

I look forward to the day when we are "given permission" to glance back at our writings to see what they reveal. So in the mean time I'll just keep trucking along.

It was fun to hear that you had an artist date surprise show up at your door. Congrats! I think that's great.

I'll stop in and visit your blog again sometime soon. I enjoyed reading your entries.

[Dida]

I've been so absorbed in accepting that the AW may apply to me I never even thought about how it would not apply to so many others - others who need empowerment far more than I.

Thank you.

[Teri]

Really good points about the relatively small audience of the AW. Nothing is one size fits all. I have read Writing Down the Bones, btw! Great stuff.

Lovely blog!