The Artist Date
If Morning Pages are assigned work,
Artist Dates are assigned play.
In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron asks us to think of this combination of tools in terms of a radio transmitter and receiver.
It is a two-step, two-directional process: out, and then in.
When you do your Morning Pages, you are transmitting: notifying yourself and the universe of your dissatisfactions, your dreams, your hopes.
When you do your Artist Date, you are receiving: opening yourself to insight, inspiration, and guidance.
Here’s more from Julia’s book:
An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.
In its most primary form, the Artist Date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers. You do not take anyone on this artist date but you and your inner artist, a.k.a. your creative child. That means no lovers, friends, spouses, children — no taggers-on of any stripe.
If you think this sounds stupid or that you will never be able to afford the time, identify that reaction as resistance. You cannot afford not to find time for Artist Dates.
Your artist needs to be taken out, pampered, and listened to. There are as many ways to evade this commitment as there are days of your life. “I’m too broke” is the favored one, although no one said the date need involve elaborate expenses.
Your artist is a child. Time with a parent matters more than monies spent. A visit to a great junk store, a solo trip to the beach, an old movie seen alone together, a visit to an aquarium or an art gallery — those cost time, not money. Remember, it is the time commitment that is sacred.
Commit yourself to a weekly Artist Date and learn to listen to what your artist child has to say on, and about, these joint expeditions. For example, “Oh, I hate this serious stuff,” your artist may exclaim if you persist in taking it only to grown-up places that are culturally edifying and good for it.
Listen to that! It is telling you your art needs more playful inflow. A little fun can go a long way toward making your work feel more like play.
The creation of something new
is not accomplished by the intellect
but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.
The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
C.G. Jung
The magical thing about Artist Dates and Morning Pages is that they perform what Julia calls “major adjustments in spiritual chiropractic.” As they become a regular part of our lives, they quickly align us with a flow of what we normally call luck, or coincidence. In other words, they create synchronicity.
All of a sudden, we’re in the right place at the right time.
We encounter not only support, but also opportunity.
Magical, I tell you.
Now… time to schedule my next Artist Date.
Though I’m in the habit of going out on my own to explore dollar stores, flea markets, and art supply stores, such outings have become kind of boring. I need to treat myself to something special for a change.
And wouldn’t you know it (synchronicity?), The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is hosting WARHOL LIVE – Music And Dance in Andy Warhol’s Work.
I’m going to see it this week.
It’s a date!
P.S.: Do you experience the magic of synchronicity on a regular basis?
Tracey says:
This is great stuff Oza. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I’m experiencing synchronicity on a very regular basis at the moment, I think because I’m going through a period of transition & opening myself up to all sorts of possibilities. I think these moments are like indicators – saying, yes! you’re heading in the right direction.
I like the ideas contained in these books, particularly some stuff I read online yesterday about shadow artists. I thought of me finding and following you, and you encouraging me to get writing. Another signpost me thinks.
Love you, xx trace
October 14, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Aurora says:
Oza Ma Belle!
Synchronicity!Synchronicity!Synchronicity!
I love it! I love it! I love it!
What perfect timing to read your post!
Did you know I use to faciliate an Artist’s Way Group years ago? Well, I did and very recently I have been itching to start a new group again and just today I was explaining what an Artist Date was to a soul-friend I met over coffee – who I haven’t seen in ages.
I was just asking the universe if I should start an Artist Way Group again and wowee, the message couldn’t be a stronger YES after stumbling upon your post today of all days.
Have I mentioned my beliefs in Synchronicity? Oh yes, this is one of my greatest personal philosophies. Which is why I had started my group on facebook – Synchronicity & *Being* In The Flow. And why very recently I started a blog TOTALLY dedicated to synchronicity called Synchronicity Song.
Yes,I believe very much in synchrolicious synchronicities and right now I feel the need to pass my blog onto you!
There is a reason for coincidences.
And you know what – I am adding your blog to my tasty blogroll on my 4 blogs. You’ll find the list of all my blogs through my synchronicity blog link!
What a wonderful blog you wrote. Thanks for collaborating with the universe in telling me I need to reboot The Artist’s Way again.
HUGS,
Aurora
http://synchronicitysong.wordpress.com/
October 14, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Aurora says:
Oh yes I forgot to say – I just loved your Warhol-esque artwork.
Just TOO cute!
HUGS,
Aurora
October 14, 2008 at 10:02 pm
The Synchrolicious Artist’s Way « Synchronicity Song says:
[...] of the wonderfully spiritual people on my facebook friendlist, Oza Meilleur – had just written a post on her blog today about guess [...]
October 14, 2008 at 10:41 pm
OzaMeilleur says:
Hi Tracey!
I’m so happy I decided to go back to my morning pages and artist dates…and that I thought of sharing my experience on this blog. Because already the synchronicity is working its magic, bringing us together on our journeys to self-discovery.
And YES, my sweet friend, you are SO heading in the right direction. Just make sure you love yourself enough to believe that you have in you all it takes to be who you were meant to be. You’re ready…just trust your instincts — connect with your Wild Child.
Hugs and love xoxo
October 14, 2008 at 11:44 pm
OzaMeilleur says:
Hey Aurora!
Wow…the full moon sure boosted you full of energy. You’re on fire!
Glad to have been somewhat of a channel to let you know you have a synchrolicious mission to accomplish…how cool is that?!!
Thanks for linking to my blog. I’ve done the same with your Synchronicity Song site — it’s going to move and shake mountains, this I am sure of.
Here’s to *magic*…and LOVE, CHEERS!
xoxo
P.S.: The Warhol-like illustration was created, very simply, in Photobucket. I just used my little Daisy cartoon, then clicked, then voilà!
October 14, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Tracey says:
Me again! Just wanted to ask if you’d had a moment to read my latest post on my blog. I think we share the 30/3 Life Path. How’s that for *magic*!
October 15, 2008 at 12:25 am
OzaMeilleur says:
Yes, Tracey…I did. I even left a comment, maybe synchronicity made it that we both posted on each other’s blogs at the same time.
Really? We both share the same Life Path?! It was so late last night that I didn’t take the time to do “the math.” That is so cool! Thanks for the great news. Of course, I’m so honoured to share it with you.
Love,
xoxo
October 15, 2008 at 11:32 am
Karalyn says:
I love this website and BLOG. Discovered it through a friend. As a writer I can relate to so much of it. Thanks again for sharing and reminding us that a muse needs playdates too!
Karalyn
http://cardinalpointva.typepad.com/inside_out/
October 16, 2008 at 11:49 am
OzaMeilleur says:
Hi Karalyn!
Welcome, writer friend
Yes, “PLAYdates” indeed.
As Julia Cameron points out in “Letters to a Young Writer,” musicians always PLAY. They play the piano, play the trumpet, play the drums… We writers have to play also. Artist Dates are the best. I’m all excited about finding new ones…interesting, original, fun ones.
Keep on amusing your muse!
xoxo
October 17, 2008 at 1:04 am