When I am drawn to write about something, I have learned that sometimes it is something inside me that wants to be expressed, and sometimes it is something outside of me that wants a voice.  I have found that by journeying to the poem itself, I can learn what is what. 

It took me a long time to move out of the tortured-artist mindset that I had bought into for so many years.  I finally realized that I didn’t need to be self-destructive and angst-ridden in order to be creative.  Creativity, it turns out, can be life affirming.  Who knew?  In fact, participating in the creative spirit, manifesting non-physical energies into physical form, is participating in the very creative spirit of the universe.  Creativity can become spiritual practice as we move from the realm of ego and into co-creation

We can work in a shamanic Reiki session to release blocks you might be holding around a certain project.  We can also work directly with the non-physical aspect of the project for fresh insights, energy, and direction for moving forward.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Skinnydipping – A Writing Exercise to Get the Juices Flowing

Pull up a blank word processing document.  (I like to do this on the computer, but you could do it with a pad of paper and your favorite pen as well.)  You can allot a specific amount of time, or just write for as long as you like.  Plan to either delete the file or erase what you type at the end – if you want to save part of it you obviously can, but plan to not save it.  This strips off the critical editor and allows you to dive right your subconscious.  Close your eyes and let your mind wander as you write stream of consciousness.  To get started, you could put on some headphones and play some of your favorite music and see what comes up for you.  You could pick a body part and just start writing about it, or a smell or something visual that draws your attention.  Or open the dictionary or a magazine at random and write to a picture or word.  Use your senses and let your imagination play and see what you end up with.  If anything interests you at the end, if you think you might be able to use it for something, save it; otherwise, erase it.  Enjoy the dip!