Welcome to Week 3!

I't’s time to plant your seed, baby!

Let’s recap last week’s lessons!

Last week we looked at endings. We explored previous deaths and how they create the compost for what you are creating today.

Take a moment to think about your past. How has it impacted who you are today? How has where you have been and what you’ve done created the compost for your current creative life? How are you growing from the ashes of your past?

You are made up of everything you have done. Everywhere you have been. Everything you have seen. All that surround you.

And that being is beautiful.

This week we will be planting the seed of your next creative endeavor.

A note on WONDER.

WONDER- a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

I would argue that WONDER is at the heart of play. When we play, we notice. When we notice, we allow in the possibility that there are still things in the world that might surprise us pleasantly!

Wonder, like play, is a daily practice. When we play, we wonder. We notice all that is around us in natural abundance. When we wonder, we open up our neural pathways to new trains of thought. When we wonder, we strengthen our “play” and “wonder” muscles. When we wonder, we begin to appreciate (and what we appreciate appreciates!! It creates more to wonder at!). When we appreciate, we generate appreciation and want to share it. And when we share appreciation, we share kindness. When others experience kindness, they will marvel in return. Notice how play & wonder can become a process of giving back to the world.

When we play, we play for ourselves and others. When we heal, our personal healing is global healing.

In addition to your play practice, begin to start a “wonder list”. What are you marveling at? What surprised you? What makes your heart sing? Are wonder and gratitude the same? Can we have gratitude for our ability to wonder?

WEEK 3- UNIT 1

This unit is simple in theory, but it will be the most challenging thing you will do in the entire course. It is short, sweet, and to the point.

YOUR SEED:
Commit to one courageous idea.
Pick anything- an art show you are going to apply to, recording a full choreographed dance and releasing it online, writing that song that’s been in your head and sharing on Youtube… or, it could be the lack of doing- committing to a phone-free week, not taking any new projects for a month, etc.

This idea should scare the pants off of you. If it doesn’t inspire a little fear then it isn’t bold enough! Fear can be good, as long as we also create a space of structure and safety (but more on this later!) Fear can turn into freedom with the right environment.

Brainstorm this idea first. Create a list of 20 different ideas. Narrow it down to 10. Then narrow it down to 5. From this 5, if you are still having trouble deciding pop it into the Discord! This idea may or may not be the same as your “big project.”

When you have your “SEED” find a date that it will be released into the world (posted, shared, sent, etc). Now take the bold step- commit and tell someone. For some this might mean telling others on social media. It might mean committing to that gallery submission by paying the fee. Create a way to hold yourself accountable.

We are simultaneously now building your container AND planting the seed. This growth is not linear. As I mentioned in week 1, we will be working in reverse. We first imagined the expanse and our own largeness, and now we will build our structure around these big ideas.

This way of working allows you to be both expansive, playful, AND committed. One does not negate the other- you can be both playful AND deeply committed. This is the myth of play- accessing play means accessing freedom, it does not mean shielding yourself from commitments and the inevitability of cycles (as discussed in week 2). This cycle too will end, so let’s give it the most glorious finale possible!

HW

  • Find your SEED to plant (ie, your big idea)

  • Commit to it and set a date

  • Build in the parameters to ensure commitment (paying the fee, announcing on social media, etc)

  • Share on the discord!

  • What are 3 ways you can continue to keep yourself committed to the practice?

  • Go back to week 2, commit to writing one of your new affirmations everyday. Write it on sticky notes, write it on your wall! But make sure you SEE your affirmations everyday in some way!

CHECK IN!

How’s your play practice going? Need a reboot? Consider how you can use your play practice to SUPPORT your newly planted seed! Unsure of how to integrate? Ask the discord!

Week 3- Unit 2

Psychology has proven that in order to sustain a habit, we must see and believe in a force larger than ourselves. This need not be something spiritual necessarily, but when we see our work as important and supported by the universe, we grow faith. Faith in ourselves, faith in our artwork, faith in our life. We learn how to truly believe. We need faith to believe our seed with grow. Our soil is rich, our environment is ready. You have become aware of where you’ve been, and where you are going. Today, the focus is simple. We will create something sacred.

A note on the sacred- I know many may bristle at this idea. I myself struggle from time to time with spirituality, religion, divinity and spirit. If the practice of introducing the sacred into your play feels unnatural, I encourage you to find a way that fits. Find the most comfortable fit for your body, mind, and heart. If this way of thinking is new to you, I encourage you to try it on for size. Should it no longer suit you, consider it a discarded garment that you no longer have to wear when this class comes to its conclusion.

Your creativity is sacred. Your desire to create beauty in this world is sacred. Your joy is sacred. Your life is sacred.

What does sacred mean?

By definition, Sacred means… entitled to reverence and respect - regarded with great respect and reverence by a particular religion, group, or individual - exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness - from sacer, sacr- ‘holy’, holy from Old English hālig; akin to Old English hāl whole - whole from Middle English hool healthy, unhurt, entire -in an unbroken or undamaged state; in one piece.

a thing that is complete in itself.

You are creating your own sense of wholeness. You are creating a creative practice that is worthy of respect and great reverence. You are becoming devoted to yourself, and devoted to your creative practice.

When we feel the void, the emptiness, this is when we turn to our own holiness and whole-ness.

JOURNAL + HOMEWORK

We will be creating a sacred making practice. This practice will involve both writing, and doing, so I have combined these into one space.

What does it mean to make something sacred? We create practices of respect.

Take some time to decide what this means to you. This time, I will leave it rather open-ended, as what this looks like for each individual will be different.

Some things to consider creating when making a sacred art practice…

  • Create a prayer, mantra, or saying that accompanies your creative practice. This could be a longer prayer, a devotion to yourself and your medium, or a short mantra that helps fill the void. Every time I perform I repeat to myself “I am commit to being present with myself and my audience. I am here to connect from the heart.” It can be as simple as that!

  • Create a creative ritual! What can you do to prepare and become physically and mentally ready for your creative practice? Consider looking at other rituals as inspiration.

  • Create celebrations, “holy days”, or moments to commemorate- how do we celebrate the passing of time creatively?

  • Create a collection of your sacred texts- the authors that inspire you, the poems you return to. Consider making copies of them and putting them into your notebook!

  • …and so much more! Make this creative practice your own!
    **extra challenge: can any of the above become the art in and of itself? How do you make a ritual into art?

LIVE CLASS

Yay! I am so excited to see you today! For today’s class, please wear clothing comfortable for movement and answer the following questions…

  • When I am doubting myself, it shows up as______.

  • I know I am sliding into self-doubt because I notice ______ about myself.

  • I feel the most connected to the universe when______.

  • I feel the most connected to others when______.

  • I feel the most connected to myself when______.