Reading "The War of Art" and "Turning Pro" by Steven Pressfield has been a turning point in my Studio practice. I understand Restistance and the many form it takes in my life so much better. This year I have started to gently tame that Resistance, to listen and have compassion with myself. I am amazed by the amount of work I have been producing using the same amount of time, just being more focused.
In “Turning Pro” Pressfield talks about Creativity as a Practice. “A practice may be defined as the dedicated, daily exercise of commitment, will and and focused intention aimed, …, at the achievement of mastery in a field...”
Intention
We home school our children and it takes a fine balance to have dedicated time in the studio with a husband that works full-time. In the past I use to rush into the studio always feeling the pressure of the minutes ticking away. This created a sense of lack and unnecessary stress, not the best circumstances to be creative and productive.
After reading Pressfield's words I have started to introduce ritual into my studio time. One of the first was to have a marker of when my studio time starts and finish. It felt right to light a candle. After a while I felt that I would really love having a beautiful little altar/shrine to put my tea-light in and I created a series of Altars and mini-altars. Since then my ritual has expanded I light my candle, say an intention, breath and take a few moments to connect with my inner creative.
Gratitude
At the end of my studio time I say a prayer of thanks and blow the candle out.
A moment to celebrate another day that I have overcome Resistance and that I have done the work.