Unearthing
Natural Talents
5 Ways to
One of the most prolific
authors and teachers on the reignite Your
subject of discovering and
recovering creative gifts is
Julia Cameron, author of The

Artists Way: A Spiritual Path
to Higher Creativity. Cam-
C
reativity
eron, who has written dozens
Julia Cameron
of books, three musicals, four
plays and one film, agrees with Bolen’s intertwining view of life and art. “Our art is
supposed to be something we do in and with our life, which is the larger container
1
Make a weekly date
with yourself to do
that holds our art,” she says. “Rather than yearning to be full-time artists, we might
something fun and
aspire to be full-time humans. When we do, art is the overflow of a heart-filled
life.”
indulgent, and keep it.
Cameron has a toolkit for unblocking the artist in everyone. One fundamental
tool is a daily uncensored writing practice—called Morning Pages—that brings
clarity, insight, and sometimes new directions and ideas before the business of
2
Start a journal (or
blog) and add to
daily life kicks in. Other important tools of The Artist’s Way include weekly solo
it each day, telling the
Artist’s Dates (time spent observing, experiencing, sensing and playing for the pure
pleasure of it) and rambling walks, which Cameron herself credits with providing
fascinating story that is
guaranteed fodder for her creative fires. Worth their weight in gold to any creative
your inner and outer life.
a

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miner, these and other exercises from her books have helped thousands to recon- Do not censor yourself.
nect with childhood’s playful state of delight.
“Picasso said that we are all born children,” says Cameron. “The trick is to
remain one, lean into our ease and enjoy the ride of our gift.”
Cameron’s metaphor for the Morning Pages—running a vacuum cleaner
3
Get moving;
inspiration can
around one’s consciousness to suck up the soundtracks that clutter the mind—re-
pop up during walks and
veals just a smidgeon of her natural talent for creating reader-friendly visuals. runs, especially when
“Writing stream of consciousness thoughts on pages frees up what I call alpha
you are free of others’
ideas, like ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to…,’ or ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting to…,’ and ‘Gee, I
words in your ears (i.e.,
could let myself explore…,’” explains the articulate creative.
Those nudges and inspirations, as well as insights and uncomfortable truths,
no companions, radio or
have shown up in Cameron’s personal Morning Pages for decades. An Artist’s Date
books on tape when moving
she took to a travel bookstore turned up a tome on Ferdinand Magellan, which led for creative inspiration).
Cameron to pen an entire musical about the Portuguese
observe your inner and
maritime explorer, the first to cross the Pacific Ocean.
outer landscapes.
discerning a New direction
Tama J. Kieves, another creative soul who enjoys a walk
4
identify three
classes, lectures or
to jiggle loose inspired thoughts, is the author of This
Time I Dance!: Creating the Work You Love. She also
workshops that sound
works as a creative career coach, and founded Awaken-
fun—not “good for you”—
ing Artistry, an organization dedicated to fashioning a just fun. Sign up for one.
global family of visionary minds, creative souls and em-
powered leaders. This honors graduate of Harvard Law
School left a budding law practice to work as a profes-
Tama J. Kieves
sional writer and speaker. Today, she gives emboldened hope to
5
Make a collage of
images and words
everyone who may have suppressed a creative urge in their youth.
that reflect who you are
“It’s possible at any time to dust off the cobwebs that cover a and who you want to be.
natural talent, resurrect a creative dream and breathe life into it,”
Let your passions come
advises Kieves. “I know this is true because it’s what I did.”
alive on the page, and look
Kieves, who says that creativity is anything but frivolous,
frequently wrote brilliant legal briefs that caused senior partners
at your creation every day.
to reconsider cases they had initially ignored. Eventually, her out-
Celebrate when any of the
side-the-box perspective sent her in search of a more artful world. images become a reality.
SSepepttember 2ember 2008008 7
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