-solve that I can do anything. It’s
the only way to fulfill dreams
and stay excited about life. Next
to raising my two sons, my work
requires the most imagination and
creativity.”
In Elizabeth Lake, California,
Jim Walker stood back and gazed
upon his life’s canvas for six
months, until the new direction
for his Magnum Opus took shape
in the form of environmental
Jim Walker
advocacy. For three decades, Walker’s business. Today, Treasures of the Earth
natural talents for innovative thinking, sells plants, offers landscape design
research, communication, negotiation, services and provides classes in nature
strategic planning and politics served spirits, biodynamic gardening and the
him well as a labor relations represen- medicinal and culinary uses of herbs.
tative for the California School Employ- “We need art for life,” says Hen-
ees Association. Now, he uses these son, “and mine is all around me, nur-
same talents to teach environmental turing, bringing peace and stirring my
advocacy skills in his region, aiming to creative juices. For me, planting seeds
help conserve 165 acres of open water, and watching them sprout and grow is
trees and shoreline that provide habitat the height of co-creating.”
for the wildlife he enjoys observing on Julia Cameron says that the winds
kayaking adventures. of creativity are neither fickle, finite nor
Walker’s creativity also paddled limited, and that life is pure creative en-
onto the computer screen, where he ergy. This means that everyone has the
assembled some of his nature photos ability to unfurl their artistic sails and
into a PowerPoint presentation for town chart a unique course, fueled by the
council members and residents. “I like same creative force that shapes snow-
using my creativity for this noble cause flakes, designs seashells, and creates
of protecting the interest of something breathtaking landscapes. The challenge
that has no voice,” says Walker. “It is is to remain open to inspiration and act
fulfilling and uplifting.” upon it.
Nature is a powerful and abundant “There are always ideas. Good
source of creative inspiration and ex- ideas, workable ideas, brave and revo-
pression for many. Poet William Blake lutionary ideas, calm and serviceable
expressed this ideal when he wrote, ideas,” advises Cameron. “The trick is
“To see a world in a grain of sand and to gently access them and allow them
a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity to flow into any area of our life, that
in the palm of your hand and eternity in which is our Greatest Work.”
an hour.”
Sandy Henson might agree with For more information and inspiration,
that sentiment as she spends her Artist’s contact Jean Shinoda Bolen at Jean-
Dates observing hummingbirds and ShinodaBolen.com; Julia Cameron at
butterflies in the themed gardens that JuliaCameron.com; Tama Kieves at
she maintains in Kensington, Ohio. AwakeningArtistry.com; Treasures of
Visual evidence of Henson’s creativ- the Earth at SandysGardens.com; In
ity blooms in a multicolored quilt of Dreams Awake Life Coach Jennifer
flowers and herbs spread over five acres Parrish at
awake2dreams@yahoo.com;
of her property. In 2002, her dream Cricket Lee at FitLogic.com; and Jean
of sharing this beauty morphed into a Houston at
SocialArtistryInstitute.com.
To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in
a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour. – William Blake
September 2008
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