NEW HABITS - Starting 2015 On the "Write" Path

Well, here we are.  It's a new year and the air is thick with good intentions!

I spent time leading up to January 1 reading articles and posts on creativity and writing rituals.  It all can sound very mystic, but I understand the truth of this.  For years, when I design, there are certain things I must do before I begin.  The drafting table must be clean (not just cleared) and all my templates and rules must also likewise be ritually bathed.  Yes, I still use a pencil!  Sue me!

I found this post by picture book writer Marcie Colleen to be among the most interesting that I read, and I am definitely going to look into Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit.

So, I got a candle (shown above with my new minion Stuart) and I began to craft my own ritual.  An odd coincidence, I got a book of inspirational word-finds in my stocking at Christmas.  I thought it was a mistake. Word-finds are my Mom's province.  On a whim I started lighting the candle and doing the word-find for ten minutes before I began writing.  It seems to work really well at focusing my brain.  So, we'll see how it goes - this might just be the start of a pattern.

Here is the first found fruit on this new path.  I am not sure what the form is, except it is the form this needed to be in.  It is TOTALLY inspired by the act of lighting the candle, which also ignited memories of trying to learn meditation.  It is something I have yet to master - I always end up putting myself to sleep.  So much for the power of the conscious mind!  Enjoy and Happy New Year:

Learning to Meditate – Hymn to a desired spirituality

By Judith Cullen

(c) 2015

Focus on the inner flame

Breathe deep and capture, exhale, release.

Clear your thoughts and simply be.

Wisdom of creation, waiting for me.

The candle looks pretty, see how the light dances?

It’s making tides of brightness on the wall.

Reminds me of watching the surf at the ocean.

How does it suspend itself in that thin layer of sea

Before the beach becomes sand again?

Oops.  I am not supposed to be thinking. Right.

Focus on the inner flame

Breathe deep and capture, exhale, release.

Clear your thoughts and simply be.

Wisdom of creation, waiting for me.

This is so relaxing.  I need to do it more often.

Not like that silly mantra circle I got into.

What was I thinking there?

I mean really, “share the color of my desires”?

That group got down right creepy.

Uh-oh.  (sigh)  Just start again.

Focus on the inner flame

Breathe deep and capture, exhale, release.

Clear your thoughts and simply be.

Wisdom of creation, waiting for me.

Did I let the cat out?  It’s just time for that.

I haven’t heard her yet, but any minute now.

Maybe she knows I am meditating.

Pets can be so intuitive sometimes.

I hope Dan remembered to change the litter.

Grrrr! I did it again!

Focus on the inner flame

Breathe deep and capture, exhale, release.

Clear your thoughts and simply be.

Wisdom of creation, waiting for me.

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