Artistic Work As Soul Work

Artistry is a connection to a higher source, call it the muse, inspiration, instinct. It is taking the kernel of the inspired thought to transform it into a piece of art. The beginning stages of what will take hard work and perseverance- the wonderful word know as grit, can only begin as a mere whisper in the wind we are fortunate enough to catch.

This isn’t the only form of soul work that exists, but rather, a practice that will continue throughout the artist’s life. Rejection is such a large part of being an artist, being ignored, or even ending up working in toxic environments. It takes plumbing the depths of one’s own humanity and psyche, where everything is fodder for the work. Our work has so much to do with the ephemeral made manifest. It is the moment when an idea enters into your peripheral consciousness. Whether you are able to catch it, or you become distracted by the mundanity of life, is part of the process of creating. Ultimately the idea isn’t as important as what you do with it.

I’m currently writing an article on the Artist need’s for acceptance, and it’s hard. Usually the words flow- like water. Writing is for me a therapeutic tool, it is sitting and pouring my thoughts, ideas, concepts onto the proverbial page. It becomes challenging, when it becomes intensely vulnerable. It may be areas of life that we are still grappling with and how it shows up in our own lives. It’s not an idea, or a concept- it is deeply personal.

That is the Artist’s Soul work.It’s the reason Julia Cameron wrote a whole book on it, because it’s the work all artist’s have to enter into, but none speak about. It is the s/hero’s journey. It is the epitome of vulnerability. It is baring your soul, and your humanity and painting a kaleidoscope of creations with it. It takes strength and bravery to look at the world and yourself with deep honesty.It is not for the weak at heart. And yet it is intensely joyful, and deeply painful, to look at all the parts of yourself that you tend to hide. The walls that have been built over time. It is asking questions of ourselves collectively as people, and of ourselves specifically. It is deepening into our shadowy aspects, and bringing love and truth to it.

What the art form looks like at the end is informed by who we are in our humanity- deeply falwed and deeply beautiful. Ultimately, soul work is a myriad of things- whether ritual or inner revelation. The moment you pin it down it evaporates. Being connected to flow — is soul work. Riding the wave whether your’e a writer, an actor, or painter. At this time in my own work, I find myself uniting the two forces of shadow and light. My own internal psyche and the universal flow of art. It is intense vulnerability, it is shedding the layers of who you thought yourself to be, and then the muse shows up, because the muse always shows up, when she catches you working.

Good day my friends.