A new idea is a light that illuminates presences which
simply had no form for us before the light fell.
–Susanne K. Langer,
American writer & philosopher (1895-1985)
Thoughts on inspiration
Inspiration, which often comes to us quite unexpectedly, can be a catalyst that leads to a creation of a new form, a work of literary value, a sculpture, a painting, an architectural gem, a scientific or a commercial idea. A sudden inspiration can be the seed for communicating something of global significance.
Sometimes, it is worthwhile pondering the places, the settings, the objects or the people from which the inspiration originated so that we can return to those valuable sources again and again. Indeed for us, there are places that – and people who – have Creative Sparkability. They are often the igniters of our own desires to begin a new creation. So find your Home for Creative Sparkability.
Creating special environments
For me, my studio is such a home. From the moment I enter it, I feel its intrinsic Creative Sparkability. I immediately want to paint – and I invariably do. In fact, there are times when I purposely keep my hands behind my back to stop me from doing so because I have other responsibilities to which I first have to give my attention. Those special environments, be they indoors or outdoors, a room, a desk, a studio, a canvas on an easel, are all wonderful complements to our creative selves. They are our bridges to a tranquility in which we can begin to do whatever it is we are inspired to do.
For Justgimious of THE WORLD OF GLIMPSE, creative sparkability came from simply sitting under his beloved Sagacity Bush deep within Lunaberry Forest.
Seating himself beneath its branches, he inhaled its clarifying aroma…
Then he began to make notes in his GLIMPSIBLE CHRONICLES.
Do you have your own Sagacity Bush under which you can sit and be propelled into your own creativity? Do you have an environment conducive to sparking your creativity be it in your home, your studio or a bench beneath a bush in your garden? It could simply be a particular couch in your house, a desk in your office, a comfortable rug or a swing on your porch. And if you don’t yet have that special place to create, perhaps you could begin to create your place of tranquility – that environment where your ideas seem to flow?
Transition to the creative state
Some people enter that state of tranquility almost instantaneously by the very act of beginning to create – an almost seamless transition. For others though, a more ritualized routine is needed before entering what often starts out for them as creative chaos before some order forms from the initial disorder. For me, as soon as I enter my studio, I can generally plunge into that transcending, energetic yet hazy ocean of creative ideas without any other pre-routines. My studio is my Sagacity Bush.
Sometimes though, I do require an additional bridge to tranquility in the form of a cup of black coffee and so I acknowledged my gratitude to this dependable beverage when I dedicated my book, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HUNCH? The Importance of Creative Thinking, to black coffee. It also gave me much needed waking hours:
To black coffee, for allowing me the extra hours so necessary to complete this work …
Whether it’s a beloved Sagacity Bush or black coffee – or whatever dependable routine you have to set yourself on your creative journey, you will need to have the ability to be receptive to your hunches because that receptivity will keep you creating and sharing your imaginative sparks with others, who in turn, might be inspired to create and share as well.
Hi Ellen,
I so appreciate your positivity and encouragement to unleash ones creative spirit. It is truly inspiring. Thank you!
Thank you Leslie, for your meaningful comments!
My world of creativity is where I joyfully dwell. I therefore also love to encourage others to move into their creative spheres as well because not only will they discover more of what they can do, but by the actual doing, they can counteract some of the negativity which surrounds us all.
‘Creative Sparkability’, Ellen, what a fine phrase counteracting the Negability all about.
Who could possibly imagine ‘Paradise’ burning to the ground?
And who might imagine it on the 100th anniversary of 11:11:1918!
Impossible!
How, then, about compressing the next 100 years of creative sparks–
where all of nature is invited to join a new global democracy–into the next 5 years!
Imperative!
John – I like your word “Negability”a condition of too many people that seems to be enveloping our precious planet. Yet, there are so many more marvelous people who do not subscribe to that way of thinking and that is indeed encouraging. Such individuals have within them that “Creative Sparkability” to care about each other, our fellow creatures and the abundance of Nature’s gifts. How wonderful it would be if people cared enough to compress as you suggest “the next 100 years of creative sparks – where all of nature is invited to join a new global democracy – into the next 5 years”!
My elementary report cards often showed ‘always asking why (and how and the list goes on)’. Yes, report cards really were a thing back in the day. Along with ribbons and/or trophies for the winners. In the fight to make things ‘fair’ erasing competition seems to be the goal. Personally, I find that a scary concept, as in what do you have for an example to drive you to work harder, learn more, grow as a person. Winning and/or losing are both living experiences. Taking goals away is for me a dangerous concept Ribbons and trophies just for showing up????
Other things I always keep in mind ‘nobody is perfect.’ Life is just a journey. Enjoy the trip.
Maybe this view is because I grew up in the 60’s? Global democracy? Yes.
Thanks for your great comments, Velma. ‘Always asking why’ – what a nice thing to say about anyone! Yes, I agree, it’s about growing as a person, working hard and being self-challenging but without the desire to be ‘perfect’ – not attainable, anyway.