Free Your Artist

Labyrinth - December 2001

For the fun links associated with this exercise, please e-mail me.

Quote | Visualization | Affirmation

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

   —W. Somerset Maugham

Creativity Exercise

As winter encircles us with cold and darkness, so we rest and contemplate and look inside ourselves. Artists re-fill their wells of inspiration. For me, one of the best ways to do this is to use the labyrinth. Stop and settle yourself, clear your mind of daily worries (if this is hard to do, consider freewriting for about 20 minutes), then put your finger in the labyrinth and trace it.

In the middle, stop and breath slowly. Let images come on your journey in, let one visualization spark at the center, then think of it as you return to the start. Take the image or images and create them, or the feeling around them, using your favorite medium—finger paints or dance or wordless singing.... Perhaps you could make the image and use this as an ornament in your home through the holidays, then pack it away as a treasure. When you find it again next year, it will bring renewed pleasure.

For a virtual (java) walk and other information, see: http://www.angelfire.com/tn/javalabyrinth/lablore.html http://www.angelfire.com/tn/SacredLabyrinth/

[TOP]

Affirmation

I know that the cycles of my creativity are like the cycles of the year. There is a time to rest and let inspiration well back into my soul, so that it will burst free later. I am confident that I will always be creative.

[TOP]