Julia Cameron's work The Artist's Way was on my original proposed bibliography for the project. As my project grew I feel like the evolved Bewilderments of the Eyes project lost connection to the themes in this book. While I think that some of Cameron's points are valid, I also disagree with many of them. For those of you who may be interested in her work here is a list of the Basic Principles of Spiritual Electricity that she explores through out the book:
1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy. 2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life–including ourselves. 3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives. 4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves. 5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. 6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature. 7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction. 8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle though powerful changes are to be expected. 9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity. 10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity. |
Mostly, what turned me away from this reading was the idea of connectedness to God. I don't believe in God.
I do think that the value Cameron places on opening up to creativity is incredible and often unfortunately overlooked. Overall, for open minded readers I think Cameron's work can be enlightening and helpful. For more skeptical readers - you might be more inclined to read Theater as a Sign System. As my project turned to a more scientific method approach to performance, creating systems based on hypothetical responses, it also turned away from the idea of our creativity coming from a "divine source" moving towards "our divinity".
I do think that the value Cameron places on opening up to creativity is incredible and often unfortunately overlooked. Overall, for open minded readers I think Cameron's work can be enlightening and helpful. For more skeptical readers - you might be more inclined to read Theater as a Sign System. As my project turned to a more scientific method approach to performance, creating systems based on hypothetical responses, it also turned away from the idea of our creativity coming from a "divine source" moving towards "our divinity".