Sunday, October 14, 2007

Call to Silence & Opening Meditation

Reflection on what brings you joy.

Music: "Be Present" Anita Kruse

Be present
Act as the living presence dwells in you.

"You Are Love" @2005 Ann Bugh (Ann, Anita, All)

You are Love...Under some darkness, Nothing but brightness.
You Are Love...And...You are Loved.

Readings

Excerpted from As Above, So Below (Paths to Spiritual Renewal in Daily Life) by Ronald S. Miller and the editors of New Age Journal, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and The Well of Creativity, A book of interviews with Michael Toms.

Great artists, in their passionate and single minded devotion to their disciplines, are similar to practicing mystics. Their works bring us into direct touch with truths at the very structure of life. Their art drives them to explore their inner worlds more deeply, while at the same time forcing them to connect and expand in ways that express shared meaning.

"True art is not an indulgence of the little self, but a manifestation of the Self." - Frederick Franck, painter

Artists have more than a special way of "seeing"; it is a way of "being". Artists must practice being open, trusting, present, attuned. Their world is a flow of images, intuitions and connections. They continually practice abandoning expectations, while surrendering to the unknown with gratitude and wonder.

"I sometimes...become conscious, realize I am surrounded by people and things,...and have the impression that I'm seeing it all for the first time." Eugene Ionesco, Dramatist

"We disappear and become a carrier wave, a vehicle for the music that plays us...and our music becomes a message about bit Self." Stephen Nachmanovitch, Musician

"Straightway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes.. but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration. Measure by measure the finished product is revealed to me when I am in those rare, inspired moods." Johannes Brahms, Composer

The notion that creativity is only for artists, however, is just that--a false notion. The creative process is the process of life--asking, surrendering, receiving. The British author Graham Wallas, in his book The Art of Thought, discerned four phases to the creative process that are similar to mystic experiences on the way to enlightenment: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification.

- In the preparation phase we ask a question or seek an answer, directing it to our unconscious.
- During incubation phase, we let it go, sleep on it, surrender it. We trust it to percolate down
into the intuitive depths, knowing what we need will come to us at the right time.
- In the illuminated stage, an answer appears like a miracle, a synchronicity, a flash of insight or
the subtlest of hints. While we recognize its significance, it may or may not look like what we
expected.
- In the final stage, verification, we have the courage to act on what we've been given.
Typically--looking back--we recognize its perfection. It was exactly what we needed.

"There's something about creativity that every human being gets an equal share." Ornette Coleman

"The news from the deeps is very good. It suggests that creative and expression are the natural activities of the human being who is able to release, at least temporarily, the inhibitions of habituation." Jean Houston, Author

"Creativity is a spiritual practice. It is not something that can be "finished'. Just when we "get there' there disappears. This unfinished quality is a requirement of a sustained creative life. It's open ended and ongoing. It asks us to constantly be willing to have the humility to begin again. It asks us to keep opening our heart to, and meeting the inner demands of our own growth. We are not dependent on any external knowledge to be 'creative'. Rather, it is our natural birthright. We are the only ones who can release it or hold it back. No matter what your age or life path, it is never too late to work on your 'creativity'". (Paraphrased from The Artist's Way - by Julia Cameron)

Our usual way to acquire knowledge is to separate ourselves from objects, observe, and analyze them. This is a dualistic process of knowing that yields knowledge "about" things we are studying. By contrast, philosophers and mystics use intuition as a way of knowing. Intuition involves a fusion of the observer and the observed that transcends separation. In becoming what we would know, we understand it in ways impossible from the dualistic perspective. Western culture tends to discredit the use of intuition over sensory-based experience. Yet, even great pioneers of science (Newton, Einstein) trusted their intuition-often following intuitive leaps with scientific observation and verification.

To make intuitive knowing central to our lives typically requires 3 practices: stilling the mind long enough to cut through to awareness; concentration on the ideal or problem we want understanding about; and finally, cultivation a receptive, non-judgmental attitude that welcomes intuition to the surface. Intuition, when cultivated like any other practice in our lives, can elevate the quality of all our experiences. Most people adopt a belief early on in their lives that "only some people are creative", yet it's that belief that keeps us from nurturing our individual creativity and embracing its daily practice as essential to a balanced life.

So take time to play, to listen within, and to be inspired. This time is as essential as taking time to eat, sleep and work. Creativity is a powerful tool of personal and communal transformation. It feeds our souls and enhances our feeling of connection. And endorphin-induced natural high is one of the by-products of daily creative exercise. Whether we consciously own it or not, we are the creators of our experience. When we create consciously in the direction of joy...

"I think of the word 'inspiration'. It comes from the word 'inspirare' in Latin (to breathe) and 'spiritus' or spirit--so we are breathing forth, bringing forth spirit. We are honoring our deepest selves. That's a beautiful way to look at it." - (Paraphrased from The Well of Creativity, Creativity as a Spiritual Practice by Michael Toms)

Call to Conversation

Music - "We all Come to the Well to be Filled" @2007 Ann Bugh (Ann, Anita, All)

We all come to the well to be filled.
Praise for the water that flows from the sea, to the river, the well, to you and me.

Closing Meditation & Music: "Simple Song" @2005 Ann Bugh (Ann, Anita, All)

Though your song be simple, let it play.
Though your song be simple, let it play.
Though your song be simple, so simple-though it be simple, let it play.

Leave your heart wide open, it will sing.
Leave your heart wide open, it will sing.
A song so simple and so open, other hearts will open up and sing.

Let the past rest easy on your mind.
Leave the future for another time.
With an open heart, and a simple song,
Fear-like yesterday-will gently face away..Leaving only love behind.

Though your song be simple, let it play.
Nothings quite so simple as they say.
With your heart wide open, and your song so simple
-soft and simple-let it play.
(ALL - REPEAT)
Though your song be simple, let it play.
Though your song be simple, let it play.
Though your song be simple, so simple--though it be simple, let it play.


We ask for your thoughts/comments to continue our Sunday conversation.
Thank you.