by Dan Pascual
“Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.”
This statement, which has been a guiding principle for me, is just one of the basic principles you can discover in this highly precious gem of a book from Fullybooked, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. She is an active artist for more than four decades now. She is an author, novelist, playwright, songwriter, poet, and has multiple credits in theater, film, and television.
A little over two years ago, while browsing for new book titles I could immerse in, I was enamored by this beautiful book with its symbolic cover design and well-crafted inspirational words - “A COURSE IN DISCOVERING AND RECOVERING YOUR CREATIVE SELF.” These are the words above the title that resonated deep within me. For someone who has been a “blocked artist” (a term I discovered in this book) for so long, I connected with it and bought it.
It took me almost a year to start on it. On August 8, 2019, after lingering on my bookshelf, I finally opened the book and started what will be one of the best journeys of my lifetime. It was not just about learning creativity as we know it, but it was reconnecting with the “artist” within me who has been “slumbering” for the last 10 to 20 years. From that moment on, I was hooked. This is not just about reading a book, but an entirely life-changing experience that will only require at least an hour every day for the next three months.
You see, I am one of those “blocked artists” who have discovered the power of the “Morning Pages” and “The Artist’s Date” among the many lessons this remarkable book will give you. For Elizabeth Gilbert, an author and novelist, “This book has been around for a long time, and I hope it sticks around forever. It guides the reader through a fascinating (and fun) twelve-week-long program of exercises and explorations that help loosen up one’s artistic self. It takes you on a journey that will cost you nothing (aside from the guidebook) and it brings much insight, gently helping you see what is holding you back and showing you how to move forward. Three times in the last decade I’ve committed to doing The Artist’s Way’s program, and each time I’ve learned something important and surprising about myself and my work. Just to show how influential it has been to me - the first time I did the program, I had decided by the end of it that I wanted to 1) travel to Italy and learn Italian, 2) go to an ashram in India, and 3) return to Indonesia to study with the old medicine man I’d once met there. We all know what that decision led to...Without The Artist’s Way, there would have been no Eat, Pray, Love.” Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest master storytellers of our times, shared, “This is a book that addresses a delicate and complex subject. For those who will use it, it is a valuable tool to get in touch with their own creativity.”
“Artists are visionaries. We routinely practice a form of faith, seeing clearly and moving toward a creative goal that shimmers in the distance - often visible to us, but invisible to those around us.”
- from THE ARTIST’S WAY
This book is a perfect partner and companion during this current pandemic. I highly recommend it to those who need an inspired path in overcoming the limiting beliefs and fears inside of you. You are an artist. Whatever your profession is, we are all artists. We are connected creatively and spiritually with one another in this most extraordinary journey of all time called life. With The Artist’s Way, you will discover and rediscover through creativity and storytelling who you are and what you are meant for. You will be powerfully inspired and transformed through this provocative work in an incredible twelve-week journey of discovering our spiritual and creative selves.
The Artist’s Way is a revolutionary program that you can uniquely integrate into your life. Be ready for a life of discovery, connection, reconnection, and renewal. Be prepared for a “new normal.” Welcome to your new creative You!