Students of the creative process have been inspired by Julia Cameron’s "Artist’s Way" series since her first book was published 30 years ago.
In her classes, in person and online, she connects on an individual level. Her engaging style is evident in the stories she writes and in her interviews.
Key elements of the Artist’s Way include Morning Pages and Artist’s Dates. Cameron’s toolbox for creativity also includes walking and journaling.
In all her books, Cameron writes about her sobriety and her faith. "Seeking Wisdom" focuses on various practices of prayer as a creative tool.
Interview Highlights
On why the "Artist’s Way" works
I feel like I have years of practice with their being powerful, and I have seen them light up people’s lives … light up people’s faces … I see that enlightenment is a literal term. I don’t know why the pages work. I just know that the pages work. My tools all come from practice, not from theory. So I don’t have a theory to say, ‘Well, they work because …’ I just know that they do work and that they open doors for people. They give people a sense of expansion. They train people to take risks. They give encouragement. They bear witness to our lives. I have a friend who says, ‘Writing Morning Pages is like getting up in the morning and meeting your best friend.’
On the "Artist’s Date" and the concept of play
It’s something that tickles your inner 8 year old. It’s an opportunity to expand your horizons. You go out and you do something for sheer fun. When I’m teaching, and I say, ‘Now, once a week, I want you to go out and play,’ people become skeptical. They fold their arms across their chest, they tilt their heads to one side, and they’re, like, ‘Play! I don’t see what play has to do with creativity.’
On walking as a creative tool
I assign: Take two 20-minute walks twice a week all by yourself. No cell phone. No puppy dogs. Walking puts you in touch with your environment. It puts you in touch with a "benevolent something." It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or you’re in the city. If you just walk out and observe the environment, it opens an inner portal.
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