NOW is the time for creativity. 

Do you thrive in the winter or are you like me? Anyone who knows me could tell you that I am not a winter creature. It is my worst season. It’s dark. It’s cold. I want to crawl into a cave and hibernate until spring. And yet, strangely enough, that is exactly what makes this the perfect time to tap into creativity. 

Creativity is important. It connects us to what we truly desire, and allows us to troubleshoot and make changes when we get stuck. It is the essence of our personal power. When was the last time you felt the full might of your creativity? Do you get stuck like me during the winter months? 

In any season, our lives are driven by external forces (like work or family pressures) that cause us to run, run, run. And after the frenzy we often collapse from exhaustion, or perhaps indulge in creature comforts (which may not serve us) until we jump onto the next hamster wheel and start running again. There is also plenty of internal running …the constant chatter of voices inside the mind that muddles our clarity of thought. It’s daunting. The question is how can we break through all of this internal and external noise in order to tap into our creativity? 

Here’s one way: SLOW. DOWN. Winter is the season when our internal clock signals us to conserve a little – even take some time to completely stop for a while. It is a time of tea lights at 5 pm, and spending quiet hours in front of an evening fire, allowing the pace to shift into a slower rhythm. It is a time to journal, to process what has transpired over the year that is ending, and to think about what plants (or plans) we want to nurture come spring… I am already getting my annual seed catalogs in the mail! 

The Creativity Connection 

Slowing down does not mean stagnation – au contraire. In our Brumbylon Cave, we go within to the quiet dark place where creativity awaits us, and the frenetic world outside disappears for a while. A “cave” can exist in any busy life – it can start with a decision, one that can be supported by your personal choices and commitment. The cave invites us to choose operating in a slower vibration, thereby allowing ideas and fresh inspiration to be dropped into the mind like seeds.  Just as the body rests and repairs itself during sleep, slowing the frenzy of our conscious waking hours even for a few minutes every day can open the channels to creativity and personal growth. 

The cave is not just for artists. Do you need a cave of your own? Are you ready to make this commitment to yourself? If so, consider doing this bit of homework: 

#1 – Set aside a block of unbroken time when you can slow down, and stick to it. No interruptions, no exceptions. Look ahead at the week and book it. During that alone time, allow yourself to just BE. Pay attention to what comes up for you…allow your own thoughts to emerge. Relax into the space. 

#2 – Take some of this time to brainstorm on these themes: What do I truly desire? What would I like to see happen in 2020? Write them down. This can be a long or a short list. There is no formula. Just do it. 

#3 – Optional: Place your list where you can see it every day. 

In Sunday’s post, I will share a variety of creative ways to make YOUR OWN cave space, where you can tap into your creativity. 

Thanks for hanging out with me – have a great week! 

~ Lisa 

“The seed that grows toward the light begins in darkness.”