As you have read in previous posts I am revisiting Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way". I originally decided I would not write "Morning Pages" this time around but have now decided half-way through the book that I really need to do them if I am to see any change in my self. Morning Pages are three foolscap pages of writing, or a stream of consciousness, that you do first thing in the morning while your mind is fresh from sleep but unsullied by the day ahead. It is an essential part of the creative recovery process apparently, so I do ten or so mins before I walk each morning. These pages are not for anyone but yourself to read, they are simply a way of bringing to light both problem areas you need to work on, as well as for sprouting new ideas and bursts of inspiration.I have noticed that some change is occurring as I was recently inspired to change the furniture around in my loungeroom, and have had my hair cut into a new style. These sorts of things are apparently signs of a creative recovery. However the painting I attempted last week didn't turn out well at all. So it's back to the drawing board. Julia Cameron says creative people need to know that failure is all part of the process. This is much easier said than done.
Yesterday my husband, leading a team of family and friends, removed part of a medium-sized tree that had fallen over onto the roof of our house. While we were at it, the entire corner of the garden bed was given a good weeding. Getting rid of weeds always feels good and we now have more light and openness in that corner of the garden and it looks great. It was a hot day and having a team made the job so much easier. Thankyou everyone, including Jess the Border Collie, Phoebe the black cat and me!
Unfortunately I have had to ease off on my Yoga practice due to a nagging aching hip. It seems Yoga aggravates it. I still walk in the mornings and will gradually introduce some Yoga postures back again. I have found before that stopping Yoga for a while, then starting up again gives the problem a chance to recover itself. I miss my Yoga but sometimes enough exercise is better than too much. Or, as Gretchen Rubin says in her Wednesday tip in the happiness project - "don't let perfect be the enemy of good".
The boys are both back playing pre-season soccer matches and Autumn is showing itself with darker mornings and with the first purple flowers on my Tibouchina plants. It is a typical mixed bag of weather at this time of year, with the last couple of days being very hot and humid, then we have been getting some spectacular thunderstorms, with rain in the evenings. Consequently, all our neighbours with water tanks are very happy and the grass is a lush green. It's hard to believe our dams are so low and that we are on water restrictions. The rain is just not falling over the dam catchement area.
