The first time I started The Artist’s Way morning pages was in July of 1996, I was mother to three little boys; finding the time for pages was no small feat, however using them as a place to record their adventures and my challenges was fantastic. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before a missed day or two turned into a week, turned into a month and finally a forgotten practice.
Shortly after I joined Substack, I happened upon Ali Vingiano who writes Little Things here; she was just starting The Artist’s Way in a group fashion and I jumped back in with both feet. I highly recommend checking out Ali’s Substack.
As I write this, I am on day one hundred eighty of the journey and I am amazed at what a gift they are to me.
My daily routine is to write three pages, pen to paper, dumping out all the intrusive thoughts that I woke up with. All the things I should do, shouldn’t do, what other people did; specific and random, all spill out onto the page in a big brain drain. Sometimes I follow the requisite three pages with a practice that channel Lee Harris and his team, The Z’s, recommend. “What does my soul want to tell me today?”
After the writing is complete, I hop on the yoga mat to practice Yoga with Adriene. The depth of the yoga practice has changed since I began the pages; having already quieted my mind by letting my to-do lists loose onto the paper, I can allow my body to flow on the mat without distraction.
Artist’s dates have been uncomplicated; indulgence in a cookie, purchased from a local tea house, a beautiful book, or an afternoon nap in the quiet of my treatment room… lying in a sunbeam on the plush carpet amidst the crystals, plants, and books.
This week’s date was a visit to a small plant shop where I adopted a tiny orchid that had been relegated to the 50% off shelf. <3
Life is good.
Why am I telling you this? I believe that taking the time to be with our thoughts promotes good mental health. Letting whatever is cluttering up the mind just flow out onto the paper can make seemingly unmanageable problems smaller. It can take the heat out of our anger and the sting out of our hurts. This has been my experience.
I hope you write.
Love this! I have continued my morning ritual, although it has morphed into both reading and writing in my favorite chair, sometimes adding a bit of yoga. It begins my day on a peaceful note, and I always feel inspired when I finish. Thanks, Patricia. And I love the signature at the end of your post. I'm trying to learn how to add fun touches like that, and so far, I'm at a loss. I'll figure it out. 💜
Hey @Diana Frajman. The Artist's Way is a book that never goes out of style. ;)