The Artist's Way: Week Four

[kygirl]

This week is going to be an exciting, and somewhat difficult, one for all of us. We're asked to go without reading for a full seven days. It makes you mad just thinking about it, doesn't it? Read through the chapter, and come back and tell us what you think.

[FLCindy]

Ha ha! When I met Julia a few years ago, she said Week #4 is meant to be more of a media deprivation. No news, TV, internet or reading. Personally, I've ALWAYS resisted reading deprivation with TAW.

Good Luck ladies!

[kygirl]

Cindy, I wondered what her thoughts were on all the new media we have available now. The Internet as we know it didn't really exist when the book was written. I like the idea of a no media week, but for me, it's not going to be this week. After being gone for most of last week, there's just too much for me to catch up on.

I am, however, trying to be more aware of how much time I waste blog hopping, reading, and playing games on the computer.

I got tickled when I read in Chapter Four that we might find ourselves dissatisfied with our closets. I completely revamped my look this past month. I did the "Color Me Beautiful" thing, bought new clothes, new makup, and changed my haircolor. I finally realized that even though I'm 50 and need to lose a few pounds, I don't have to be frumpy, too.

[gardenerjoy]

I've already learned that there are evenings when I'm really too tired to do much of anything except consume media. But, that's leading me to really question why I ever do mindless computer surfing before 5 or 6 pm. I'm considering continuing to be internet-free even after this week until night time. I might check the weather or do some specific project during the day -- but there is really no reason that I need to read blogs or forums or much email until evening and I would have a lot more creative time if I limited my internet time to the evening hours.

[kygirl]

That's what I'm starting to realize, too. I check e-mails and DAQ in the morning and at night, but is it really necessary for me to check my mail every 30 minutes? What do I think I'm going to miss?

Do you remember back when if you wanted to get a message to someone you sent them a letter, and if you were lucky, they received it the next week? All this instant communication is a huge commitment of time and energy.

So, has everyone done the buried dreams exercise? I thought it might be fun to share the five things that you personally would never do that sound fun. Mine are:

Scuba diving.
Riding rollercoasters that go upside down or backwards.
Dancing on tables. :-)
Playing high-stakes poker.
Join the Polar Club (jumping into freezing water).

[gardenerjoy]

List 5 things I would never do that sound fun:
Bungee jumping
Sky diving
Mountain climbing
Cruising
Spend a month or more at a luxury spa

[Lumilyon]

While I was in Holland, I took my little brother to the swimming pool and did something I've never had the nerve to do before: a went down the huge, curly water tube. It was amazing and I yelled and sang at the top of my voice, all the way down! To think I've got to 50 and never had the nerve to do it, I was petrified but now I'm hooked!!! This is a VERY big deal for me!!!
I'm a week behind you lot now as I've only just got to read Week 3 but this must have happened for a reason because it is so pertinent to the challenges that I faced while I was away and I think it's better that I'm reading it now rather than last week. I got VERY angry with my dad and now see that the trauma of loosing my child has reawakened the trauma of the loss I suffered when my father left our family when I was 10. Big stuff to deal with...I'd better get creative with it...

[kygirl]

Lumi, I continue to be amazed at your courage. Facing old issues is tough, but we know it's important to our growth both as artists and as human beings. Good for you, going down the water slide. I can add that to my list of things I'll probably never do. :-)

I don't know if it's the power of suggestion or not, but ever since I read in Chapter Four that I might start having vivid dreams, I've been having vivid dreams. In fact, I wake up exhausted because I appear to be dreaming all night long. Anyone else going through this?

[craftyamanda]

Yes, I'm having vivid dreams, too. Last night about an artwork I was making, and when I woke up I tried in vain to recall what it was in case I really wanted to make it... all I could remember was the color red. Oh, well. I'm a few days behind everyone, and just started on my reading/media deprivation last night: no books, magazines or newspapers, no blog reader, minimal television, minimal internet. I'm already having a tough time, I am so used to reading before bed, now I can't get to sleep. But I have been getting more done around the house, and I also am already feeling a bit calmer, less overwhelmed. I was really resistant to starting this week, and I've also been putting off my morning pages til later and later in the day. Still haven't done today's yet. But I'm going to try my best to stick with it, this week is definitely the toughest yet for me, and I've barely started! Oh, and my 5 things that sound fun but I would never do were: sky diving, hang gliding, down-hill skiing (tried it once- pathetic), snow boarding and surfing.

[clickhappy]

Things I might enjoy, but will not do are:

gamble a lot of money (not just nickles and dimes)

Paint the outside of my house purple, the inside I probably will

climb Mt Everest

Drive a sports car

Be a cowgirl

Lumi, I am afraid of those too, about the right amount to have fun, a nervous wreak with a little kid on my lap. Alpine slides and ferris wheels are tons of fun for me.

The media deprivation is good for my house. It is hard. Since I don't read too many books or newspapers, that part is ok, but I do usually check the internet and some galleries way too much. I also have some favorite shows and no way to record them. I realize they are distractions though. So I have to focus on what I am getting out of the deprivation -I feel better getting more things done and procrastinating less.

[Lumilyon]

I've had incredibly vivid and eventful dreams, all my life. I usually wake up totally exhausted and can flip back through memories of dreams as if I'm looking at a photograph album. I just wish I could make images of what I see in whilst dreaming as the visual detail is amazing. I've always felt as if I live two lives.