Insight

INSIGHT = to understand something from a place deep within you; apprehending the inner nature of things; to see with the eyes of the mind

QUESTION: Do you have a creative insight?

STORY: One day I was working in my painting studio and I had an insight! Here it is: All creative acts are expressions of a relationship. For example, a male and female come together and they give birth to a new human being. I also believe that every artist plays with relationships. A dancer works with the relationship of Fast/Slow as well as forward/backward. A singer works with the relationships of High/Low and fast/slow. A painter works with the relationships of Warm/Cool, Dark/Light and Thick/Thin. So, for me this insight gets me curious and instead of judging my work or myself - I will ask the canvas a question like: “Does this area need a warmer or cooler application of paint? OR Does this area need to be lighter or darker? OR Does this area want me to apply paint thickly or thinly?” Wow! This insight really helped me! What is your kind of creative expression and how did my insight inspire you?

QUOTES

“You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that INSIGHT of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

“A moment's INSIGHT is sometimes worth a life's experience.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“There is nothing so terrible as activity without INSIGHT.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

EXERCISE

STOP.

Sit quietly. Assume an erect posture.

Sense the breath.

Relax. Bring to mind your favorite creative activity.

Get your pen and paper and write words or draw lines expressing the relationships you work with and the joy you feel when you bring together (relate) the different elements that you work with when you create.

Move forward into your day open to a new insight about your life and the world around you.