August Writing Challenge
Week 4 - The Creative Cave
Welcome back!
You all have done an amazing job of stepping outside your comfort zone and sharing your heart in your latest writings. I am blown away yet again by your creativity, inspiration and sincerity. I love you all.
Week 4
It’s time for the last week of our writing challenge. As with the previous weeks, I will be sharing some insights with you to assist in your journey to write from the heart. If you already have something you’re ready to share you can jump right into it by clicking the button below!
The Cave
There is a creative process we all go through when crafting our works. I like to described it as going into a creative cave and then emerging with the treasure to share with the world.
I wanted to share with you all this week the importance of entering, discovering and leaving the creative cave.
Some of us have difficulty going into the cave as we are concerned about what might be found in there. While others spend a great deal of time in their cave and refuse to leave as the real world is too dangerous.
The true hero or heroine is able to courageously enter their own cave, find the treasure and return to the real world to share their gifts with others. These are the three stages I want you to keep in mind during your writing this week.
1. Entering The Cave
“What is the cave?”
The creative cave is a metaphor for a state of being you enter into when you give birth to something new. It exists beyond time and therefor it can feel like an eternity when you are in there or it can feel like countless lifetimes in a single moment. This cave holds the treasures and secrets to your life’s journey.
Are you giving yourself the proper space, time and tools required to go within your cave successfully?
Maybe there is something you wish to explore that is emotionally difficult but you are in a busy and distracting environment that isn’t supporting your journey inwards. Commit to this process and generate the proper conditions to write uninterrupted. As my grandfather use to say, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing correctly”
Or maybe you are stuck at the entrance to the cave unable to enter. The secret here is to feel your way into the cave. You cannot think your way in. Your feelings will guide you into this cave so you must trust them and allow them to flow through you.
The more you honour yourself and the process of entering your own creative cave the more treasures will reveal themselves. Set your intention when you sit down to write that you will honour yourself and not rush into anything.
2. Discovery
Now that you have given yourself the proper foundation to enter your creative cave you are on the path to discovery. Sometimes your journey into the creative cave is exciting and other times it is scary. Instead of chasing the shiny treasures or avoiding the darker corners of your cave, allow your heart to guide you to where you need to go.
This can be easier said than done sometimes! The trick is to slow down.
Listen to yourself and you’ll be able to feel a gentle pull in your heart when you are moving in the correct direction. If it’s leading you somewhere scary remember to breathe and be still. Allow any emotions to pass through you with a gentle awareness. Simply notice the emotions and allow them to be. As you do this, they will automatically move through you. No need to push them away. Once you have returned to a peaceful state, you will have found the treasure. This is where you refine what you have experienced into something you can share with others.
If your heart is leading you to something exciting, remember to surrender to what it’s asking of you. Try asking the question, “What am I being asked to create from this feeling?” I’m not saying that your notepad will talk with you. I’m saying use this question to keep your intention on service to the feeling you have. Similar to the famous artists who have said that the sculpture was already within the stone, they just uncovered it. This will support your creativity to remain true to your heart’s inspiration and avoid the predictable or contrived work.
3. Leaving The Cave
You’ll know when it’s time to leave because you feel a lightness. As I mentioned last week, the process of refinement will give you a signal when it’s time to set the pen down and share your gift with the world.
There will be times when you want to leave the cave early but the treasure is not yet ready for sharing. Similar to eating a piece of fruit before it’s ripe. Be patient with yourself and return at a later time. Just like the piece of fruit that is allowed to ripen, it’s worth the wait.
There will also be times when you feel you never want to leave the cave. It’s safe and full of possibilities. Besides, the world out there won’t understand what you’ve created or what you’re feeling.
“Why leave this place and jeopardize all that I’ve created?”
This can be an alluring idea.
The truth is your treasures will turn to fantasies and then you’ll become jaded to your life and the world. This is far more painful to experience than the fear of returning to the real world to share your gifts.
The encouragement I will give you is to imagine the face or faces of those who will be touched by your work. See them impacted, inspired, invigorated. The feeling of fulfilment that comes from sharing your gifts with others and the impact it has on them will outweigh the fear by 100 to 1.
Have you given yourself the space to honour your journey inwards? What are you feeling right now? Give yourself the time to settle into this moment.
When you’re ready…
To Write or Not To Write
Whether you have participated in the writing challenge thus far or you’ve just passively been observing, my invitation to you is to use this metaphor of the creative cave to uncover the secrets and treasures in your life.
Maybe you are not interested in writing poetry but have always wanted to try another form of creative expression. The metaphor of the cave can be a useful tool to unlock the hidden treasures within. I invite you to give yourself the opportunity to enter into your own cave and face the fears that are holding you back from your treasures.
Share with others your own creative expression that you’re looking to explore. What do you dream of creating?
Painting? Singing? Sculpting?
I wish you all the very best this week and I look forward to reading more of your writing.
Continued Blessings,
Graham
4th challenge 3rd Poem. I am not a writer but this has been good for me to step out of my comfort zone.
Seasons
Clouds skimming
Icy wind blowing
Sun shining
Trees full of blossom
Two seasons merging
Winter hesitant to depart
Spring waiting to arrive
Will they keep playing ping pong
Till winter gives up and retires
And spring comes into her own
Only He who controls the weather
Can answer this riddle for me
I just have to be patient
To see what that will be.
Graham, I have had a great deal of HOPE over the past six months of coming out of my comfort zone. So many amazing things have been discovered inside myself that probably always existed, but like you've previously shared were either not ready to be discovered or they were kept hidden because of fear and acceptance. This morning, I wrote the poem called "HOPE." This poem basically describes the current me, my authentic self in my personal relationship with God, and HIS promises that always give me the HOPE to move forward and Press On literally One Day at a Time. This poem describes who I am and the HOPE I wish to bring to other people through encouragement and exhortation.
Thank you Graham for challenging me. What has resulted from this challenge for me personally, words simply cannot express my gratitude. Thank you again so much! Hope you enjoy.
HOPE
Hope gives us confidence
That leads to trust and guidance.
Hope comes from from the Holy Spirit
To keep us happy and peaceful which is the greatest gift.
God's Word brings us hope.
It is the law of God that should be followed.
Hope is never lost
Because of our salvation, Jesus paid the total cost.
Hope gives us confidence of eternal life.
God's truth brings faith that never dies.
Hope in God will never lead us to despair.
It's unseen and HIS promises can be found everywhere.
Helping Other People Everyday
Hold On Peace Exists
Hold Onto Prayer Everyday
He Offers Peace Eternally