Thursday, September 30, 2010

Principle #6 Soul

This is an excerpt from a book I am working on about Creativity. The book, like the workshops we teach, utilize 6 Principles as a framework, roadmap to allowing more artistry, more creativity into our lives. This excerpt is taken from the chapter on Soul, Principle #6. -NW

Aristotle defined Soul as the inner core, the essential essence of a person or a living thing. Sometimes, I believe however, an inanimate object can be imbued with this same essence. When enough passion and life force is contributed into the making of something, it almost seems magically to carry with, to hold within its center a small degree of this very same soulfulness. This aspect, this overflow of soul into a work is what transforms an activity, an effort, a creation into something more valuable and rare. It changes it, pushes it into an entirely new realm. It’s called Art.
The whole notion of creativity is about bringing something into existence that hasn’t existed before. Like magic, all manner of things can be made visible whether it’s a beautiful ceramic pot, a birthday cake, a painting or a marble sculpture. But here, and this being the very last principle of the 6, is where we can take a breath and relax. Because this Sixth Principle, Soul, develops in our work on it’s own. We simply need to be ourselves. Show up and pay attention as deeply as possible. And, this is important, we need to earnestly care about what we’re making. This intention, Soul, is the aspect of ourselves that is perfectly constant. It is carried inside us and is the primary thread, the guiding light of the creative arc of our life.
Interestingly, asking questions seem to be the easiest way to ease into an understanding about Soul.
Questions such as “What is important for you? What is engaging? What do you care about? These simple questions if answered truthfully will invariably lead us to the kind of creativity that results in work with a high degree of Soul. After all, if it is imbued with this quality then it will be, like you, totally unique. It will be yours. And it’s this uniqueness, this highly personal expression that creates the tremendous value to your work. Especially for others.
Sometimes it’s difficult to see this thread, this continuum in what we are making. Creative efforts are often accomplished in fits and starts. Changes occur rapidly and at other times not at all, but in the persistence of our efforts, it’s reassuring to know that if we consistently pay attention and put care into whatever we are making that much of our concerns about our apparent successes or failures will fall by the wayside.
It is, in the beginning, sometimes difficult to see the value of our own individuality. Especially so when much of our work, up ahead, cannot be seen as it lies quietly waiting in the future, unmade.
David Whyte, the poet, philosopher writes, “ If we can see the path laid out in front of us there is a good chance it is not our path. It is probably someone else’s we have substituted for our own.”
Rest assured, if we are paying attention earnestly, staying true to what is important and engaging to us then, much of our creative journey will take care of itself.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey cool page! I noticed you like art and I just started a new art blog myself, so check me out ! thanks

Kim Hambric said...

These words are just what I've been needing.

I'm hoping this book isn't too long in being published.

I've printed out this post and will hang it in my studio.

"It is, in the beginning, sometimes difficult to see the value of our own individuality. Especially so when much of our work, up ahead, cannot be seen as it lies quietly waiting in the future, unmade." - perfect!

Nicholas Wilton said...

Kim- I think I will print out YOUR post and hang it on my wall to motivate me to get this completed and hopefully published..thanks!

Bella Totino said...

Hi Nick - love your blog. I check in regularly to see what you're up to. You might have already seen this, but I think it relates well to your current post. Enjoy!

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Happy painting - you're family looks wonderful!
Bella

Hannah said...

I have to second Kim's comment on your words: "It is, in the beginning, sometimes difficult to see the value of our own individuality..." Your observation is especially poignant because I believe it it not just in the beginning that we doubt the value of our individuality. Instead it often seems that having faith in what is yet unseen (inside the studio and out) is a daily practice. Looking forward to reading and sharing your book....

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Tikakofi said...

Thanks Nick good food for thought that can apply to anything we do...what also comes with that type of commitment is satisfaction and something close to contentment at least for a momment and that is always worth the stuggle.

Unknown said...

wonderful stuff. I want to buy this book when your done. best-
maria
www.maricarluccio.com