On the Habitat of the Creative Creature

I  came across this piece from a long time ago. The irony is that this kind of creativity was skeeved out of me living in the UK, recovering from  life traumas and studying Art Therapy. I have found creativity can be like a creature that you have to get to know. You have to get to know it and understand its habits, habitats and diet. Mine was like a freaked out deer that ran to the hills and kept going from all the difficulties, noisy traffic and greyness. I didn't even know it was there until it was gone. Now I am coaxing it back with crumbs of things that inspire me, the simplicities of leaves, music, nice curtains, colours in the house, tea, not going out and, lots of crafts. Everyone's creative creature likes a different habitat, the trick is getting to know what that is.

  

Anael He went to Anael and asked her of all that tumbled inside his heart. And she said,

“Your troubles are like the stones tumbling in the currents of the sea. You have strong fire within you and it will not let anything of lesser heat be still. This will go on, but time and the unfolding of the years will calm your fire and the stones won’t strike so heavily on your heart.

    And one day, remember this, one day the tumbling and turning will smooth their corners. They will become jewels, they will shine and reveal what been hidden from you. But this is another time for you, we have no need to speak of it yet.  Just for now know this: your fire is strong. Listen to it, see how it moves you, what colours does it have and what is its song? Now is your time to learn this. Go well.”

     Then she moved and turned her face to the sea while her eyes saw beyond the horizon. She could hear the dreams of the whales and knew to the core of things and out again.

     He sat a while and looked to the ocean also.  He saw there green currents and the dashing of foam on stone. He saw the struggle of the birds against the wind and could not be still. The fire in him moved and he had to follow.

 

© Louise Amelia Phelps 2002