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by Melissa Harris

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Perhaps you don't consider yourself creative. But, we are all creative: our creativity simple emerges in different ways. Consider the imagination one employs to make intelligent financial decisions, or how one can come up with yummy and inexpensive recipes with healthy ingredients. We call upon our creative selves many times in the course of a day, but some of us don't count these acts as imaginative. We have been conditioned to believe that only those that paint, write, play music, etc. are officially the "creatives." Our beliefs that we are not creative sometimes begin early on if we were not encouraged in that way by our families. Perhaps we may have been told in school that we should stick to more practical subjects. It's easy to fall prey to accepting the image of how someone else sees us. When we know ourselves well and are confident in our abilities, the reflections of others do not affect us.

The following are some ways to support your creative urges. If you don't think you are creative, or if you are feeling creatively blocked, these five simple suggestions will help you push through.

1. 1. Mindfulness
      When we are not mindful we may miss opportunities for finding inspiration. What do I mean by "mindful?" When we are mindful we are completely present in the moment; when we are present we are not focused on the past or the future. Our attention is on our in-the-moment circumstance, and we have an awareness of our surroundings by way of all our senses.Track yourself to observe how present you are just for one hour as you are going about your day. Stop to check in often to see if your mind is on the past or if you are thinking ahead. Inevitably, you will be doing this to some degree. When you catch yourself, gently bring your focus back to present time. As you get in the habit of monitoring yourself this way, it becomes more automatic and easier to stay in the moment.

      Now that you are present and available for inspiration you may discover that the beauty of the road you drive down each day inspires a painting. Or that the sound of the birds singing lifts your heart and puts you more in the mood to clean or re-arrange your home. With a clear head you may find that conversations with friends may act as fodder for a piece of writing. The rewards of a clear and peaceful mind are many.

1. 1. Enlarge Your Vision
      Take a moment to contemplate how you may be keeping your vision small. "Your vision" of what?, you may be asking. This could include a specific project on which you are working or even how you view your life. I speak to many folks who don't even bother to try and think big because they have felt trapped for so long. Often when we have been stuck in a rut we forget that there may be solutions or options of which we have not even thought. Conversing with a trusted friend is a good way to shake things up as long as we are not complaining, simply conversing.I remember feeling stuck with a particular painting. A friend was visiting, and she remarked that it would look so good with……….and made her suggestion. I followed up with her vision and was pleased at the way it turned out. I was surprised that I had not thought of it. My ego stepped out of the way in order to be open to her suggestion—another aid in the creative process. Opening up to the ideas of others has also helped me when it comes to other areas of my life.

      It may not be necessary for you to share with others. I find it helpful to view a problem or project from angles that may not have been obvious in the beginning. Your creativity will be heightened just in the act of thinking outside the box.

      More creative energy is available to you when your life is running more smoothly. When we apply the practice of looking at situations with a broader perspective, our lives benefit by our being able to implement new ideas and solutions to situations that may have previously been problematic.

1. 1. Show Up
      Numerous successful people have made the statement that more than half—or even most—of the work is showing up. How do you avoid your own successes? Are there instances where you have sabotaged yourself in regard to your creative desires? Does one of your frequent statements include the phrase "someday?" "Someday, I'd like to learn to play guitar." Or, "Someday I'm going to write a book." I hear this so often.Fear is probably the biggest factor in the way of creative fulfillment. Have you identified any fears related to procrastination of your desired activities? Journaling without too much thought, just free writing, is helpful in exploring one's inner feelings. Just open yourself up on the paper and let your thoughts flow without censorship to see what may emerge. I have surprised myself more than once with what came pouring out.

      If this is true for you, try addressing something on your "someday" list by taking very small baby steps toward that goal. It may be too scary to select the thing that you want the most, so choose what seems to be the most attainable.

1. 1. Take Notes/Keep Records
      It doesn't matter what you want to do creatively or if you have even identified what you want to do creatively. Keeping a record of what inspires you or things you notice throughout your day that interest you are fuel for later projects. If you find yourself waiting in the dentist's office, make use of that time to thumb through magazines; if you find something of interest for later, take a photo or make notes. File these gems away for when you are ready to work with them, whether they be a recipe or a room you would like to take some decorating ideas from. If you are driving home and the clouds are particularly spectacular, take a photo in case you may want to use the clouds in a painting.I have an accordion file of photos that has been a valuable resource for me for years. I call upon for this file for use in my paintings. The folder is divided up by subject matter that I tend to use in my art work. On a day that I have the urge to paint and don't have anything in mind, I may peruse the file and find images that inspire me. Or I may find myself in the midst of a painting and feel that there is something I want to add to it, or I may wonder what kind of tree may look the best in the piece. I also collect beads, bones, shells, feathers, fabric, and anything else I find I may want to include in my collages.

      This practice is not just for visual artists. I have a musician friend who records anywhere and everywhere she goes, and has been doing so for years. She doesn't confine this to music, eitther: she recorded the street sounds of the colorful neighborhood on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, including the whistle warnings of the local drug dealers. She also managed to record a "heartbeat" from the ancient stone formations in Malta. These sounds were woven into musical compositions she used in theater pieces many years after. If you like to cook, don't hesitate to ask for the recipe or at least ingredients of a dish you enjoy while eating out; don't forget to write it down!

      Keeping a journal is another handy tool for recording thoughts or ideas for later use. If you are a writer, chances are that you already make a habit of this. People you meet on an everyday basis may become characters in that next piece of writing.

1. Lose Any Competitive Edge
   Face it. There will most always be someone smarter, faster, better looking, etc., than ourselves. If we waste energy on comparing ourselves to others we may never take the first step toward our desired goals.I teach art classes, and I have had many folks come to me with stories of how their mothers, husbands, or others were artists and they didn't want to disappoint themselves with how they might not match their own ideals. These ideals were set either by these others in their lives or by their own impossibly high standards.

   I teach art-making workshops that are open to anyone. When a new student learns that they may be asked to share what they have done with the others, their fears set in and they often try to talk their way out of it. Ultimately, they learn from the others in the group.

   We have to begin somewhere, sometime. If we allow the abilities of others to stand in our way we are doing ourselves a huge disservice. When my students do put their work on the wall for others to see, they are always surprised by the positive qualities that the other students find in their art. We all have our unique talents. If you have the drive to do something and let others stand in your way, you may never discover a vision, or voice, or other skills that may be resting within.

Allow yourself to expand creatively by taking a risk. Begin today and enjoy the benefits a life with more creativity brings.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2015. All rights reserved.

Help! I have friends who are very involved in Christianity and are always confronting me about my unorthodox spiritual practices. You must come across this as well. How do you handle it?
Greta

Susyn:

As a rule, I don't try to change others beliefs or insist that they accept mine. However, I have had the sort of experiences you describe, and I found them to be rather frustrating.

Years ago, I dated a man who belonged to a Bible-based church. He was fearful that if his church knew he was dating a psychic, he would be forced to stop. I asked him to show me where in the Bible my work and beliefs were condemned. He didn't know but he agreed to ask his pastor. In the mean time, I consulted another minister and asked him to direct me to biblical quotes as well.

I was surprised when both pastors gave me the same exact passages to read. I was even more surprised when I read further and uncovered the whole story. I began doing my own research and found that the Bible actually encourages my work and beliefs.

The first passage was in chapter two of Daniel, which states that the King Daniel served had ordered all astrologers and seers to be put to death. This is where the pastors stopped. If you read on, however, you discover that Daniel (who was himself an astrologer) needed to interpret a dream the king had had in order to save his life and those of his colleagues. He prayed to God and was given the answers he needed, which made for a happy ending to this story.

In the second passage, Isiah 47, verses 13-15, Isiah condemned and cursed all astrologers to death along with any people who followed them. It's easy to see that he was targeting anyone who made another person or thing his god. I don't have a problem with that, for my work and beliefs are a channel for getting closer to Spirit and are not to be worshipped in and of themselves.

My own research was even more revealing. In Genesis, there is a passage that reads that God placed the stars and planets in the firmament (sky) as signs for those who are able to read them. In Matthew, chapter two, it specifically states in many bibles that the three wise men were astrologers. Essentially, Godís birth announcement of Jesus was an astrological event, and the three wise men who followed the star used astrology for holy work.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Romans 12:6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. If your friends insist on confronting you about your spiritual beliefs and practices, I would invite them to investigate how the Bible forbids not the use of spiritual gifts, but rather their misuse!

*****

Oceania:

This is not so much about conflicting belief systems as it is about your relationships with your so-called friends. If they think they have the right to challenge or attack something as personal and precious as your spiritual life, itís because you have allowed that sort of behavior from them. You have been passive rather than assertive.

When you're assertive, your energy basically says Iím okay, youíre okay. When you act assertively, you show respect for yourself and for others. Being passive conveys the message Youíre okay, Iím not. Passive people are doormats who don't stand up for themselves or protect their personal boundaries. Passive people avoid conflict, tend to be used, and often give up whatís important to them to keep the peace.

Being aggressive conveys the message I'm okay, you're not. An aggressive person is intent on getting their way at any cost. Aggressive people tend to attract passive people and vice versa. Bullies sense passive people's desire to be liked and they manipulate them through criticism and rejection.

Ultimately, being passive is frustrating, discouraging and tiresome because you canít please everyone. No matter how much you give up, someone is going to be unhappy with you.

Assertive people tend to attract other assertive people. As you move from passivity to assertiveness, you will find the aggressive people in your life either falling away or mustering up healthy assertiveness in order to continue your relationship.

Setting specific biblical passages aside, history scholars have learned much about the historical Jesus. Their research suggests that the spiritual leader Jesus of Nazareth was opposed to the judging and condemning of others and held an attitude of inclusivity. He was opposed to excluding people from his spiritual community based on their being different from the mainstream. When you experience Christians judging, condemning or excluding you, you can rest assured that Jesus would not agree with such behavior.

The way I cope with the kind of people you mentioned is preventatively. I take delight in my personal beliefs but do not share them except with people I know will understand. If someone happens to become aggressive on this or any topic, I gracefully exit.

I recommend that you find friends or a spiritual group of people with whom you can share openly and enjoy mutual support, respect and acceptance. If you look for them, you will eventually find some lovely kindred spirits who share your beliefs and interests.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.