It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post. I’ve been busy finishing up my latest book and submitting articles for publication and that’s where my writing energy has been channeled lately (and of course, into my obsessive journaling habit).
Folks have been congratulating me and some even seem amazed at my ability to produce books and articles. And while I appreciate the kind support, I really don’t want this to seem like something particularly special or mysterious.
We all have things we’re good at and things we love to do. (Sometimes we love to do things we’re not so good at and that’s cool too). I write because I love it and I need to do it for my sanity and well-being. If it’s of benefit to others, then I’m honored and thrilled. But I do it because of a fire inside of me. I do it because I can’t imagine not doing it. And I’m starting to share it because I keep being reminded that inspiration comes to us, moves through us, in order to enter the world.
Yes, it takes intention, focus, determination and dedication to write a book. It’s a lot of work, don’t get me wrong. But it’s a labor of love. The older I get the deeper my gratitude and awe for the mysteries of creative inspiration that move through me, you, all of us, to enter into culture.
I think a lot about the creative impulse – the urge to act on it and the decision not to. Like all creative people (and I believe we all are), I have my own peculiar dance with creative inspiration. I live with two artists and work with a lot of arts-identified folks in my private practice and in the groups I lead, so I have plenty of real-life case studies at my disposal.
Something that comes up a lot in my work with folks is a deep longing to live a creative life – writing, painting, singing, cooking, landscaping, etc. – and the paralyzing fears, doubts, self-criticisms, etc. that stop them. It’s so incredibly painful for them and it’s painful to watch. And I am not immune. I know this intimately from the inside…needing to create and at times denying myself the right to do so.
One of the biggest blocks seems to be a fear of criticism – from self and others. I know brilliant, intelligent, talented people who habitually beat themselves up for not being “good enough.” When I hear this I always wonder and usually ask, “Good enough for who?” Sometimes it’s the usual suspects: myself, my parents, respected teachers, talented peers, and so on. Sometimes it’s an imagined heartless, hostile, and condemning “public.” (Pretty easy to imagine given the critiquing, criticizing, and even bullying that goes on in social media and other online platforms).
Myths can reveal an overlap of individual experience with the universal experiences of all humankind, and in so doing, provide comfort and a sense of direction and meaning during times of duress, confusion, and suffering. Mythology not only serves to explain mysteries of the outer world, it also gives form and structure to the inner world of psyche. C.G. Jung believed that one of the best ways to learn about the human psyche is to study myths.
The ground nourishes our roots. Like a tree, we gain energy, nourishment, stability and growth when we are grounded in the present moment, present in the body and firmly connected to our environment. Without presence, we are separated from ourselves, from nature and from our sources of soul connection in this world. 
Grounding gives us direction. Cut off from this vital source of connection and wisdom, we can more easily lose our path in life. Many people who have not found their true path may have simply not yet found their ground. Gazing skyward, we don’t see the point (in time and space) where our feet meet the path below and in front of us.
Grounding is essential to growth, to spiritual progress and to real-world success. It’s so important that it’s frequently an emphasis in my work with individuals and in groups. Without a solid foundation beneath us, without deep and sturdy roots, growth is simply not sustainable.
It’s summer in Northern California. All around there are signs of growth and ripening. Summertime often ushers in a period of gentle expansion for plants and people alike. It’s a time when energy organically moves outward toward blooming and blossoming. It’s often a time of opening and extending, as is reflected to us by the natural world. Just think of all the flowering plants and shrubs that share their beauty and bounty during the warmer months. Imagine the inner impulse of those resolute vine tendrils you see, always reaching and stretching to the light during the sultry summer season.
g myself pulled out into the world the past few months, as well. Summer can bring out my social, playful, adventurous sides. The world beckons, and when I’m not working with amazing students, clients and colleagues, I’m called out into sunshine dappled forests, days at the beach, parties, picnics, quiet walks and tea in the park. And, to be honest, the last thing I want to do is sit at my computer any longer than I have to. Even to do things I typically enjoy, like writing and making digital art.
As I was packing for my latest teaching adventure, the 5 day 
One of the things I find mysterious and fascinating about creative work (of any kind) is the way it seems to take on a life of its own, during the creative process (and certainly, after it’s completed as well.) I recently completed a mask that I had started a few years ago, then set aside. Sometimes my life moves at such a pace that it’s hard to keep up with my creative work. I’m sure many of you can relate.
First, stay present with what’s happening.
I love to make a hot cup of tea, sit with my journal and review the year behind me, as I contemplate the year ahead. I try to focus on having gratitude for what I have done while acknowledging and learning from what I haven’t (with kindness and self-compassion). I give thanks for my blessings, release the unmet goals, unfulfilled desires, and unlived dreams, and I feel into what my heart and soul wish to dedicate time, energy and resources to going forward.
Today I spoke with a close friend who is in the depths of grieving the sudden death of a loved one. It’s such a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, the preciousness of love and the strength and vulnerability of the human spirit.