When the Student is Ready????

My mother gave me this book last weekend. I've often looked at it - but it seems a bit flaky and demanding for a busy life - but I won't be working over the next few weeks. I do agree with her basic premise which is that we are all creative. People are so talented. If you ask a young child if they can draw a house, they smile and say yes. And draw you one, often with a few flowers or a tree thrown in. At what age does that change to: Oh, I can't draw. I'm rubbish at art?

The exercises she suggests clear pathways through which creative forces can operate. This book is all about letting go to a higher force. Well, why not? I've always been attracted to the mantra: 'Let go and let God.' Another image she uses in the introduction resonates because she talks about a spiritual chiropractic - exercises to attain alignment with the creative energy of the universe. A chill ran down my (much straighter spine) when I read that, because for the last year I've been working on my body, which was bent out of shape. A healthy mind in a healthy body?

Here are the basic principles. I have changed her terminology from God to energy or source or whatever else seems more comfortable than the Catholic images the nuns embedded in me!

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure, creative energy.
2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling, creative force infusing all of life - including ourselves.
3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives.
4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
5. Creativity is the universe's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back.
6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to energy sources and good orderly direction.
8. As we open our creative channel to the creative energy, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.

She warns us to expect emotional tumult during the course. Well, as they say around here, you don't get owt for nowt.