Welcome to The Artist’s Way Book Club

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Julia Cameron’s, The Artist’s Way, has lived on my bookshelves for more than ten years. I’ve read it, quoted from it, tried the famous “morning pages” and “artist’s dates,” and used its tools when working with my coaching clients BUT I’ve never given myself the time to do the full 12 week program all the way through.

“In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art.”

— Julia Cameron

In July, I kept hearing a whisper to take the book down from my shelf. I also started craving the morning pages. At first I didn’t listen. I thought, well, it might be outdated—it was first published in 1992—and I never felt inspired by the cover. It’s amazing the things we can put in our own way. (I almost ordered a copy from England because I liked the cover better!)

Then one day, suddenly, the imperfection of my old copy was absolutely perfect. I grabbed some highlighters and began reading the introductory chapters. I let myself mark up the pages. I felt that tingling excitement that happens when I follow my intuition. By the time I got to the chapter, “Week One,” I knew two things:

I was going to start writing morning pages the following morning.
I wanted to share this journey—to do the 12 weeks in community.

Since I began my creativity coaching business in 2014 I have wanted to have a book club as part of it. Ten years later (!) the time is ripe—for me, for this particular book, and for the times we are in.

It’s easy to “get busy” and give up on this 12 week creative discipline practice. Believe me, I’ve done that many times.
There is support and accountability in doing it in a group.
With all the noise of the news, social media, and the constant chattering in our heads it’s so important to take a moment to stop, to check in, and to listen from the inside out.
This 12 week Artist’s Way program is the medicine I need right now to anchor into my inner wisdom, intuition, and creativity and I wonder if you’re wanting that too.
I can tell I’m in a larger transition right now—my first born is heading to college, I’ve been navigating menopause, and I’ll be finishing my master’s program in the next few quarters—and the rhythm and ritual of the “morning pages” and weekly “artist’s dates” and journal prompts feel like a way for me to meet myself in this new season of life.
How about you? Are you feeling the natural transition that occurs this time of year from Summer to Fall?

“If you think of the universe as a vast electrical sea in which you are immersed and from which you are formed, opening to your creativity changes you from something bobbing in that sea to a more full functioning, more conscious, more cooperative part of that ecosystem.”

— Julia Cameron

benefits of the morning pages include:

increased clarity and direction
trust in your inner voice and intuition
connection to your imagination and dreams
creativity and innovation
clearing out the mental clutter
mindfulness
having a place to rant and get messy
and identifying the ways in which you block your authentic expression.

What this group provides: accountability, support and community

Saturday morning zoom calls for end-of-week check-in (as outlined at the end of each chapter), sharing, inspiration and accountability
Wednesday emails with a touch-in from me (including weekly task reminders, inspiration, quotes)

What you’ll need:

A copy of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Paper and pen for “morning pages” and other writing tasks
A willingness to dive into a transformative 12 week practice that includes “morning pages,” “artist’s dates,” and a selection of writing tasks
A willingness to jump into the mystery of discovering or rediscovering your creative self and authentic expression at this season of your life
A willingness to let go of perfectionism and embrace play