Is living a life "of purpose" reserved only for a few great people? Is creative genius limited to a few gifted people? What would it mean for me, for you, to truly "show up" at our work and in our lives with a deep trust in the rightness of the process of our life and of our creative unfoldment? Big questions, with perhaps simple answers.
In this linked video, by writer Elizabeth Gilbert ("Eat, Pray, Love"), she brilliantly reminds us that when we show up and make space for our genius to flow through us, we open ourselves up to something larger than ourselves--to what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious. Art, inventiveness, soul purpose, intuition, and all kinds of creative "gold" floats in this collective pool. When we choose to open to it--ie simply when we "show up" for our work, we take the responsibility off our shoulders and onto the Muse, onto God, onto the process of life; the Tao. We become a channel for divine inspiration, and the creative daimon.
When we make an intention to "show up" on the yoga mat, the writing table, the painting canvas, or the childcare center, we are showing up for our life. We are allowing "God" and the creative daimon a space in which to be and to act. How responsible are we for what happens then? Perhaps not as much as we think. That's a fascinating thought--we do our part, and then let the rest go....
Elizabeth Gilbert reveals some of her genius in this video--this realm of purpose, joyful creativity, and responsibility...and the lack of responsibility! This is all what we've been exploring in this blog on life direction and soul purpose. Enjoy...!
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
Our responsibility is, as you say, to show up. I have long 'suffered' from light under a basket syndrome, partly in reaction to reactions of others to me being just too damn good/better/best at too many things. Didn't like people not liking me for showing up. Also, being aware from a very young age of fact we all deserve gold star - dislike of 'star' system - the dogdaimon speaks thru all/any of us. Then got into considering what is the purpose of the artefact - the CD/DVD/painting/book/&c? This past year, singing, along (Freud here as I meant to say 'alone'!), 'original' - just came thru this bodyreceiver unit - words and music, remembered one meaning of eros, to wit, reaching out for the sake of the reaching - and experienced the formless taking form for its own sake. (I didn't even THINK of running to pen/paper/tape machine.) So made sense of not needing to be a published/recorded/videoed celeb type event unto oneself. Just doing it/anything for the sheer hell of it; and, of course, giving IT OUR all; what else is there?
ReplyDeleteFunny she mentioned Tom Waits, cuz he - and Annie Lennox another off the top of my head - just RADIATE that dogness. But I really wish we could get to Tina Turner's 'We don't need another hero' message and realise we are all heroes/geniuses/daimons of dog!
(This was all very synchronous as I googled astrology life purpose and arrived at your site, where, over past 9 (!) months I've read every word up to this latest post. Am in absolute limbo/chaos state and so far unaware of any flow with which to go. My showing up seems to have devolved to an abyss of anarchy. Oddly, my heretofore illimitless patience is sorely tried and yet I have a sense of excited anticipation - tho dog alone knows of what! I'm variously hopeless/frustrated/freaked out. 'So', I think, 'This is the edge of the abyss, the formless.')
Yikes, my punctuation looks like a carrotnosed snowman....
Anyway, thanks for beaming out the light through your snowflake self. I'm sure I'm not the only other crystal that sparkles more brilliantly because of it.
Thanks Sabina~from one snowflake to another, your words are evocative (good writer!) and I do love to know there are such thoughtful readers out there....something to add to that: I wonder if you're standing close to an abyss because your gift(s) want to come forth into the world more, and the birthing process is in a long labor? Is there resistance? I imagine so, and I'm sure for good reason. Have you found your chart useful? Spiritual writers (dog people) have often said, we can't release our egos till we truly have a secure one to release. Sometimes the outward manifestation of the inner life/creativity is important--if only to be able to "let it all go". What do you think? ~elizabeth
ReplyDeleteHello Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wonderful blog. I just watched the Elizabeth Gilbert video on TED.com and It was the perfect timing !
My two real passions are astrology. I love to study astrological charts of artist that I admire. The last was Michael Jackson; I was so amazed by the Neptunian theme in his chart. I was also wondering : Why gifted people like him destroyed themselves ? I am haunted by that. And maybe that why I am so afraid to express my own creativity...
Thanks again and I will be back of your site soon.
PS. English is not my language. I apologize for all the bas writings...
Manon from MOntreal