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...damn everything but the circus...
damn everythingthat is grim, dull,
motionless, unrisking, inward turning,
damn everything that won't get into the
circle, that won't enjoy, that won't throw
its heart into the tension, surprise, fear
and delight of the circus, the round
world, the full existence...
- e.e. cummings
As much as I would rather not begin an article with a swear word, LOL, I couldn't help myself; these words embody creative freedom in a way that is so rich, so deep, and so immediate, I can feel the breeze of a magical trapeze of possibilities brush right by me, so close that I can effortlessly and gently grab onto it and take flight.
An artist recently told me that she was afraid to try to make money from her creations because she didn't want to end up hating them. Her point certainly strikes a chord; we're conditioned to think that if we "work", that we'll fall into the curses that cummings illustrates.
It seems there's a lot of talk about "earning money doing what you love", but there's less said about earning money while being what you love. Take a moment and answer this question: "What words most describe the ways you love to be?"
For me, some of the words that come to mind are: joyful, silly, outrageous, daring, colorful, whimsical, bold, fantastical, meaningful, alive…
What words come up for you?
This is an inquiry that doesn't get enough emphasis, especially in our very goal-oriented, doing-focused society. The traditional structures with which we are familiar are not inherently set up to create a template for being the things we love as we follow our creative dreams. Yet I believe not only is it possible to simultaneously do what we love and be what we love, in fact, one fuels the other. When we engage in a dream fully committed to be what we love, that solid commitment provides the momentum, motivation, and magic to help us do what we love. What we need are more tools and resources to help us know how to bring more beingness to the process…in short, how to make work feel like play.
We’ve already begun to see changes in the way that our society approaches work, and as the economy is suffering and people are expressing discontent in louder voices than ever, it is the ideal time to step forward with new dreams, doing what you love and being what you love in new ways. The people that are going to be the biggest catalysts of change will be the steadfast, nurturing weavers of wisdom, the illuminating, passionate painters of purpose, and the encouraging, persistent, handcrafters of hope, that one by one touch lives and inspire souls.
In a couple of weeks, I'm premiering an all-new free teleclass called ~Work du Soleil~ which will present practical approaches for being productive in our creative dreams with fantastical, colorful, whimsical tools and toys. If you like to feel that familiar, happy little shifting in your heart when it’s full of joy, and you're ready to just let loose and play, then you can get the details below.
For those short on time, to simplify this week's Artellagram, here are some ”quick links” to the highlights in this edition. You can simply follow the links that you're interested in and go directly to that section.
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1. NEW! Free Teleclass…~Work du Soleil!~ I invite all bold, boisterous bohemian souls to join me on November 10 for Work du Soleil, a playful and practical free teleworkshop for creative entrepreneurs and anyone who has ever dreamed of earning money doing what you love, while also being what you love.
In this very exciting free class, I'll be joined my ultra-special guest, Tama Kieves, best-selling author of This Time I Dance: Creating the Work You Love. It will be one great big party as we share practical tools to help you bring more momentum, motivation, and magic to your dreams as you find the "sweet spot" that propels you into action like never before.
~Work du Soleil~ is a free teleclass event to be held on Thursday, November 10, at 9:00pm Eastern Time (8:00 Central, 7:00 Mountain, 6:00 Pacific), taking place via telephone conference line.
Sign up for this free experience and you will…
- Engage in transformative tools to discover your own personal key to playful abandon and learn how this discovery alone will bring more momentum, motivation, and magic into your dreams (you might be surprised at what you discover!)
- Learn and participate in practical approaches for being more productive in your creative dreams with fantastical, colorful, whimsical tools and toys
- Hear from best-selling author Tama Kieves about why a new approach to work is so needed, as we explore the connection between play and productivity
- Receive a dynamic follow-up workbook including inspiring and effective ARTsignments™ to uncover even more new sources and opportunities for infusing your work - and your life - with the spirit of playful abandon!
 For those also interested in hearing more about Artella's newest adventure, an exciting and whimsical business adventure land called Business Bohemia, you are invited to stay for a fun gathering after the call, where you'll hear all the details and be invited to join us in this fantastical new world...where creating wonderful work feels like play!
To join us for the free ~Work du Soleil~ teleclass on Thursday, November 10, sign up here!
2. Autumn's Free ARTbundance™ Goodies! Here is a whole bundle of new inspiring freebies for you:
 3. Join the ARTfiliate Program! Join Artella's generous ARTfiliate Program and enjoy all the new affiliate tools that we've recently added! You can get more info by clicking here.
 4. Interested in Becoming Part of Artella's Team? We are expanding our team for all the exciting things we're working on this year, so if you're interested in becoming part of the Artella Team, check out this page for details.
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  For today's "In the Studio" Interview, I'm delighted to present Certified ARTbundance™ Coach and Practitioner, Jo Beall. Jo's specialty is bringing bliss to everything she does, and awakening bliss in those she works with, so I knew her interview would be a natural tie-in to the subject in this Artellagram.
Enjoy getting to know Jo!
Artella: What led you to become a Certified ARTbundance™ Coach/Practitioner?
Jo: As I flew across the US on New Years Day this year, feeling the spirit of the freedom of the skies, I declared that 2011 would be devoted to "Freeing Myself" and when I read about the Certified ARTbundanceTM Coach program months later, it seemed to be a perfect certification, and next step in the "Freeing Myself" work. So it has been, and continues to be.
Artella: In your mind, how are creativity and spirituality related?
Jo: For me, creativity and spirit reality are totally intertwined and entwined on so many levels: we are all creative beings and we are all spiritual beings, creativity is spiritual or inspired and spirituality is creative, creativity is the most awesome spirit adventure that we can each choose to embark upon and spirit reality is a most creative way to live
You can read the rest of Jo's interview, here
The Fall 2011 session of the ARTbundance™ Certification Training Program (ACT) is now in session. If you would like to be notified when the next session is announced, simply fill in this form. |
In the above article, I invited you to identify the words that describe how you most want to be each day.
This ARTsignment™ allows you to explore this concept in a deeper way, through art.
- Draw three circles.
- Fill one circle with words, images and symbols that describe how your body most wants to be and feel every day. Work quickly, and write and draw each thing that comes to mind, even if it seems random, or not to make much sense.
- Fill the second circle with words, images and symbols that describe how your mind most wants to be and feel every day, as it is fully expressed (It's fine to repeat elements from the first circle)
- Fill the third circle with representations of how your soul wants to feel every day. Interpret this however you wish, writing and drawing the first items that come to mind.
- Now, examine your three circles. What do you see? Highlight the words or images that seem most important. Pay attention to repetition and themes that reveal themselves more than once. What do you notice, as you explore your key desires on three levels – body, mind, spirit?
- In the e.e. cummings quote at the top of this page, he compares living a full life with throwing our hearts into the "fear and delight of the circus". Using this quote and your own initial sketch as inspiration, create a piece of art, in any media and using any supplies, to illustrate a fantastical circus that represents the deepest desires of your body, mind, and spirit.
As you work with your hands to create this piece, allow your mind to continue to make new connections and discover new insights. Invite your soul to open to new messages and opportunities. Invite yourself to jump on a new, fluid trapease of wonder through this artwork. What do you find in your flight?
For inspiration and circus-themed images, you may want to look at our Cirque d'Artella Studio Collage Kit, here.
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This Quotz Crystal is a high-resolution jpeg image, suitable for printing. I invite you to print it out as a reminder as a fun reminder of e.e. cummings' invitation:
~flying on a trapeze with,
 Marney
Artella Founder, Mango Lover, Hula Dancer
Artella Land ~ the creative isles of words, art, and spirit
Artella 9090 Skillman #182A-116 Dallas TX 75243 |
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