| | ARTELLAGRAM 9-11-2010:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Paula Swenson
(This interview is continued from the September 11 2010 Artellagram... )
 Artella: What led you to become a Certified ARTbundance™ Coach?
Paula: Well, initially I signed up for Marney's Soul Safari workshop, because I was feeling a bit adrift, having achieved a lifelong goal of living and working abroad, but feeling like there was more, and not feeling in touch with what that was exactly. In the process of that workshop I uncovered a long-buried dream of enabling creativity in as many ways as possible. After that particular workshop, some of the inaugural class of ARTbundance coaches spoke a bit about the program and something in my heart and brain went ZING!!!! So that’s really how I started on the path.
Artella: In your mind, how are creativity and spirituality related?
Paula: I feel that Creativity and Spirit are two sides of the same coin . . . whenever I talk to people who are in touch with their creativity, I hear that they are connected with something ‘more’ than themselves (even those who proclaim themselves atheists!). It seems to me that the Creative Spirit is how Source/God/the Universe expresses existence through us. If you really look at the periods of history we hold up as “golden ages” they are times when creativity was honored and valued and immense human progress was made as a result. I think we are on the verge of another such time. The focus is shifting back to Spiritual Expression and Creative Expression. We’re demanding more elegance and grace, not just speed and efficiency. We’re asking for authenticity long with our affluence. We’re embracing the idea of service again, of a responsibility to community, to the “greater good” if you will. I think true spirituality stirs creativity and creativity brings us into alignment with Spirit.
Artella: How is prosperity related to creativity and spirituality?
Paula: I think it’s important to realize that prosperity is a really broad topic. We have developed this habit of putting things into little boxes; prosperity over here, happiness over there, health in another, family in yet another . . . but I really believe it is more like a big spider web, where everything intersects with other things, and if you pull or tug on any of the threads, they all wiggle and shake. So in my world view, the definition of prosperity is when all the bits of the web are well anchored and in balance, yes money and physical comforts, but also friends, time, peace, joy -- all types of abundance! To me creativity and spirituality are the heart and soul of prosperity. We’ve been shown time and again examples of people who have little to speak of materially, but great happiness and personal fulfillment. And of course we see the opposite all around us, people with enough material wealth to support a village, but no satisfaction. Who is prosperous? I’d say the first group, and invariably they have both a spiritual base and a means of creative expression. (Of course I am not talking here about extreme poverty, every person has the right to have their basic needs met—it is one of the cornerstones of prosperity.) So I think that without creativity and spirituality it is impossible to have true prosperity. And that creativity can take any form; it might be gardening or cooking or creating elegant spreadsheets. And spirituality doesn’t necessarily mean religion; it is more about how we are connected to the source of life, to nature and to one another, for some that is a religious or philosophical tradition, for others an individual path of awareness.
Artella: ARTbundance™ Coaching is based on nine ARTbundance™ Principles. Do you have a favorite Principle, or one that you really enjoy activating in other people? Which one, and why?
Paula: This is one of those ”which is your favorite child” questions – LOL - I love all the Principles equally, because the more I work with them, the more I see how leaving any one out of the equation creates an imbalance. I do have a personal affinity for INTUITION and CONNECTION – which helps me as a coach, and I love helping people activate those qualities in themselves. However, I can honestly say what I enjoy the most is guiding each client towards discovering what she or he needs to activate, and then helping them do that in creative and satisfying ways.
Artella: It seems that there is a prevalent belief that artists must be unhappy in order to create... that artists are "supposed" to suffer. Do you think that is true?
Paula: This is one of those ”which is your favorite child” questions – LOL - I love all the Principles equally, because the more I work with them, the more I see how leaving any one out of the equation creates an imbalance. I do have a personal affinity for INTUITION and CONNECTION – which helps me as a coach, and I love helping people activate those qualities in themselves. However, I can honestly say what I enjoy the most is guiding each client towards discovering what she or he needs to activate, and then helping them do that in creative and satisfying ways.
Artella: What does your future hold?
Paula: I’m looking forward to more travel and melding that with coaching and speaking opportunities!
Artella: What projects are you working on now?
Paula: Oh so many things! I’m growing my coaching practice of course -- and to help that along, during September I’m offering a 20-minute free coaching session to new clients, who’d like to see if it’s right for them.
I’ve also got some online classes starting in October that I am really, really excited about:
~Choose to be Extraordinary starts October 9th for 8 weeks
It’s a combination of live classes and personalized email coaching that I am very excited about. The group is limited to 10 people, so it’s really very personal. It’s super support for really digging in a making dreams come true!
~A Place of Possibilities starts October 12th – 4 consecutive weeks (60 minute sessions)
It’s about exploring options and learning how to meld your dreams, natural abilities and acquired skills and discover the wonderful possibilities that are yours.
And two online seminars:
~Attraction/Distraction~ is happening on the Autumnal Equinox (Sept 22) – a perfect time to re-establish balance! This seminar is full of fun activities to Sort out the Attractions (things with potential) from the Distractions (things that drain energy)!
~Muses Just Want to Have Fun ~ a fun Saturday break to take advantage of autumn energy on October 16th! My muse Azalea (the on-beyond zebra) is helping me out with this one!
Designed to start people on the journey to connecting with their personal Muse and learn how to invite their Muse to visit whenever and wherever they choose.
More info on all of that is available on my website http://creativecompasscoach.com
I’m very excited about some collaborations that are in the works. The one closest to fruition is working with Rachel McDonald co-leading some playshops online later this year and also in-person in 2011.
I’m also working on a Creative Compass coloring book and an e-book about Seasonal Creative Cycles. I’m co-authoring a novel and doing creative consulting on a multi-media project based on the Seven Deadly Sins... LOL – an ARTbundance of things :-)
Paula Swenson is a mixed-media, multiple-medium artist, writer and creativity enabler, whose eclectic background and inveterate dream-catching helps inspire others to build foundations under their dream castles in the air. Sample Paula's creative dream-catching at www.zografis.com and www.creativecompasscoach.com.
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