Chapter 6: Recovering a Sense of Abundance
The Artist's Way Journey
Welcome to the sixth post in a 12-week series dedicated to exploring creativity and artistic identity through Julia Cameron’s 1994 course The Artist’s Way! Whether you are completing the course alongside me, joining us in the future, or here to learn from my insights and reflections, the following series of posts will remain a safe space for discussion and reflection wherever you are in your artistic journey.
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Chapter 6 asks you to question your limiting beliefs about time and money.
“This week you’ll tackle a major creative block — money. You are asked to really look at your own ideas around God, money, and creative abundance. The essays will explore the ways in which your attitudes limit abundance and luxury in your current life. You will be introduced to counting, a block-busting tool for clarity and right use of funds. This week may feel volatile.”
Reflecting on Chapter 6
Chapter 6 was difficult to connect with at times. Although the references to God in previous chapters have rubbed me up the wrong way at times, my tolerance of all the God-Talk is beginning to wear thin. Although Cameron starts The Artist Way with the disclaimer that “God” can be replaced with source/the universe/fate/your deity of choice, it’s difficult to do with much success; Cameron’s Christian, religious approach seeps through regardless of the disclaimer. While I recognise this may just be my inability to disconnect from the religious messaging as a likely the result of my Catholic upbringing, it really does add an element of cringe and superiority I find difficult to digest at times.
I digress.
“All too often, we become blocked and blame it on our lack of money. This is never an authentic block. The actual block is our feeling of constriction, our sense of powerlessness. Art requires us to empower ourselves with choice.”
— Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way. p.109
This chapter’s focus was abundance with a particular focus on money. The stereotypical starving artist comes to mind and we’re asked to challenge it. I felt the focus on abundance tied in nicely with the last chapter’s focus on possibility, both reinforcing a mindset of opportunity and hope.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you need x amount of money to begin a creative endeavour. Yes, it may be nice to have better equipment, more tools, and more time, but the truth is that money isn’t a prerequisite for art.
Where things get tricky is progression — having the resources to take the next step in your artistic career. Whether this means having the funds to attend a course that will equip you with a competitive skillset, or to upgrade from your phone to a DSLR, or simply reducing your work hours so you have the time to hone in on your craft. Money provides power and opportunity.
What Cameron argues in this chapter is that mindset does too.
“What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.”
— Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way, p.108
I believe this topic requires a lot of self-compassion. The reality is that capitalism is rife in Western countries and the everyday person bears the brunt of its pitfalls. It’s difficult to tell someone living paycheck to paycheck they just need to believe God will provide if you say pretty please.
I lean more into the idea that what you put out there, you will eventually get back. I’m a believer in the phrase “what you seek is seeking you”, with the caveat that seeking implies dedication and a willingness to make your dreams your reality. Creation is antonymic to passivity; you cannot simply wish yourself a better writer/embroider/carpenter/dancer and expect you will magically gain the skills of a well-practised artist. Cultivating the necessary skills in your craft is the pre-requisite, reward comes in the form of opportunity, synchronicities, community, and, if it’s what you so desire, remuneration.
If you believe in yourself and your art, eventually you will find success in it — whatever your idea of success means. I think the core message of this chapter (beyond the God-Talk) is that you owe your inner artist the space and time to exist and create. If you don’t believe you or your craft is worth those simple things, then how can you expect others to lend their time, space, voice or money to it, too?
“Creativity lives in paradox: serious art is born from serious play.”
— Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way, p. 112
I’ll leave you with a brief vignette.
I left high school knowing deep down that one day I would make my dream of becoming a published author a reality. I knew it in my bones. I decided that, no matter where life took me or how I got there, writing would one day become a significant part of my day-to-day life. I didn’t go to university for creative writing and literature, though. Instead, I pursued my second passion for anatomy and physiology and helping people and became a Registered Nurse. I knew it would allow me to earn a living and offer greater flexibility in my work hours.
A 3-year degree and 2 and half years into the field later and things have come full circle. Despite its challenges and how “long” it took me, I published my book while finding my feet as a nurse. I gained skills in my profession and also put time aside to learn whatever I could online and submit to as many journals as possible. Eventually, all the free time “lost” and money “wasted” on my art has been rewarded with acceptance in the local writing community, publication in journals that believed my poetry was worthy of sharing, invitations to perform my poetry (with payment!!), and, more recently, acceptance into a Master of Arts in Creative Writing.
None of that would have been possible if I hadn’t believed in myself first. It’s easy to forget how abundant our lives our and how rich with possibility the future is. Small acts of self-belief build over time; money is of course a powerful tool, but so is dedication and self-discipline.
So, create your art seriously, lovingly, obsessively, playfully, despite it all.
Chapter 6 Check-In:
Are you still writing your morning pages?
Did you have an artist date this week? What did you do?
What is one limiting belief you have about time and money? How does it get in the way of your art?
Yours in abundance,
Caitlin ❧