The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

There are many lies artists tell themselves because of their upbringings, cultures, and beliefs. From believing art is a selfish endeavor to thinking talent can’t be developed, these limiting beliefs can stop a creative journey before it has even started. One of the most prevalent limiting beliefs held by shadow artists is the notion of lacking something, whether that’s time, money, talent, or vision. This lack is seen as the insurmountable issue preventing the shadow artist from stepping into their rightful identity as artists not hidden or repressed but creative and open to the world. While arguments can certainly be made for how certain lifestyles provide significant advantages for some people (such as having lots of free time due to having wealth), Cameron seeks to squash the idea that people with the luxury of time, money, and other resources are the only ones who can be fully creative. Instead, she argues that all artists are supported by the universe once they embrace their vision. The universe is on the artist’s side because “God is the Great Artist” (119). Accepting God as the “source is a simple but completely effective plan for living. It removes negative dependency—and anxiety—from our lives by assuring us that God will provide. Our job is to listen for how” (94). Rather than requiring the artist to figure everything out on their own, they can instead admit their dream, pursue their passion with a sense of play and wonder consistently, and the universe will provide. Cameron expands on this thinking:

“Dependence on the creator within is really freedom from all other dependencies. Paradoxically, it is also the only route to real intimacy with other human beings. Freed from our terrible fears of abandonment, we are able to live with more spontaneity. Freed from our constant demands for more and more reassurance, our fellows are able to love us back without feeling so burdened.” (95)

While it may seem counterintuitive to be dependent on an outside force to escape dependency, it’s a paradox Cameron openly acknowledges and one that makes sense within the presented framework. By lifting the burden off oneself and tapping into the source, the creative can be open to receiving and observing rather than trying to create and conjure from nothing. They can experience the world from a place of curiosity rather than a place of desperation. Cameron extends this idea to other psychological implications, like the notion of attachment styles and how having a healthy one fosters better relationships. When people come from a positive place of security and openness, positive outcomes are more likely. Cameron applies this psychological thinking to the artistic process. By trusting that everything needed is present, the artist frees themselves to focus on what’s important rather than what frightens them. Fear kills creativity, and by placing trust in God as a source, creatives can step out of that fear and into themselves.

It doesn’t have to be a dramatic step either. In fact, Cameron cautions against big creative leaps that can be self-destructive or unsustainable. Instead, she recommends that the artist “[t]ake a small step in the direction of a dream and watch the synchronous doors flying open” (66). The artist will encounter resistance as they walk the creative path, which isn’t linear or easy. As they move forward, they will begin to see their true selves, which can feel like a “disturbing character, healthy and occasionally anarchistic, who knows how to play, how to say no to others and ‘yes’ to itself” (99). Even though these traits are mostly positive, the emergence of this character can be unsettling because it’s new and powerful. Forging ahead with this identity and being open to the universe’s guidance along the way allows artists to make progress. The feeling of abundance yields abundance, and rather than needing to be rich, Cameron reminds readers that to be artists, they only “need to be richly supported” (181). This support comes in all forms as long as the artist continues on their journey and is open to receiving it.