Deep Creativity: Seven Ways to Spark Your Creative Spirit
Tags: #creativity #self-help #spirituality #art #psychology
Authors: Deborah Anne Quibell, PhD, Jennifer Leigh Selig, PhD, Dennis Patrick Slattery, PhD
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Overview
This book is about what we call “deep creativity,” — a style of creativity that emphasizes the process as much as the product. In our modern, hurried world, we are often encouraged to skim the surface of our creative endeavors in an attempt to generate product after product, often to appease the “online content monster.” And in doing so, we can lose touch with the deeper levels of creativity that emerge when we allow ourselves to connect to and be moved by the experiences, the relationships, and the shadow aspects of our lives that we typically rush by or avoid. It is in these deeper, less accessible places within us, we believe, that the most raw and real creative urges reside, waiting to be coaxed out and brought into form. To evoke this process, we have identified seven “ways” that lead to “deep creativity,” which serve as the different parts of this book: Love, Nature, the Muse, Suffering, Practice, the Sacred, and Art. Each one has the potential to become a powerful pathway into your own creative process, and we’ve provided creative meditations and exercises at the end of each section to help you connect more deeply with each of these seven pathways. In many ways, deep creativity is a spiritual practice, and as such, it is not something that can be mastered overnight. It requires patience, commitment, courage, and a willingness to dive into the depths of your own soul. But if you are willing to do the work, it can be an immensely rewarding journey, leading to a richer, more soulful, and more authentically expressed creative life. The book is for anyone interested in deepening their understanding and experience of creativity, regardless of their chosen creative outlet.
Book Outline
1. The Gasp: Falling in Love with the Particularity of Things
To be creative is to be in love with the world — to love sounds and sights and words and colors. When we are creatively inspired by something, it is similar to falling in love, because our minds become quiet and we sense something holy. Love can never truly be captured literally or rationally. Love, at its very essence, is creative.
Key concept: Love is the connective energy that allows us to know what cannot be known. It is the greatest of mysteries that connects us all and moves us to our most ecstatic — and also our most agonizing — experiences of being. Love makes us aware that there is so much more to life than meets the eye.
1. Gasping
When we truly love something, we give something or someone the full attention of our heart. This full attention does not imply singular focus, but simply suggests that something is worthy of our recognition. As artists, we cannot forget how to gasp. Awe and wonder are our comrades, our closest companions.
Key concept: To gasp is to take in or breathe in the world around us. In depth psychological language, this is known as the primary aesthetic response of the heart. Being fiercely open to this notion of beauty, I believe, holds a major key to unlocking the creative potential hidden within the heart of the true artist.
1. Love, Death, and a Loaded Gun: Meditations on Creative Immortality
The Greek myth of Eros and Psyche teaches us several things about creativity. One of the main things is that when we combine our love with our creative souls, something joyous emerges. We should all strive to create something that brings us joy and pleasure, regardless of monetary gain.
Key concept: The first wisdom pearl we can string from this myth is that when we marry our beautiful souls with what we love, we create something joyous or pleasurable. This requires a kind of radical permission, the permission to let our Psyche comingle with Eros and do something, anything, that brings us Joy and Pleasure, despite the opportunity costs of Time and Money.
1. Creation as Re-Creation
When we create something, it can feel as if we are striving for immortality, symbolically at least. When we engage in acts of creation we are attempting to capture something that is fleeting and passing.
Key concept: Caveats about our own creative immortality aside, the act of creation itself is a striving toward immortality, at least symbolically. Psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton coined the term symbolic immortality to name this striving, defining creative immortality as one of five symbolic modes.
1. Creating Love Through the Love of Creating
Our feeling of originality fuels our creativity, and this feeling can lead us toward the creative process out of love for the uniqueness of our gifts. We must learn to trust and love our own originality as it is a huge influence on how we shape our own history as well as create ourselves into the world.
Key concept: It is our feeling of originality that inspires creativity, and, depending on how faithful we can be to our own gifts, love will motivate creativity.
2. Understanding Sea Turtle: Moving toward the Spirit of the Depths
In order to breathe into nature, we have to reconnect to the part of us that is wild, and inseparable from nature herself. Mother Earth is not just our environment, she lives inside each of us as well. In this insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth.
Key concept: You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer.
2. Spirit of the Depths and Spirit of the Times
When we engage in the creative process, we are engaging in an alchemical process that mirrors the way Sea Turtle dives down to the depths of the ocean, only to return to the surface for air. The creative process is also a back and forth movement between the depths of our unconscious and the surface of our conscious awareness.
Key concept: This sequence seemed to mirror a movement I have come to know intimately in the creative process — diving down into the unconscious, surfacing periodically for air (the realm of consciousness), only to return back down to the depths for what feeds us and our creative growth.
2. Settling into Stillness
The creative mind is often stimulated by quiet and solitude. In order to connect with the spirit of the depths, we must find a way to turn off our devices and be fully present with nature.
Key concept: The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.
2. Soft Animal Bodies, All
Often the simple and forgotten things of nature provide much creative inspiration. We reconnect with those simple things we were awestruck by as children. We begin to feel the swelling, mystery, and presence of something deeper.
Key concept: “You must go in quest of yourself, and you will find yourself again only in the simple and forgotten things. Why not go into the forest for a time, literally? Sometimes a tree tells you more than can be read in books.
2. “A Creativity We Cannot Fathom”: Hallowed Be Nature’s Name
When we notice the beauty in nature, is it truly a reflection of nature’s beauty or a projection of our own longing? Perhaps the answer lies in the understanding that we are nature within nature.
Key concept: “Are we not simply projecting our own interior mood upon the outer landscape of nature?”
2. Creativity, Nature, and the Field of Play
There is something beneath creativity that powers it and that is love. As we live, we detect which styles of being and doing allow us to be faithful to our original gifts, and to our gifts of originality. Our feeling of originality fuels our creativity, and love will motivate it.
Key concept: “The creative urge which finds its clearest expression in art is irrational and will in the end make a mock of all our rationalistic undertakings.”
2. A Spiderweb and the Invisibles
In order to truly breathe into nature we must be willing to see her beauty and her shadow sides as well. We must be open to experiencing both joy and sorrow as we commune with her and allow these emotions to inspire our creative work.
Key concept: To gasp is to take in or breathe in the world around us. In depth psychological language, this is known as the primary aesthetic response of the heart.
6. All That You Do Is Sacred: Everyday Reverence as Attitude and Act
The world at large can be a temple or a cloister. We are invited to discover the sacredness of everyday life by finding the holiness and beauty in ordinary experiences, in every place, in every person.
Key concept: “Everything that is or ever was or ever will be.”
6. Art as Sacrament: In Holy Dialogue with the Divine
One way to access the sacred through our creative practices is to understand the concept of art as sacrament. When we look at our art as sacrament, we approach the process with a reverence that fuels our creative spirit. We see ourselves as a vessel, and become intensely curious about the outcome.
Key concept: “For me, mystical poetry has become a sacrament. One definition of sacrament (according to my trusted online dictionary) is ‘something regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance.”
6. The Mediators in the Middle
As artists, we may feel a sense of unworthiness in relation to our own creativity. But, when we truly begin to trust our creativity, the process becomes sacred, because we are recognizing and honoring the divinity within ourselves and our creations. Art is a way to allow ourselves to be heard by the Self and allow the Self to be heard by ourselves.
Key concept: “Lord, I am worthy to receive you.”
6. Knocked from Your Horse by the Creative Spirit
Creativity is not always about structure. Sometimes we are knocked off our horse and are forced to engage a new faith in our own creative capabilities. In these moments, we suffer into form. We must never stop asking, “Has someone written on this already?” or “Has this been done?” Let inspiration be your rudder.
Key concept: “Compliance is the nemesis of imagination.”
7. Alas! The Sky Is Blue!: Using the Art of Color to Inspire Our Creativity
Color is a powerful way to inspire our creative process. Colors can stimulate our emotions and provoke us to express ourselves. We don’t have to intellectualize color by overemphasizing specific color associations. It is more meaningful to relate to the essence of the color itself.
Key concept: “Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.”
7. A Psychological Approach to Color
The best way to use color in our creative process is not to get caught in the intellectual understanding of color but to engage with the color in an emotional way. This allows the unconscious to surface, which is a tremendous source of creativity.
Key concept: “From a certain moment on, the patients begin to make use of color, and this is generally the moment, when merely intellectual interest gives way to emotional participation.
7. Breathing In, Breathing Out: The Ekphrastic Response
We are inspired to look to color as more than just a way to express ourselves, but to allow the colors to express themselves. The colors have their own stories to tell and they come to us to be revealed and expressed. We become one with color. The conversation is a two-way process: We listen to what the colors have to say, and we express ourselves through them.
Key concept: “Colour expresses something in itself.”
7. Origin and Originality: What Spurs Us to Create?
Originality and creativity are crucially linked, and the desire to create something new, to push the boundaries of our artistic ability as far as we can, can help us break free of the confines of more traditional art forms. Sometimes our most potent inspiration comes from an unexpected source.
Key concept: Research how artists define art, and you’ll risk hours of your life going down a rabbit hole that leads to a maze that culminates in a three-dimensional web whose center is nowhere.
Essential Questions
1. What is the relationship between love and deep creativity?
The authors propose that deep creativity emerges not from striving for perfection or seeking external validation, but from a genuine love for the process of creation itself. They argue that when we allow ourselves to fall in love with the world around us, with its beauty and its shadows, and to engage in a collaborative relationship with the unconscious aspects of our psyche, our creativity will naturally flourish in a more authentic and meaningful way. This implies a shift in focus from outcome to process, and a willingness to embrace the unknown and unexpected.
2. How does nature inspire and fuel deep creativity, and how can our creativity be in service to nature?
The authors explore the interplay between our inner world and the outer world of nature, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between the two. They argue that nature can serve as a powerful source of inspiration and healing for the creative soul, while our creativity can also be a means of honoring and serving the natural world. This suggests a move away from the anthropocentric view of creativity and toward a more ecocentric perspective.
3. How can we understand and cultivate a relationship with the muse, and how does this impact our creative process?
The muse is personified as a source of inspiration that operates outside of our conscious control. However, the authors emphasize the importance of cultivating a relationship with our own muse, through practices such as creating an altar of appreciation, learning to recognize her voice and movements, and making ourselves receptive to her arrival, even when it comes at inconvenient times. This suggests a shift from a passive view of inspiration as something that simply happens to us to a more active approach of consciously inviting the muse into our creative lives.
4. What is the relationship between suffering and deep creativity, and how can we transform suffering into art?
The authors suggest that suffering, while often avoided or resisted, can be a powerful catalyst for deep creativity. They argue that when we lean into our suffering, allow ourselves to feel its full weight, and sift it for its gold, it can become the raw material for profound artistic expression and personal transformation. This implies a shift in perspective from viewing suffering as something to be avoided to recognizing its potential as a source of creative and personal growth.
5. How does art connect us to the Sacred, and how can creative practices become a form of spiritual practice?
The authors emphasize that art, in its many forms, can be a means of connecting with the Sacred, of experiencing the numinous and transcendent aspects of our existence. They explore the concept of art as sacrament, as a means of experiencing the Divine in the everyday world, and suggest that creative practices can be a form of worship, of paying homage to the beauty and mystery of creation. This implies a shift from viewing art as merely a form of entertainment or self-expression to recognizing its potential as a spiritual practice.
Key Takeaways
1. Cultivate a sense of love and reverence for the creative process and the world around us.
The authors emphasize the importance of approaching creativity with a sense of love and reverence, allowing oneself to be captivated by the beauty and wonder of the world around us. This involves engaging all of our senses and cultivating an appreciation for the particularity of things, recognizing that even the smallest details can be a source of inspiration.
Practical Application:
In the context of AI and technology, this concept could be applied to product design. Instead of focusing solely on functionality and efficiency, designers can strive to create products that evoke an emotional response in users, fostering a deeper connection and sense of meaning. This could involve incorporating elements of beauty, surprise, and delight into the design, as well as considering the user’s emotional needs and how the product might enhance their overall well-being.
2. Embrace embodiment and the power of the senses in the creative process.
The authors argue that deep creativity is not simply a cognitive process, but a deeply embodied one. In order to tap into our creative potential, we must reconnect with our senses and allow ourselves to feel deeply. Our senses provide raw creative data and material, and help to awaken and enliven our creative spirit.
Practical Application:
In the development of AI systems, this principle could be applied to ensure that AI is not simply designed to perform tasks efficiently, but also to interact with humans in a more nuanced and meaningful way. This could involve incorporating elements of empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence into the AI’s programming, allowing it to respond to human needs and emotions more effectively.
3. Recognize the reciprocal relationship between ourselves, our creations, and the world around us.
The authors stress the reciprocal nature of deep creativity, recognizing that we are both creators and creations, both influencing and being influenced by the world around us. This involves acknowledging the interconnectedness of all things, and recognizing that our creative acts have an impact on the wider web of life.
Practical Application:
This concept is particularly relevant to the development of AI safety. As we create increasingly sophisticated AI systems, it is crucial to recognize that we are not simply building tools, but are engaging in a reciprocal relationship with these systems. We must consider the impact our creations will have on the world and on future generations, and strive to ensure that they are aligned with our values and ethical principles.
Suggested Deep Dive
Chapter: The Creative Practices: An Imaginal Dialogue with the Voice That Moves (and Blocks) Me
This chapter introduces the concept of “personifying” as a creative practice, inviting readers to engage in an imaginal dialogue with the internal forces that both inspire and block their creative flow. This approach could be particularly valuable for AI product engineers, helping them to tap into a deeper well of creativity and innovation, and to navigate the inevitable challenges and setbacks that arise in the creative process.
Memorable Quotes
The Gasp: Falling in Love with the Particularity of Things. 25
Love has left our constructed conversations and is simply waiting to be found in the holy particularity of things.
Understanding Sea Turtle: Moving toward the Spirit of the Depths. 71
At times I feel as if I am spread out over the landscape and inside things, and am myself living in every tree, in the splashing of the waves, in the clouds and the animals that come and go, in the procession of the seasons.
The Rupture Within: Releasing the Soul-Bird. 167
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain…. Accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
Breathing into the Sacred. 264
I’m recommending a courageous, deep-seated, fate-driven, informed, and intelligent life that has a sublime and transcendent dimension… To be religious even in a personal way, you have to wake up and find your own portals to wonder and transcendence.
Breathing into Art. 312
Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us. To create means to relate. The root meaning of the word art is ‘to fit together’ and we all do this every day… Each time we fit things together we are creating — whether it is to make a loaf of bread, a child, a day.
Comparative Analysis
This book aligns with other popular works on creativity, such as The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, in its emphasis on the importance of process over product, and on connecting with a deeper, more soulful source of inspiration. However, what distinguishes “Deep Creativity” is its unique integration of depth psychology and archetypal theory, providing a richer, more nuanced understanding of the unconscious forces that drive the creative process. Additionally, the collaborative approach of the three authors, each offering their distinct perspective on the seven “ways” of deep creativity, adds depth and richness to the exploration of the subject matter.
Reflection
Deep Creativity makes a compelling case for approaching creativity not as a linear pursuit of results, but as a cyclical journey of connecting with our inner depths and the soulful essence of the world around us. While some may find the authors’ emphasis on depth psychology and archetypal theory esoteric or overly conceptual, the book offers a refreshing antidote to the outcome-driven culture of our time, inviting readers to slow down, listen deeply, and cultivate a more soulful and sustainable relationship with their creative spirit. In the realm of AI and technology, where rapid innovation and efficiency are often prioritized, the principles of deep creativity could be applied to foster more human-centered, ethically-minded, and ultimately more meaningful technological advancements.
Flashcards
What is “deep creativity”?
The authors use this phrase to describe a style of creativity that is not horizontal, but vertical, that dives deep down into the depths of one’s soul and comes up with a spirited creative expression
What are the 7 ways that lead to deep creativity?
Love, Nature, the Muse, Suffering, Practice, the Sacred, and Art
What is “soul”, according to James Hillman?
A perspective rather than a substance, a viewpoint towards things rather than a thing itself.
What is the Anima Mundi?
The soul of the world, the concept that the world (and everything in it) is ensouled, is alive, and thus loveable.
What does it mean that deep creativity is idiosyncratic?
We are each unique, even peculiar beings, and our creativity is heightened when we express our individual voice and vision.
What does it mean that deep creativity is archetypal?
Within our individual psyches live deeply etched, universal, mythological patterns, and our creativity is enriched when we enter into more conscious partnership with those patterns.
What does it mean that deep creativity is alchemical?
We transform ourselves as we create the world anew and renew the world as we recreate ourselves
What does it mean that deep creativity is receptive?
We open ourselves up to the world, we take everything in, we make ourselves available for inspiration.
What does it mean that deep creativity is responsive?
We offer our own voice, our own creative responses.