WELCOME November

FLYING MONKEYS

“I want the one rapture of an inspiration.”  ~Gerard Manly Hopkins, a poet

“I have an inspiration, so I'm feeling one, maybe even two raptures.  So I sit to write down my inspiration. A flying monkey swoops down and carries off my inspiration, my motivation, my ability to focus. And my grammar.  Darn. Another monkey hands me the remote control to the TV. Thanks.  Yet another one just flies by and smashes into the sliding glass door. He thought it was open. I just cleaned that window yesterday (when I was supposed to be writing).” -me

Experts write that creativity is a timeless flow of peak experiences where fulfillment, generosity, and enlightenment abound. In it we get plugged into the brilliance of our expressive, authentic nature. Creativity is validation of living deeply, a peak experience, a fringe benefit of being alive.  Seems like we would want to be creative all the time. Now just why aren’t we?

It’s the flying monkeys.

“Flying monkeys” is one of my terms for the evil thwarters of the creative process. We encounter them as we attempt to take creative steps down the yellow brick road to the land of Awes.  They include but are not limited to: fears, distractions, lack of focus, difficulty choosing an idea, overwhelm, procrastination, low self-confidence, excuses, self-sabotage, addictions, time inavailability, and sudden desires to clean. You know …those kinds of things.  In addition to the glorious adjectives used to describe it up there in a previous paragraph, creativity can also be elusive, fickle, and frustrating.   Most people I work with in my creativity coaching practice experience a number of flying monkeys. I know them intimately myself. That's why I upgraded the Muses- they distract flying monkeys.

In spite of their strength and numbers there ARE ways to move past the flying monkeys’ thwarting powers to the flow, timelessness and even prosperity that the creative process has in store for the ingenious and willing mortal.

Albert Einstein said “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.”
So I altered my consciousness with different expectations. Creativity doesn’t move in order, from an outline or a plan - expecting it to.  Creativity is non-linear so I expect that just sitting down and expecting an enlgihtened flow will not always happen. . Creativity can go from A to B to G, then it pauses at H, goes ahead to 25, swerves over to Geography, takes a vacation for a month, revisits G for coffee and then comes back like fireworks on parade. Creative productivity sometimes requires tricks and mind-play in order to fool and bypass flying monkeys. It asks us to seize our power, break rules, and trod down a new path of our own making, confidently. Or at least pretending to be confident.
  
Odd directives often work.
In the movie, The Muse, Sharon Stone is indeed the Muse. She is sought by famous Hollywood directors and writers when they are creatively blocked. Although she turns out to be somewhat of a nut case, there is truth to what she prescribes for the blocked character that Albert Brooks plays.    Albert Brooks is told to spend the day at Sea World when he is neurotically attempting to meet a deadline. He seems perplexed as to why he is doing this until fresh ideas swim into his consciousness.   As the Muse she requires gifts from Tiffany’s. Creativity does thrive in generosity – sharing who we are, dedicating what we do to a higher cause or to someone else, putting our brilliance out into the world, creating ourself as someone who wherever we go, makes a situation better or more inspiring simply by being there.
 
The lack of logic, the diversion, the departure to a novel activity where the new is once again experienced feeds the mind with inspiration.  Logic, too much seriousness and goal setting can block the creative process.

Suggestions:
What is something you can do today that is out of your normal course of logical order (even if your normal course is a little all over the place"?  Write upside down, put a card anonymously on someone's chair or doorstep,  rearrange something so it is logically out of place. Sculpt red peppers into hearts for your salad, hand a cartoon cut-out to relax to a toll booth operator, write what conversation a fork would have with a toothpick, write the sleeve of your next book, write how your art exhibition will describe your work, be out of order.   It can be amusing to do something that dislodges you from the usual order of things and amusement has “a muse” in it – Muses are more helpful than flying monkeys. The nine modern day muses are altered creativity principles - using them alters your consciousness in an Einsteinian kind of way - brilliantly solving problems by breaking rules. Dislodging yourself from the usual and inventing new forms of generosity - creates inspiration.... and rapture.


READ ABOUT HAMMOCKS, MOONS AND MUSES: SEE ARTICLE THREE

CLASS AND WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Classes and workshops can get people who want more creativity in their lives started, inspired and supported. We often need just a little structure and the motivation that comes from being in a group setting in order to make action more possible.

HAMMOCKS, MOONS AND MUSES NEW ENGLAND RETREAT

Responding to requests, the Modern Day Muses are visiting the east coast for your pleasure and inspiration in 2007. Honor your creative call, deepen your authentic self and answer the need for pampering  in the beautiful rural country side of New England: May 18- 20, 2007 and/ or October 18- 20, 2007
 

Please Specify Retreat

Spring RetreatFall Retreat

NOVEMBER PLAY

November is International Drum Month:
1. Stop what you're doing and drum your fingers on the desk - do one rhythm with one hand and a different rhythm to compliment the first one with your other hand. daydream while drumming. You may come up with new creative ideas.

2. To divert weird dynamics that can come up at Thanksgiving -create your own band. Make drums out of old coffee or protein mix cans. Make shaker and other instruments out of filled aspirin bottles, cereal boxes, noisy wrappers, straws, etc. Hand out to people at the Thanksgiving table, have someone start a rhythm and each person add a repetitive complimentary sound with their instrument. Take turns with the order.

3. When listening to music take a moment to single out the drums and enjoy.

4. Check out: http://www.playdrums.com/

November 9th is the birthday of the neon sign. If you had a neon sign on your house, what would it say? Good question with laugh possibilities for talk around the Thanksgiving table.

November poem from Barbara Israel:
New
Opportunities to
Venture out and
Embrace
Many
Beautiful
Experiences  nothing
Right now

Word Pool:
Use these words or phrases and any others to write prose, poetry, nonsense, essay or run-on sentences. Use any form of the word or even a word it reminds you of. Feel free to break rules of meaning, grammar, logic and predictability: flash, random, invent, fern, without thinking, swerve, meander, clock, sideways glance, rapture, figure,  welcome mat, wince,  earthly, not, shrug, pick, periwinkle, find meaning in, know for sure .

DOORWAYS TO THE IMAGINATION: Guided Imageries for Creative Thought

Experience Jill Badonsky's new guided imagery CD: Doorways to the Imagination: Four Guided Imageries for Enhanced Creativity.  Give creative inspiration to those you love as a gift for the holidays.
 
A guided imagery is a narrated experience that relaxes the mind and body, provides suggestions designed to take consciousness deep, making creative thought more accessible. A musical background augments the elicitation of imagery, intuition and inspiration. Repeated practice with the same guided imageries makes flexible, resourceful and ingenious thinking a more automatic experience of life and the creative process. Guided imageries also reduce stress and strengthen clarity for decision making. Guided imageries on this CD are designed:

-        to reach a different level of creative imagery by quieting the mind and tapping into the potential of wisdom that comes in a relaxed state.

-        to quiet the mind's chatter in order to access ideas, inspiration, imagination and intuition.

-        to support the habit of turning inward for direction and creativity.

-        to sculpt the mind into preferred creative habits and perspectives 

-        to lower stress and heighten well-being 

-        to reach another, deeper channel of possibility generationS

The Doorways to the Imagination CD provides you with the following four guided imageriesS:
The Creative Garden
To  inspire, motivate, and focus you on the experience of action in the realm of a particular creative activity. To create neural pathways that make getting to your creative pursuit easier.

Return to the Garden
To play with and expand upon the design of a nourishing garden scene as well as expand on the feeling of actually being engaged in the creative process of your choice by using more music and less narration for the continuation of the Creative Garden. This is a powerful visualization that will serve you on many levels the more you do it.

Time Journey
To access wisdom and perspective and set up an expectation that your future is unfolding in a positive manner. 
 
House of Doors
To develop alpha and theta brain wave activity,  the brain waves responsible for creativity and intuition. Visiting this guided imagery often will have a profound effect on your dream imagery, imagination, intuition and creative motivation by awakening pleasurable visions, feelings, thoughts and their enticing possibilities. 

KAIZEN MUSE CREATIVITY COACHING

KAIZEN-MUSE CREATIVITY COACHING:
The next 14-week Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching certification training program runs from January 17th to April 18th, 2007.

Creativity Coaching is receiving more visibility everyday through media and word of mouth simply because it works.  Creative individuals often need the support of others, a container for success and a system of accountability that honors resistance, rebellion and the non-linear nature of creativity. Creativity can be developed as a life-time habit when resistance breaks down, focus begins and motivation remains. This is a tax deductible training that results in a viable stream of income for individuals passionate about learning how the creative process can be made more accessible for others as well as for themselves.
Early registration cost is $1500. Save $100 by registering before January 3rd, 2007

Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching (KMCC) is a model of creativity coaching designed by Jill Badonsky, M.Ed. with updated tools as inspired by Robert Maurer Ph.D. (www.scienceofexcellence.com) The techniques used in this model of coaching have resulted in life changing successes for hundreds of individuals desiring to move past creative blocks to a life of fulfilled expression, renewed motivation, focus and ingenuity. Creativity coaching is for individuals who want to live a more creative life as well as for those wanting to pursue specific creative dreams. Clients include writers, artists, storytellers, advertising professionals and people from all walks of life looking to incorporate more of the joy of creativity into their daily existence. 

This model of coaching specializes in moving individuals past the following creative blocks:
        ~Fears related to the creative process including of fear of failure, of not being good enough, of being judged, of wasting time on an endeavor that goes nowhere, of changing a comfortable rut.
       ~Fear of success  (the increased pressure and responsibility associated with success).
        ~Self Sabotage (continual frustration with setting intentions and not taking action).
        ~Procrastination
        ~Immobilizing Perfectionism
        ~Overwhelm
        ~Self-Doubt/ Comparison to others
        ~Inability to Focus
        ~Not Finding the time
        ~Difficulty starting or finishing projects
        ~Difficulty returning to creative endeavors previously enjoyed
        ~Difficulty enjoying their present experience of work.

KMCC also teaches individuals how to enhance their lives and work by thinking, acting, and solving problems creatively. It supports the notion that fulfillment comes when we train the mind to be more positively resourceful, authentically share our gifts, and explore and express the unique potential of the self . It provides tools to deal with stress resulting in a new lease on life by creating thinking habits more related to joy and contentment.

The KMCC training program is an accelerated program for those with experience in coaching, therapy, or human relations. The program is taught by author and creativity coaching pioneer, Jill Badonsky,M.Ed. and UCLA psychologist, Dr. Robert Maurer.  For more information or to apply, please write info@themuseisin.com 

The Kaizen-Muse partnership takes Kaizen, rooted 2,000 year old wisdom that employs a one-small-step-at-a-time tactical approach to resolving the neurological and psychological realities of the mind and combines it with Muse ‘Technology’, a whimsical but profoundly practical way of liberating creativity, awakening slumbering talents and finding pathways to authentic living.

KMCC coaches-in-training are now accepting clients wanting to to break through frustrating habits, self-sabotage and fear in order to move forward with their creative passion. Four Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching sessions are offered at a reduced cost.  Sessions take place over the phone, are non-threatening, directed by the coach and designed to address the resistances, rebellion and sensitivities of creative people .

Please email info@themuseisin.com for more information on the KMCC training or if you are interested in trying out a gentle accountability for moving forward with your creative dreams - whether it be on a certain project or simply to think more creatively.
_______________________________________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to the following wonderful women for completing the San Francisco Muse Facilitator Training.. watch for Muse Classes in their area soon.

Barb Biles - Spokane, Washington willowwolf58@hotmail.com
Deb Chaney -  Santa Barbara, CA deb@qknowledge.com
Embrya DeShango  - Cincinnati Ohio deshango@yahoo.com
Katherine Kurgan   - Scotsdale AZ kkurgan@cox.net
Leah Ocean -  Santa Rosa, CA lmocean@comcast.net
Linda Sloan   - Cave Creek, AZ sloanl@earthlink.net
Lynda Treger - Oceanside, CA lynda_treger@hotmail.com
Meredith Dalglish  - Portland, OR merart@bigplanet.com
Trish Bellan - Reno, Nevada    coreradiance@sbcglobal.net            

New Badonsky Book
I'm happy to announce that another Badonsky book will be out the Fall of 2008. Here's the announcment in Publisher's Marketplace: NON-FICTION: ILLUSTRATED/ART
Creativity coach, artist and author of THE NINE MODERN DAY MUSES AND A BODYGUARD Jill Badonsky's THE DAILY AWE-MANAC, a full-color, illustrated guide to living with spirit, purpose, and humor that includes a page for each day of the year with "Today I Get to" prompts (instead of a To-Do List), writing exercises, inspirational quotes, and much more, to Jennifer Kasius at Running Press, by Stephanie Kip Rostan at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (world).

Happy Birthday to Artella! 
Artella celebrates its 4-year anniversary this week, and they’ve celebrating in big ways with their launch of The Artella Daily Muse, the only daily creativity newspaper in the Universe.   This hip, quirky, totally creative online newspaper is where you’ll find the latest news, trends, how-to's, activities, and free resources EVERY SINGLE DAY. Best of all, it's tailored just for creative people who love to learn and be inspired by the beauty, colors, and imaginative resources of the world.  Take a look at TODAY’S Front Page at http://www.artelladailymuse.com.  Or, better yet, sign up for a free two-day subscription at http://www.artellawordsandart.com/members.html to experience the full paper for two full days.  

 

Good-bye for Now

Thanks for joining me this month. May your month be filled with delightful discoveries and tricky treats. Hope to see you or hear from you soon,

Be Well,
Jill
_________________________________________________________
(c) 2006 Jill Badonsky  - All the contents of this newsletter are copyrighted. Please do not duplicate without written permission. Carry on.
Picture: Mixed Media by Jill Badonsky

In This Issue:

On Writing

Jenn Simpson

Ahhh, blog-culture.. yet another outlet for the creative call.

beam yourself here for a video doculogue by Jenn Simpson

Butterfly Pendant

We have powers we don't use. Sometimes a simple symbol, beautifully made, plug us into our powers simply by wearing it. Sally's butterfly pendant is that way for me. It seems to set free the influence of the Muses when I wear. The picture does not do it justice but you can get an idea of the design and beauty. In person, it is brighter and the gold and silver look fabulous together. Sally has priced it reasonably to make it available to you or someone you want to gift with a symbol of creative transformation.
Kaizen-Muse Butterfly Necklace

This necklace is an every day reminder of your creative journey.
The butterfly represents metamorphosis and transformation.
The KM you see in the upper left wing represents "Kaizen-Muse" the combination of small steps and inspiration.
The steps represent the small steps needed to by-pass the fear that stops creative thought and action.
The leaf represents growth
The spiral represents your continued creative path
The sun represents the light of awareness and shining your light.
Wear it in good health and close to your heart.
Made of Fine silver with sterling silver chain and clasp.

 
$87
www.SallyEvansArt.com