Skydiving Samadhi: Episode 2

Finally, it came my group's turn to dive. Divers were loaded in the plane. We sat in a long line, legs outstretched, almost in each others' laps. I was in my Senior Masters' lap. The plane, to me, looked like the plane in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom that carried Dr. Jones to India. I could almost hear the chickens squawking over the engines.

There was a wave of excitement that swept over everyone as the plane began to taxi to the runway. I calmed my nerves, looked out the window and prayed. "Great Spirit, I'm going to fly, today. Please take me in your hand and bring me safely back to Earth." This prayer would continue until my moment of truth.

Skydiving Samadhi: Episode 3

Back to Episode 2


At first, I wasn't sure I was out of the plane. The first couple of seconds of free-fall stretched into what felt like minutes of nothing but blackness and the feeling of wind on my face. I had no awareness of falling, no concept that I was strapped to another human being. It was nothing but tranquil being. Then, I opened my eyes.

The Most Important Tool: A Sketchbook

Besides the computer, there is one tool in my creative arsenal that I find to be absolutely invaluable. That wonderful, magnificent tool which I value above all others is my Sketch Book. My sketchbook is where all my ideas are first hatched. It’s where I work with them and play with them until I’m ready to make them manifest in the world. It’s where I jot things down for later. It’s a simple thing, spiral bound with a black cover and white pages. The size is an 8 1/2” by 11” with perforated pages. You can find ones just like it at Wal-Mart or any hobby store and they’ll run you close to $10. Most of the time, I decorate the cover in some way that is whimsical, makes me happy and inspires me to continue working with it. My sketchbook, which I keep on my nightstand by the bed or often carry with me, is the place where I allow myself to dream my wildest dreams on paper.

If you ever see me doodling, writing or painting in my sketchbook and you ask me what I’m doing, the answer will 100% of the time be one of two things. Either, “dreaming” or “playing.” In my current book that’s beside me, now, are sketches for costumes, bits of poetry, mandala paintings, self-help book workings, fairy drawings, tattoo ideas, blog post topics and inspirational quotes. Within the pages of these free-form books, I hardly ever take myself too seriously. It’s not like anyone ever looks inside but me. I also use this book to play with new tools like watercolor pencils (used in the Self Care series) or Art Masking Fluid.

In my sketchbook, there are no lines, no margins. Just plain sheets of white paper. This is what I prefer for recording my free-form creativity because the lack of lines and structures makes me feel less constricted. I don’t have to write neatly on the lines or stay within the margins or make anything look pretty. Writing or drawing all of my ideas without lines gives me the space to add to them, later, if I need to add notes or expound.

Keeping a sketchbook also helps me see not only what I’m thinking about and saves my ideas for later, but it also allows me to observe how I’m thinking. This can be a big help in the future. If I see that, say, most of my ideas about “play” are coming from nature, from observing animals, I can go to the internet or library and research more on that particular topic. If I’m drawing mandalas and I notice a theme, again, I can research various symbols and use that to extrapolate.

I’m also a fan of “word bubbling” in my sketchbook. This is another format for storing and expanding on ideas and “to do” projects. If you’ve never tried it for brainstorming or organizing about goals, I’d give this exercise a try and see if it works for you.

A word bubble from my sketchbook regarding what I want to do with my creative work

Another exercise I do is "what's broken"? This gives me an idea of potential pitfalls to work on. I draw circles within circles, like a bulls-eye. Then, I label each one, broadening the scope as I go. The very center is "My Desk." Going out, the layers are Office, Workload, Team, Division, Organization, Neighborhood, Country, World. Inside each ring, I write what I don't like. In "Desk," I may write 'no central creative location.' In "Office," 'constant cleaning is frustrating' and 'lack of space for myself.' This gives me very concrete things written down that I can work towards changing. Maybe I could hire someone to come in once a week and do some cleaning for me. No matter what exercises you use, let them guide you to figure out what you really want out of your career, your art and your life.

Now, as far as size of the sketchbook goes, I prefer no bigger than the standard 8 ½” by 11”. Any smaller and I feel like I’m cramped in the writing space. Any larger and it’s not as easy to transport. I try to always make sure my purse is big enough to carry my sketchbook because I love going to places and people watching. I’ll sketch random people in there or write down snippets of interesting overheard conversation. It’s always nice to have my sketchbook handy, just in case the lightning of inspiration strikes at odd moments. 

For convenience, I also prefer my sketchbooks to be spiral bound. They lay on flat surfaces or on my lap better. But you should experiment and try different types over time. Maybe a pretty Leather Journal would work for you. But don't get something so expensive that you feel you are only allowed to put your "good" ideas down. 

This happened to me with more expensive journals. I payed a nice price for a beautiful leather bound journal and you know what happened? I didn't write anything down. Not a thing. My inner critic kicked in before the ideas were even put on paper, judging them as "not good enough to record in such a beautiful book."

If you’re interested in living a creative life, a sketchbook is the first tool that I would say that you need to own. Even if your sketches or notes are things that only you can read, it’s okay. Who cares?!? Better to get the ideas down on paper, available for review and mulling than to not record them and end up forgetting them completely. Take this little thing and make it yours. Color the cover. Paste pictures from magazines in it. Let this blank book reflect all your hopes, dreams and vitality.

Here's a picture of the cover of my current sketchbook.

The artwork is not mine. I found it on the internet, here, and used Paint.net (a free version of Adobe Photoshop) to add my name. I also used a black pen to define the lines a little more. The cartoon is originally by Rion Vernon and I felt like it represented an idealized version of how I wanted to be -- beautiful, sexy, confidant, relaxed and artistic with just a bit of a sly, knowing smile.

All of the best artists have kept sketchbooks and, after their deaths, their sketchbooks have become quite famous. The sketchbooks of Leonardo da Vinci are some of the most amazing things I’ve seen. Also, books are available which show you inside others’ sketchbooks and those can be used to spark ideas of your own. I haven't read any, yet, but they're worth checking out. Seeing the inspiration of how others work creates a beautiful web of creative individuals, all interconnected and adding to the pool of beauty in this world. Our stories and processes build on and boost each other. That's a pretty cool idea, don't you think?

If keeping a sketchbook ends up just being a thing that tickles you, you might want to take a look at a thing called a smash book. Personally, I haven’t made one, yet. But I’m going to on my next vacation. Part scrapbook, part travel journal, I think the concept looks like a fun one!

For a very little investment, some pluck and a pen, you’re on your way to living the vibrant, beautiful and creative life you’ve always dreamed of having. Let this world excite you and, if you've got a sketchbook, you don't have to work about losing your ideas, no matter how fleeting they are. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. 

And, who knows? Maybe we’ll meet one day. I’ll let you flip through my sketchbook if you let me flip through yours. Creativity, like wildfires, can be set ablaze by just one little spark which we share between us.

Forever encouraging you, my shining loves. 

Remember! We're all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel!

Creativity Challenges

Sometimes I find it fun to participate in creative challenges. To me, it doesn't matter if the work created in such challenges ever sees the light of day. The challenges really get my creative juices flowing and help remind me that creating every day is a great thing to add to our lives. When my daughter gets older, I plan to have co-creating times with her. Children can add such a spark to our projects.

These are my two favorite challenges. Click the links to find out more.

Creative Every Day

AND

NaNoWriMo

So, what do you think? Do you like creative challenges? Do you do them? What are you experiences of how they influence your creativity? Should I start something like that, here, at the Visionary Bri community? 

Let me know what you think, what inspires you, what helps keep you on track, or just say hi! I look forward to reading your comments!

 Remember loves, we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel!

What You Look For, You Will Find

The other day, I found 4 four-leaf clovers. I probably could have found more, but I got bored with looking. A couple of months ago, I saw a shooting star with no meteor shower reported. In this world, I look for magic and wonder. I believe in long shots and serendipitous coincidences. I believe that everyone, everywhere should chase their dreams and throw their arms open to all this world has to offer. I believe that everyone is entitled to some sparkle, joy and magic in their lives.

One of my very close friends had a dream. It was a simple dream, yet huge. She wanted a baby. After trying for many years, she and her husband hadn’t conceived. For her birthday, I got her a book on natural fertility. She was so excited. A few months later, I got one of the happiest calls I’d ever received. “Bri! I’m pregnant!” She squealed over the phone. She and I squealed, together, at the joy of this news and I immediately began to brainstorm ideas to assist my friend as she joined the ranks of us mamas. As it turned out, the book I had given her helped immensely. And I am proud to say that I have been granted the honor of being in the room with her when she births her dream into this life.

I Affirmed I Would Tell the Truth

I affirmed I would tell the truth. I raised my right hand, my left clutching my black wool coat and I swore. It’s times like these, in a courtroom shivering from nerves, that I realized that doing what was right and telling the truth is, sometimes, one of the hardest things in life to do.

Truth. No lies. What you heard, saw, and experienced. Undiluted, naked. Uncluttered by fancy words or metaphors. No flowery speech. No well thought-out monologue.

In the days before, I mentally went over my testimony. Not just what I was being questioned on, I expounded and spoke long monologues to the judge in my head about what had put me in this position. Long childhood years of fights and abuse, of lies a child should not be coerced to tell a parent, of neglects behind closed doors.

Self Care: Episode 2 -- Diet

Before any of us can do anything truly remarkable or glorious in this world, we have to learn how to do one simple thing. We need to learn how to take care of ourselves. A person can’t give the best of themselves or create their best work if they aren’t operating at their best. Do you think that Michelangelo could have painted the Sistine Chapel on only 2 hours of sleep and a granola bar? I certainly don’t think so.  

In a little creative play and experimentation, I created a collage of words with Watercolor Pencils on the topic of self-care.

I’ll address each of the things I came up with in subsequent posts.

Diet