Let’s talk about creative ritual.
A ritual is any habit or activity done with intention. For example, you could drink tea in your car while running errands around town. But sitting in a tea ceremony elevates the experience, making it more special and memorable.
Creativity can be a ceremony too. When we treat our creative practice like a ritual, we cultivate a presence of mind that guides our process with intention. This sort of reverence invites the muse to join us.
No two creative rituals look alike. It’s about finding the routine that most inspires you. Following are a few tips for developing your own creative ritual:
Prepare your environment
In a ceremony, special attention is given to creating the right environment. Choose a room and keep it clean and organized. A clean room helps us think clearly and brings an element of reverence to our practice. You can also light a candle or incense, and play music that inspires you.
Choose a consistent time
Choose a specific time each day when your mind is fresh and you won’t be disturbed. It’s important to have blocks of uninterrupted time during the creative process. For me, mornings are best, before the demands and distractions of the day start knocking on my door.Tune in
Before creating, tune in with a mindfulness or somatic practice, such as meditation, breath work, or movement. You can simply shake your arms vigorously or dance around your room. The objective is to clear your mind and drop into the present moment.Feel what is trying to come through you
Scan your body and notice how you feel, both physically and emotionally. Do you notice any pain or discomfort? What is your body trying to tell you? Sit with your body and emotions for a few minutes. Sense what is trying to be expressed.Purge
Regardless of what medium you practice (writing, drawing, music, etc.), open the floodgates and let it flow without analysis or judgment. I call this the creative purge. Let your expression be purged from your body like sweat or vomit. You can always go back and edit later.Be consistent
Commit to 30 consecutive days of creative ritual. The more you show up, the more easily your ideas will start to flow. Don’t worry about the quality or quantity of production. Even 10 minutes a day is a great place to start. Certain days will be easier than others. The point is to keep showing up, making the creative process a ritual. Repetition makes habits.
30 Days of Creative Ritual: Online Challenge
Are you ready to design your own creative ritual? Join me and a community of creators for the 30 Days of Creative Ritual online challenge. We will be committing to a creative practice for the month of April. Everyone is welcome.
Participation is free when you order my new book, The Art of You: The Essential guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity. Details here.
Challenge includes:
2 group calls (April 1 and April 30)
Weekly prompts and rituals
Online community support
“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ― Maya Angelou
My creative environment
Here are a few photos of my creative studio, to inspire your own environment.
Thank you I love this. Your work is such an inspiration... full of reminders for me. I've been very much alone within this long journey of entrepreneurship and releasing layers if myself that aren't authentic! Having community is important yet haven't really stayed long within a community that feels like home. This sure feels cozy in here! ❤️
🙏 Thank you! I hope I can take part in the challenge. I have already bought the book from Amazon Germany. The book is grandiose 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Sonja