Where do ideas come from?

Learning the language of intuition

Where do ideas come from?

The truth is nobody knows the answer. One second there is no idea, then one suddenly appears, like a lightbulb turning on. It often feels like the process of idea generation happens outside our conscious control. It’s not something we are doing; it’s something that happens to us—through us.

The original meaning of the word inspiration is to be guided by divine influence. The words spirit and inspiration can be traced back to the same Latin root: spirare, which means “breath.”

Any act of creativity is breathing spirit into existence. That may sound strange. Exactly what “spirit” are we talking about? The ancient Greeks said it was the goddess spirit of the muse who delivered ideas to those open to receiving. Religious people might consider God to be the source of creative insight. Others might point to spirit guides, the higher self, or even interdimensional beings. According to Carl Jung, there is a collective unconscious where all thoughts and ideas are waiting to be discovered.

Personally, I believe these are all metaphors for the same thing: our own intuition.

In modern society we are taught the language of the mind. “I think, therefore I am,” the philosopher René Descartes said. We are trained to identify with our thoughts and perceive the world through the lens of reason and logic. But there is only so much we can “figure out” conclusively. Creativity requires us to move from a state of alert problem-solving to a state of receptivity – from ego to intuition.

My best ideas are seldom the result of overthinking or critical analysis. They pop into my head unexpectedly. I often look back on my writing and wonder where specific words and phrases came from. Listening is just as important to the creative process as thinking — maybe more so. It’s about slowing down the busy mind and becoming an antenna for the thought frequency of intuition.

“I feel like I’m channeling ideas from somewhere else. I believe we all are. We are vehicles for information. When it’s ready to come through, it comes through. And the people who have good antennas pick up the signal.” – Rick Rubin

Intuition can be hard to grasp because her language is quiet and soft, like a whisper. Attuning your awareness to the voice of intuition is like trying to catch a butterfly. It requires grace, not force. Patience, not strength.

It took me a long time to learn to set my ego aside and trust my intuition. It helps to reassure the ego that it will get a chance to review, edit, and revise the work later on. It has a role, but the early stages of creativity are not the proper place for the ego’s contribution. At the beginning, when ideas are not fully formed, it’s best to withhold criticism and judgment. Give yourself space to listen, and give your ideas room to grow without pressure or expectation.

Creativity is not a problem to solve. It is a message that we receive through awareness and transmit through expression. The deeper the awareness, the deeper the messages we receive. Ideas are all around us, waiting to be born. They just need a carrier. Creativity is the alchemical process which gives form to spirit.

Join my upcoming online class: Creative Intuition: Connecting with Higher Intelligence for Writing, Art & Problem Solving

Creative Intuition is a 3-week online course for writers, artists, content creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to take a quantum leap in creative ideation, achieve flow state, and integrate mindfulness into their creative process.

Course includes:

• 3 interactive sessions (presentation, Q&A, workshop)

• Weekly video homework, prompts, and rituals

• Examples and resources from art and literary history

• Lifetime access to course content

You will learn:

• Mindfulness techniques for creativity and problem solving

• Balancing being and doing in your creative practice

• Overcoming blocks and achieving flow state

• How to develop your own daily creative ritual

• Practical steps for bringing ideas and projects to life

20% off with discount code EARLYBIRD. Valid only until May 1st.