The Artist’s Way Summary
5 min read ⌚
A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
“The Artist’s Way” is a book for all creative souls who want to free their inner artist.
Who Should Read “The Artist’s Way” and Why?
Do you believe you have had an artist in you, that disappeared, because of all of your obligations and tries to fit society’s standards?
Do not worry, that artist is still there. You just need to wake him or her up.
We recommend “The Artist’s Way” to all people who feel like they strayed from their creative path, as well as those who sometimes feel blocked and unable to get inspired.
About Julia Cameron
Julia Cameron is a poet, fiction writer, essayist playwright, and award-winning journalist.
“The Artist’s Way PDF Summary”
Let’s go back to the time when you were a child.
Could you just sit in the room by yourself, just drawing, or singing for hours and hours?
Did you go to bed wishing to hear bedtime stories, and imagining things when you were supposed to sleep?
Are those passions still active today?
Or, have you, like most of us, become a person wanting to be creative, but can never find the time because of his stuffy office work?
These people are called shadow artists and are living their lives haunted by what they could have become.
Even if you are an artist, you may encounter creative blocks.
So, how can you free your inner artist?
There are twelve steps that “The Artist’s Way” reveals to you, which you should focus on weekly, for ten weeks.
Do not rush through the steps and allow yourself to truly make them your habit.
We will cover some of them briefly.
First, start by writing morning pages.
Morning pages let your mind unwind and wander. Your morning pages will not be brilliant – but that is their purpose.
You need to free yourself and let yourself rumble.
Morning pages are a form of artistic meditation which focuses your attention on the present moment.
How do you write them?
Simple. First thing in the morning, before you do anything else and let the world get in the way of your creative awakening, sit down, and let your thoughts wander on a sheet of paper.
There will be days when you will not know what to write but just start somewhere, even from the fact that you do not know about what to write.
When you are working on your morning pages, it is important that you shut off the internal editor, that critical part of yourself which will make you evaluate what you are doing.
Do not worry about how good these pages are! Just let your brain experiment with different thoughts.
Next, make sure you take your inner artist on a date. Relax in your own company, and let your mind drift.
This date is a day you set out for yourself, and allow yourself to relax.
Go to the movies, pamper yourself, or just go for a walk around the block. It does not matter what you do – you can even wash the dishes if that is what you enjoy doing!
Just pay attention to your surroundings. Explore the taste, the smell, the sound of all things you do.
You will be amazed at how many different new things you will discover once you pay attention.
Make it your habit to explore and experience something new – no matter how small it may be.
Now, you have to know that there will be tough times. But desperate times will come, whether you are an artist or not.
You may not be an artist, just because you believe that artists have a harder life. You may think that they lose their sanity, or that they cannot hold healthy relationships.
Whatever it is, realize that your thoughts hold you back from achieving your creative freedom.
And so do people. People can be intimidating, but you should not allow anyone to influence your creativity.
Now, if you have suppressed the creative part of yourself for a long time, maybe it will be harder to wake it up.
But nothing is impossible!
And the further you go with digging inside yourself, the easier it will get.
You will notice new thoughts and feelings, which you may find strange or scary at first, but you have to embrace because they are part of the process.
Another thing art can do to you is expose you to criticism and as a result, strengthen you as a person.
Do not be ashamed of your work!
Listen to what people say, but do not let them influence what you do.
On the path to creativity, you will discover many weaknesses.
But whenever you do – do not worry. Instead, celebrate!
At least you know you are on the right path of waking up your inner creative genius.
Key Lessons from “The Artist’s Way”
1. Art as the Path to Self-Discovery
2. Accept that Nothing is New
3. Trust the Universe
Art as the Path to Self-Discovery
Whenever you experience frustration, anger, negativity, or fear – be happy!
It means that your artistic process is working and that it is showing you all of your weaknesses.
However, art will also show you many sides of your strengths that you have previously not been aware of, and ultimately will lead you to understand your true being better.
Accept that Nothing is New
Artists do not come up with their own ideas – the collect them out in the world, in the universe.
Accept this, and you will notice how creative blocks become a distant past.
The pressure when you take accountability for your “brilliant” idea is immense and can block you entirely.
Think of yourself as just a channel, and you will be much more peaceful and creative.
Trust the Universe
When you are passionate about what you do and about your vision, opportunities will pop up on every step of the way.
The higher power will take care of you and help you. Everything you need to do is to keep being creative.
Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.
“The Artist’s Way” Quotes
In times of pain, when the future is too terrifying to contemplate and the past too painful to remember, I have learned to pay attention to right now. The precise moment I was in was always the only safe place for me. Click To Tweet Leap, and the net will appear. Click To Tweet Pray to catch the bus, then run as fast as you can. Click To Tweet Serious art is born from serious play. Click To Tweet Creativity - like human life itself - begins in darkness. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
“The Artist’s Way” is not an easy fix that will instantly change your life.
It is a book which will make you go through a 12-week process filled with various exercises that will help you find the creative side of yourself.
If you follow through, you will surely feel liberated, and free up the creativity that you have spent your life suppressing.
Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.
