The Work Reveals Itself As You Go
Musing over Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act: A Way Of Being"
Friends,
I thought I would begin this month’s newsletter with a little update on how this experiment is going thus far, from my side of things. A few things that I have noticed:
Building a container for self-expression has allowed me to streamline my intention, direct my focus, and connect with my desire to be in the presence of art
Connecting with other artists in dialogue & sharing is incredibly fulfilling - it has allowed me to address curiosity in a way that I can replay, yielding deeper insights with each listen
My commitment to you all & this space has encouraged accountability and the development of consistency — it has gently supported me becoming more of a planner (*an area of previous discomfort)
This platform has begun to magnetize, meaning pull in others who enjoy this kind of resource, which just feels like such a wonderful surprise
I get very excited watching the subscriber list climb - who knew that I would love data so much
Exploring creativity feels empowering in a way that is impossible to articulate. Its mysterious, imaginative, and refreshing
What I feel is missing: A place for myself x readers / listeners to connect with each other in realm time
In response to the above > As a means of continuing to play, explore, and engage with community, I will be curating a virtual creative cohort — together we will explore, “Art, & The Archeology of Expression” & provide support and guidance around sculpting your creative practice — please reach out directly if you are interested in participating* (Begins in April 2023!)
*Your feedback is incredibly important to me, we are shaping and sculpting this space together. Should you wish to share any feedback, please do so below.
This morning, (which will be yesterday by the time you read this) I was out for a long run. The route for this particular loop is very beautiful and very alive at present due to an immense amount of rain that has fallen here recently. As I run, I am inhaling the dripping eucalyptus, cedar, and blossoming jasmine. My legs, always a bit sluggish at first, slowly find their rhythm as my mind meanders through this unedited episode of OnBeing. Towards the end of my run, I traverse the beach path for about a mile or so… and this path is a way I travel often.
I saw something this morning that I have never seen before while running.
An elderly fellow was perched on a concrete bench, saxophone in hand, music on a stand, and playing for the sea. At this moment, I didn’t need an excuse for a break and relished the opportunity to pause & listen.
As I listened, I thought of you all & this project, moving mountains.
This gentleman was sharing his art, and his audience was a wide open fluid landscape. He played without noticing who stopped to listen. He focused. He practiced. He was simply, being. And being, was his expression of artful presence.
His being became a gift that I received.
His art reached out and touched me, reminding me of the obvious fact that we never known who, how, and when we will affect someone. We will never understand or fully witness the depth and interwoven intricacies of the profound beauty of particular moments in time.
All the more reason to give yourself, generously — and appreciate those who are in the position of receivership.
A few weeks ago, I was preparing materials for an overnight “Stone Studies” field trip to Big Sur. As I began to outline the mini retreat that I was to lead, I kept coming back to Rick Rubin’s new book, “The Creative Act: A Way Of Being”. (Highly recommend*)
There are many elements of this book that I love, but what feels most resonate is the style in which this material is organized. I can read this book front to back or back to front - I can pick it up, open to a random page and siphon a particular word or phrase that then opens my mind to a new way of thinking.
As I dove into the chapters, I felt very encouraged to play. I began extracting particular passages that stood out and typed them on individual notecards. I then mixed up the cards, and created a new structure threading the phrases together. Each phrase rings out as a wonderful echo of Rubin’s wisdom and unique perspective.
I have included the piece below for your musing pleasure.
Photograph by Stone Studies participant: Moriah Stapf
Rick Rubin’s words of wisdom, rearranged by Jobi:
“
art has the power to snap us out of our transfixion, open our minds to what is possible, and reconnect with the eternal energy that moves through all things.
taking a wrong turn allows you to see landscapes you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.
create an environment where you’re free to express what you’re afraid to express.
no matter what tools you use to create, the true instrument is you. and through you, the universe that surrounds us all comes into focus.
the work reveals itself as you go.
art is about the maker. it’s aim: to be an expression of who we are. this makes competition absurd. every artists playing field is specific to them.
isolated places like a forest, a monastery, or a sailboat in the middle of the ocean are fine locations to receive direct transmission from the universe.
the ability to look deeply is the root of creativity. to see past the ordinary and mundane and get to what might otherwise be invisible. “
INVITATION
EXERCISE: EXPRESSION OF FEAR
One of my favorite lines from above reads, “create an environment where you’re free to express what you’re afraid to express”. In this exercise, I am inviting you to create an environment where you’re free to express what you’re afraid to express.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS EXERCISE
An open mind / safe space / solitude / materials to record your findings (pen, paper, etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Create a safe space where you can be alone
Fill in the blank: Safe space feels “___________”
Fill in the blank: When I am alone I feel “___________”
Fill in the blank: Expression flows best when “___________”
Fill in the blank: Fear is “___________”
Recollection: What is your earliest memory of feeling afraid / How old were you / Were you alone / What does this memory reveal about your relationship to fear / Where is fear alive in your life today
RX FROM DAVID WHYTE:
“Everything is Waiting for You”
Your great mistake is to act the drama
as if you were alone. As if life
were a progressive and cunning crime
with no witness to the tiny hidden
transgressions. To feel abandoned is to deny
the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely,
even you, at times, have felt the grand array;
the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding
out your solo voice. You must note
the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things
to come, the doors have always been there
to frighten you and invite you,
and the tiny speaker in the phone
is your dream-ladder to divinity.
Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into
the conversation. The kettle is singing
even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots
have left their arrogant aloofness and
seen the good in you at last. All the birds
and creatures of the world are unutterably
themselves. Everything is waiting for you.
NOTICE
What feelings / thoughts emerged in the space of witnessing
Consider what your memory of fear is here to share with you at this time
Is this particular fear still present in your day to day life?
If so, how might you embrace this fear wholeheartedly?