Come Walk in This World with me
I’ve been feeling like I need a creative kick in the pants the past few weeks. The winter doldrums set in and I get restless this time of year.
While taking a frosty walk yesterday, I was musing on the power of this simple movement to clear my head and jump start my creativity. Just walking for walking’s sake. Meandering, strolling, breathing in the cold air. It’s so therapeutic.
Then I remembered my battered and love-worn copy of Julia Cameron’s Walking In This World on my shelf back home. I remembered what a great leaping off point it was for me several times over the past 8 years or so. And I knew it was the perfect time to do the program again.
The book is subtitled “The Practical Art of Creativity” and it’s further steps along The Artist’s Way, Cameron’s best-selling book on creativity. The book guides you through a 12 week journaling-intensive exploration of many different aspects of the creative process. You’ll overcome blocks, get fresh inspiration, and in general infuse your creativity with new life.
Please join me!
The best part about doing the book is connecting with others over it. In the past, I’ve facilitated several Artist’s Way groups, and they were life changing. I even met one of my best friends (and, through her, The Page) during the last AW group I hosted!
Since my apartment is only about 300 sq. ft, I can’t have you all over for tea and discussion of our creative challenges. However, I do have this blog here, so I’m opening it up for a virtual Walking in This World workshop.
I will be posting my thoughts and experiences on the process a few times a week, as well as sharing any of the exercises I feel are relevant.
How to Participate
How you’d like to get involved is up to you. If you prefer quiet, solitary contemplation, join us. If you want to post daily on your own blog about the process, join us. (I’ll provide a list of participating blogs in the sidebar.) If you want to do the work at home and contribute via comments on my posts, join us.
Basically, you can do this however you want.
Leave a comment on this post if you want to participate. Leave a link to your blog where you expect to be posting your progress, if you like. Tell your friends and anyone else you think would be interested in joining us – the more, the merrier!
Because the book is copyrighted, I cannot post the actual contents. So you’ll need to get your own copy if you want to follow along at home. You can patronize your local book store or buy it on Amazon and support Journaling Saves.
In order to give you time to get the book, we’ll start on March 1st.
What to expect
There are no pre-requisites or required materials aside from a journal and your chosen creative outlet (crafting, singing, writing, knitting, underwater basket weaving, etc.). The basic tools of the 12 week program are:
- at least 3 pages of handwritten journaling each day (Cameron refers to them as “Morning Pages”)
- a weekly walk
- a weekly “artist’s date” where you take yourself out someplace creative and fun, alone
- 3-4 journaling tasks, based on the weekly topic
Reading the book and doing the exercises will probably take you 2 hours a week max. Then the 20 minutes or so of daily journaling, and the two outings.
Here are the sections:
Week 1: Discovering a Sense of Origin
Week 2: Discovering a Sense of Proportion
week 3: Discovering a Sense of Perspective
Week 4: Discovering a Sense of Adventure
Week 5: Discovering a Sense of Personal Territory
Week 6: Discovering a Sense of Boundaries
Week 7: Discovering a Sense of Momentum
Week 8: Discovering a Sense of Discernment
Week 9: Discovering a Sense of Resiliency
Week 10: Discovering a Sense of Camaraderie
Week 11: Discovering a Sense of Authenticity
Week 12: Discovering a Sense of Dignity
There is a detailed description of the entire program on Amazon, as well as a look inside the book where you can read a sample to see if it’s right for you. Don’t forget to order your copy of the book in time for it to arrive by the March first start date.
Post any questions you have in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. Hope you can join us!
Related Posts
-
Plants vs. Zombies, IRL
Posted on Mar 7, 2012
-
Digital Journaling: Make the Switch
Posted on Aug 9, 2011
-
The Art of Recalibration
Posted on May 18, 2011
-
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Posted on Apr 27, 2011
Tags
Share This
Book is ordered! Looking forward to it getting here and getting started
I would love to join you for this journey….so exciting!!
I am looking forward to working on my creativity. I’ve got the book. I’m ready.
enjoyed the Artist’s Way and i think this may be the jumpstart to spring. count me in. and hooray i have the book
Thanks for joining in! I’m so excited for this. And agreed – a perfect prelude to spring!
I’m in and looking forward to it. I’ll order the book tonight!
I love this book and all of Julia Cameron’s work. Count me in! I’ll be posting on my personal blog http://www.navelobservatory.blogspot.com
What a wonderful idea…I can’t wait to get started!
This sounds great! A fellow blogger told me about this and I’m definitely looking forward to it. I will probably write a blog or two about what happens. Thanks ahead for holding this class.
Hi
This must be serendipity – I have been trying to get myself walking again to try and loosen up my arthritis. I have also started writing again, (spasmodically!) and lastly I was reading Ami Mattisons blog PoetryNProgress archives this morning and in one she recommends Walking in This World – so it must be meant!
I don’t have a blog so will try to leave comments – you don’t fancy starting a Yahoo Group I suppose?
best wishes for everyone’s progress
Lynne
Ooh, this sounds like fun…. I’m thinking of joining too… I’ve been wanting to do something similar for a while, but never had the ‘guts’ to do so, and doing it alone, is so… alone. I’m not sure I can have the book in time though…
Never mind… I ordered the book. I’m in! Not sure where I’ll post my progress though. My blog is in Dutch. But I’ll make an English blog for this (and if people read that, I’ll maybe keep bloging in English too
)
Can’t wait to begin. I just ordered the book from Amazon and it arrives on Wednesday!
Looking forward to 12 weeks of fun growth through journaling & community. Thanks for doing this, Kristin!
I found your blog last year when you posted about the Salon of Shame at which I was a first-time reader. I subscribed to your email list, and love it. Now this group opportunity comes at the perfect time as I am determined to kick myself into writing again. I am in! I will even do my best to revive my long-abandoned blog to post along publicly…no promises.
Wanna know something? I have this book!!! In Swedish! RIght here on my book shelf, hehe, I did the artist way but not this one. Will you send an email when it’s time to start reading Kristin?
I am hoping that I can do this. The book is on one of my many book shelves. I will go dig it out! Teresa Marie
I’ve done all of Cameron’s books and would love to do this one again! I’m letting my creativity partners know as well. This is exactly what I need right now, thanks!
I’m in!!
I’m in and telling my creativity partner about it! Thanks!
I’ll try it!