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MANY OF YOU who tune into BNT on a regular basis are not only travelers who contemplate life’s big questions, but you are also writers who get those questions down on paper (or the 21st century version of paper – blog).
I’m sure many of you have also thought about what roles traveling and writing play in your life. Are they hobbies? Are they parts of your life that get you through the 9-6 job? Are they your life’s purpose?
For most of my life, I wasn’t sure of my purpose, or even if each of us have a particular calling.
I now blame that lack of belief on a system that doesn’t want us to find our calling, unless it is to be a doctor, lawyer, pharmaceutical developer or sales rep, or some other job that fits nicely into the wheel that keeps the market going.
Yet, I also believe we live in a time that more than ever before, there is an underground movement gently nudging everyone to find their own joy through some sort of spiritual practice and connection.
So when I came across a short interview with author Jill Jepson on American Chronicle, I thought about how writing is both a spiritual and sacred process. Jepson recently released her book, Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose
Using Intuition to Access Creativity
Photo: Temari 09
The book shares an intuitive approach to writing, using myth, meditation, and ritual to find, or ‘get at,’ the creativity hidden deep inside of each of us.
Sometimes, it is hard to access this creativity when we constantly have to be in our minds (and being on the computer and millions of different websites a day keeps us up there).
Even when we are traveling, attempting to see all the sights – and hit all the nightclubs – keeps us disconnected from this inner knowing. And when we are at home, ideas start drying up; inspiration is, well, lacking. We get frustrated and hit a wall…then, nothing.
But if we can remember there are tools, sacred and centuries-old ones at that, which can help us get over, under, or around that wall, than we can ease ourselves out of that frustration. And, more importantly, we can move away from the question, “Am I really capable of doing this?”
Jepson adds:
Keep writing. I know that sounds simplistic, but I really feel persistence is the key to success at writing. It is at least as important as talent and luck, and more essential than connections. Many writers fall by the wayside because they can´t deal with the rejection—or with the many hours of hard work writing requires. It´s vital to learn how to deal with frustration and disappointment and get back to your keyboard or paper.
So if travel writing, or writing in general, is your calling, don’t give up. Get back on that horse as many times as you need to, meditate on what might be blocking you, and share your experiences with others – the community you build will take you where you need to go, and keep you inspired.
Do you have a recommendation on how to stay spiritually connected to your writing and get through those blocks? Share your thoughts below.
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Christine Garvin
Christine Garvin is a certified Nutrition Educator and holds a MA in Holistic Health Education. She is the founder/editor of Living Holistically...with a sense of humor and co-founder of Confronting Love. When she is not out traveling the world, she is busy writing, doing yoga, and performing hip-hop and bhangra. She also likes to pretend living in her hippie town of Fairfax, CA is like being on vacation.
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Great article, Christine. And it’s true- it really is as simple as continuing to write. Continuing to develop the craft and attentiveness, just as one would with any other calling or vocation.
Great article! This was truly helpful.
Christine – A friend forwarded this article to me because it is so in-synch with a book I just published. I LOVED what you wrote and was delighted to discover that we share the same views about the importance of having a sense of spiritual purpose in your profession. My book is called Professional Destiny and it is about discovering the career you were born for. I’m wondering if you would be interested in reviewing it? For more information, please contact me via email, or visit: http://www.professionaldestiny.com.
Thank you.
Wicked article, Christine, and something I’ve been mulling over a lot recently. Words can be used to sculpt different layers of meaning into reality. I believe travel writing is a rich field for this sort of inquiry, viewing the world through vastly different lenses, drawing on commonalities whilst celebrating differences.
Anyway, beyond the vague nonsense that I’ve just written, I wanted to add something concrete. Writing is a creative act, that requires us to be present – either in a physical space, or within an inner space. I’ve resolved to spend much less time on a computer, and much more time exploring, armed old-skool with notepad and pen. Nothing can beat crystallizing impressions as they occur (and then reflecting on them later).
Paper. And pen.
Hey, I have a great opportunity to break into the travel writing industry with IBTraveler. They are starting a new series called “Recently Returned” and would love submissions. Well there is no pay you do get a by line and a link to your blog. For more information or to send a manuscript- please email k.dutile@ibtimes.com
Beautiful article. Writing has recently moved from a hobby to my full-time, inspired passion. I agree that it’s important to just keep writing, no matter what. If it’s not fit for publication, write it in your private stash, but WRITE IT.
Also, I’ve found that sometimes I can get sidetracked by the ego when I focus too much on the publication aspect. I then need to meditate, get back to my purpose, and focus on LIVING. Then the opportunities for magical experiences to write about present themselves naturally to me.
Thanks for this.
http://www.journeytowildness.blogspot.com
Its because you are a magic faerie!