Hi Bret. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I am an island. Was a shy, intelligent, athletic kid. When I was in grade school, I read a book about treasure hunters (adventurous nomads) and decided that’s what I wanted to be some day. I later had a friend whose father was an architect (combination of creativity and mathematical precision) and decided that’s what I wanted to be some day. When I was a freshman and sophomore in college, I learned that architects were required to take freestyle art type courses, so I decided to switch to mining engineering (adventurous, creative and engineering precision). When I took some geology courses, I realized it wasn’t for me. I read an article about computer programming (analytical precision and creativity), a new field of endeavor in the mid 1960s, and decided that’s what I wanted to be some day.
After BS (Business) and MS (Management Information Systems) degrees, I became a computer programmer, project leader, senior system analyst, general manager (computer software company) and independent contractor (hot-shot computer programmer for hire). I was very good at programming and climbing the managerial ladder.
In my late 30s, I had a series of life-changing events of a metaphysical nature. I became more introspective, quit the rat race, sold my possessions, and at age 42 drove away from the Big City to become a gold prospector (probably fulfilling my childhood dream of being a treasure hunter). Spent six years in the remote Arizona desert.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances (destiny?), I moved on to the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where I rented a small modern cabin on 400 acres and wrote four novels. A couple years later, I found a publisher for all four novels. When I ran low on funds, I moved to Memphis and did a Y2K computer contract for 10 months. With the funds from that contract, I moved back to the Ozarks and paid cash for a house on 8 secluded acres. To make ends meet, I became a teacher (computer courses) at a local college and wrote a weekly column in a regional newspaper.
And that’s the short version.
Share three interesting/crazy things about yourself
1) I once owned a 42-foot yacht. Lived on it for about a year. It wasn’t one of my wisest decisions – a yacht is a hole in the ocean that sucks money.
2) I once hitchhiked from Minneapolis to Miami on a $20 bet with a friend that I could do it in less than 48 hours, from my front door to his front door. It took 48 hours and 45 minutes.
3) When I was in my teens and twenties, I practically lived in pool halls. By age 20, I was a world class player. Won the University of Minnesota billiard championship. When I was in the U.S. Army as a Vietnam Era draftee, I was the Third Army pocket billiard champion both years I served.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Probably my first date. I was in junior high school and someone set me up on a blind date with a girl from another school. I was terribly shy and had no clue what to do. It didn’t go well.
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
I read mostly non-fiction – metaphysical phenomena, spirituality, ancient history, conspiracy theories, unusual facts, etc.
I like certain movies – adventure, drama, suspense, documentaries. Don’t care for horror or idiotic comedy.
I like lots of music, various genres. Don’t care for hip-hop, rap or polka.
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
Most definitely. It starts with imagination and observation and a spiritual view of a grain of sand and the vastness of the universe. Then there is the urge to express your joy and sorrow. If I had a gift for it, I would paint and sculpt. Instead, I’ve found writing. On rare occasions, I will compose a perfect sentence or paragraph and the joy is overwhelming. Naturally, I love to share it with others but it almost doesn’t matter if others don’t see the beauty in it too.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
For me it does. As a writer, I realize once I have written it and send it off to the world to find its destiny, it’s out of my hands. That’s a huge responsibility, even with a small audience. My soul is exposed every time I write something, including humor (which is basically disguised truth). If my words touch just one person in a positive way, I have made a difference in this existence. That’s my reward.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
Early grade school. I remember making a color drawing of a tree (ground & sky). It was not Smithsonian worthy but I was proud of it.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
Fluid, natural, effortless
What sparks your creativity?
When I wrote screenplays and novels, it was to tell a story that had never been told before. In writing classes back then, I was shocked at how many writers were writing things that have been written a thousand times before.
When I write newspaper columns or blogs, multiple topics per week, it is often everyday events that create a spark. Unusual items, historical events that parallel today’s news, daily happenings (trip to the grocery store or planting my garden or squirrels playing in the yard or a wrong number phone call – several stories right there).
If you have enough imagination and courage, you can write a 1,000 words about a fly on the wall and make it interesting.
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
The biggest obstacle anyone faces is being themselves. We all set out in life trying to please others and blend in and be accepted. Once you cross the line into being yourself and always doing the right thing regardless of the consequences, you have crossed the line into becoming a truly spiritual being.
For me, this was not a burning bush moment. It took a couple of years of contemplation. I had always been an independent loner. But to become a true iconoclast was a big step. It not only means to stop chasing the almighty dollar and to stop seeking approval from others, but it also involves discovering the meaning and destiny of your soul. You begin to realize you are eternal within infinity. You subsequently forsake your fragile ego as you accept your true self.
It’s easy to “believe” such things. The real truth hits home when you actually comprehend it.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
This was never a problem for me. Even though I was shy in my early years, I also had a large ego and very high self-esteem. Initially, I assumed anything I wrote would be brilliant and eventually produced (I started with screenplays). It was more or less the same with the novels. I knew I had some interesting fresh ideas and didn’t have self-doubts about it.
Later, when I started doing weekly newspaper columns, I had occasional self-doubts because I was limited in space (about 850 words per column) and was often broaching sensitive topics for the reading audience. The paper had a circulation of over 30,000, plus a website, so I knew a fair amount of people would be reading it. My self-doubt would come when trying to present my point of view on a sensitive topic in a manner that would also appeal to the understanding of those opposing that point of view.
But I have never had any self-doubt about the actual writing. Person A loves a piece and Person B thinks it stinks. It proves nothing, except perhaps Person A is lying or Person B has rocks for brains.
If you get google alerts, what are some keywords/phrases you receive? Does this help your creativity?
I do not receive Google alerts. I have a large stack of material of potential subject matter and I’ve never had writer’s block. I’m too opinionated to ever run out of things to say.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
Not really. I tend to identify with independent people or underdogs.
When I was stuck in my house for 17 days without electricity or a way out of the area due to an ice storm earlier this year, I kept thinking about a mountain man from the early 1800s named Hugh Glass. He had been mauled badly by a bear (including broken legs) and all of his provisions, plus his clothing, had been carried off by his friends who assumed he was about to die. But he somehow crawled some 200 miles over many weeks to reach safety.
I thought about what he must have gone through as it took me 3 full days to saw, by hand, through a bunch of fallen trees blocking my path out to the road. When my electricity was finally restored, I wrote a blog about my experience and included the Hugh Glass story that kept me going.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
When I was going through my life-altering experience in my late 30s, I was also having many remarkable precognitive dreams. I would meet someone in my dreams, then meet them two days later in so-called real life. This led me to do a lot of dream studies. Dreams are supremely important in human activity.
Yes, I suspect dreams play a significant role in creativity even though it may not be noticeable. I have written columns and blogs about certain recurring dreams that have haunted me a bit. For example, I was drafted during the Vietnam Era. For many years, I would have recurring dreams of being drafted again and trying to explain to someone in charge that they couldn’t do that to me a second time. I’m sure it affects my viewpoint about war and slavery (draftees are essentially slaves) and the audacity of governmental control over citizens, even though I spent my entire tour of duty in the States.
In what ways do you promote your work?
After my four novels were published, I did a few things to promote them, such as a couple of radio interviews and a couple of book signings. However, writing the novels was my objective. It was something I had to do to prove something to myself. By the time they were published, I had no more desire for wealth and no stomach for schmoozing or sales.
I believe in destiny. My marketing plan is in the hands of the lords of destiny. I have accomplished my goals. It’s now out of my hands.
I quit my newspaper column in September of 2007 after seven straight years of never missing a week and now do blogs instead. I gave up the compensation factor of the columns for the freedom of the blog.
Freedom is too precious to compromise or give away. My soul is not for sale.
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
I am on Myspace at www.myspace.com/bret1111. I post my blogs there, as well as 7 other sites, including three newspaper sites. I have formed a handful of quite meaningful relationships on Myspace. I believe this has helped spread the word a bit about me.
I wrote a blog about Leonard Peltier and soon thereafter over a dozen Native Americans requested to be my friend on Myspace. I wrote a blog about the excesses of the federal government and over a dozen freedom-warrior types requested to be my friend on Myspace. Every time I do a humor blog I often get a couple of friend requests (friends telling friends, I suppose).
So my readership is slowly growing. I get enormous satisfaction whenever someone sends me a note about a blog or posts a comment, even if they didn’t like it – I often try to stir things up a bit. I started doing 2 or 3 new blogs every week in June of 2008. One year later, I have 120 blogs archived on my various sites. That’s 10 blogs per month.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
My favorite tool is word of mouth. That’s a positive sign that someone likes it and is sharing it with others. It may not be the most productive way of marketing a product, but it’s easiest way. Destiny is my marketing tool.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
I don’t see as changing society so much as changing individuals. To me it’s a bit pretentious to set out to change society. You can only change the world an inch at a time, and it starts within yourself. If I could go through a lifetime and have a positive life-altering impact on a dozen or so people that would be a tremendous accomplishment. Perhaps they would do the same and soon it would mushroom to others and permeate a society. An individual cannot change society without other individuals who are in the same vibration.
There are only two things in this existence – you and everything else. You only have control over you.
You change the world by being a living example of virtue and a shining light.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
I have always been able to earn a living regardless of circumstances. To find a job, you knock on doors even if they’re not looking for workers. I’ve done that multiple times in college – construction jobs, survey crews, farm labor, warehouse worker, etc. I worked on the 2000 census. I got the newspaper column because the newspaper was looking for a paginator (someone who puts the paper together once it’s written). I had no paginating experiences but asked if I could write a column. They let me take a shot at it and I wrote a column for them for the next 400 weeks.
Writing requires courage and persistence. If you don’t think you can do it, you probably can’t. If you don’t keep at it regardless of rejection, you should give up before you start.
The same is true with earning a living. It requires courage and persistence. You have to step forward with courage to ask for a job or do an interview or start your own business. And you must persist until you succeed.
It’s called life
Thanks so much for your time and wonderful insights Bret.
Hi Michael. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I am 59 years young and a family man with a wife of over 35 years and 3 grown children. After a nearly 40 year career in the construction management field, I experienced a spiritual re-awakening approximately 2 years ago. A number of amazing synchronicities lead to my losing my employment and hence to the study of Soul Realignment ™, of which I am now a certified practitioner. I also began expressing abstract and spiritual concepts through metal sculpture. I hope to be able to build my practice (and my art) to enable me to spend the rest of this lifetime bringing healing and light to those who are drawn to me.
Great! Please share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
1.) I ride and build Harley Davidson motorcycles.
2.) I have had a chrome-plated semiautomatic pistol pointed at me by an F.B.I. agent.
3.) While at my maiden Aunt’s home at the age of 3, I emerged from the bathroom after urinating alonside my father and announced that his penis was huge.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Left the safety of the workaday world for a second career as a healer at the age of 58 with no monetary safety net to speak of (in progress).
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
Stranger in a Strange Land; Blade Runner; Here Comes the Sun; The Beatles; The Library at Halexandria. I only avoid what doesn’t interest me.
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
My work in both areas reflects the thoughts expressed in the defintiion provided.
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
Simply not interested in doing anything else.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
99% of my art is based on spiritual concepts. Everything in the physical world is an expression of energy and I find it easiest to express the world as close to the root as possible.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
Crayon drawings in school.
Now look at what Michael creates!
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
Absorption; meditation; ecstasy.
What sparks your creativity?
Intuitive nudges.
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Stepping into authenticity – acknowledging that I am more than the image I have presented thus far, and allowing that image/ego to dissolve to reveal my true soul. I have learned that it’s easier than I thought, that there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
I don’t care if I’m not good enough. Good enough for what? I do it anyway.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
I’ve done the warrior and the hero to death – they got in the way. Now I am the wind that powers the windmill. If I have muses (musi?) they are my spirit guides.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
Good for blog posts sometimes. Lot of tearing down and rebuilding going on. Nuttin’ special.
In what ways do you promote your work?
Websites; pay-per-click ads; joining an arts collective. Aw, if they find it they find it. If they don’t I get to keep it.
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
Hmmm. Have used Facebook a little but it’s full of narcissistic blowhards so I’m put off.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
Tool? I love forums but looking for the ideal one. Most can’t handle my honesty. (Michaelite… sorry). Enhancing? Er…nope. Daydreaming, and the sky and trees enhance my creativity.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
It’s there. It pleases me. Since we are all One, that’s good enough. If other souls find it pleasing, so much the better.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
Not yet, but I will. I could write a book on this based on my Teacher’s guidance. Start with what you truly want (not what you think you should want or what’s “possible”), then ask for guidance on how to get there. Don’t make too many plans, or too far ahead. The brightest headlights only show you a few hundred feet ahead, but you still get there. Trust and surrender. Expect your dreams to come true, but replace attachment with curiosity. Your soul is the Divine Creator, not your ego.
Thanks so much for your time and interesting insights Michael!
BIO: Jason Savage was born in Indiana in 1971, where he lived a good portion of his life. Relocating to Portland, Oregon in 2003 Jason continues his passion for art, nature and exploring. He enjoys wildlife, reading, music and spirituality studies.
CURRENT PROJECT: (fail not) A Guide for Teens and Young Adults
Hi Jason. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
Born in ‘71, I lived a good portion of my life in Indiana (also Chicago, Nashville and Tulsa, before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2003. I received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Indiana University in 2001, with a concentration in photography.
Taking pictures is my passion. I want my work to benefit humanity in whatever way it can, whether it is paired with inspiring words, telling a story on it’s own, or just inspiring people to see something in a way thay may not have before.
Share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
1. I used to aspire to be a rock singer when I was in my late teens/early 20s.
2. I once hitchhiked from Indiana to Nashville, TN when I was 17.
3. I did the production stills for the movie “In the Company of Men”.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
There have been a few things I have done that I consider courageous. The big one that pops in my mind would be moving across the country to Portland, having never been here before.
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
Books – To Kill a Mockingbird, Grapes of Wrath, Conversations With God, Skinny Legs and All, Where the Wild Things Are
Music groups – The Who, Pearl Jam, Tool, Led Zeppelin, White Stripes
Websites – I don’t know if I really have favorite websites. I look at The Onion frequently, and then whatever site would contain information I am looking for at the time.
Movies I avoid – slasher films, brainless comedies, brainless action films, movies that show harsh violence against women
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
Most definitely. I decided years ago that I wanted my work to make a difference. With the company I am a part of, I have the opportunity to allow my work to help people discover more about themselves and let go of unnecessary fears. That is a catalyst for the world becoming a better place.
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
I didn’t really enjoy anything else, and I was fairly good at it from the beginning. There was a passion for it that motivated me, and still does.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
Yes. When I first began my spiritual path, I felt motivated to use my passion for creativity to help others. When I am feeling really connected, creative ideas seem to flow easier, and even doing the more mundane things involved with photography feel better. My spirituality plays an important role in helping me tap into new ideas for projects.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
It was a clay imprint of my hand. I was in kindergarten, and I made it for my mom.
Layout from (fail not) A Guide for Teens and Young Adults.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
Go!
Awesome
Yeah!
What sparks your creativity?
Different things at different times. The feeling that I can do it and that I am worthy of creating something cool, something I see or hear or just an idea that pops into my head, or the feeling that I have not been doing enough and I need to get off my ass and create something.
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
My own fears, especially fears of lack. Sometimes it’s a fear of lack of money, lack of respect from others or lack of ability. These are fears that I think most artists have. I overcome them as they arise. I remind myself that everything can and is working for me, as long as I allow it. I have learned a great deal about myself from this, and that could probably be an entire book on it’s own.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
I find that reading inspirational books, meditating, talking to people who believe in me and listening to music I love always helps when I go into that pit. Sometimes it’s just a question of putting whatever I am working on down for a little while, and taking time to collect myself. Ben & Jerry’s or a glass of wine helps too.
If you get google alerts, what are some keywords/phrases you receive? Does this help your creativity?
I don’t get Google alerts. I guess there is nothing online I find so pressing that I would need to be notified of it right away.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
I find that music inspires me the most, especially rock music (probably why it’s called muse-ic). I’m sure there are archetypes that I identify with, though admittedly I don’t know a lot about them. I’m sure on any given day, I would be able to identify with numerous ones, depending on how I was feeling at the time.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
The most common thing I see in my dreams is jungle cats. They are always my friends in the dreams, sometimes protecting me, sometimes just hanging out with me. To me, they symbolize power that I have within me. My night dreams rarely are a direct inspiration for what I create with my art. I know the dreams have messages for me though. Some it’s easy to deduce what they mean, others are more abstract. I also dream about trying to get away from something, or that there is a looming presence after me. Other themes include being stuck in a place I don’t want to be. This may indirectly effect my motivation to get certain things done.
In what ways do you promote your work?
I have a website, and I contact places that I think may have work for me, such as graphic design houses and magazines. I also do book fairs and events to promote my first book, (fear not). I contact stores a well, to bet the book carried in as many places as possible. Myspace and Facebook are other ways. I have sent out postcards to designers and ad agencies as well. I promote my work based on what I can afford at the time.
Once, while riding in the back seat on a trip with my business partners, who were showing me Beverly Hills, I would occasionally yell out the window “threespiritspress.com!” No celebrities contacted us saying they wanted to help I figured it was worth a shot, and we all had a good laugh about it. (I may have been a little buzzed at the time too
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
They have helped to a degree. We have thousands of friends on out Three Spirits Press Myspace page, but that has not translated into many sales. I had attempted to make a TSP Facebook page, but it would not let me use the company name for a profile, so I had to attach a business profile to my own. We are looking into more ways to get people to know that our profile pages exist. We will probably do a Twitter account soon too, although it is my suspicion that Twitter will lose popularity and not be so trendy soon, but I could be wrong.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
My website (jsavagephotos.com). It allows me to have a full portfolio that can be viewed by anyone at any time. It is less costly than a hardcopy portfolio, and I can showcase all the different sections of my work at the same time. Plus, with a digital portfolio, I don’t have to breathe in all those chemicals in the darkroom any more.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
Improving society is the main thing that drives me now. I know that “changing the world” is a lofty, idealistic goal, but I also realize that one person can make a difference, even if it is by changing how someone else sees the world or themselves. I hope my work can inspire people to better themselves in whatever ways they want to, and do something good for those around them.
I only see the world changing for the better when individuals change what is in their hearts for the better. That is what I want my work to help with. I want to reach anyone I can with it.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
Earning a living at photography is a goal i have had ever since I began, over 14 years ago. There are times when I do make enough money for all my bills and things, and the goal I have had for a while now is to keep it flowing. There are times when it gets very frustrating, but I always come back to knowing it will happen. My dream is to make a comfortable living doing photography for things that help make the world a better place.
The main thing I would have to say is a key for success, in any creative medium, is perseverance. I truly believe that if you have the passion for it, and know that it will happen, work toward it, then any goal is achievable.
Hi Heidi. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions?
I am a psychic healer who provides spiritual counseling services for individuals. During a session, I help to identify and release blocks in a person’s space– physical, mental, emotional, spiritual– in order for that person to enjoy more ease and freedom in living. In addition to working with people, I also clear other spaces of obstacles, including, most notably, homes and businesses. I specialize in exploring the creative process as we bring intentions from a spiritual focus into physical experience.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Pursue on-going psychic training first as a student, then as a teacher, healer and speaker! It has contributed to significant changes in every aspect of my life. This exploration, like any personal growth process, has challenged me to look at myself and to open into valuing health over comfort.
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
My favorite movie entertainment, in general, includes children’s animated film and documentaries, such as Peter Pan, Lilo & Stitch, Monsters, Inc., Riding Giants and Paris is Burning. I am also fond of I Heart Huckabees, Matrix, Practical Magic and Groundhog Day for their refreshing perspectives on life! (I do avoid horror films, excepting Alfred Hitchcock, which I love, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers– I’m too visually imaginative…)
Books? All things Dr. Suess, Winnie the Pooh, Linda Goodman, James Redfield, Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Alison Jaggar, and Plato, as well as Illusions by Richard Bach, A Course in Miracles, and Hipparchia’s Choice by Michele LeDoeuff.
My CD must-haves include Matraca Berg’s “Sunday Morning to Saturday Night,” Johnny Cash’s “Unchained,” Dixie Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way,” Buddy and Julie Miller’s self-titled CD, Big & Rich’s “Horse of a Different Color,” Bon Jovi’s “Have a Nice Day” and “Lost Highway,” Dan Bern’s self-titled CD, Rickie Lee Jones’s “Flying Cowboys,” Shawn Mullins’s “Soul’s Core” and “Beneath the Velvet Sun,” Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits, and Syd Straw’s “War and Peace.”
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
Self-awareness.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
For me, spiritual connection is key to creating– the more aligned I am, the more easily I can access my information, and the more successfully I can carry out my aims. If I am scattered, I sit until I am cohesive once more before acting in the world.
Below, Heidi talks about spiritual counseling, and dispels some myths about working with a psychic or intuitive.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
Not my first memory of creating, but one of my more significant, sustained practices early in life was my focused play with visualization during my brother’s junior high basketball games. I was a few years younger than my brother, and not much of a sports fan. My brother, on the other hand, was an impressive athlete. Consequently, I attended many of his basketball games. After being bored for a while, I decided to play my own game. I would picture the basketball going into the hoop when my brother’s team shot the ball, and I would picture the ball missing the hoop when the opposing team would attempt to score. My brother’s games became a fun opportunity for me to explore time/space relations– and his team went to State that year…
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
Connection, confidence and openness
What sparks your creativity?
Time alone, new environments, permission and inspiration
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
I did have an extended period of difficulty that lasted from age 12 until age 15. During that time, I moved out of state and went from a school in Southern Illinois with 20 students in my class to a school in Texas with 500 students in my class. I was teased terribly in Texas. I moved back to my small community in Illinois at the end of year, and my parents divorced the following summer. My mom was devastated. The next year, my dad got remarried. In a heated moment, my mom sent me to live with my dad and stepmother. Three months later, over Christmas break, my stepmother told me that I could no longer live with them. I returned to my mom’s. Shortly thereafter, our family home sold, and both of my parents moved to new and different states. My dad and stepmother left for Los Angeles, and my mom and I came to live in Boulder. My world became so unstable during those years of transition– I was incredibly dependent and vulnerable at the time when many kids are discovering a stronger sense of identity.
While I’m not sure that I would say that I “overcame” this experience, I would say that I have moved through it and past it. My biggest lessons from that time period have centered around what it means to be supported by others, how to support myself, how to support others, and when it is appropriate to tap my own reserves, to reach out for help, to offer help and to step back. The gift of those years of instability has been the cultivation of an ability to create networks of support for myself. And although I sometimes still visit those places of feeling completely unsupported, it is usually within a supportive context of friends, family and surrogate family members, counseling and healing sessions, and my own stable life.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
I consider my vision, healing and contribution to be beyond myself. My commitment is to do my best to express myself, be present with my clients, and take the steps that I know await me. The rest is up to God.
In what ways do you promote your work?
I continually aim to reach an expanding audience through writing, speaking, and on-line presence. Check out my site at www.healings.biz. I find that most of my business is maintained and generated through repeat client contact and word-of-mouth referrals.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
I love developing my site, and having a central location to express my work and vision! With Laura’s help and encouragement (and the egging on of other friends), I am tipping my toe into the waters of YouTube video, but I haven’t decided what to make of that enterprise…
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
In my younger days, I have been a tireless, evangelical social activist. Many of the choices that color the tapestry of my life have arisen from my particular vision of what constitutes harmonious living on this planet. Now, I shy away from too much judgment about people’s choices or the state of the world (not that I don’t get triggered periodically!). The place I work from, and like to live from, is one of fostering awareness. However, I try not to have too much investment in what it looks like to manifest, or live from, increased awareness. In other words, I want to encourage people– myself included– to be who they are, and not to tell them who they should be. At the end of the day, I wish for us each to be present with the society that we have, and to implement any changes from that presence/awareness.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
I’ve been a full-time spiritual healer since 2001. While I have lived during that time, I dream of having enough passive income to support my pursuits throughout the financial ebb and flow of life. As I transform my practice into a business in order to facilitate that vision, I also began investing in real estate during the summer of 2007. That enterprise has been its own growth process for me, but I can see it blossoming to support my dream. Being a healer and running a business (or two) draw on very different talents– I like to think that employing both facets within myself helps me to remain balanced as a spiritual being having an embodied human experience.
Hi Paige. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I have a successful coaching business with my beautiful partner, Brian. We teach practical Spirituality through our Be It! Do It! Have It! System™, helping people transform their lives from mediocrity to waking up every day surrounded by people they adore, things they cherish and work they love. Our website is www.stapletonstark.com. We live on the stunning coast of Maine after living in NYC for many years.
Right now we are teaching our entire Be It! Do It! Have It! System™ in a 4-part teleseminar (which is recorded so folks can join in at anytime). We have more details at http://tinyurl.com/ch6zb5.
How did you get involved with writing an essay for Audacious Creativity?
I used to act with Stephanie Gunning years ago. We played lovers in my first play in New York City…naturally we became wonderful friends after that experience. She asked me to be part of her project and I was absolutely honored!
Share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
1. – My family used to raise ostriches and llamas
2. – I was the female lead in a movie that sold in over 40 countries but never in the States – and no, it wasn’t porn!
3 – I have sung blues in most of the blues bars that no longer exist in NYC
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Left NYC and moved to Cincinnati to heal my relationship with my kids…and myself! It turned out GREAT!
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
Absolutely! But I think I kind of grew into it. Once I found my Spiritual Path, I realized who I really am, and I have never turned back!
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator? Did you choose, or did it choose you?
For me, it all starting with singing – watching Julie Andrews and Barbra Streisand – I date myself . I was obsessed and drove my family crazy. I still sing today, but my passion grew into helping people understand and recognize the amazing gifts they have inside of them and support them in bringing them out into the world.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
Spirituality is the foundation of everything I do. When I get up in the morning, I start physically creating, but I’ve been creating in my dreams all night long. I believe we are all like that – we are all always creating. When I consciously create, like with my music or my writing or even with my coaching, I always begin with remembering my connection to the Universe. Then, the possibilities are limitless!
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
A 3-D collage I made for Girl Scouts. I cut a horse head out of fake fur – won 1st prize.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing.
Awe, surrender, ecstasy.
What sparks your creativity?
Usually music or a deep need to share
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
Good question! That very thing is a huge part of what we teach people at Stapleton Stark Coaching. One thing that works great for me is journaling, usually on paper that I can rip up or burn after I write out all the fears and self-limiting beliefs I have swirling around in my head. It’s so great to get them out of my psyche, out of my body. Then I burn them and let them float off into the nothingness. It is very powerful! Then I write out a slew of things that I know to be true, so I can stay grounded and connected to my own Truth.
How do you promote your work?
Social Networking mostly. We also put out a weekly ezine called Authentic Living…it is great fun to write and share!
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, why and how?
That’s really the goal of all my work. Whether I am singing, writing or coaching, it raises my vibration, which allows me to help others to raise their vibration. It is a beautiful cycle, and I can’t think of a better way for me to contribute to my society.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that you feel has contributed to your success?
Yes! There are so many things that have been crucial to my success. Perhaps the biggest thing, other than trust, is redefining what a decision is. I used to think making a decision meant that I would try to do something and maybe it will work out, maybe it won’t. Now I define a decision as something I know is going to happen. No turning back, the only way it doesn’t happen is if I quit. It may not (and most likely will not) look like I think it will, but it will happen and it will happen even more beautifully and joyously than I ever could have imagined.
Thanks so much Paige for your very insightful answers.
Hi Megan. Thanks for being with us here today. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
Myself, my business and my passions are all related. I’m a medium, psychic, animal communicator and ordained minister. My website is www.meganmriley.com. I have the privilege of living in the Rocky Mountains at 9400 feet with my beloved, Harry and two dogs, Sean and Neela.
When I’m not giving readings or officiating weddings around the Rockies I’m cooking, reading, playing with the dogs, being with my family or exploring the great state of Colorado. I dream about moving up higher in altitude, even more remote than we are. That will have to wait as my 15 year old step daughter will be moving in with us in August and will need to get to school.
Share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
One of my first memories was of seeing the deceased at the end of my bed. I resisted my gifts for a long time.
We make our own beer, bread, kombucha, yogurt, sauerkraut, mustard, grow hops, have a small worm farm, roast our coffee beans, and buy meat in bulk, as in the whole animal after processing. My next project is chickens.
I planned and hosted a Peace Rally at the Minnesota State Capital when I was 8.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Moved to Colorado. All we knew was that we were being called to Colorado. We resigned our corporate jobs, packed up a truck, two cars, two cats and a small worm farm and headed west. It was the most exhilarating time of my life.
*Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites**.* Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
Books: anything Abraham-Hicks, Conversations with God, James Beard
Songs/Music: BB King, Jonny Lang, Susan Tedeschi and Deva Premal
Websites: Facebook, Epicurious, igoogle, my own, mindmovies.com
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
I do. I resist dogma of any sort, especially religious/spiritual. I understand for an organization to grow some dogma is necessary though I still resist it. I know that we can accomplish much more by following our own heart, and not by following what someone else tell us to follow.
I remember reading The Rise of the Creative Class, thinking that everywhere I had lived had these sub-cultures. At the time i didn’t connect that if I lived there I might be a part of the Creative Class.
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
I’ve always know I was different, There is a way I can communicate that others can hear in a new way. Many of the widely accepted beliefs about life after death I’m told are incorrect. I would love to share and teach these on a larger scale.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
Spirituality is my creative process. I write, meditate, dance with the dogs, cook, knit and dream.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
I was 8 and wrote a poem about the school I was attending. It was a “fame” sort of school, with as much time devoted to creation as to book schooling. I read it at the graduation ceremonies and knew I had access something exciting.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Well, there are the obvious traumas that nearly everyone encounters, but the biggest was overcoming the fear of what others would think. I grew up in the mid-west and conditioned to be stoic, and always be more concerned with others than with myself. To step out without the perfect body, without having everything figured out, into a field where so many don’t believe that what I do is possible was huge for me. After the fact of “coming out” it wasn’t at all a big deal though I think I’m also attracting those to me that do believe. We get what we think about and I spent a lot of time hiding and afraid what others would say. That’s when I realized the enormous hold that fear had on my life.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
Those of us who chose to come forward this lifetime being what one would define as a creative came forth for this experience. It is scary, and is part of our purpose. When I remember that, and remember the gratitude someone has for connecting with a loved one, or discovering something about themselves they never saw before, I know the fear and uncertainty is worth it.
If you get google alerts, what are some keywords/phrases you receive? Does this help your creativity?
psychic, medium, and my name. Sometimes they spark an idea, sometimes I just like to see what others are doing.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
I identify with all the archetypes at one time or another. Right now most of all is the magician because I’m working/playing with two new ideas. The first is total immersion, or what some would call channeling. The second is physical mediumship, having things actually manifest from me to the client.
My muse is myself, in the future. I picture her, hear her, see her and then do what she would do.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
Nighttime dreams are often about a client. Sometimes the day before a reading I’ll dream about their loved one, sometimes messages from my loved ones. Before I moved to Colorado I had a recurring nightmare about my house falling down and having to move. After I left I recognized it as a red flag to leave. Since coming to the mountains I don’t really have nightmares anymore, I just know I’m working and training in my sleep time as well as awake time.
In what ways do you promote your work?
Radio shows, public access television in Denver, my website, fund raising events, and word of mouth. I’m looking for someone to help me with all of it. I would rather have someone whose passion it is to write press releases and do event planning. That way I can focus on what I love.
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
I use facebook and jasonsnetwork but don’t really generate a lot of business from there. I’m such an introvert it’s been hard to share myself. I also think that those of us who define our work with our spirituality sometimes don’t know what to share.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
Most definitely. I think of myself as the “happy medium”. I am finding that the information I get is different from what many have written or spoken about. Life after death is not bound by our space and time limitations. We can be in many places at once. We can move forward or backward in time. We do not come here to earth as punishment or karma, nor do we graduate from having to come here. We choose to come back, over and over. I would love for people to hear these things on a larger scale.
I also found in my search for information that there is not much available for sensitives experiencing an awakening, and especially for kids. So much information is based on fear and being scared. Hollywood and advertisers seem to perpetuate that. It is one of my goals to have a way for kids and adults to learn in a safe, non-threatening and non-scary way to find and honor their gifts.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
This is my bliss and my truth. There have been months that have been a little scary, and yet I know this is what I should be, need to be doing. When I finally stopped saying I was a “spiritual coach” and being true to myself was when things picked up with both clients and television appearances.
A bit more about Megan.
Megan Riley is 35 years old, and lives in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver. She is a psychic, medium, animal communicator, ghost whisperer and ordained minister.
Megan says she only remembers having these gifts. She has clear seeing (clairvoyance), clear hearing (clair audience), clear feeling (clairsentience), clear tasting and clear smelling.
Megan teaches a weekly mediumship development class in the mountains, is a regular radio show guest, and has nearly 100 clients a month either on the phone or in person for medium or psychic readings. She also consults with a local ghosthunting group, again teaching that even ghosts do not have to be scary, and that they will and can cross to the other side. She has been a guest on local television show twice for hour long discussions, and looking forward to starting a mediumship school for those interested in communicating with the other side in a safe, non-threatening, non competitive environment.
A couple of highlights for Megan are, having homes sell for families that had their homes on the market for several months. Megan performed a clearing and the houses sold within 30 days. She also does ghostbusting work, restoring relationships and resolving the fear and fatigue that so often accompanies the earthbounds. She has connected with deceased loved ones and resolved questions surrounding the death or mysteries about the person. She has also healed various types of ailments; physical or spiritual in co-ordination with the client.
Many Saturdays Megan can be found somewhere in the mountains performing customized wedding ceremonies for couples. In Megan’s spare time she loves to cook, read, hike in the mountains, and spend time with her love monkey Harry and Golden Retriever Sean. She and Harry are planning to remodel their home to produce enough energy on its own and no longer rely on propane or electricity. Currently their scratch kitchen includes homebrew, kombucha, sourdough, mustard, pasta, pickles and kraut, and lots of pie!
This is the second part of my conversation with writer and dancer Michelle Cole
Hi Michelle. Welcome to the Cultural Creatives blog. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I am an Alternative Religion writer for the Examiner. I am a 41 year old woman who discovered in my early 20’s that all my beliefs about life/death and all things in-between fit the description of Pagan in a book by Starhawk called the Spiral Dance. This book had such an impact on me, I named my second horse, who was 4 months old and not yet named, Spiral Dancer (she’s 15 now).
Do you feel that you are a cultural creative?
Based upon what I read here, I would have to say I fit the bill. I never knew what I “was” until I read Heart of the Fire, about a woman’s past life account in 17th century Scotland, where she is eventually tortured as a Witch. It felt like “home” and I didn’t know why but I wanted more. I saw her credit to Starhawk and mention of the Spiral Dance, so I ordered it. Upon reading the Spiral Dance, I went “OH! I’m PAGAN!!” I was so excited, especially when she describes how common it is for pagan minded people to not ‘know’ what to call themselves for a chunk of their lives. That was me! However, I’ve never been comfortable referring to my spirituality as “Wiccan”, and I am more comfortable with Ritual by myself (although I’m working towards changing that).
I had a friend who called me a Natural Witch, she said I listen to my intuition and follow it, which can be rare. I feel this overwhelming frustration sometimes at the fear based ignorance that drives people to do the things they do to other humans, and with complete disregard to our environment and for our Animal brethren they live their life as if THEY are the only thing that really matters, next to their possessions. It is my personal theory that you know something is right when you don’t know what to call it until you find a group of like-minded people who have ‘named’ those feelings, and instead of being ‘converted’, you simply discover where you feel at home.
I started writing stories when I was young, mostly about talking horses and cats that would follow me home. I spent hours drawing my model horses, and I still can draw a decent “stray cat” logo. LOL In high school a friend and I started writing ’stories’ to entertain ourselves during class. We also drew cartoons-these stories and cartoon strips were all about us and our lives with the Stray Cats. They showed up at school for a concert, took one look at us and went “Hey, you should come tour with us” and we did, and of course we ended up marrying Brian and Lee.
My mother taught me how to crochet, knit, macrame and sew as a youngster, and to this day I still enjoy knitting, sewing, and while I don’t remember the knot tying art of macrame, I can crochet if I put my mind to it! I am currently working on a king sized Quilt (double Irish chain design) as my first quilting project…I tend to go big. LOL I used to love making Xmas ornaments, and for a long time my parents and I were hooked on those plaster statues you could buy and paint yourself. Hook rugs, needlepoint and cross-stitch also were things I learned early. There’s something satisfying with starting with a blank piece of material and ending up with something you can say “I made this!”. I can’t honestly say what started my creative wheels rolling, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had it since birth!!! LOL
How does Spirituality play a role in your creative process?
Wow…I don’t know if this makes sense…but I believe it does. Simply because I’ve recently realized that the true key to finding your joy, your path if you will…is simply found by following your passions. My passions (creating) are my spirituality because they bring me joy and a sense of myself-the REAL me. Not the me I’ve presented to the world for over 40 years. It seems to me I’ve heard this all my life “Do what you love and things work out”…but I didn’t fully grasp what that meant. For something so beautifully simple, we tend to over-complicate and make excuses why we don’t have time for our passions. There’s always work to be done, no time for play. The act of doing something for NO REASON OTHER THAN YOUR PLEASURE is something that we need to MAKE time for!!! So, I don’t know if I’ve explained how or why I believe my creative process is directly tied to my spirituality…but I did my best!
My first memory of creating something I was proud of…
The earliest I can think of is my first “real” needlepoint project, one that wasn’t small and easy. It was a basset hound, and the colors of the needlework are 70’s awful: burnt orange, yellow, brown…not that there’s anything wrong with fall colors (I love fall!) but, it’s not something I’d want on my walls today-yet I remember finishing it and being so proud of how good I did. Now, if I split my life into the ‘before’ and ‘after’ my mid-life crisis and all the wonderful experiences I’ve had since then: I’d have to say seeing my first article ‘published’ on line was something I’ll never forget.
3 words to describe the feeling when creativity is flowing infinite (no sense of time) comfortable (for someone who’s never felt they ‘belonged’ ANYWHERE…this is really nice) Intuitive
What sparks your creativity?
Belly Dancing, Singing, Bubblebaths These are the times I consider my ‘meditation time’. These are times when I am able to shut down the normal buzzing in my mind and focus on the moment, the right now, and that’s when I get sudden ideas.
What’s been your biggest obstacle?
My biggest obstacle is one the my greatest gifts and even though I see it as such, I also am still ‘dealing’ with it. I was 24 before I opted to stop denying the fact I’d had “inappropriate sexual behavior” (I can’t call it abuse, I just don’t see myself as a victim anymore) with my half brother as a young girl. Because of my extreme distrust of any ‘real’ doctors, I have avoided any professional therapy, opting to figure it out on my own. When my brother was diagnosed with MS, I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that went “Ha…karma”. But, lucky for both of us, his journey through MS was not a super short one, and I say lucky because it allowed me to come full circle and realize that I am who I am because of everything I’ve experienced, whether you call it ‘bad’ or ‘good’. I didn’t seek forgiveness, I found it…and the surprising thing was it was forgiveness I had to give to myself.
Then I realized I had nothing but respect for my brother and the amazing grace he showed during his battle with MS. I wasn’t comfortable being there, and didn’t have the money to make a trip to California, but I over-nighted a letter to him when it became clear his time was measured in days. I didn’t mention what had happened, but I told him I forgave him all his brotherly mis-deeds. My mother said when he heard my letter read out loud by his wife, it was as if another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place, one less weight on his shoulders. I think he knew what I meant, and I think he knew I meant it.
Belly Dance has been a part of my healing, as I learn to enjoy and appreciate a body I spent most of my life hating. However, I still have not found the right way to talk to my Mom about this, but am certain it will be faced sooner rather than later. If I am to help others face their own guilt/shame over sexual abuses and misdeeds…I have to be willing to be open about it, and I don’t want mom to find out second hand.
How do you deal with self doubt, those annoying voices that tell you when you’re on the creative path that you aren’t very good?
So true, so true!!! I’ve come a long ways, but when I am amazed that an amazing woman such as Laura or Dolphina reach out to me, I know I still carry a little self doubt. Because I’m still a little surprised that people I can look up to can see something in me that they connect to-Who…ME???? I’ve had to try really hard to simply be AWARE of my thoughts and pay attention. When they get negative I try to redirect the thought into a positive.
Do you get google alerts, and if so, do they help your creativity?
I have never used a google alert…so I have to say I’m not sure.
Do you have a Muse or inspiration?
I do love Isis, Bast and many of the Egyptian Gods/Goddess’, which may have helped me be able to connect with what I consider my own Inner Goddess. I would have to say animals are more my creative inspiration over anything else though. I’ve always felt more comfortable with animals than humans! Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams? Do they spark your creativity?
Oh man do I have dreams. Weird dreams, strange dreams, realistic dreams…some I remember clearly, others not. I’ve had some recurring ones that are very surreal, like, being on a freeway that is far off the ground and twists and turns, rolling up and down and I never remember where the right exit is.
When my mind is over busy, I have dreams of frustration, trying to do something, figure something out and it’s on the edge of my mind, but I can’t grasp it. I have dreams that sometimes leave me fuzzy minded in the morning, feeling like I’m not sure I’ve really woken up. And, I’ve woken up two different boyfriends by dreams that woke me in gulping, sobbing screams.
Scenario: I’m riding Eli (my first horse who’s now 31) and we’re over in Europe somewhere and it’s in the far past. I’m stopped by official looking men on horseback who take me to a large tent/arena. Inside, it’s sand, but at one end sits a large throne and a man who asks me what my business is here. They had taken my horse upon entering the tent, and I am confused, not sure what I’ve done wrong. I am informed my crime is my name and that my family is not allowed there, and when I explain I wasn’t aware of this they tell me the original ‘crime’ that caused our banishment happened some 200-300 years ago. I’m angered that they would expect me to know this history, and demand to be given my horse back so I can leave. I certainly don’t want to stay there! A man brings a gusset sack and plops it at my feet and my stomach turns in anxiety…I don’t want to know what is in the burlap sack, because somehow I know. I open it, and there is Eli’s head.I woke up sobbing, screaming and I FELT it…it was real, and it took me 15 mintues to calm down from that. My dreams rarely bring creativity.
How do you promote your work?
So far I’ve only had my writing/work to promote, and I have purposefully avoided self-promotion beyond emailing all my family and friends. I truly want to know if this is my path, for I believe if it is, things will naturally progress on their own. I came to that decision upon reflection one morning when I realized that RIGHT now, if ‘this’ is as good as it gets (working part time at Starbucks, spending my free time belly dancing, singing, playing with my horses, writing, drawing, taking long bubble baths) then I’m completely ok with that. Being 100% satisfied with my life as it is removes any pressure to DO anything about my passions. I decided to simply follow my passions, enjoy them and see what the Universe would provide.
So far it’s provided me with what I hope to be a continuing friendship with Laura (who seems to have been seperated from me at birth with some of the common threads that run through our lives!) and an offer from Dolphina to be her Goddess of the Month. When I decided I was happy with my life if that was as good as it would get, I never dreamed I’d be featured on Dolphina’s website, and I hoped I would eventually meet like minded women through my Examiner page…but I didn’t expect it to be so soon!
Cultural creatives often want to change the world. Do you have a vision of impacting society in a positive way?
I want to use my passion for horses and Belly Dance to connect with women, especially young girls. I want to help empower them with self confidence and self esteem that comes when you work with horses-especially abused/neglected ones. I would love to make a difference in a horses’ life while impacting the life of a woman/girl at the same time. I would love to reach women before life weighs them down, to help spark their own creativity and strengthen their belief that they can ideed do anything that they are passionate about.
Are you earning a living while pursuing your passions?
I thank every Power that resides in the Universe everyday for bringing Doug into my life. For many different reasons, but as far as this question is concerned, he fully supports me and my pursuing my passions. It is because he makes a decent living doing something that comes easily to him (he fixes things…anything and everything…I sometimes joke that he’s even managed to help fix me!) that I can afford to make a low salary at Starbucks and work part time hours to have the time to pursue my passions. I do believe someday I’ll earn some money from my writing and belly dancing. Maybe someday I’ll be able to be paid for helping communicate with peoples’ pets, but more than that my true desire lays in helping.
If I can run a horse rescue and develop a program to pair women/girls with them, I don’t expect to make money at that…but the payment would be the joy and satisfaction of the work itself. I admit, it bothers me when you find people who’ve had amazing experiences and their way of sharing those experiences is by charging you thousands of dollars to come spend a few days with them. I don’t want to get rich through my passions, I just eventually want to quit Starbucks and write, play with my horses & bellydance for a living!
What is your favorite example of irony, as it pertains to your spirituality?
I find it ironic that my beliefs allow me to give others room to express their own spirituality in their own ways, and that I know no one person/group has the answer. Yet, if EVERYONE believed as I do, we wouldn’t spend so much time/money/effort on war and persecution of people for their beliefs being different than that which is generally accepted.
I know that Spirituality is not a one size fits all, but at the same time know that if everyone understood that, we’d be a much happier civilization!!!!
Thanks so much for your very personal, and humorous insights Michelle. Best of luck on your journey as a writer. You go girl!
Hi Michelle. Welcome to the Cultural Creatives blog. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I am an Alternative Religion writer for the Examiner. I am a 41 year old woman who discovered in my early 20’s that all my beliefs about life/death and all things in-between fit the description of Pagan in a book by Starhawk called the Spiral Dance. This book had such an impact on me, I named my second horse, who was 4 months old and not yet named, Spiral Dancer (she’s 15 now).
I was the last child in a family of three kids, and the only girl. I lost my first brother when I was 11 to suicide, and it forever changed my view about age. I couldn’t figure out why he would kill himself when he could do anything he wanted, he was after all a big boy of 17. Sigh. When I turned 17 I went “Oh shit…he was just a baby.” Age has never been an issue for me.
But, hormones and stress from working jobs you don’t love were issues for me. My journey started days after my second brother died 2 years ago from MS, and I’m convinced he has had a small hand in pushing me into self confidence. I don’t have any self produced business at this point, but hope to within the next year. I plan on becoming certified to teach the Goddess Workout, which is simply learning to Belly Dance through conscious use of your muscles that create the moves, and doing so with passion and love for the Inner Goddess all women possess. I believe our soul is a spark of Divinity, that part of us that never dies, but continues to learn, grow and return to our Source. Our intuition, our passions, these are our Inner Goddess’ communicating with us, and when we listen we surely find our path!
I have many passions, so many that I sometimes become overwhelmed that I may not be able to accomplish them all! So, I’ve begun to focus on the ones that come easily: horses, Belly Dance, Drawing/Painting (I actually did tattooing for awhile, but hated the atmosphere in other people’s shops), Tarot, writing, singing (definitely more fun for me than Doug, my partner), and taking the first steps that will eventually lead me to the ability to play a set of Highland Bagpipes!
Please share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
I paid $1,200 for a horse I could not ‘do’ anything with. He was so scared, it took 6 people three hours to load him into the trailer to bring him home. He would walk up to me if I stayed still and offered treats, but he was very clear petting and touching would be tolerated at his leisure. Another horse snorting would send him running, and he certainly wanted nothing to do with his halter.
Why did I buy him? Because I was in love, one look into his liquid brown eyes and I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I allowed him to be sold off to the “Buckers”…whether it was my thought or his, when I found out this was to be his next move if the trainer he was going to couldn’t help turn him around. I KNEW in my heart, it would break his heart, his is a gentle soul and I think he knew I would give him what he wanted and needed most: a loving, patient, and understanding owner. Riding a horse is a lot like the saying about life: it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. Horses offer us so much more than a ride, and allowing him to set the pace of his ‘training’ has allowed him to trust me. I could push him a little more…but I’m curious to see how long before he begins to WANT more challenges and interaction.
When I was 18, I got my first tattoo: Brian Setzer on my left forearm. I hid it from my parents for over a week, knowing they’d be telling me I’d regret it because I couldn’t hide it. I knew the time was right to tell them one late afternoon. They were having some wine, enjoying leisurely preparations for a get-together later at our home. They were in good moods, and I knew they couldn’t dwell on it if they were angry, because they had people coming over.
I actually sat them down, telling them I had something to tell them. I really thought they’d loose their minds…even if Dad had one, back in 1985/86 tattoo’s weren’t the taboo they’d been 20 years earlier, but they were not quite as prevalent as they are today. When I explained that me and Christine had done something in Frisco that I didn’t think they’d approve of, but that I wanted them to know I’d really thought it out and had planned for over a year before doing it…they became anxious. “What did you DO!?”. I was NOT prepared for my mothers’ first guess when I asked them to try and guess. “You were arrested for prostitution!”. My dad guessed right first try, then they wanted to see, and to my surprise, not only were they not angry at me, they showed it off to all their friends all night.
In all my 41 years of life, I’ve spent less than a year of that in a cat-less state of being. Cats, horses and books are the three main themes you will see when you look at family albums and me growing up. When I was in my early/mid 20’s, I adopted a stray cat, who was a Marmalade Tabby with extra toes on her front feet. I named her 7 toes, and while I felt bad for her, she showed up at my work begging for food in the parking lot every day-I didn’t want to ’steal’ her if she already had a home. So, I spoke out loud to her and explained my dilemma, asking her that if she wanted to live with me, she would have to follow me on her own 4 legs to the car, I would not carry her. She did, talking in her sweet meow the whole way. Upon entering the car, she promptly jumped out the open passenger window and I thought “Well, that’s that.” But, she jumped in again on my lap, and drove the whole way home there, with her front paws on the wheel.
I had her almost 15 years and she was there for me through a whole lot of bad boyfriends, and she was here when I found Doug. She loved him, and while I held her those last hours of her life, I knew she wanted Doug to see her to the other side…and he cried when she died in his arms. I told her to please come back as a Manx kitty with extra toes…and within a week of losing my Boxer “Brenden”, I found an ad for a woman that breed Manx Mitten kittens. I have a sneaking suspision she has returned, we brought two brothers home, Bob and Tanka…who have eased the pain of loosing Toes girl.
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve done?
I packed up 2 horses (paid to have them transported, but you know), 2 cats, a Boxer puppy, myself, everything I owned and drove from Hollister, California to Denver, Colorado knowing one person here. I left everything I knew for not only the Unknown, but the COMPLETELY unknown. I am not a city girl…I love open space, wild flowers and horses and cattle grazing in green pastures under open skies. Hollister had grown too much for my taste, and I certainly couldn’t afford to live in Santa Cruz, much less ever hope to own land. I needed a major change, and something told me I would find “HIM” here…him turned out to be Doug.
It was a rocky start, with 3 residential changes and at least that many job changes before things began to settle down after I met Doug. When I came over the crest of I-70 around midnight that fateful night, I almost turned around. I grew up watching John Denver and Olivia Newton-John specials in Colorado…when I saw the lights of the whole Denver area, I thought “Oh shit, I moved to San Jose!!!!!”. It took more courage than I knew I had to keep my foot on the gas and NOT turn around!
What are five of your favorite books, movies, songs, groups, websites….
Here goes…
Books: Spiral Dance, Heart of the Fire, Predestined Love, Mists of Avalon, Winged Pharoah
Movies: Black Stallion, Braveheart, Thunderheart, Sid & Nancy, Dead Again
Songs: Hmmmm….I’m terrible with song names…so see next line
Groups: Stray Cats, Gene Vincent, Offspring, Wendy Rule, Bob Marley, the Smiths, Alicia Keys, Patsy Cline, Primus, Cramps, Misfits, Echo & the Bunnymen, Lorenna McKinnett, Pantera, AC/DC, Eagles, ….oh wait, that’s more than 5! LOL…there are so many, I love all kinds of music, bagpipes, harp, cello, fiddle-Celtic music and Egyptian music.
Websites: for obvious reasons, the Examiner website is one of my current favs! (I write for them).
Dolphina’s website (my belly dance hero) and here’s a couple that Doug has found that are a total kick in the pants: something awful (everything that’s bad, strange and just plain unimaginable on the internet…last week they had a link to a site that pays women to act out a damsel in distress on film for a select group of fettish folks…it was disturbingly funny) and “engrish”…a website dedicated to bad Japanese translations, from signs to ads and everything in between.
Things I avoid: not too big on the blood-n-guts movies, or hard-core rap (I like Desiny’s Child and I actually own a Jay-Z cd…but that’s about it).
Hi Linda. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I’m a professional freelance web writer who is trying to break into print magazines and who writes fiction also. I have one short story in Accentuate Service’s Anthology Competition (www.accentuateservices.com for more info) and a few I am waiting to hear back on. When I am not writing I am painting on canvas with acrylic’s and being a mom to my two little boys.
Share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
I run a teen art group, am a mom to 2 boys, take self defense classes, freelance for five different websites, take the boys to karate, baseball and other activities and still make dinner almost everyday by 6pm. I think that’s a little crazy.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
I held my mom’s dog while we put him to sleep and spoke to him about the other dogs he would meet on the other side to comfort him.
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
Anything by Anne Rice, The Notebook (a brilliant movie), I love all kinds of music, currently my favorite bands are Shinedown and Tantric. I avoid most Stephen King books however I just read Four Seasons which was a fascinating compilation of short stories, the Library Policeman twisted my gut. I may read more of his work now.
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
Yes, because I am spiritual, earth friendly and still connected to the modern world.
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
I have been painting since I could put my fingers on paper. I have always been an artist. Now I get to be an artist with words and get paid for it.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
Yes, the best art comes from my spirituality and so does my faith in accomplishing some task no matter how big or small.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
I made a display for my mom in art class. It was two drawings. One was in color and the other was in black and white of a carousel horse. The drawings were cut into strips then laid on a display that had tilted spots. When you walked past it one way it was one drawing and then when you walked past it the other way it was a different drawing. It was pretty cool. My mom loved it.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
passion, energy, awe
What sparks your creativity?
Just about anything.
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Those who doubted me. It actually spurred me on to accomplish what I set out for myself. I learned that when they said “You can’t.” I said “Oh yeah, watch me.”
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
I meditate and try never to talk negatively about myself because it will just lead to more negativity. Positive affirmations help also.
If you get google alerts, what are some keywords/phrases you receive? Does this help your creativity?
I do get google alerts but they are for articles I have written. I do not use google alerts for personal keywords and phrases.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
Seshat, the Scribe is the Egyptian Goddess of writing, creativity and much more. She guides me on my creative journeys.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
My dreams are very vivid and sometimes turn into stories.
In what ways do you promote your work?
I talk to people, write a lot, hang out in some writer forums, use promotional social sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to share work I like and my own work.
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
Both MySpace and Facebook have helped me get readers.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
I don’t know if I have one.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
I want to make the world a more beautiful place and I want to educate in the process. I hope my positive writing does that as well as my paintings. Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
Yes, I have started making money. Not quite earning a living yet but I am working on it and getting closer every day.
Don’t be shy. Success will not come to you unless you go out and get it!
Hi Justin, can you tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions?
My name is Justin St. Vincent, and sometimes I like listening to music. Those that know me will testify to the fact that the last sentence was the under-statement of the century as music is the soundtrack to my life. I have two primary passions: music and spirituality. I love to learn about people’s framework for faith and values, and I love to listen to weird and wonderful music. Xtreme Music is where music meets spirituality. After several years of research, I decided to share my extensive portfolio of exclusive interviews online. This publication project is simply known as “The Spiritual Significance of Music”, freely available via Xtreme Music: www.xtrememusic.org
Please share three interesting/crazy things about yourself.
During my younger years I had the privilege of traveling to over 100 countries. I still have the travel bug and would love to travel more, and I just recently had vision-correction laser surgery on both my eyes, now my eye-sight is crystal-clear, it feels like a whole new world.
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Cliff jumping several times off the southern most tip of the Big Island of Hawaii into the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. The scariest thing was climbing back up the cliff with the aid of a rusty ladder that felt like it would snap at any moment. Just as well it wasn’t shark season.
Name your top five books, movies, songs, musical groups, and/or websites. Are there any books or movies (genres) that you avoid?
Top 5 Books: “The Bible” by God, “The Spirituality Of Music” by Selina Thielemann, “The Secret Power Of Music: The Transformation Of Self And Society Through Musical Energy” by David Tame, “Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music In World Religions” by Guy L. Beck, and “The 7 Secrets Of Sound Healing” by Jonathan Goldman. Top 5 Movies: 1492: Conquest Of Paradise, The Mission, Sneakers, West Side Story, and When Harry Met Sally. Top 5 Songs: “Ashes To Ashes” by Faith No More, “Ambugaton” by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, “From Rusholme With Love” by Mint Royale, “Circumambulation” by Secret Chiefs 3, and “Rosewater” by Bottle Top 5 Musical Groups: Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere, and SPEkTR. Top 5 Websites: www.xtrememusic.org, www.facebook.com, www.myspace.com, www.bbc.co.uk, and www.wikipedia.org
I avoid horror books and movies like the plague. Why fill your mind with nightmares? Embrace the beauty and miracle of life.
Based upon the description of a cultural creative, do you feel you are one? If so, why?
I am probably a closet “Cultural Creative” as I didn’t know this personality type existed until the read the description. I personally resonate with the phrase: “people who are deeply spiritual without being dogmatically religious”.
What made you first want to become an artist, writer, a creator?
I have always enjoyed collecting things, organizing information, and writing books. Creating is part of being, and this seemed like a natural vocation. I also believe in serving others with excellence.
Does spirituality play an important role in the creative process for you? If so, how?
Spirituality is the central part of my being. It informs what I say, what I do, and who I am. Spirituality is the source of my creative process, it is what influences and inspires me to create for others.
What is your first memory of creating something you were proud of?
My first memory of creating for others was writing a series of books with characters based on my friends at primary school. Each of the five books were self-produced and written with the desire of sharing these experiences with others. We used to share reading these books among classmates; writing for others is truly a wonderful way for any child to develop and explore their imagination.
What three words best describe the feeling you get when your creativity is flowing?
Focused, Inspired, and Passionate
What sparks your creativity?
Art and film, life and music.
What was/is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
We create our own obstacles. Two personal obstacles are greed and pride. To overcome this I decided to freely release “The Spiritual Significance of Music” as a blessing to the world. This experience allowed me to feel a new sense of personal freedom, and I learned that the cures for greed and pride are generosity and humility.
Putting your vision into the world can be scary. Many of us wonder if we’re good enough. How do you respond to negative self-talk? What tools do you use to help work beyond your self-doubt?
Positive affirmations are a powerful way to break negative self-talk. It takes discipline and patience, but this is by far the best way to work beyond any self-doubt. A few tools for breaking self-doubt, and to step outside of your comfortable zone, and you will be rewarded with the new experiences that come from embracing the present moment and enjoying everyday life.
Are there any archetypes (hero, warrior, goddess, messenger, trickster, fool, savior, wanderer, magician etc.) that you resonate with which you feel have helped guide you on your creative journey? Does someone or something sometimes act as your muse?
I enjoy reading The Bible for sourcing spirituality, a compass for faith, hope, and love. Jesus Christ is the archetype, and becoming the archetype can be the most challenging and rewarding experience for anyone’s creative journey. God is the ultimate Creator, and my ability and desire to create is birthed in Him.
Are there any recurring motifs in your sleeping dreams, and if so, what do you think they symbolize? Is there a bigger message for you? Do your nighttime dreams ever spark your creativity?
I no longer remember my dreams or nightmares. I’m sure this is both a blessing and curse. I feel that my creativity is sparked by experiences in reality, and realized in the musical moments of life.
In what ways do you promote your work?
Promoting “The Spiritual Significance of Music” is oddly enough not a priority for me. I allow others to freely share their thoughts on this project, and always welcome their feedback. It is a self-perpetuating portfolio that continues to grow exponentially. Promoting it seems to be superfluous as many musicians and readers are happy to share their discovery of the project through individual blogs, mailing lists, and personal websites. I enjoy the grassroots promotion of this project, and feel little desire to declare this work to the world.
If you use social networking sites, have any been particularly helpful in helping you spread the word about your work? If so, which one(s) and how?
I use two main social networking sites: Facebook and MySpace. However, I don’t actively promote my work widely on these networks, as I prefer people to randomly explore, search, and discover “The Spiritual Significance of Music”.
What’s your favorite Internet tool either for promotion or enhancing your creativity?
My favorite Internet tool for creative enhancement and development is searching for new information on Google or Wikipedia. I find these fantastic resources for continued inspiration.
Cultural Creatives tend to want their work to impact society in a positive way. Is changing/improving society with your work part of your goal? If yes, please elaborate a bit on your vision.
“The Spiritual Significance of Music” was designed to be a soul-stirring and thought-provoking project that explores music and spirituality. It brings a blessing by introducing people to spirituality.
Have you been able to earn a living while pursuing your creative passions? Is there anything from a business perspective that stands out as a key or catalyst to your success that you’d like to share?
Yes, I have a full-time career, together with this project that has quickly become a full-time passion. Involving over 500+ musicians in this project has been the catalyst to bring music-makers and music-lovers closer to exploring “The Spiritual Significance of Music”. I greatly admire and appreciate all of the authors and musicians who have freely contributed their thoughts towards this project. One key to success is to serve others with excellence.
Justin,is there a question you’d like to ask anyone reading this?
Yes. “What do you believe is the spiritual significance of music?” Feel free to read my answer by exploring “The Spiritual Significance of Music”, freely available via Xtreme Music: www.xtrememusic.org Thanks for all in advance, it’s greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much Justin for taking the time to share your thoughts on creativity with us today.
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Hi Bret. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
What sparks your creativity?
and very high self-esteem. Initially, I assumed anything I wrote would be brilliant and eventually produced (I started with screenplays). It was more or less the same with the novels. I knew I had some interesting fresh ideas and didn’t have self-doubts about it.
Hi Michael. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
Hi Jason. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I figured it was worth a shot, and we all had a good laugh about it. (I may have been a little buzzed at the time too 
I am a psychic healer who provides spiritual counseling services for individuals. During a session, I help to identify and release blocks in a person’s space– physical, mental, emotional, spiritual– in order for that person to enjoy more ease and freedom in living. In addition to working with people, I also clear other spaces of obstacles, including, most notably, homes and businesses. I specialize in exploring the creative process as we bring intentions from a spiritual focus into physical experience.
Hi Paige. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
Hi Megan. Thanks for being with us here today. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and/or your passions.
I am an Alternative Religion writer for the 
parents for over a week, knowing they’d be telling me I’d regret it because I couldn’t hide it. I knew the time was right to tell them one late afternoon. They were having some wine, enjoying leisurely preparations for a get-together later at our home. They were in good moods, and I knew they couldn’t dwell on it if they were angry, because they had people coming over.
I’m a professional freelance web writer who is trying to break into print magazines and who writes fiction also. I have one short story in Accentuate Service’s Anthology Competition (
My name is Justin St. Vincent, and sometimes I like listening to music. Those that know me will testify to the fact that the last sentence was the under-statement of the century as music is the soundtrack to my life. I have two primary passions: music and spirituality. I love to learn about people’s framework for faith and values, and I love to listen to weird and wonderful music. Xtreme Music is where music meets spirituality. After several years of research, I decided to share my extensive portfolio of exclusive interviews online. This publication project is simply known as “The Spiritual Significance of Music”, freely available via Xtreme Music: 