Methods and Madness: 31 March 2022
“I prefer the absurdity of writing poems to the absurdity of not writing poems.” —Wisława Szymborska
Hello and welcome to the March edition of Methods and Madness: Notes on Creativity.
In this edition, I have sourced a couple of creative prompts and resources for you, and quite a few events, including two of my own.
On the 4 April (or the 3 April for you Americans and Canadians), I am running a workshop called The Right Question which will allow you to explore your creativity. And on the 27 April, I am running a free workshop to introduce the Inner Development Goals. Scroll down to the end of the newsletter for more details.
Resources and creative prompts:
Emergence Magazine has just published an article by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder called Arriving with Every Step, in which she focuses on the practice of pilgrimage.
“To allow point A and point B to give way to possibility, to mystery. You are meant to allow the journey to do its work on you.”
As the article notes, it doesn’t matter if a journey is 15 minutes, 2 hours, or 2 years in duration. For it to be transformative, what matters is the mindfulness you bring to it.
In this article, Steinauer-Scudder poses some questions you can use to turn a simple journey into a pilgrimage.
Living creatively both challenges and allows you to experience life differently. The practice outlined in this article is one example of how to do that.
Why not apply the steps listed to a journey, whether that be the daily commute to work or your next holiday, and see what arises for you?
Zanen on Chin-Ting Mountain
“The birds have vanished down the sky.
Now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains.”
A poem written in the 8th century by Li Bei.
I found this lovely poem via a Tweet by the Long Time Project, and in it they ask
“What are the words / images / experiences that help you connect with longer, deeper time?”
(And what would you like them to be?)
Perhaps this could be an inspiration for a journal entry or some art. Or perhaps, if your busy life doesn’t allow for much making right now, you can carry this idea inside your head as you go through your life.
The Long Time Project is a fascinating initiative. You can find out more here.
Events
One of the great gifts of lockdown for me was the discovery of many people working with creativity, collective imagination, and similar areas, across the world. April seems to be a busy month - I have come across some online events that may pique your interest:
ANAT SPECTRA: Multiplicity 2022: Throughout April – next event is on 1 April, “an artistic and discursive platform inspired by the intersection of art, science, and technology.”
The Right Question: 4 April, MY workshop. More information below. Every booking includes a free resource.
Imagination Infrastructuring: 12 April, a seminar with Cassie Robinson talking about growing capabilities for collective imagination.
World Creativity and Innovation Week: 15-21 April, events celebrating creativity from all over the world. Submit your own to take part.
2022 Torrance Festival of Ideas: 19-21 April, a free event featuring innovative ideas.
Cultural Gardeners: Australian Cultural Alliance for Climate Action: Meets monthly on the last Tuesday of each month.
Wayfinding: Traveling between Imagination and Agency with the IDGs: 27 April. A free workshop presented by ME. More information below.
Inner Development Goals Summit: 29 April, a summit introducing some new tools to unstick old thinking.
Submissions and Opportunities, and another Resource:
The Red Eye Photography Network will be launching their course in climate aware photography in April. More information here.
IMAGINE – a magazine of the art and culture of imagination – is seeking submissions by 14 April for its second edition, due out in May. More information here.
And while you are on IMAGINE’s website, check out their wonderful library of books about creativity and the imagination.
“The man who has many answers
is often found
in the theatres of information
where he offers, graciously,
his deep findings.
While the man who has only questions,
to comfort himself, makes music.”
The Man Who Has Many Answers by Mary Oliver, from A Thousand Mornings.
The Right Question, 4 April
I have written a resource called The Right Question, and to launch it I am holding an online workshop on 4 April at 10am AEST and 7pm AEST (to accommodate different time zones).
Tickets cost $20 or $12 (for those on low incomes). Each ticket includes a free copy of the resource.
This facilitated discussion will offer you the opportunity to dive into your inner world with an interactive hour of provocations to help you to reflect deeply on your creative identity and practice.
Bookings and information can be found HERE.
See you there!
Wayfinding: Traveling between Imagination and Agency with the IDGs, 27 April
The Inner Development Goals were created to help people to cultivate the personal dynamics and skills to tackle the Sustainable Development Goals. The goals have been designed to enable you to develop the creativity, reflexivity, and resilience to undertake the important innovative work of the SDGs.
Join me for a transformative workshop that will explore the IDGs and how to map them against your own imaginings to develop alternative futures. Start tracing the path from your ideals to action.
Cost: Free
Times: 10am AEST or 7pm AEST (to accommodate different time zones).
Bookings HERE.
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” ― C.G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections
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