I’ve been lost in a fog for two months.
It’s tough to admit to walking on the shadow side but I’ve grown to accept that it’s a necessary and natural part of the game of life and that there are things I can do to make full use of the time I spend in darkness.
As an artist and creative entrepreneur, I have reconciled with this truth: there will be times when I am creative and full of ideas, and times when my spirits are dashed and I’m left feeling like my muse has forsaken me. Obstacles, creative blocks and derailment are such a real part of my journey that if I retreat into my inner world as I instinctively want to every time I feel pain, fear or paralysis, I would be losing so much precious time and energy.
I’ve also realized that while I sincerely believe our psyche has many lessons to teach us, pure rumination has never worked for me in life’s more challenging moments, no matter the source.
Firstly, it’s a very unproductive use of time.
Secondly, darkness can be scary but it’s also filled with so much gorgeous potential for life-changing discovery, revelation and personal growth, but only if we allow it to be. For this is really when we become interesting.
First, here’s a little secret: one thing all artists think about and don’t really like to admit is the all-important need to be interesting. More than anyone else, for artists, being interesting means having the crucial state of mind necessary to make interesting and evocative work. But being interesting is not something that comes naturally to everyone, nor is it something we can buy off the shelf or learn through an online course. Being interesting is a by-product of living, of experience.
There is a reason why some of the most evocative and interesting art in history were created by tortured souls. Van Gogh struggled mightily with mental illness. The blues music has its roots in overcoming personal adversity, of expressing through music feelings of unbridled joy and deep sadness. What large voids would we have today if these artists never took the trouble to tangibly explore and express the pain they felt?
To be clear, I don’t believe we need to live in constant darkness to express great beauty, only that if we are able to milk our shadow moments for all its worth, we can create deeper and more meaningful works.
What does this mean? How does this translate to our day to day lives? As Robert Henri says, to be interesting to others, we must first be interesting to ourselves. In darker moments, this means staying interested. Which can be extremely hard to do.
It’s easy to be excited when all is well and life is good, but it’s far braver and more important to find passion when times are tough, because that is what carries us forward.
For me, staying interested when all I feel like doing is curling into a ball and indulging in escapism means having an emergency toolkit to reach for, so that very little mental energy is needed to make progress during such times. I’ve used this process intuitively all my life, and it’s only in the past year that I realized how constant my little toolkit has been, how it’s showed up faithfully to guide me through the shadows, every time.
(A GIFT: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS PRINTABLE TOOLKIT IN PDF)
This is my personal emergency toolkit, I hope you’ll try it out next time you find yourself lost in a fog, spinning wheels in mud.
How to Walk the Labyrinth of Enchantment During Shadow Times:
Wonder & Curiosity: Shake things up, seek new physical experiences, follow the white rabbit of curiosity out the door and see where it leads you. Change provides the distance necessary to process why things didn’t work before.
Magic-Making: Experiment with a new form of creative expression, something you don’t normally do. Explore a new medium if you make art, establish a new creative ritual or challenge if the old one isn’t sparking joy. Redecorate your closet if need be. Continuing to creatively express yourself prevents you from swinging too low, you might even find yourself creating your best work when your heart is cut wide open.
Truth-Finding: Journal the hidden lessons, vision-board what brings you joy now. Experiment with Tarot and Oracle Cards to hone your intuition even if you’ve always been a skeptic. Enlist a listening ear from a kindred spirit if need be (it’s important to ask for help if you’re in deeper than you realize!) Staying connected with your inner guide helps you navigate these times with passion and truth.
The Secret Garden: Find a new artist, author or mentor whose work you haven’t studied before. Go out of your way to meet them, attend their workshops or live events. The energy can be so infectious it could draw you out of your funk!
Some of you might ask, isn’t all the above a form of escapism?
NO. The distinction seems slight but important. Escapism is defined as “the avoidance of reality by absorption of the mind in entertainment, imaginative situation or activity.” Escapism is essentially the evasion of life. To walk the Labyrinth of Enchantment is never about evasion. It’s always about conscious decision. Consciously choosing experiences that nourish our soul and dreams, that make us feel alive, even if we don’t yet know where it would lead us.
This is how we make darkness count. And yes, how we become interesting.
At a Glance: My Toolkit in Action (How I Navigated My Fog)
Wonder & Curiosity: Plein air hikes in the hills
Magic-Making: The Daily Dreamscapes Series
Truthfinding: A Study of My Favorite Artists (Scrapbook Project)
The Secret Garden: Meeting Benjamin Bjorklund at a demo and being incredibly inspired.
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“Pain is a spiritual wake-up call showing you that there are oceans you have not yet explored. Step beyond the world you know. Reach for heights that you never thought possible. Go to places you have deemed off limits. This is the time to take off the shell of your past and step into the rich possibilities of your future.” – Debbie Ford.
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TreeSpace Studio paintings on this page in order of appearence: “Mystery of the Unknown”-Watercolor on Handmade Paper; “Princess and the Pea”-Watercolor and Graphite; “Moonlit” – Watercolor and Casein on Handmade Paper; “Daily Dreamscapes” -oil on panel.
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Are you interested in creating an Artist’s Life that helps you stay inspired even when your creativity isn’t flowing? To make all the shadow moments between magic count? My ‘Walk The Labyrinth’ Expedition walks you through designing a creative life that works for you. Get on the invite list here.
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About Me (Amy T. Won)
I’m an artist, enchantment-seeker, trained architect and lifelong advocate for idiosyncrasy.
I’ve been a creator of heirloom invitations for unconventional souls (and a few famous folks) and brand designer to some of the most uniquely creative spirits I know. I’ve been on both sides of the originality fence, helping others see theirs, and helping myself see mine. Finding patterns in the things that inspire us has been part of my creative fabric for the past 18 years. I know mindful exploring like the back of my hand.
I live by the philosophy that to be truly inspired, to live and create magically and extraordinarily, we must first be in awe of life, soak ourselves in enchantment, be a friend to mystery and a lover of rapture.
Join me on my adventures in wonder-seeking at www.amytwon.com/travelogue
See my latest art unfold over atwww.instagram.com/amytwon and www.facebook.com/treespacestudio.
To experience my art + storytelling events hop on over to www.amytwon.com