Gypsy Camp

This post inspiration came from Call of the Gypsy on the 2005 Advent Calendar:  http://bit.ly/a7aGAB

Yesterday morning, as I was plodding around my apt while the coffee was brewing, I decided to take a quiet meditative moment to sit and listen to my inner artist/child.   I have to admit, I almost regretted it because boy, did she give me an ear full. Most of it can be summed up as, “I want to do more, more! Now!”

Another complaint was that I didn’t have a specific space for my musings. I’ve organized but I have really “claimed” a spot and given it any artistic flourish. While searching through SFC, this one seemed to speak to me.

Here are some of the suggested activities I am going to try:

-Wear something colorful: Since I started working in an office, my wardrobe is pretty bland. I’m lucky in that I can dress casual but even that isn’t really fun or colorful. The clothes I wear when I create are even worse;  drab black workout pants and an over-sized black t-shirt.  When I work with clay, I don’t want to ruin nice clothes but there’s no reason why I couldn’t wear more fun stuff when I write.

-Create your own Gypsy hideaway:  This suggestion instantly sparked my imagination.  My computer is next to the couch & if I could say any space was mine, it would be that. So, I started thinking, why couldn’t I do something with it? My first thought was that I could move the two-shelf end table to hold my monitor & put my most used writing books/supplies to keep handy . Another thought was I could add  comfy pillows and decorative throws.  I have an artistic calendar just sitting in my closet, why couldn’t I move it to the blank wall next to couch?  Little things really and it wouldn’t even require I spend a lot of money so I have no excuse.

-Excite your imagination with a pack of tarot cards or a crystal ball:  I have a box set of Celtic Shaman Cards but I haven’t used them much. I dug around until I found them and I forgot how much fun they are.

-Live like a gypsy without leaving home:  I bought several boxes of herbal tea and downloaded some of the suggested gypsy music to my mp3 player to listen to while I write.  I can’t really camp out but I could spend more time on my back porch once it warms up.

To say I was excited would be an understatement.  I’ve been so focused on the “mechanical” side of writing; organizing, setting schedules, refreshing my memory of the rules of grammar & literary terms and so on.  I’ve been neglecting the fun and telling myself I’d worry about that later.

It seemed practical but I’ve felt so blah lately when I tried doing anything creative and no wonder! I was reminded that while it’s important to work on those practical things, I cannot neglect what really starts my creative gears turning: fun, whimsy and being unafraid to veer off the trail.