Review 2: Walking in This World by Julia Cameron

Image credit: Sydney Rae on Unsplash

In my previous article I began my weekly journey back into the world of Julia Cameron with her second instalment, Walking in this World. This week I am diving deeper into her world, hoping that I gain some more insights and a few more tricks to help me release more of my creativity in the best possible way.

WEEK THREE

This week is all about detoxifying my thoughts when it came to the arts and my place as an artist within society. As Julia Cameron puts it, every human is an artist, so don’t let that word scare you. But if it does, do you know what the medicine for that fear is? Creativity. ‘Creativity is in our blood. In our DNA.’ When I think or am called neurotic, crazy or think I need to be fixed, that’s me being miserable. That’s me not expressing myself. That’s what makes me miserable. And it makes sense. What makes more sense is letting my creative DNA do it’s thing, not try to hold it back because it may be scary or worry what people might think.

Task #1:

This first task was a simple 20-minute walk in the outdoors. Be with myself in the great outdoors. The fresh air always helps the soul. Maybe one of the reasons it’s in Cameron’s basic rules?

Task #2:

‘Art is therapeutic. It is not therapy. Therapy aims at transformation through understanding.’

I had to get myself some magazines, glue and some scissors. Following the instructions, I gave myself an hour, and I picked a theme, which was Love & Marriage. And found some pictures that suited my questions and curiosities… and well I got my wants, guess’, fears, longings and more questions. I think I found a path.

Task #3:

‘Anger is a call to action. Anger is not comfortable.’

This task is to shift a mindset. The mindset of feeling small and unheard to what I truly am. Find my true space in the world.  Here I must number a page 1-50 and list all the things that make me angry. Even the smallest and stupidest. Writing them down, some questions and solutions came up. Not for all but some. I think I might keep this with me. I hold in a lot of anger. Time to let it go. Cue frozen soundtrack.

Task #4:

Time to map my interests. The sketches Cameron wants me to explore are…

• Five topics that interest me.
• Five people who interest me.
• Five art forms that interest me.
• Five projects I could try out are.

“When we map out our ‘coulds’ instead of our ‘shoulds,’ we shift from the realm of probability into the more interesting realm of possibility.’

CHECK IN

1). All my pages done and dusted.

2). Artist date also completed. A nice trip to the cinema.

WEEK FOUR

I have a confession to make. My life got in the way of doing the course for two weeks. I didn’t take those ten minutes to read the book. Or that hour to do that task. I didn’t take time for myself. But the universe drew me back in – the universe created a circumstance that made me have an artist date. I need to trust the universe and create space for me.  So on to week four then.

This week is all about a sense of adventure “to consciously experiment with open-mindedness.’

“When we are too adult and too disciplined, our impish, childlike innovator yearns to rebel.’

This chapter brought up an idea…an idea before any of the tasks. I know I’m living on the edge and breaking the rules. That’s what Cameron would have wanted, right?

I’m going to write a list of things I know make me happy, so on my worst days I can go back to my list and go I’m going to do that today. I also want to explore new things that make me happy. I feel the adventure coming.

Task #1:

To buy a sketchbook and sketch your adventures. I was going to use one of my notebooks I already had, but that goes against my belief that every notebook has its purpose and none of my notebooks are sketchbooks. So, this little piggy went to market. I haven’t gained the benefits of this yet, it’s strange. It’s new. Did I just gain a new hobby?

Task #2:

‘Instead of resisting yourself, try finding yourself irresistible.’

‘Seriousness is the enemy of spontaneity.’

So, what do I have to do? Finish the sentence ten times.

Secretly, I would love to___________

And then after I have to allow myself to inhabit the secret.

‘Ask, believe, receive.’

Task #3:

Spiritual laws. Do you believe in them?
I’m a half a believer. And I want to be a full believer.
So maybe this task will help.
I need to ‘strike up a dialogue’ with myself.
I feel my cynical self-coming out to play.
Which is a sign of a habit that needs to be changed!

CHECK IN

1). All done and dusted.

2). I know it’s stated that artist dates are to be taken outside the home. But after working 20 days straight with no break…well, a day in is the quality time I need. To recover, and that’s the best self-care I could ask for.

These two weeks have brought up a lot for me. For a long while I have defined my artist by how many auditions or jobs I get. I now see that no matter how many auditions or jobs I get that doesn’t define my artist, it’s the creativity flowing in my veins that defines my artist. It’s those little sparks from the muse that sets my inspiration alight. That is my artist.

Izzy Pilkington is an Irish actor/writer, based both in London and Dublin. She trained with the Bull Alley Training Theatre Company, and then on the MA course at East 15. Her aim is always to find her joy and help others find theirs, to give a voice to mental health, and to explore all the stories in her imagination.