When I asked the participants of this study to begin by reading page 9, I allowed them to skip some valuable material in Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way–the stuff that begins in the Introduction. I did that because I wanted everyone to hit the ground running and to start writing Morning Pages on Day 1. Today, we’ll back up in the book a bit and begin to understand WHY we should write Morning Pages.

The Artist’s Way pgs. xi-xii

“INTRODUCTION WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME what I do, I usually answer, “I’m a writer-director and I teach these creativity workshops.” The last one interests them. “How can you teach creativity?” they want to know. Defiance fights with curiosity on their faces. “I can’t,” I tell them. “I teach people to let themselves be creative.” “Oh. You mean we’re all creative?”…. “Yes.” Cameron, pg. xi

The Artist’s Way Is Not Only for Artists and Writers

“I have taught a spiritual workshop aimed at freeing people’s creativity. I have taught artists and nonartists, painters and filmmakers and homemakers and lawyers—anyone interested in living more creatively through practicing an art; even more broadly, anyone interested in practicing the art of creative living.” Cameron“

“Because The Artist’s Way is, in essence, a spiritual path, initiated and practiced through creativity, this book uses the word God. This may be volatile for some of you—conjuring old, unworkable, unpleasant, or simply unbelievable ideas about God as youwere raised to understand “him.” Please be open-minded.” pg. xi

“Remind yourself that to succeed in this course, no god concept is necessary. In fact, many of our commonly held god concepts get in the way. Do not allow semantics to become one more block for you. When the word God is used in these pages, you may substitute the thought good orderly direction or flow. What we are talking about is a creative energy. God is useful shorthand for many of us, but so is Goddess, Mind, Universe, Source, and Higher
Power…. The point is not what you name it. The point is that you try using it.” Cameron, pg. xii

“For many of us, thinking of it as a form of spiritual electricity has been a very useful jumping-off place.” Cameron pg. xii

“I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me. WILLIAM BLAKE

“I have worked artist-to-artist with potters, photographers, poets, screenwriters, dancers, novelists, actors, directors—and with those who knew only what they dreamed to be or who only dreamed of being somehow more creative. I have seen blocked painters paint, broken poets speak in tongues, halt and lame and maimed writers racing through final drafts. I have come to not only believe but know:

“No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity. One fifty-year-old student who “always wanted to write” used these tools and emerged as a prize-winning playwright. A judge used these tools to fulfill his lifelong dreams of sculpting. Not all students become full-time artists as a result of the course. In fact, many full-time artists report that they have become more creatively rounded into full-time people.” Cameron, pg. xii

Write 3 Morning Pages. No Editing — Just Write. Let it Flow. Whatever Comes to your mind. Write. Remember: This is not Creative Writing, You Are Simply Emptying Your Mind.