Week 12, Day 6 of The Artist's Way

Today, let's practice the first rule of creating magic: self-containment—by cultivating a supportive environment and avoiding “Wet Blankets”.

ESCAPE VELOCITY

As recovering creatives, many of us find that every time our career heats up we reach for our nearest Wet Blanket. 

We blurt out our enthusiasm to our most skeptical friend—in fact, we call him up. If we don’t, he calls us. This is the Test.

Our artist is a child, an inner youngster, and when he/she is scared, Mommy is what’s called for. Unfortunately, many of us have Wet Blanket mommies and a whole army of Wet Blanket surrogate mommies—those friends who have our second, third, and fourth thoughts for us. The trick is not to let them be that way. How? Zip the lip. Button up. Keep a lid on it. Don’t give away the gold. 

Always remember: the first rule of magic is self-containment.

You must hold your intention within yourself, stoking it with power. Only then will you be able to manifest what you desire.

In order to achieve escape velocity, we must learn to keep our own counsel,

to move silently among doubters, to voice our plans only among our allies, and to name our allies accurately.

Make a list: those friends who will support me. Make another list: those friends who won’t. Name your W.B.’s for what they are—Wet Blankets. Wrap yourself in something else— dry ones. Fluffy heated towels. Do not indulge or tolerate anyone who throws cold water in your direction. Forget good intentions. Forget they didn’t mean it. Remember to count your blessings and your toes. Escape velocity requires the sword of steely intention and the shield of self-determination.

“They will try to get you. Don’t forget that,” warns Michele. “Set your goals and set your boundaries.”

I would add, set your sights and don’t let the ogre that looms on the horizon deflect your flight.

(The Artist's Way, 2016, p. 198 – 200)

I courageously protect my creative spirit.

List five people you can talk to about your dreams and with whom you feel supported to dream and then plan.

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.“

– André Gide

What are you inspired to manifest today?

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