The Alchemical Process ~ An Allegory

One night she dreamed. In the morning, not remembering the story of the dream, but remembering the meaning, she knew what she had to do.

She found clay, rich from the earth. In her hands the clay became many things. She ’saw’ into the clay and knew the form within each piece. It seemed to her that the clay breathed as a living thing.

Some of the things she made she crushed back down into clay to use again. Some things she made did not survive the firing. But she kept working with the clay.

One day she began to make a plate. It was a large plate and when she had finished, she realized she was very tired. She knew her work was very good but it was just beginning. She set the plate aside to dry and rested.

A few days later, she returned to the plate and found that it was ready for the firing. Carefully she tuned the oven to the right temperature and placed the hardened clay inside. Knowing she had done all she could, she closed the door and left the plate to be tempered by the fire of the kiln.

When the oven had cooled she found that the plate had survived the heat of the oven. She took it out and ran her hands over it. The clay had hardened to bisque and was dry and rough to the touch.

She began to experiment with her glazes. She wanted this plate to have the colours of the living earth, colours of the elements, deep and rich. Finally she was ready to glaze the plate.

She used her tools to smooth the raw bisque as well as she could and then she began to pour the glazes over the plate. The colours of the glaze appeared chalky and dull but she knew that would change when the plate went through its second alchemical process.

Once more she tuned the oven, placed the plate inside and closed the door. While she waited she imagined what the plate might look like but she knew there was no knowing until the firing was done.

When the oven had cooled and she opened the door, she found to her delight that the plate was exquisitely beautiful even beyond her imagining. She set it out where she could admire it.

But something was wrong. She looked at it again and again to try to figure out what was missing. I know what it is, she thought finally. I am not finished yet. This plate was not meant to be empty. But what is it meant to hold?

Watch for Part 2 in an upcoming post.

In a recent conversation with a friend she told me how she’d made a pact with herself to stop complaining for 30 days in row. Frustrated after spending many days not getting past Day 1, she decided to change her focus to one that came from a place of more ease. She gave me permission to share it for today’s weekly intention.

My communication in all relationships uplifts and inspires.

Last weekend I attended a vocal intensive seminar. It’s a regular once a year event that my vocal coach does for his students, and for singers that some of his students teach. It’s very well-named because it is very intense, going non-stop from 9 in the morning until 9 at night.

Singers of all ages, who sing all musical styles, and who are at different stages of learning attend the seminar. We each have a time slot or two to sing and the rest of the time we learn by listening to other singers.

After it was over, and everyone left both tired and charged up, I got in my car and started the one and a half hour drive home. During that time of mindless activity, while some other part of my brain took over the automatic task of keeping on the road, I reflected on my personal experience of the intensive.

I realized that:

• I was very open to enjoying the creative gifts of all the other singers, no matter what musical style they sang or where they were in their vocal development.
• I didn’t compare myself to anyone else and I saw once more that we all have a unique voice to bring to the world. Wow!
• While I’d enjoyed some very nice compliments from people about my singing and my song compositions, I hadn’t needed them to have a positive experience.
• It was more fun to find out from other people how music fed their creative life.
• Very interesting discussions could occur just by asking people questions designed to bring forward their very best thoughts and ideas.

Not everyone had the advantage of time driving home that I did. But I hoped that everyone took the opportunity to create their own meaning from the experience. Inner perspectives can shift in a very profound way if we just give ourselves permission to let the insights flow. But it doesn’t stop there.

After seeing personal meaning, then what? Or maybe so what?

The ‘then what’ for me has been a commitment to sing every day, even if it’s only for a few minutes. And to appreciate the creative gifts of others that I am blessed to come in contact with.

This week’s Friday intention is for something that everyone desires to create – good health. Everyone has the ability to create glowing health by making small shifts. Use this intention as it is or change it to suit you.

I know and feel deeply within myself that complete health in body mind and spirit is mine right here and right now, and that all actions regarding my health are inspired by my recognition of self-love and oneness with All That Is.

Awareness is the first step to change. This directive to my Higher Self is one tool I use for building awareness. It pops up in my Outlook Calendar every day. I offer it freely. (Say your name where the space is.)

_________________, I want you to bring to my attention any moment I have a negative thought so I can redirect my thought to the Creative Mind and know that I have access to the source of Infinite Supply! Thank you.

Today marks the beginning of a weekly Friday post where I will share my intention for the week.

The intentions will be based on the principles of Science of Mind and the philosophy of Ernest Holmes.

This week’s affirmation is:

I release all limiting attitudes and beliefs about my finances and allow abundance of all kinds to flow from Source as I play joyfully in the vortex of infinite supply.

Creativity is both a practice and a process. Try it for seven days in a row with these creative ideas. Just one short task a day for five to ten minutes and who knows what could happen!

Day One
Write and practice a creativity affirmation. Whatever negative thought you have about your own creativity, take that exact thought and flip it to a positive thought you can feel in your whole being. Put the affirmation where you can see it daily: in your wallet, as a reminder in your daytimer, on your Outlook calendar, on a sign on your desk.

Day Two
Purchase a special creativity notebook. There are quite attractive ones at dollar stores or you can make a simple one. On the first page, do something to personalize it. Write your affirmation from yesterday on the second page.

Day Three
Search the word creativity in Google and make a note in your creativity notebook about one idea that sparks your imagination about something you’d like to do. Or look for creativity quotes and write two or three in your notebook.

Day Four
Write a short note to someone who inspires you with their ideas or creativity. How do they inspire you? Print a copy and put it into your notebook.

Day Five
Take yesterday’s letter, put it into an email and send it to yourself.
Know that whatever you said about the other person is also true about you.

Day Six
Share with a close trusted friend a creative idea that you’ve never told anyone about. Ask them to just listen without comment. Write something in your notebook about the conversation.

Day Seven
Celebrate in some way. Write something in your notebook about your celebration. Or add a picture or photograph. Make it meaningful to you.

For more creativity sparks, subscribe to Tickle Your Muse, a free 21 week creativity course.