There is a frustrating fact of creativity - it goes away now and again. I’ve been blissfully occupied with recording and editing more pieces for my debut CD. On top of that, I had a voiceover project to take care of, one of my friends wanted a piece of music to use for a seminar he has given his talents to creating and I was working on a website for my music and CDs. Truly I’ve been in heaven.
Well…I can’t get into the studio again until the end of January. The voiceover project is complete. The piece for the seminar is finished. My website is up and running. I’m twiddling thumbs and feeling flat.
I remember this from when I was active in the theatre. Time was filled to the brim with rehearsals, fittings, running lines and blocking, at times learning dance moves, and then the actual performances for however long the play ran. Once that was done… nothing. There was always a letdown at the end of it; a sense of the world simply stopping and a wondering inside of “what the heck am I supposed to do now to occupy my time,” and the tiny little doubts that would tell me that maybe, just maybe, that was the last play.
So, I sit here in this place of wondering, knowing there isn’t really any reason for doubt and I begin to think about the waves on the ocean and about snorkeling. It’s such fun to ride the waves. When the wave goes away, as it inevitably will, what then? Well, every surfer knows there will always be another wave – anybody who has ever spent time on an ocean beach or even simply taken a science class knows this. One wave follows another. But in-between? Ah…this is where snorkeling comes into play.
I was taught to snorkel in Maui and the first thing I learned was, well, never to eat a full, rich meal and drive on a long winding road before putting on flippers, mask and breathing tube – though the fish were incredibly grateful for their unexpected bounty. The second thing I learned was more useful to my purposes. The best condition for snorkeling is stillness - a protected cove or a calm ocean day. Waves do not allow for much sight – everything is churned up and moving. But, when you are in clear, calm water you can see the brilliantly coloured fish and the sea turtles. It’s a world you cannot see when riding the waves – you’ve got to be floating and still.
I have completed one wave of activity and in this place of wondering and flatness I look over and see the metaphorical snorkeling equipment. Riding that wave hasn’t left me much time for anything else but music and websites. Now, I realize nothing has really stopped. There are depths of beauty to explore in this still cove of mine. And, with that realization comes the flooding in of wonderfully colourful imaginings, meditations and the opportunity to pick up my pen and write for there are still books within me just as there are still pieces of music floating around.
This flat place after the wave of activity is not so void as it seems. It’s something that is good to remember - after the movement, stillness. And, that stillness will always precede new movement because very often it is the very thing that feeds that movement. Seen this way, maybe it’s not so frustrating.
And, by the way, that new website? http://www.kerryduvent.com/ :)
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Kerry, as always, this is wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteYou always explain and describe things with such beautiful clarity and put things so marvellously into perspective.
It's perhaps worth also bearing in mind that the word "inspiration" originates with the idea that creativity comes when we breathe a muse of creativity into ourselves (which is why we often gasp with delight when an wonderful idea comes), and, when we bring creativity into the world, when we express ourselves, we are breathing out and releasing that muse into the world. So, like those gently rolling waves that are always moving us forward, whether we feel their rising or the stillness in between, we are also always breathing in and out, being in the stillness where the ideas can come, and being in the movement when the creativity is flowing.
And, living a creative life myself, I completely understand that feeling of occasional flatness or frustration, especially after any exciting and creative activity, wondering when and if the next wave will come. It always does.
And I know that, whenever you emerge from those times of quiet stillness, Kerry, you always emerge with ever brighter inspiration, and the magic you bring into the world, and share with the world, is always brighter and truly enchanting; so, within that stillness, let the ideas flow, and good luck with your writing, your captivating music, and all elements of inspiration that come to you amidst the quietness beneath the waves.
And, speaking of marvellous inspiration, your new website: just wonderful :)
As always, best of luck, Kerry. Just let your inspiration flow: you bring pure magic into the world.
And thanks, as always, for being such a bright and gentle inspiration yourself :)
Ian :)
Beautiful Kerry! So much here I need to remember for my own creative cycles. Thank you.
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