Creative Fuel

We all have our creative seasons. Times when we are in energetic modes of inspiration and production, and times when we are slower, softer, more introspective. As we enter into winter, we talk with writer Katherine May about how we can find a little more meaning in this season.

Let the abundance of light infuse your creative process. We're entering a new season, and in tandem with the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere - Anna shares a special Summer Solstice Meditation to inspire play, curiosity and, of course, creativity.

Solstices and equinoxes mark a seasonal shift, a change in what’s happening around us. But what does this mean for our creativity? This bonus episode is a short reflection on what the winter season means for our creative process, and is a call to contemplate what creative rest and regeneration can look like in this slower, quieter season.

In a darker, slower season, our bodies crave rest. Yet all around us, it feels like society wants us to speed up. This time of year can be particularly difficult for working artists, and whether or not we make a living from our creative pursuits, we can often feel the need for a slower pace. But in the midst of systemic forces, how do we take care of ourselves? Artist Antoinette Thomas and Outdoor Journal Tour founder, wellness leader and author Kenya Jackson-Saulters help us to better understand the forces that we’re up against, and what we can do when to slow down and to pause.

Writer Cheryl Strayed draws some thoughtful parallels between grief and a creative state.

When Cheryl Strayed was 22 she lost her mother to lung cancer, and words became a way to carry her through. In this episode, with the help of Dr. Girija Kaimal, the current president of the American Art Therapy Association, we explore how creativity can serve as a tool for helping us grapple with those moments in life when things feel unstable and unknown.

A short message from Anna on our next episode -- and an invitation to slow down when it comes to creative projects.

How creative flow was modeled for us when we were growing up has a lot to do with how we seek it out today. And writer Bonnie Tsui strives to achieve a more balance in her creative pursuits so that her children feel empowered to do the same.

Creative flow is a desirable but often elusive state. Many of us crave those moments where it feels like everything just comes together and we’re in the zone. But how exactly do we get there? And what can we do to facilitate more flow in our everyday lives? In this episode we explore the flow state with the help of researcher Dr. Richard Huskey and writer Bonnie Tsui. We take a look at the science behind flow, what it can do for us, and how we can facilitate more of it in our everyday lives.

As Florence Williams shares, we don't necessarily need epic sunsets or grand vistas to experience the benefits of awe. A practice of microdosing awe helps us to access this important state more regularly.