Welcome back to "Unlocking Your World of Creativity," where today's episode dives into the transformative power of seasonal rituals and prompts with our guest, poet Jacqueline Suskin. In her latest book, "A Year in Practice," she explores the cyclical nature of creativity, aligning it with the seasons to awaken our cycles of expression.

Jacqueline's Website

@jsuskin on Instagram

- Jacqueline emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one's creative practice, understanding its rhythm, and recognizing the profound influence of the natural world.

- The book unfolds the seasons as chapters, offering insights into when to retreat, reflect, expand, and wind down in alignment with the Earth's cyclical energies.

- Creativity is a dance with the seasons, and the book encourages creatives to embrace the ebb and flow of their practice rather than prescribing rigid routines.

- The podcast delves into the intersection of creativity and the unpredictability of life, exploring how to turn setbacks into opportunities through strategic preparation.

Excerpt:

"Imagine all of the life underground that is waiting for spring. Envision the resting roots, the sleeping creatures, and everything below the surface that is paused for the season. Feel the fullness of this stillness. Feel the necessity of this calmness."

As we embark on 2024, Jacqueline leaves us with a gentle nudge to embrace the winter season of reflection, urging us to tend to our mind, body, and spirit. By aligning our energy, we create the fertile ground for the next leap in our creative journey. Winter, with its slow pace, becomes the perfect canvas for crafting a vision and setting intentions for the year ahead.

If you're seeking a creative mindset and a guide to navigating the creative roller coaster, "A Year in Practice" offers a roadmap. Jacqueline's wisdom reminds us that the Earth constantly provides a wellspring of inspiration and guidance—accessible and free, waiting for us to attune ourselves to its rhythm.

Don't just be creative; become a practitioner, crafting your unique rhythm in harmony with the ever-changing seasons.

Thanks to our sponsor, Exact Rush, LLC

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Jacqueline Suskin is a poet and educator who has composed over forty thousand improvisational poems with her ongoing writing project, Poem Store. Suskin is the author of nine books, including The Edge of The Continent Volume 1-3, Help in the Dark Season, Every Day is a Poem, A Year in Practice, and The Verse for Now, with work featured in various publications including the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Times. An ecstatic earth-worshiper, she lives in Detroit where she works as a teaching artist with InsideOut Literary Arts, bringing nature poetry into classrooms with her Poem Forest curriculum.