Creativity

How do you feel about creativity, what does your body & mind feel & think when you hear the words ‘creative’?

I know for me, I kinda used to cringe, I would feel embarrassed, and would sort of sink my shoulders and shrug into myself. I didn’t think or feel I was creative. I guess I thought being creative, was a maker, a designer, to be ‘artsy’, a visionary, hands on, TO CREATE… to invent?!? I mean I love wearing black, but that doesn’t make me creative.

Any of this ringing true for how you feel?

When I look around me, I’m really drawn to creative peeps. Artists, Painters, Graphic Designers, Interior Designers, Performers, Bakers, Visual Merchandisers, Crafty Gals. I felt like all that was way out of reach for me, that although I love nice things, and Instagram, and decorating a pie my sister has made, enjoy getting dressed up for 80’s style aerobics (iso:life). I really did feel I sat on the sidelines, and was okay with that.

What changed?

Firstly, It was a weekly call for Creatives that my soul sista ‘created’ during iso:life. With the arts world pretty much coming to a complete stand still, this call became a place where creatives from all platforms & around the world could join. A judgement free space to share your work, chat & meet like minded creative peeps. Whether it was a performance, a painting in progress, a mosaic collection. I was open to joining to explore my own creativity & also wanting to support a sista. Fast forward a few calls, and I’ve found myself a creative platform, and I realised I have many ways I bring creativity into my life: the way I place crystals on a crystal grid, or place crystals around my home, I decorate my porridge with fruit, yoghurt, seeds, edible flowers. So many small ways I can fly my creative flag.

I also ‘created’ this little (hehehe) project called Crystal Club, where each month I combine some of my favourite parts of what makes me, me: Crystal Love, Community + Snail Mail. This meant I needed to ‘create’ Crystal Info cards & rituals for each month, I excitedly worked the packaging for my crystals, Crystal Club branding, what my newsletters looked like, creating our Crystal Club Catchups. And wow did I have fun + this was all Creative Work.

I came to a realisation: Creativity can be whatever you’d like it to be. The beauty of it: It comes in so many forms, has no judgement, it’s what you make of it, and make it into, encourages inspiration & is/Can be:fun, collaborative + liberating.

Then, when I stopped & understood my essential oil blend process: I’m layering aromas, I’m researching emotional connections to oils, I’m often inspired by an oracle card, or wanting to invoke a feeling I’d like my oil to represent or a purpose/intention for the person wearing it. So many ways I can ‘create’ a blend, and the same with Crystals: they have such amazing qualities/vibes about them, I create a Crystal Mix with intention & purpose for my customers.

I am Creative + I’m proud of how I show up + share my CREATIVITY.

In the spirit of Creativity: Here is a Crystal Mix I’ve curated: 3 crystals that are a must for your creative space/desk. Or if you’re working on a creative project, trying to get out of creative funk, or if you’re wanting a booster to bring more creativity + inspiration into your work, a project, or life:

Sunstone: Creativity + Confidence + Manifesting. Connected to your Sacral + Solar Plexus (these chakra centres are where you carry your Creativity, Soul Fire, Sexuality, Personal Power, Self-Confidence. This powerhouse, sometimes sparkly little crystal, is your encouragement friend, it will assist you in bringing your sparkly gifts into the world. It is your personal cheer leader & will remove that self doubt you’re blocking yourself with. Sunstone inspires you to share your gifts with the world.

Ametrine: Connection to Higher Self & Life Purpose. Connected to your Crown + Solar Plexus Chakras: Crown: It’s the crystal love child of Citrine + Amethyst: getting the best of both gems in this fab crystal. Amazing for when you’re starting a new project, Helping you with your Intuition to bring the vision to seedling, manifesting the project/ creative endeavour, hitting your goals & the mega confidence to go for it & bring it all to life for the world. 

Aura Quartz: Loving Angel Aura + Amethyst Aura. Angel Aura’s iridescent loveliness will bring you Playfulness, Creativity + Magic helping you to not take this creativity stuff too seriously and never stop believing in magic. Amethyst Aura amplifies your creativity, is calming + healing, and will have you feeling refreshed & open-minded to get your creative project under way. 

Reach out if you have any questions about the Crystals, would like to have a Creative Crystal Mix of your own, or would like me to Curate a Crystal Mix Especially for you + your intentions.

I asked my soul sister and inspiring Creator of Creative Show + Tell, Kris, to share some words on her own creative journey and some advice on tapping into your own creativity, creating as an adult & how to come out of the creative closet.

The first thing I want to say whenever I’m speaking about creativity, is that there is no such thing as a non-creative person, just a limited definition. You don’t have to be paid for your creativity for it to count, nor be practising at any particular level. It can be as public or as private as you want it to be.

‘For the value in our creativity is the way it makes us feel, not in the way it markets to others.’

If no-one ever bought a Lady Gaga album, I guarantee you she’d still be singing. Creativity is an impulse you’d fulfill regardless of recognition, because it’s the beat and lyrics of your very soul. You may find it more palatable to use the term “self expression” instead, it’s all the same to me. 

Up until recently I didn’t count myself as a creative. I was the brains. The academic. The straight A student. The top 10%. The overachiever. So I viewed my creativity through that lens as well, and didn’t consider it good enough to earn me the title. 

Yet looking back I’ve always been creative. I formed a band in primary school (with very little musical talent!). I made my own clothes. I wrote poetry. I studied drama. My Friday nights were spent in the audience of an Australian satirical TV show. I devoured Shakespeare. I fire-danced. I worshipped music. I made short films. I modelled. I dreadlocked my own hair. I majored in film theory and art history. I got tattoos. I wrote more poetry. 

Yes, I was creative. I just decided it didn’t count because I didn’t paint or sing for others. Guilty?

Then both you and I have measured ourselves by only one half of the creative equation. On one side there’s output, but more importantly on the other, is the act of expressing ourselves. And sometimes expression isn’t so tangible. It’s the goosebumps when watching a play. Choking up at a particular song. A clear vision during meditation. It’s all the same energy coursing through our veins. The moments of feeling seen and understood that hit right in the heart.

‘Creativity tends to get left on the cutting room floor during our adult pursuits of happiness and success.’

It’s cast out as a luxury, only available once we have the rest all sorted. Yet the very reason creativity is so powerful to our growth and sense of Self, is because it is our natural state. It steers us toward that happiness and success by allowing us to be ourselves. Without the joy of being ourselves, all those adult milestones we seek to bring us happiness are empty when we arrive. 

There are three responses I see most repeatedly about not being creative:

• Don’t have time 

• Not good enough 

• Scared of criticism 

These three things are concerned with payoff, achievement and validation - all hallmarks of the competitive hustle-based social structure that we’ve grown up in. But here’s the irony.

‘A creative outlet actually helps you release those shackles of approval, validation, humiliation,

procrastination, fear, perfectionism, payoff’

So what’s in it for you? EVERYTHING. Which is why those “non-creatives” out there need to listen up. What’s in it for you can be applied to your entire life. 

Activating the creative brain helps us process and regulate emotions, practice mindfulness in the present, build confidence and resilience, develop critical thinking and problem solving, lower stress hormones, correct energy imbalances, and navigate mental health such as anxiety, depression, even Alzhiemers. In my experience when I let my creative, playful, edgy, quirky, nutcase out of the bag my hormones have rebalanced, my marriage has improved, I’m calmer, less prone to “worst-case” thinking, and I feel closer to myself. Creativity is inextricably linked to spirituality so you will likely find yourself becoming more willing to go with the flow, embrace the unexpected, and explore your spiritual centre. 

We all need to come out of the creative closet. So how?

Your expression wants space. Take a walk, ideas flood to me through the intake of fresh air.

Your expression wants to play. Do something just for the fun, play is like foreplay to creativity. 

Your expression wants time. Give some of your precious calendar to your expression, but don’t show up expecting a masterpiece in a day. 

Your expression wants light. HAVE FUN. Smile. Rejoice in the exploration and anticipation.

Your expression wants darkness. Let the world move you and stir up your depths to be alchemized into art. 

Your expression wants only your approval. It does not care about critics, only you do. 

Give yourself permission to find what makes you most joyful. 

Give yourself permission to be yourself.

Life isn’t a mountain of rules and standards to conquer, it’s a playground to wander.

Kris is an artist, poet, and mentor for rebels, dreamers and creatives. As a certified life coach she plays the supporting role to your life's Masterpiece and helps you #getyoursparkback

You can find her on Instagram (link below) or Facebook @thiselectrifiedlife