Whatever You Do With Devotion Is Sacred
Devote
yourself to whatever, artistic or other, project and you imbue it with the
sacred. The spirits attend. The muse shows up. Bali dancers, in Elizabeth
Gilbert’s recounting of a tale, told to her by her teacher, in her latest book
Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear - adapted their dancing to suit the
ideas of high-minded Western visitors who could only see the sacred as separate
from profane. They left their sacred dances in the temples, danced - newly
adapted forms considered a more suitable representation - in beach bars until
they grew into such beautiful and sacred forms that they, in turn, transformed
and re-invigorated the original temple dances and the dance goes on.
Create With Devotion
Gilbert’s
book demonstrates the importance of showing up: the value of making an act of
devotion and giving attention to some inkling of a possibility - devoting yourself to fanning the development of the spark
of an idea or impulse.
Intention
That notice of intention becomes the intent that signals
the muse or spirit. It is their invitation to attend. Your act of devotion, by
demonstrating intention to embark on a creative project, however frail its
promise, is the starting point for artistic endeavour and true creativity.
For more on creativity and Elizabeth Gilbert see the link above and her inspiring TED talks.
https://www.ted.com/speakers/elizabeth_gilbert
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