Showing Up

Showing up:

well more than 20 years ago I read Steven Pressfields wonderfully inspiring book The War of Art and made a vow to follow the authors suggestion of a daily writing practice, it's what authors do he claimed and cited Somerset Maugham's example of inspiration showing up at his desk every morning at 9 a.m - and I've written daily ever since.  My writing mantra is "words on the page" and that's it really, nothing I write has to please anyone, not even me, it only has to meet my commitment of daily writing. Personally, I've found that this practice has grown in value through the years, I've never not been inspired to sit before the keyboard and see what words will find me in the morning. This, along with my daily meditation practice, seems to leave me endlessly creative, always on the verge of a sudden inspiration. The secret, such as it is - is that I don't care what I write about, as long as I'm writing and that it flows with a certain energy that matches my commitment to the page, a vibrational coherence of the many factors that bring me to my desk so early in the morning. 

I've never not been inspired to write, 

of course this doesn't mean I'm always satisfied with what I write, or that there isn't a pause for words to gather, a length of time left quiet of both words and inspiration. Silence is part of the game, essential, and the only requirement to play this game is patience. So my true commitment isn't to simply rush words to the page and call it a day (although I have done this before, on the fly, just to make sure my vow is honored) no, I am committed to the dynamics of writing, the ebb and flow of creative ideas, and the energy of silence, waiting, patience, not knowing when words will find me, but absolutely certain that they will - whenever conditions meet the auspiciousness for their arrival. 

my only role is showing up.

to be part of this auspicious occasion.

all of this really happens on its own, I'm less involved than would be imagined, simply another aspect of whatever creative force has come to be expressed. An urge to write appears, every morning, without force nor demand of my appearance - a whisper really, soft, beckoning from silence but with a promise of words wishing to be heard, only waiting now for my arrival. The writer is just another part of the creative process, and again my role is to surrender, showing up and then allowing words to be written through me, participating in this ancient art of creative display. It's the very same energy that invoked our far removed ancestors to carve figures on a cave's wall, no reason except giving in to that quiet urge wishing for expression. 

every morning is an auspicious occasion.

our only requirement is showing up.

and this how writing happens.

~

Peace, Eric