Sacred starts

Sacred Starts: How Do You Begin Your Creative Sessions?

What is your ritual? Do you have a morning routine? Or a creative ceremony?

Recently my mornings have lacked the ritual of routine—or the routine of ritual? But that’s about to change.

Many years ago, I read Julia Cameron's visionary book The Artist's Way. When I finished her book, I started my practice of morning pages, as did many of its readers. Cameron suggests three handwritten pages to start each day, and I thought, Okay, give it a shot.

I quickly discovered three things.

• One, my handwriting is terrible.

• Two, about halfway down the second page was when an idea—a kernel of some truth—emerged. That is the beauty of morning pages.

• But then three, I became frustrated with these longhand diatribes that were not helping me to achieve my goal of writing the Great American Novel.

In fact, my goal was not just to write the Great American Novel. My goal was to write a stellar romance, a children's book, and an instruction book on how to make window treatments.

A Creative Cycle

Instead of showing up to write three longhand stream-of-consciousness journal pages, I decided to work on these three projects. My best course of action would be to spend one day on the novel, the next day on the children's book, the third day on the instruction manual—and just keep cycling through until I was finished. So Monday morning, I worked on Searching for Ecstasy. (It was going to be the bestselling beach read of 1997.) On Tuesdays, I worked on The Whale and the Lighthouse, a picture book dedicated to my son Aaron, who at the time was fascinated by lighthouses- I think he still is. On Wednesdays, I worked on Behind the Seams—an instruction book for makers of draperies. Then back to the romance on Thursday, the picture book Friday, the instruction manual on Saturday.

The Power of One Project

And then I had another epiphany.

I type pretty fast. I was trained in journalism, writing stories at a typewriter. And on a good morning, I could type 2,000 to 2,500 words. I was making progress on all fronts, and then I realized—if I dedicated my time to one project, that project could be finished. I put aside the picture book. It doesn’t take that long to write the number of words for a picture book. I also put aside the instruction manual because, hey—it wasn’t the most plot-driven, character-focused kind of writing that sparked my soul. And I devoted my time to the romance novel.

The Two-Minute Power Pose

To jumpstart my creative juices, I began the practice of the two-minute power pose. When I walked into my office, I would set my timer for two minutes and raise my arms into the air, spread my feet, tuck in my tummy, throw back my shoulders, pull in my chin.

I'd reach my fingers as high as they could go—and then a little bit higher.

Amy Cuddy wrote Presence on the potential of the power pose and how it actually changes body chemistry to support our feelings of confidence. She contends that the pose gives us strength. I do not disagree. After a minute of holding my arms upright, my shoulders would begin to ache. That’s when I’d push higher and try to anticipate when the alarm would go off and I could relax. I believe the power pose stimulates my creativity in my first minutes. Or at least it’s a chance for my body to tell my brain to get to work!

From Routine to Ritual

Another tip that can be helpful is to make your routine more of a ritual. We often associate things like lighting a candle or wrapping ourselves in a favorite shawl or blanket.

Scents can spark this kind of ritual and are a welcome part of that sacred routine. Incense. A couple of herbal tea plants. A familiar worn-out T-shirt. An old book. Whatever fragrances you love—bring them into your workspace. Make them part of your sacred start.

Think about purpose over productivity.

Simon Sinek talks about the importance of *why*—why we want to do something, anything.

Why do we want to write that novel? Why do we want to paint that picture? Why do we want to start a business?

If you're clear about your why, working toward it becomes second nature.

• Why did our ancestors till the garden? Fish? Hunt? For survival.

• Why did we learn to build a fire?

• Why did we perfect the wheel?

Your why need not be life-changing. Your why can be specific to you.

Why do you want to write that novel?

To explore a storyline. To see how your characters interact. To learn the ending.

I begin with why, so my how and what flow with ease.

Write out this affirmation and leave it in your workspace. Repeat the words out loud—and gain a little bit of clarity. Make the start of your work session non-negotiable.

Be the Guardian of the Gateway

Sacred starts are not optional. They are foundational. Getting started is hard.

But your creative spirit deserves your attention.

In writing my novel and following my little rituals, I discovered that the creative spirit would come to me each day. There were days when I was so surprised by the storyline that appeared in my mind, ran down my arms, into my fingers, onto the keys, and appeared on the screen before my eyes. And I would ask myself: “What if I didn’t show up today?”

Elizabeth Gilbert, in her book Big Magic, shares the story of an idea for a book that she did not take up—but that almost magically was given to another author, who accepted the challenge and wrote the book.

If you don't show up, your idea will find a host somewhere else.

Maybe close by. Maybe on the other side of the world. But somewhere. Why risk it?

You deserve to breathe life into your creative ideas. Be the guardian of the gateway.

Each start, each session, each day is a threshold. Guard it like your future depends on it—because it does.

Don’t let the noise in before your soul gets a word in.

Delay the digital. Protect your peace. Choose what energy enters your day.

A sacred start isn't about perfection. It’s about presence.

• Start slow.

• Start small.

• Just start.

• Start sacred.

Try This: Awaken the Senses

Tantalize your five senses.

• What is an object you want to see in every one of your creative sessions? An amulet? A symbol? An artifact?

• What is a favorite scent you can bring into your space? A candle, a cup of tea?

• What is a sound you want to hear? Create a playlist of instrumental music. Play it every day in the same order.

• What is a taste that stimulates your senses? A bit of peppermint, butterscotch, chamomile?

• What is a texture you can feel? Or maybe the feeling is that burning in your shoulders, holding the power pose—arms stretched high toward the heavens.

• Develop a two minute ritual to honor your Sacred Start.

• See the magic your mystical muse will bring to you in return.

I finished writing my first novel with the help and support of my morning routine.

I didn’t finish the children’s book, nor did I finish the instruction manual—but I have used my sacred mornings to complete eight other novels. The routine works. And tomorrow I start again because I know the sacred start works.

What works for you?

Email me at bstockwell@doyourart.org

And maybe I’ll share your story in one of my upcoming YouTube videos.

Creatively yours,

Bernadette

p.s. Did you ever notice that the words SACRED and SCARED are anagrams? Both can make your skin tingle.