CREATIVE RECOVERY GROUP

AT I.R.I.E. Mind

Start date to be confirmed.

15A Homerton Row

London E9 6ED

 

Creative Recovery is a place for anyone in the I.R.I.E. Mind community who wishes that they were more creative and/or feels blocked in their creativity. It is based on Julia Cameron's creative workbook "The Artist's Way" and will incorporate assignments from the book and daily mindfulness practices. The book begins with the statement that everyone is creative and has the capacity for extraordinary creativity, and the point of the course is to recover that sense of creativity and take ownership of how that might manifest itself in our lives.

 

 

 

            It is divided into a 12 week course and will meet daily in the group room at I.R.I.E. Mind beginning The main assignments are deceptively simple, but require a willingness to see them through. The first daily assignment is the morning pages. These are three pages of longhand free association writing. It doesn't matter what you write, as long as you fill those pages. As simple as that may sound, it's tougher than it seems.

            The main weekly assignment is the artist date. Spend two hours each week doing something for you -- alone. Again, this is tougher than it appears. It's easy to let the dishes, the laundry, everything else get in the way of this weekly date, but it is very important. Just as anyone would woo a reluctant lover, so must one woo the inner creative, coax it out to play with fun and games.

            Each chapter is a week, devoted to a particular aspect of recovering the inner creative. Each chapter discusses some of the pitfalls and problems and gives a choice of exercises designed to stimulate your creativity and sense of self. These include listing imaginary professions, cataloguing things that you enjoy doing but have not done in a long time, describing yourself at 80, and listing your forbidden joys.

            The course works to help to re-imagine the very concept of creativity. When we think about creativity we tend to think of it only in the context of art. Though important, art is only a small part of creativity. We use creativity in every aspect of our lives, everyday. As humans we have a very strong need to express ourselves and we're happiest when other people understand what we are trying to get across to them.

            Your creative spirit can express itself in so many ways in the world, through music, dancing, play, singing, poetry, and painting. Your creative spirit can also show up in the ways you relate to others, handle difficulties, and find innovative solutions to your life's problems.

            In addition to finding your creative side, your spiritual side is also explored. Spiritual aspects are not dogmatic at all, and are easy to reconcile.

Allow me to emphasise that one need NOT be an "artist" in order to participate and that creativity is something that we ALL need to problem-solve and resolve issues in our lives. Also, this is NOT a talk therapy group; rather a safe place where we might engage in mindfulness practice.

            Is it time to stop telling yourself it’s too late? Is it time to stop waiting until you make enough money to do something you love? Is it time to stop thinking it's just your ego whenever you yearn for a more fulfilling life? Do you yearn for creative adventure? Are you hungry for a deeper and fuller life? Do you wish you could find a more authentic 'you'? The results can be immediate. Growth in any way is not easy, but by focusing on "un-blocking", Creative Recovery can lead you down that path -- if you choose to walk it.

 

If you are interested in joing this group please download our referral form and email it to

iriemind.services@cityandhackneymind.org.uk