Creative Circle №2

Finding Clarity in the Chaos

The world feels dense and heavy. I struggle to find a better word, other than crazy, to describe the current energies. Lately, I’ve found myself slipping in and out of fear responses, easily pulled into the intensity of it all. This month, I want to refocus on what is directly in front of us, to ground ourselves in presence. We can’t find creative solutions if we’re caught in the storm. Let’s keep it simple through call and response, let’s find moments to step out of the noise and into clarity.

Exercise 1: Call | Being Open to Receive Choose a moment in your day to fully arrive, to step out of the storm and into stillness. Step outside, sit by a window, take yourself on a date to that coffee shop, to a museum, to a show, or turn inwards through transcendental meditation. Let yourself soften into observation, noticing the subtleties around you: ◘ The texture of the air on your skin. ◘ The way light bends through glass or branches. ◘ The smile on a stranger’s face. ◘ The sensations of sound. ◘ The physical reaction to that painting hanging on a wall.

Listen, feel, absorb, without expectation, without forcing meaning. Quiet the buzzing by simply witnessing what is right in front of you. Let this practice weave into your daily rhythm at work, on your walk home, running errands, even while driving.

Exercise 2: Response | Offering Something Back

After practicing presence in Exercise 1, let yourself respond intuitively by creating a dialogue, a call and response between you and the world around you. There’s no right or wrong way to express what you’ve observed; simply let it move through you in a way that feels natural:

◘ Write a journal entry, a poem, or even a single word that captures the essence of what you felt. ◘ Sketch or paint the energy of the moment, rather than the literal scene. I love the ethereal paintings by Claire Buckley. ◘ Move your body, stretch, sway, walk, to mirror the rhythm of your surroundings. Lately, I’ve loved guiding a friend through three minutes of cat-cow each morning as a way to tune in. I also love putting on a song and truly dancing like no one is watching. If I close my eyes I can put myself in the desert. ◘ Sound it out, hum, sing, play an instrument, or record a voice memo of your thoughts. Last year I signed up for singing lessons just so I could exercise my throat chakra.

This exchange is your pulse. Return to it often, and notice how your responses shift over time. I hope we can all tune into the beauty that exists around as a guiding light through sticky times.

I started a Creative Circle chat as a space for us to share on Substack. I’ve included journal prompts to reflect on our the exercises in Creative Circle №1. Join below and participate as you please ↓

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