Why? Do I just like the idea of the whole world painting, drawing, coloring, making things with wood and cardboard, building kits, making mosaics and collages, and on and on?
No, I'm not really addicted to paint. I'm addicted to alleviating suffering. Getting into your unconscious mind is the fastest, most powerful route to ending problems. [I also use thinking-oriented, cognitive-behavioral techniques, but they only work if you already have an accurate idea of what really is the problem, and that is NOT usually the case. My entrepreneur friends, you don't just need a tutorial on the new magical marketing tool in order to instantly have a million-dollar business. Nope.]
And how do you get into your unconscious mind when you don't have me in person or via video to guide you? One way is deep meditation. Another is listening to a journey with Belleruth Naperstek. And another is to get yourself engrossed in color, shapes and the feel of creation in your hands. My friends, you will never feel so close to god-like powers as you do when you step back from a work you created and realize the spine-tingling awe of "I MADE that. From nothingness." When you look at something you did and you feel deep into your DNA that you LIKE it - and you love yourself. When you look at something you made with your own two hands (or whatever you have), and you feel deep in your DNA, "OMG, NOW I understand why I have always had trouble with taking charge, swimming, speaking in public, being praised, failing to excel at anything I try,
THAT moment of either pure joy or transcendent enlightenment is the real purpose of a consistent creativity practice.
So what about sleep?
After you have taken warm milk and melatonin, you turn off your blue light electronics, you have a bed that is not too hot or too cold, and you have made sure that you weren't arguing about politics or other aggravating topics for the two hours prior to bedtime, if you still can't sleep, start reiki-ing yourself. Don't know reiki? How about tapping? Meditation of the Ommm and breathe style.
And if you haven't learned any of that, after you made a note for tomorrow AM to go to www.soaringreiki.biz and sign up to learn, then it's time to get up and pull out the pencils. [Painting at midnight requires you to wash your brushes. If you live with people who will be disturbed, go the colored pencils on quality paper route. Same effect!] Breathe deeply. Close your eyes, call on your spirit guides, your goddess guides and helpers [another class at learnitlive.com, very powerful and fun.], or your Wise Adult, take a walk at the beach, or along a forest trail, and tell them all about it. Then start to draw, without waking up your conscious mind at all. Just let your "feelings" guide you to colors, shapes, and effects. I have glitter glue sticks, animal eyes and all kinds of magazines, for pictures. Whatever hair-brained idea pops into my mind, I breathe deep to make sure I'm not thinking, and then I let myself do it. The results can be quite extraordinary!
When the emotional energy is discharged in a good cry or some creative arts, you'll be able to sleep. Sometimes I take a few minutes to write down the insights into my journal for later cogitating as well as feeling. But with the emotional burden lifted, I drift away.
Bliss.....
