If you’re anything like me and a lot of other creative individuals, the word “routine” makes you cringe.

Anything that even smells like repetition means drudgery to me. However, if I think about “ritual” it connotes something completely different. It seems beautifully sacred and voluntary to me. I realized that I had aligned my writing with an unintentional routine while working on my third book. I started off by getting a gallon of ice cream and a bag of honey wheat pretzels and working through them while playing every version of solitaire available on my computer. Only after winning every game (and finishing a bowl or two of ice cream) could I begin writing. Ten pounds and a first draft later, I realized that my ritual was far from healthy even though I did complete the book in less than three weeks.

I was willing to put it up to ‘creative license’— after all, it’s hard to get up the nerve to knock on the Muse’s front door and say, “Gimme some!” So many great writers and artists have a vice that they use as an aide. Some use drugs or alcohol; I’ve heard that Toni Morrison eats chocolate. But do those methods really work or do they just make us fat and rehab ready? Don’t they just become another a bad habit?

Why a Ritual for Creativity?

Of course, after my book was sold it still needed a re-write. All good books do, don’t they? I was fortunate enough to be accepted to Hedgebrook Writers Retreat, located on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest. I couldn’t get the ice cream and pretzels there that were a part of my mindless ‘ritual’ (well, I probably could have but by then it was clear that it wasn’t the best way to work). And winning every game of solitaire could sometimes take hours. I began to panic because I only had a few weeks to come up with something that would take the place of sugar and cards.

I started thinking about what it was about the food and games that felt so necessary to my accomplishment. I realized that the food was clearly about comfort and winning the games was for confidence. And maybe the comfort I wanted on a deeper level was more about feeling safe and protected. Almost every artist has a fear of not being ‘good enough’ or accepted (yes, even those whose work wins acclaim). In fact, that fear is usually why most people don’t thrive artistically.

Creating must come from a sincere place of power deep within—you’re birthing a piece of yourself, after all, and that takes courage. I wanted my creative ritual to reflect my positive attributes, not my bad habits. I was in need of a healthy, spiritual way to help me express my creativity.

Some Suggestions for Creating a Personal Ritual

Eckhart Tolle says that only a still mind can create new thoughts. Although I wholeheartedly agree, I also think you need a little atmosphere. My first suggestion for creating a ritual is to light a candle and/or some incense. Something about smoke and fire really help to get one’s creative juices flowing. I personally use a yellow or orange candle for expressing joy and abundance. I like Japanese incense that’s woodsy and light. Choose whatever scents or colors you connect with.

Next, find something symbolic that encourages you. It could be a quote that you paste near your workspace, a little statue or even just a picture that you can look at when you’re feeling your attention (or courage) wander.

Finally, BREATHE. Taking several deep, cleansing breaths does wonders. If you’re into meditation, you can use your breath to go into a deeper state of mindfulness. If you’d like, use a mantra or affirmation with each breath that empowers you to create. I like to say “I am grateful for my talent”. Being in a state of gratitude can easily erase a state of fear or confusion.

Don’t become dependent on anything but positivism to get to an artistic state. Most importantly, make this ritual your own by following your gut feelings, and don’t be afraid to modify or change it with each project, if necessary. You may find that going for a walk, doing yoga, or even saying a prayer before you begin to work is the right way for you. The important thing is to cultivate a method filled with meaning and intention (not calories or consciousness killers) that takes you to that uniquely sincere place in your soul that is creativity.

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