Meeting notes for May 18 meeting

In this meeting we developed a list questions about the experience of inspiration that we will build upon in following meetings.  We also explored how each of us documents or captures ideas; be it in a notebook, sketchbook, journal, computer, camera, etc..  This aspect will also be the theme of the next "Spirit of Inspiration Newsletter".

Warm-up activity:  For this activity each person wrote down at least 10 questions onto 3 X 5 cards. One question per card. The question was, "What questions do you have about the experience of inspiration?"  We went around and each person read one of their question and everyone could make short comments on it.  If the question stimulated another question for someone,  they mentioned it to the group and wrote it down on anther card.

Judy Fettman

• Is inspiration the same as creativity?
• Does rage and anger support inspiration?
• What can you do when you feel totally stuck and uninspired?
• Does inspiration have a spiritual element?
• How can we train ourselves to think "out of the box"
• Are there things we can do to encourage inspiration for ourselves?
• What conditions support inspiration?

Edwin Rutsch

• What is the relationship between inspiration and success?
• Can you be over inspired?
• Why do inspirations rise and fall away?
• What is the relationship between depression and inspiration?
• What can I do in my life to be more inspired?
• Inspiration in a  group. How can we get together and create a shared inspiration?
• How is inspiration defined, not just in words, but in;  images, by gesture, figuratively, etc.
• I'm running out of questions, how can I think up some more?
• Why is inspiration so unique between different people?
• What is the spiritual nature of inspiration?
• How any different types of inspiration are there?
• How can I express my own inspiration in an art form?
• Who are the most inspired people I know?
• What is an inspiration enema?
• Does trying too hard block your inspiration? If you just doing it for fun will it work better?
• What are the blocks to inspiration?
• What's the inspiration in looking at the macro and micro aspects of life?
• What effects do drugs have on inspiration?
•  Inspiration and doing what you love. What's the relationship versus doing what you don't like?
• Does love open emotional and creative doors?
• What is the difference between inspiration and other emotions, such as joy, enthusiasm, freedom, etc?
• Why is the motif in many paintings a person looking off into the distance?

Joan Kuenz

• Is inspiration an ongoing process?
• Is inspiration from the soul?
• Can you feel fulfilled with out being inspired?
• Has your experience with the first time your remember being inspired been an experience that has repeated itself?
• Does a beautiful scene inspired everyone?
• Does everyone get inspired by other people?
• Does a biological clock effect the time of day when we might be more prone to inspiration?
• What is the laxative for helping other find inspiration?
• Does work and doing ignite inspiration?
• Flowers and inspiration is there any connection?
• Is nature a universal form of inspiration?
• Does love affect inspiration?

Capturing Your Inspiration;  
We explored the aspect of capturing your ideas when they come up.  We read some quotes from well known artists and writers on the topic.. Then we created a drawing/collage about our personal experience with capturing ideas and wrote about the experience as well.

Judy Fettman
Creativity most often comes to me in nature...
the trees
the ocean
flowers
the sky

 

 

Edwin Rutsch:   Capturing my inspirations

At night sometimes an idea will come to me. I lay in the dark thinking about the days events or plans for the future. An idea will come up. I've placed a notepad, pen and a small flashlight on the floor next to the bed. I can pick them up and quickly write out the idea, without disturbing Joan. For a while I had quite a few such ideas pop up, but not recently for some reason.

I've started walking to a local cafe every morning. I get a double cappuccino and sit down and write into my laptop. They have wireless internet connection so I connect to my journal on my home computer and write down my thoughts.

I wonder if meditation would help generate ideas. The problem is I don't jot down ideas when I'm mediation. I'd like to do some sort of writing meditation.

I also wonder about trying to capture ideas with my video camera. I'm not sure how to do this. I images carrying the camera with me everywhere    I go, interviewing people about their experience of inspiration.

(I totally forgot to write about the little pocket notebook I keep in my back pocket.. I carry this everywhere and jot down ideas in it as well. )

 

Joan Kuenz

Capturing inspiration is that like holding onto a rainbow. Remembering the sound of the passionate chords of  La Boheme in tasting fresh basil on newly picked greens.

My response grounded in the everyday. going for a run, looking at a thoughtful book, listening to a simple time, smelling flowers, playing in the kitchen, keeping a smile on my face and playing with art.