Singing As A Spiritual Practice

BALANCE

Everything in life and in art depends on a concerted effort toward maintaining balance. Creativity is a way of life, an ongoing communion with our inner spirits, based not on extremes but rather on process. Our lives are our art, and living a fairly integrated life is in fact quite an art. Ultimately what really matters is not the final achievement, the moment of "glory", but the journey that one takes to get there. True artistic growth is always achieved through balance.

As artists, all that we are--all that we experience becomes a part of our art. Our creativity is not limited to only the moment of performance or execution of our work, but expanded to include our contributions to daily life and our interactions with other human beings. It is very important to be open to explore life and take the necessary risks needed to grow; both the good and bad events in our lives have something to teach us. If we shut down and sanction our feelings choosing only to look at the happy experiences, we become numb to reality. On the other hand, remaining in turbulence and suffering so that we can be "creative" is equally unhealthy. One does not have to suffer or self-destruct to be an artist, but one does have to be present in life and open to facing the fears and pain that come with emotional growth. The healing that comes from approaching our demons can fortify us both spiritually and creatively. It is true that through survival one can create and in turn the process of creation can often assist in one's survival.

Notoriously, so many artists have burnt themselves out searching for their muse through alcohol or drugs, only to find their creativity deadened and their joy for life nearly destroyed. Working round the clock to ferociously finish a product in the studio does not contribute to the staying power necessary to continual creative energy. One needs to replenish the spiritual side of our nature in order to remain open creatively. It is not about extremes, but balance. The pain in our lives can serve to strengthen our awareness and prepare us to be more receptive to the joys in life.

It is an act of courage to face our fears and to live more creatively, and a big step toward self empowerment and fulfillment.

Live life as your artistic creation: fill it with adventure and an openness to explore the full dimensions of love and healing.