Apr

15

When You’re Ready

April 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Years ago, I went to a therapist who used hypnosis. When our sessions were almost over, she would tell me, in her soft voice, to come awake, refreshed and energized, “when you’re ready.” When you’re ready. A simple phrase, but in that altered state of mind, it was powerful. I could, when I was ready, [...]

Sep

7

Changing Seasons

September 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[process, essay] by Nancy S.M. Waldman Hi everyone. Welcome to September. Summer here in North America is fast waning—even though where I am in Nova Scotia, September is one of the best weather months. I’ve been feeling quite ambivalent about the PCQ over the summer. There are lots of new visitors and subscribers and readers [...]

Jun

29

Working From Abundance

June 29, 2007 | 3 Comments

[-process, essay-] by Nancy S.M. Waldman As we create, we use up media, materials, tools, ideas, time, and our own creative energy. Working from abundance means having a well of resources—more than we need—to create what we want. My son used this expression in a conversation about the new songs he had just recorded. I [...]

May

3

Being Practically Creative

May 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-essay-] by Nancy S.M. Waldman I have a close friend who has compared herself unfavorably to me in terms of creativity ever since we were girls. According to her, I’m creative and she isn’t. But I never bought it. She’s a elementary school teacher and I’ve seen the way she tackles a challenging situation in [...]

Mar

29

This Month's Goody – April

March 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-practically mperfect-] That Brilliant Flash of…Consistency? by Nancy S.M. Waldman You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star. Friedrich Nietzsche said that and I – with quite a bit of creative chaos in my life – completely understand what he means. Chaos – if we tone it down to a [...]

Mar

20

That Magical Moment

March 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-essay, inspiration-] by Nancy S.M. Waldman My favorite part of being inspired isn’t the sudden flush of excitement about a new project, a distinctly different direction, or a fresh idea. What I love most comes along after that initial inspiration. It’s later, when all the pieces begin to fall into place and fit together in [...]

Feb

11

The Stray Puppy

February 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

-essay, inspiration- by guest essayist, Quinn D. Corte Inspiration follows all of us around like a stray puppy, barking excitedly at the quirkiest times, begging us to come and play. Whether we notice her depends on our willingness to embrace creativity. That gentle scratching of a familiar paw on my jeans has made me who [...]

Feb

10

You, Me and Leonardo da Vinci

February 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-essay, practically mperfect-] by guest contributor, Karen Hatzigeorgiou Are you one of those types of people who always has several different projects going at the same time? I know I am. Right now I have five unfinished altered books and four collages in varying stages of completion. I’m in the middle of reading two different [...]

Feb

10

Collecting Dust

February 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-practically mperfect, collecting-] by Nancy S.M. Waldman You might think this essay will be about how to keep one’s collections free of dust. It’s not. While I could easily and truthfully admit to hating to dust my various collections (and everything else), what I have to confess goes much deeper. I’m the one who’s been [...]

Feb

5

Mind the Zwischenraum

February 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-essay-] by Nancy S.M. Waldman This German word – zwischenraum – comes back to me from the past. I first heard it over 25 years ago soon after the funeral of my father. Grief is one of those painful but natural and necessary pauses in our lives. The kind of “time-out” that our minds tend [...]