Walking the labyrinth at Fleetwood Park an inspired idea arose linking 3 previously unrelated creative ideas I’d had. The result is the book I’m currently writing.
Some time ago I received the idea of writing a book of bedtime stories for adults; something to read about awakening before you go to sleep. These were going to be a series of short stories from my own awakening journey. I was very excited since it was dramatically different from previous books I’d written.
I wrote the idea in the journal of creative ideas I keep. Shortly after writing it, my ego started blabbing. “You have to be kidding – who do you think you are? You’re still sleeping – WAKE UP! Who will want to read your stories? You’re far from being an enlightened master. Blah, blah, blah… on and on.
Feeling unprepared to start the project, the best I could do was allowing myself to imagine that someday this book would be written. This was creative idea #1.
Several weeks later, during a meditation, I received an idea to record a drum healing CD. Again, I wrote it into my creative ideas journal. Shortly after that, I took a Lightworker's experiential workshop with Jan Linch, a spiritual teacher from the UK. During the workshop I was able to make sense of some things I'd been feeling and I suddenly knew how to compose the drum healing CD. This was creative idea #2.
Shortly thereafter I acted on idea #2 by recording the Drumming Up Energy CD. While going through the process of recording the CD, I also created an experiential workshop incorporating a couple of divination dyad exercises intended to help participants explore their relationship with certain aspects of life drawn from the guided meditation on the CD.
I was delighted to witness the lights come for people as they engaged in the dyad practices. It inspired me to write a booklet to accompany the drum healing CD, giving users suggestions for practices intended to enhance the healing value of working with the recording. This became my Drumming Up Energy Companion ebook.
Being one who teaches what I’ve come to know through personal experience and not having completed one of the practices I suggested for others, I decided it would be wise for me to complete the exercise for myself. I needed to walk my talk. This was creative idea #3.
I started the practice and about a week later, I walked the labyrinth. The inspired idea I received that day was that the wisdom I gained from doing the divination practice, drawn from the Drumming Up Energy CD, would be the material for the bedtime stories book.
Lights flashed, bells rung, I fairly danced through the remainder of the labyrinth walk. Driving home I received another inspired idea. Rather than simply writing only from my perspective, I would also incorporate experience from others.
There are 108 different aspects of life included in the divination exercise. I’ve written each one on a slip of paper and put them into a bag. Each morning, I draw out one slip. During the day I do my best to be mindful of how I experience this aspect of life, what memories arise for examination and how my relationship with it has changed over the years. Before I sleep at night I write a page or so about my day’s experience.
In addition to writing my own experiences, I ask another to tell me something about their experience with the aspect of the day. These contributions from others will be anonymously included in the book. I’d love to have your help with the writing of my new book. Two ways you can help are: 1) download the complimentary Drumming Up Energy ebooklet, find the divination practice and tell me something about you and one, or more of the listed aspects of life. 2) respond to my daily facebook post (find me on facebook using debra@totallytaylord.com)
Know that I am radiating gratitude for your assistance in whatever form it takes. Namaste, Debra.
