Dealing with the Clutter

On Saturday, I decided to take the day to clean up my home art studio and prepare for some new art projects that have been taking shape in my mind over the last several months. This is probably because earlier in the week I could not find the painting I shared with you in my message on Sunday and I searched for a couple of hours before finding it in a box in the back of my garage. 

I have a closet in my studio that had become a catch-all and was starting to get on my nerves. So much so, that I would find myself opening the door, throwing something in, and closing it quickly. That was until this week when I opened it to look for the painting, and several things came tumbling out and I realized it was time to do something about this. 

Sadly, the closet is filled with a plethora of finished and unfinished paintings, all my artwork as well as our kids from high school and college, and miscellaneous things that did not seem to have a place in our house, everything from pillows to books.  I knew the closet was going to need organizing, but also it was time to take some things to Goodwill. 

The closet was the first task and took much of the morning. Then I moved on to my workstation and drawing desk which were covered with a variety of art supplies and some art projects Sue completed in her most recent teacher retreat.  I realized as I perused the studio that I didn’t even have space to sit my cup of coffee. Looking around, I pondered how in a couple of months things became this bad.  

Then it dawned on me, what I was doing is part of the creative process. It was time, once again, to prepare my space, organize my supplies, find inspiration in the projects of the past, the photos I had taken, and those things I have placed in my studio that I consider “inspiration mementos.”  As I cleaned, memories and experiences flooded my mind, some tears fell, and I found myself feeling creatively renewed and ready once again. 

Every so often, I do a similar process in my spiritual life. When I am spiritually dry or needing renewal and refreshment, I seek a prepared space (whether that is in the Meetinghouse, at a retreat center, or out in nature), I need supplies (sometimes that’s a sketch book, a journal, a sacred book, a piece of art, a photo, or simply some walking shoes), and finally I await the nudging and inspiration of the Spirit to see the journey emerge before me.  

What clutters are getting in the way of your creative and spiritual renewal?  Is it time to prepare a space, grab some supplies, and await the Spirit’s guidance?