5 Simple Rituals to Nurture Your Creative Spark

A few relics from my imagination. Click on image to see more!

How I “Get” Ideas as a Multidisciplinary Creative

Full confession: I was creatively blocked for YEARS, and I couldn’t figure out why.

I could execute on other peoples’ ideas just fine—meaning I could write their stories or paint their ideas—but I struggled to generate my own ideas. As a child I was highly imaginative. Had I just lost my mojo?

For years, I desperately tried to intellectualize the process of “getting ideas”. And here is what I learned:

You can’t create ideas. And you can’t command them to come to you. Not exactly.

While there is a “creative process”—I’ve read lots of good books on the subject (like this one or this one)—you can’t force ideas to come to you when you want them.

HOWEVER, there are many ways you can entice the muses to look your way more often. That’s good news, right?

Unfortunately, there’s no simple formula. You must find the unique techniques that work for you through trial and error. And use them again and again.

There are many woo woo ways to talk about it, but if you want to get scientific about it… it’s a matter of establishing rituals that help your brain switch into receiving mode.

Here are a few rituals that help me:

1. Craft a dedicated creative space.

   Make it beautiful according to your own tastes. Include sensual cues like candles that give off your favorite scents, quick access to inspiring music, and inspirational images and symbols.

   I actually maintain separate spaces for receiving ideas and performing the actual writing or art making. My brain is VERY stubborn in shifting out of work mode. My inspiration zone is just me dragging a meditation pillow in front of a wall with inspiring images. That might be overkill for you.

   As you approach your creative space, spend 3-5 minutes tidying up. Just to rid your space of anything from the day before that you haven’t yet cleared away. Maybe wipe away some visible dust. ONLY for 3-5 minutes though.

   This sends a signal to your muses that you are respectful of your craft and ready to begin. The repetition of going to this space also helps a stubborn brain recognize what’s expected, like switching your iPhone out of “personal” focus and into “work” focus.

2. Ground and clear your energy

   Take a few minutes to ground yourself and connect with your intentions.

   Just as you cleared up your outer environment, make space in your inner environment. I am a Somatics enthusiast (and practitioner in training), and it’s really helpful for me to use mind-body tools and mediation to do this. If that all feels a bit out there for you, perhaps try simply taking a deep breath or two, opening your planner, and spending an extra minute clarifying what you want to accomplish today. Simple.

   Here are some suggestions that work for me. I use them alone or in combination:

   • A few rounds of box breathing:

     I inhale for 4 slow counts, hold the breath for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, and again hold with no breath for 4 counts. Repeat a few times.

   • Inner sensing

     I close my eyes and just observe how I’m feeling internally for a minute. Acknowledging where I’m at today at the start sometimes prevents those things from sneaking in as I receive or work. Or reminds me to go grab a stimulating drink or snack before I get started with work.

   • Intuitive movement

     I might use movement if I’m feeling really restless. I might shake my arms and legs out before I sit down or perform 3 yoga Sun Salutations. Whatever I feel like that day.

3. Master the art of the brain dump

   It’s very difficult to receive inspiration when your brain is full. Get in the habit of regularly clearing out mental space by writing your thoughts in a dedicated space.

   If I’m thinking about 10 other things I need to do, it’s unlikely I will have mental RAM available for inspiration to download. I’ll brain dump all of those 10 tasks in a note on my phone real quick, knowing that I will get back to them later.

   The muses tend to most often gift me with ideas while I’m moving from one place to the next. Maybe I’m out for a walk, or driving from place to place when an idea pops into my mind. I like to brain dump those ideas on my phone as soon as possible so they will be there for me later.

4. Play in your inner landscape regularly

   Ideas might be sparked by the outside world, but they are generated from within. It would make sense to spend lots of time in your inner world. Here’s how I like to do it:

5. • Guided meditations. I like to use mindset meditations from my Open app (not sponsored, but so wonderful). I also love guided meditations that take me on imaginative and exploratory mental journeys

   • Journal prompts. I access excellent prompts I can connect with through witchy membership services I enjoy. Like this one (again, no links in this blog are sponsored, but this workbook is so *happy sigh*)

   Dedicating time to explore yourself is essential for an artist of any medium. What you find in there might surprise you.

6. Get your priorities straight

   Let your email inbox wait. Save your scroll for later on tonight.

   If you don’t prioritize your muses, why would you expect them to prioritize you?

   I’ll help you out on this one: I have a device called a Brick. If I’m feeling especially distractible, I use it to lock out the majority of my phone. When I try to access an unproductive app, a curt message pops up telling me to, “Go live your actual life!”  That works for me! If only there were a Brick device that would pause my children…. Just kidding. Sort of.

Old me cringes a little bit when I say this, but priming yourself for receiving inspiration is more about getting into a particular feeling than about thinking through a process.

If you are looking for more regular inspiration, whether it’s for your creative pursuits or some other area of your life, try out some of my tips.

I would love to hear about what you find works for you!