Inspiration struck. Autumn is the time of inspiration

We, creators and artists, must be able to work in any weather, even if it is cold and damp. But what to do if the gray blues and heartbreaking chills are not only outside, but also inside, when fears and uncertainty take over and creative darkness sets in? Magic fairies of walking, writing techniques, little joys, determination and the support of friends come to the rescue.

Julia Cameron has been an artist for 40 years and has written 25 books. The book is full of exercises that will help invigorate and inspire enthusiasm in your inner artist. And she also says that every day she brings with her new gifts. Untie the bow! Let's get started!

Word to the author

I am 58 years old. I became a writer at 18. Therefore, I have been practicing my craft for 40 years. I had a chance to write plays, novels, stories, songs, poems and articles. There were lean years and fat years. I have been writing long enough and a lot enough to deserve to be called a writer. I have long come to terms with the two twin horsemen that haunt any writer: the desire to write and the fear that this time nothing will work out.

Over the years of writing, I have learned that there is a flow of ideas that any of us - any artist - can tap into. Inspiration is just the ability to listen and the willingness to believe the quiet voice that sounds inside.

Julia Cameron is a writer, playwright, songwriter and poet who has worked in the theatre, film and television industries, and is the author of The Artist's Way, Long Walks, There's an Artist in Everyone, and The Right to Write.

Fundamental Tools

Some things are so important that they cannot be left out. They have the power to enrich and expand our lives. They never fail and therefore deserve mention again and again.

Morning Pages. These are three pages of free writing, a stream of consciousness that helps you discover your “here and now.” They should be written immediately after waking up. They help straighten the spiritual spine and correct the course. And how amazing it is to feel like you are becoming yourself. Hereby. Every morning, tell the Pages how you feel. This is the foundation and basis of creative renaissance.
Walk. For those who seek to strengthen their creativity, it is also always useful to get some fresh air, especially on foot. Morning pages pose a question, and a walk helps to find the answer.
Creative date. You might suddenly find yourself trying out a new restaurant, or getting stuck in a hardware store or an art supply store. A creative date doesn't have to be grand or expensive. You go on a date to juggle ideas, to play with them - and the main word here is “play”.

However, in times of sudden or very large changes, additional measures may be required to gain a sense of security.

Be a newbie

When I finally started taking piano lessons, I was 54 years old. Between 40 and 50, I told myself that I was too old to start.

And then one fine day I realized that year after year would go by, regardless of whether I learned to play the piano or not.

It took a lot of courage for me to start doing what I loved. I had to allow myself the luxury of studying. I had to focus on the process, not the end result. It was scary to even think about how much I had to overcome to be called a musician.

I had to remind myself that I was learning to play the piano and that the main word here was “play.” -

I remember my friend Julianne McCarthy. She is 77 years old and recently received a master's degree in poetry. "How are you?" - I ask. And she calmly replies: “They are coming.” When something “goes”, a feeling of flow descends upon us. We are carried by the river of life. “Could anything be better?” I ask myself. Nothing comes to mind.

Be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to be a newbie.

Magic mirrors

Everyone has friends who they can turn to for moral support. These people are your “magic mirrors”. Even if they themselves are not creators, it doesn’t matter. If only they were optimistic and believed in you. In them you, as in a mirror, see your abilities and potential. They are always on your side.

Be sure to try to communicate with these people regularly. - Photo @juliaevbeketova.

Thus, at a turning point at the very beginning of their creative career, Fitzgerald and Hemingway became friends and “magic mirrors” for each other. Fitzgerald was a subtle nature, prone to self-destruction. Hemingway exuded prowess and exaggerated masculinity. What united these writers was the respect that each felt for the other’s work. Fitzgerald helped Hemingway get on his feet and start making money through literary works. Hemingway encouraged Fitzgerald to trust his imagination and write freely.

“For God’s sake, write and don’t worry about what the guys will say - whether it’s a masterpiece or not.” -

Grab your phone. Call “magic mirrors” or send an SMS. Discuss the current state of affairs. The faith of the “magic mirror” has one more distinctive feature: it considers your dream “correct and proper.” And he wants you to succeed.

Gratitude

We begin to slide into despair when we lose our sense of support. To fight this, you must try to feel the joy of being. Simply put, count your joys. Gratitude is a common but effective antidote to despair.

Explore your life piece by piece and count all the joys that have been given to you.

Take a pen. Number the lines from first to 21st. Start with the most important things. “Today I am healthy” - and further: “I have a place to live.” Moving from the big to the small: “I love my bed, it’s so cozy.” “I love my flannel sheets. So soft." The list can include not only things, but also people. “I’m grateful to be friends with Sonia.” “I am grateful that my daughter and I understand and love each other so much.”

You are charming. Thank yourself for this.

Small pleasures

If we lack joy, we should actively seek it ourselves. Sometimes, in times of greatest depression, it is difficult to even remember that there is anything joyful in life.

Write down 50 things you love. For example: raspberries, kittens, bullfinches, flowers, nut latte, Greek olives, MYTH books, autumn leaves, clown fish, calico cats, stained glass...

U Did you know this girl from Montmarte? This is Amelie and she is crazy about raspberries. What are you crazy about? -

Arm yourself with the resulting list and plan one week to see and try everything you love. Go to the pet store to admire the goldfish. Buy a tray of raspberries and read a good book. When walking, look out for calico cats. There are many ways to fill your life with things that bring happiness.

Many small pleasures make up happiness.

Charles Baudelaire

Feeling of determination

Creativity is built on specific actions. In the artist's world there are no fairies with magic wands. This world needs to be controlled. To create, you need to work energetically. The key to success is action.

Every artist should be ready to become Don Quixote and fight windmills, no matter how stupid he may look in the eyes of others, and even in his own.

The magic we need to create is nothing more than the courage to move forward. The singer must sing scales. Actor - learn monologues. Writers should sit at a desk. The phrase “eat the elephant piece by piece” is more appropriate in creativity than anywhere else. Major achievements come from the small steps we take every day.

Still in the book

With this book you will feel freedom. You will become bigger and stronger. Exercises and tasks will set your imagination in free flight. You will feel that your creativity is alive.

The book also contains topics and tools for inspiration:

How to Outsmart Your Inner Critic
Great wise quotes
How to survive periods of despondency and despair
What are sandwich calls?
How to create on a regular basis
Finding a sense of balance
How to find support and be support for others yourself
Recommendations for creating artist circles

...and 320 pages of creative inspiration, tools for inspiration, and advice from experts on the artist's path.

In autumn, the days become shorter and colder, it often rains and cold winds blow. Thoughts are increasingly returning to the hot summer season. In fact, the onset of autumn is not a reason to be sad. After all, autumn is a time of inspiration. And if in the summer we swam, sunbathed and had fun, then in the fall it’s worth starting a new project, finding a new hobby - changing something in your life.

On warm, fine autumn days

If the weather is pleasant, then it’s time to go outdoors. What can you do outside?

Here are some options:
arrange - bright multi-colored leaves, red rowan - all this is an excellent background for photography. Take photos with family, friends, or take a beautiful photo in which only you will be;
going to the forest to pick mushrooms - not only will you enjoy the process itself, you will also relax in nature, breathe fresh air and listen to birdsong. And, of course, you collect a lot of mushrooms for preparations;
A picnic is another great pastime. It doesn't matter if you go on a picnic with family or friends. The main thing is that you will relax and feel unity with nature;
walk - just take a walk in the park, collect an autumn bouquet of leaves. Such autumn walks are calming, help to gather thoughts together, and tune in to a new period in life.

On gloomy rainy days

If it's raining outside, it's not. You can find a lot of interesting things even in bad weather.

Here's what you can do:
invite friends and have a party or just sit with a cup of tea. You can brew a delicious tea from orange, cinnamon and apples or make hot chocolate with mint. Or you can prepare light snacks and brew mulled wine;
get creative - if you have long wanted to try drawing or knitting, writing a poem or learning to sing, now is the time. After all, autumn is a time of inspiration;
make an autumn craft with your child - you can make an interesting craft or applique from natural materials collected on a warm autumn day. And then she will decorate the interior all autumn;
prepare a new dish - autumn is the season of vegetables and fruits. Try to cook something original and healthy from these products. A delicious casserole, an unusual salad or a fragrant pie will help brighten up a rainy day;
film or book – prepare yourself a hot drink (tea, coffee, chocolate), cover yourself with a blanket and enjoy an exciting film or an interesting book.

What can you change in life?

Summer is over, which means the fun is over. In the fall, you need to get into a working mood. In a sense, with the beginning of autumn, a new year begins - a working year that will last until the holidays or vacation. Of course, you can continue to go to work or study and not change anything, or you can change something, open a new page in life.

Autumn is a great time to study. Many courses and master classes begin at the beginning of autumn. If you have long wanted to learn a foreign language, you should sign up for courses in the fall. Choose what you need for work, life, or just remember your old dream and go study.

You can study not only in courses, but also at home. Nowadays you can find a lot of educational master classes, trainings, and courses on the Internet. Therefore, educate yourself: set aside some time for studying and study at home.

If life becomes boring, find yourself a hobby. You can try everything until you find what you like best. Or, if you have long wanted to learn how to embroider, make kanzashi, do scrapbooking or learn to play a musical instrument, start doing this in the fall. After all, autumn is great for creativity.

Do you want to tighten your figure or lose a few extra pounds? Sign up for yoga, fitness, Pilates, dancing, or just start running. It is especially good to start the last lesson at the very beginning of autumn, when the weather is still good. Then you will have time to get involved.

And it’s still worth it in the fall. Remove everything unnecessary from it, starting with things you haven’t used for a long time and ending with bad habits. You may want to pay more attention to your health in the new working year, play sports, and switch to proper nutrition. Or maybe you decide to start a new project that will bring money or just satisfaction in the future? Or you decide to study time management to get everything done. Have you long dreamed of writing a book? Autumn is just the time when you should start making your dreams come true.

Autumn with its bright leaves, cobwebs, and prolonged rains is a wonderful and unique time. During this period, it is worth stopping and looking around, and not only to enjoy the beautiful nature, but also to think about your life.

Autumn is a wonderful time. The transition from hot sunny summer to fluffy snow-white winter. It's time for change. Preparing for the new year and time to make plans and new goals.

Each season has its own story, its own smells and its own feelings. After spending a whole year in Asia, living in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, and experiencing eternal summer, you begin to appreciate the different seasons in a new way.

I think this is the most inspiring time of the year! When you can wrap yourself in a warm woolen blanket, grab a mug of hot chocolate and re-read your favorite book, watch movies that you have wanted for so long, but never found the time for, and maybe be inspired for new achievements.

Perhaps the rain outside the window will not seem like the most vivid impression to you and will even make you sad, but look at this natural phenomenon from a slightly different perspective. The rain gives you the opportunity to stay home, hug your loved ones and spend time together making a huge fall seasonal mushroom pie, and then you can invite friends you haven't seen in ages to share a family dish.

Just the other day, we were going to the lake with friends, but the weather decided everything for us and, nevertheless, staying in their country house, we cooked pizza together and played words. Funny, cheerful and cozy. This fall we started seeing each other more often, and how great it is!

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So, what can you come up with in a cold rainy autumn:

Watch all the movies you didn't have time for this summer

Create a new playlist for yourself and upload it to your player for long autumn walks

Have a picnic in the forest or on the lake

Take beautiful photos in the autumn red-yellow forest

Celebrate Halloween

Make plans for the winter

Start knitting? Cozy warm scarf for yourself and a friend

Buy yourself a cool thermal mug and always carry hot chocolate, tea, cocoa or coffee with you

Get together with friends and have a fall party

Select the best summer photos and send them to print

Bake charlotte

Brew mulled wine

Think about the New Year

Buy a ticket for a holiday during the winter holidays

Go to interesting exhibitions and museums

Clear out your closet and throw away everything you don't need

Put away summer clothes and prepare winter ones

Drinking hot tea with pie on the verandas of the cafe

Send postcards to friends
with nice words

Go to the cinema with popcorn

Listen to pleasant music in the style of the Beatles or Elvis

Rearrange the room

Decorate your workplace

Go fishing with your loved one, making him happy

Go in for sports\buy a fitness club card

Start thinking about gifts for the New Year. The sooner you start this, the more pleasant surprises you can make for friends and loved ones

And soon you will notice how autumn will become your favorite time of year.

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A dozen simple tips will help you bring summer ideas to life, no matter the changing season. And remember: the vacation atmosphere can (and should) be recreated even at home.

Each of you knows the feeling of incredible elation that accompanies a good vacation. In the morning you wake up energetic, rested and full of inspiration. Grandiose plans are crowding in your head and seem absolutely feasible: “When I return home, I’ll start a blog,” “My husband and I will regularly go on dates,” “I’ll also get a promotion.”

The problem is that outside the front door of your home you are usually greeted not by an ocean of opportunities, but by a mountain of unwashed laundry and dozens of unresolved household matters. What kind of blog is there if the boss has already sent three emails demanding that the final report be rewritten. It also starts to get dark early. And now not a trace of summer energy remains...

These easy, guaranteed fun tips will help you believe that vacation is a state of mind, and that summer dreams can turn into very real fall accomplishments!

If you lack creativity...

1. Take the long way

Avoid familiar paths that lead you to the office, gym or grocery store. Turn off the beaten or traveled road and force yourself to consciously pay attention to the surrounding details. Record everything interesting using special applications for your smartphone - take photos and videos, speak short texts. An ad with an ironic twist, someone wearing brightly colored rubber boots, or even a picturesque mountain of fallen leaves can inspire a poem, a blog post, or a screenplay.

2. Get plenty of sleep

One of the reasons why you're so full of great ideas on vacation is that with no work, no Internet, no traffic jams, and other hassles, you sleep a lot more (or at least you should). During sleep, your brain busily and leisurely deals with the information received during the day, sometimes forming very original connections. If you hit a creative impasse, clearly formulate the task (“I’m looking for a memorable name for my online store!”), and then go to the side. There is a chance to wake up with a ready solution to the problem!

3. Don't isolate yourself

Go to an exhibition, visit a flea market, walk through an autumn park - and take as many photographs as possible everywhere. Just don’t leave them on a flash drive, print them out and hang them around the house - an old Russian pattern or a retro toothpowder box imprinted on them can inspire you to do something new.

What to do if you don't have enough energy

If you lack energy and determination...

1. Focus on the here and now

The rustling of waves, a view of the mountains, the running of clouds - on vacation, the beauty of the surrounding nature puts us in a contemplative mood and helps clear our minds from doubts and worries. You can meditate wherever and however you want, even while walking along the streets - to do this, every time you put your right foot on the sidewalk, mentally say “right” and repeat the same with your left. Don't be distracted by passers-by or puddles. You can even wash the dishes consciously, without allowing the acquired automaticity of movements to take you to God knows where from the “here and now.” By focusing on the present, you can disconnect from external stimuli and get rid of unproductive thoughts.

2. Go offline

On vacation, we don't want to check our email every ten minutes. And in the information vacuum one can relax so well! For one evening a week, say a resounding “no” to everything that has a screen, and devote this time to board games with your family, cleaning, and creativity. Don't forget to notice how much better you will feel in the morning.

3. Take a deep breath

The smells of fresh herbs enhance your ability to concentrate. And floral aromas can improve the speed of perception of new information by 17%. Since everything in nature has already faded, take advantage of the wonders of perfume: apply a couple of drops of flower essences to your wrists and inhale deeply.

4. Be lazy for the sake of the cause

Working hard for forty-five minutes with regular 15-minute “recharge” breaks will allow you to maintain a high level of productivity until the evening. This is exactly the conclusion that researchers from Columbia University came to. So you can now officially work and be lazy!

What to do if you lack passion

If you lack passion...

1. Master the space

Have you ever thought: on vacation, a huge bed and starched sheets attract us much more than TV, reminding us of well-forgotten pleasures, among which sleep is in last place?.. The secret of the attractiveness of hotel sex is its novelty, but it can be repeated at home! Ignore the bedroom, explore the possibilities of the bathroom, living room, hallway or hallway. The unknown turns us on, so try to turn even the most relaxing evening into a real adventure, and you will be rewarded with unforgettable sex.

2. Express your feelings

On vacation, you always notice (and celebrate) your partner's skills, whether it's the ability to navigate a huge city without a map or the ability to negotiate a discount even with an unfriendly salesperson. So what prevents you from looking at your loved one in a new way at home and expressing your admiration for him? Recent research has found that couples who wrote down what they were grateful for on a daily basis felt more united and happier. Therefore, every day tell your beloved man at least three pleasant things, even banal ones, for example: “It was nice of you to make me tea.” You'll see, he will repay you in kind.

3. Let him “steer”

Create the perfect day and let your partner decide how he would like to spend it (something like discussing the day's agenda over breakfast while on vacation). Readily accept any plan, even a daily marathon of watching a series about space cowboys or a completely different marathon that would be labeled “18+” in cinemas. This will allow both of you to shake things up a little, and your loved one to realize that you value and respect his wishes.

4. Have dinner in bed

Room service is perhaps one of the greatest holiday pleasures. However, sometimes it is enough to pretend that you are in a luxury hotel for you to be captured by the romance of the situation - even if you are at home. Lay out freshly ironed linen, light some candles, put flowers in a vase, order food from your favorite restaurant, and you'll get that five-star hotel luxury experience... Bonus: no need to tip anyone.

5. Sleep naked

How well do you remember your first love? Most likely, the lucky guy didn't even know you had pajamas - because he's never seen you in them... If you want to take your sex life to the next level, you should get into the habit of sleeping naked. Not wearing pajamas sends a man the right signals: the touch of skin on skin is unmistakably read as a sign of passion and sensuality.

Autumn is pouring leaves...
Chilled on the asphalt.
Birds fly away to warmer regions.
Waltz above me...
Quietly sadness swirls.
In empty parks...
Again... the fires are burning.

Autumn is pouring leaves...
On houses and roofs.
The city is completely shrouded in rain.
Echoes of summer...
Inaudible and quiet.
Quietly hitting the glass...
Wind of September.

Autumn is pouring leaves...
The carnival is sad.
And in this sadness... the thought of you.
Thoughts about separation...
And about our meeting.
The turns are strange...
In life and destiny.

Larisa M.

Autumn is the time to sneeze

Nadezhda Muntseva

Friends, greetings!

Autumn time, in addition to its charm, brings with it a runny nose and sneezing.
In addition to the medications that you will take... well, if you do, I suggest a few sneezing sentences:

******************************

Sneeze for pain, fear, harm!
I have a hundred years of health!
If I want more,
I will order and receive...

The autumn landscape is miraculous and beautiful.
The bloom of bright colors enchants the eye
And gives inspiration to the poet and the dream of an autumn fairy tale
And even a light rain does not spoil the golden picture of autumn.

The autumn forest shines with colors
Divinely enchanting autumn colors -
Purple, gold, crimson and yellowing green
Leaves that are colorful on tall slender trees
And the road is paved with crimson gold.

A rain-washed road running through the gilded forest
Hurries somewhere into the distance, runs away into...

Inspired creatures,
You whisper in my ear, be kinder...
And then, in times of suffering, the thought comes into awareness,
what a beast I am...
So reach out to the higher universes...
So want warmth and cleanliness...
And then, like a bell of insight, the answer came to me,
- That all this is not you.
Everything that was painfully suffered,
Everything that was painful in my heart...
In five minutes erased by a cruel thought
And like a stone thrown to the bottom...
I'm reaching out, trying... see?
I'm already becoming lighter
And I don’t respond to an evil call...

Autumn silently enters the houses,
There are high migrating birds in the sky.
Well, tell me: what kind of guilt could there be?
Even in the fall, people dream of falling in love.

When it rains, day after day, endless,
The leaves fall from the trees, as if in a dance.
But love on earth remains forever,
Once you fall in love, you will understand everything about it yourself.

And then, the gray day will change in an instant,
And the foliage will swirl around you, caressing you with its border.
The soul will sing, the voice is inspired,
And the dreary autumn will become golden again...

Autumn marathon of trembling destinies...
Soundless and lingering kisses...
Someone else's answers to my questions...
Or maybe you are not there at all?

In idle and abrupt doubts
Autumn brings magical inspiration...
And echoing only on paper,
Dissolving in me like autumn rain...

And again this wind of change...
September's shiny leaves are captured...
And a jazz tune from afar...
He will dispel the clouds of my doubts...

He will lightly touch your cheek...
And a drop will spill over your hand...
The warmth will remain for a long time...