Navigating a New Creative Adventure

Join me to explore The Artist’s Way.

Good morning and happy Sunday to you!

I hope you've had a good week, whether it’s been work-filled, creativity-led, or just a standard mundane affair.

Mine has been... intense?

At the risk of sounding twee (and even then, why not?!) I'm really trying to focus on finding a little joy in each day at the moment, both as an antidote to anxiety, and because life is really too short to be sweeping through the days with heads and hearts filled with stress, and not pausing to find enjoyment or beauty around us.

Or to create it for ourselves.

The year so far has felt both long and short, but really I've no idea how we're already in mid-June. Long-time readers will know I am obsessed/fascinated/caught up by the passing of time, and am always trying to get it to slow down.

I'm hoping a new creative venture will help with that, especially as it'll be spread out across the rest of the year, as I intentionally look to take it slowly.

Fuel in all forms.

In case you missed the invitation, at the start of July I will be diving into Julia Cameron's infamous The Artist's Way course, and I'd love for you to join me.

Though the course is 12 weeks long, I will be spreading it across 24, in the hope that makes it feel more manageable to commit to, and that it doesn't just become yet another thing on the to do list.

I will be sharing a check in and update with you at the start of each month, to reflect back on the previous two weeks of the course (which we'll have done over four) and perhaps adding a few other touch points throughout too, depending on how many of us will be on this journey together.

And if it's just me? That's cool too!

I am hoping that by creating this space, it feels like an encouraging area of accountability for anyone else who has wanted to dive into The Artist's Way, or is just curious to learn more about what it entails. But this also feels like a really personal project for me, and so the monthly updates will be tucked under the blanket of a paywall, so that it can have more of a feel of a chat with friends.

You can read more in the post below about everything else going on at

The Navigation

, and where this new offering fits in, plus details on a bonus treat...

Did you scroll down far enough to learn about that bonus?

That's right - a free book!

A gift from my bookshelf to yours, when you upgrade your subscription. Head back to the post above to make your selection, then reply to this email or send me a message to let me know, and I'll get that posted off to you.

But what does that have to do with The Artist's Way, you might ask?

Well, nothing, really. That's just a nice added extra; a bonus thank you for supporting this work.

That said, to get the most out of The Artist's Way, you will need a copy of the book, if you don't already have one. I know this isn't your standard £8.99 paperback, or a title you'll likely find on a charity shop shelf (I've been keeping an eye out myself for years).

I was lucky enough to get a copy for my birthday this year, and it is beautiful to look at, hold, and flick through. With large margins (presumably for notes, though I am not someone with the courage to take a pen to my books), flat layout, and pretty ribbon to mark your spot, it's a really inviting title and I've already been enjoying reading through the introductory pages.

And so, an extra offer for you, dear reader, in the form of 50% off an upgraded subscription, so you can use what you save to get the book to accompany this journey too.

This offer will last for the next few weeks, until we get started with the course, allowing a little room for latecomers too.

You're welcome whenever this finds you.

Want to upgrade, because you enjoy reading The Navigation, but not necessarily to participate in this elongated approach to The Artist's Way?

You are of course very welcome to make use of this offer too.

Since sharing that I'm about to embark on this journey, I've heard from others about their experiences of doing the course, including

Ingrid Fernandez

,

Tanya Lynch

,

Amy I Beeson 🐝

and

Océane Meftah

, and it's so encouraging to already sense a community around this. But while there are great takeaways, people will admit it's not always easy to get through.

I also recently read

Madeleine Dore

’s reflections on the course from a number of years ago, but that was especially encouraging as she talks about the creative projects she wanted to work on/launch, and how she was thinking of them through the journey. Those are works that are now out in the world - that I have had the pleasure of enjoying! Proof that the The Artist's Way really... works? Or at least offers a nudge in the right direction.

I've also been dipping in and out of listening to The Bare Minimum Artist's Way series on the

Internet People

podcast in recent months - even before I got the book - and that's been really interesting to hear two different sets of reflections, from

Anna Seirian

and

MJ Mayes

, on what is coming up each week, and the adaptations they've been making, and accepting, to make it work for them.

I've been dabbling with morning pages too - the commitment to write three pages by hand first thing in the morning - and as someone who is more of a night-time journaller, this is a bit of a shift. But let's see; maybe it'll be life-changing.

All this potential, all of these stories, makes me excited to get started, and see what this course does for me. Or perhaps it's more what I do with it?

Is it stirring anything in you?

Getting acquainted with the basic tools.

Before that though, I am Toronto-bound for a wedding / holiday, which, though it’ll be busy, feels like a welcome break at this point in the year. I've got books at the ready, and laptop(s) staying firmly at home.

If you have any recommendations for the city, I'd love to hear them!

I'll be back at the end of the month with the next Little Black Book, then from July we'll be diving in! Plenty of time to get your copy of the book (if it's not already collecting dust on your shelf) and get excited to join in.

Until then, I hope this Sunday involves some feet-up relaxation time, and if you're celebrating Father's Day, enjoy that too.

Today and everyday, happy navigating 🧭

Lauren x

Want to support The Navigation but without the commitment of a subscription? Not to worry, a Ko-fi coffee is always warmly appreciated.☕