Honoring the the Creative Cycle

Lately, I’ve found myself in a season of caring for others, which has left little room for making art. At first, I resisted this, feeling the familiar pressure to push through and be productive. But the more I tried to force myself, the more stuck I became.

Eventually, I recognized what was happening: my body had shifted into a freeze state, something I learned about in my somatic classes. One of my teachers often says that in these moments, we need to “get low.” Instead of pushing harder, I chose to pause. I laid down, listened to a meditation, breathed deeply, and simply allowed myself to be present. Of course, my mind protested, nagging me about emails to send, invoices to pay, and art I “should” be making. But I saw it for what it was. It was the conditioning we all carry, telling us that rest equals failure, that stopping is dangerous, and that productivity is what gives us value.

I’ve learned that when we hold space for creativity with gentleness, it returns to us more naturally. When we listen to our bodies, we move through stuckness with more ease. Forcing ourselves forward, whether in art, work, or life, often only slows us down in the long run. I also want to acknowledge that there are times when pushing through is necessary because our obligations or safety concerns require immediate action.

Creativity moves in cycles. There are seasons of making and seasons of not making. Even when we’re not actively creating, we’re still in relationship with our art: thinking, organizing, and making space for what’s next. When we trust this rhythm instead of resisting it, we return to our creativity with more energy, clarity, and joy.

So, I’m gently telling myself again (and you, if you need to hear this too) that slowing down isn’t the same as stopping. It’s simply part of the process. During slower creative times, I like to jot down ideas in my journal for later when I have more time and energy to create. Or I cut up papers for future collages and organize them by color, so I’m ready to go. And like I always try to remind myself, we are inherently creative beings who can use our minds to create beautiful things (and destructive things, as we see in parts of the world). Every day, we use our creativity, even if it’s just writing a thoughtful note to a friend or making a shared meal.

Those are my thoughts for today! I also want to share a few book recommendations that have been meaningful to me. One is Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, which has been a significant source of inspiration as I reflect on my own relationship with rest. Another recommendation is Move the Needle: An Activist Handbook for Artists, Creatives, and Crafters by Shannon Downey, which you can see pictured below alongside two other great books for collage inspiration.

Enjoy your week and find moments of calm whenever you can!

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