Creativity Part 2
May 24, 2025
Creativity Part 2
As you know, writer's block is an impasse when no new ideas flow from the writer’s mind into their pens or keyboards. One writer described writer’s block this way: “Writing is like swimming in a large lake of ideas and concepts, stories, themes and metaphors. I swim in the natural flow of thoughts. In this state, I can’t write the words fast enough before they escape me. But sometimes, the flow stops, and I am at the bottom of an arid and parched lake bed. At times like these, I can’t write a thing.”
What causes the creative flow to stop? It could be distractions, disconnects from the initial inspiration, fatigue, or disillusionment with the subject. Maybe the excitement and ethos of the topic have lost their savor. Perhaps the writer has exhausted their imagination for now. But let’s look further.
It is helpful to remember that there are two levels of inspiration— the level of the ego and the level of the soul. The ego level has a plethora of creative ideas and concepts. Its creative drive is from its fundamental motivations, and as students of the Enneagram, we are familiar with the nine basic ego motivations and fixations. They are vital motivations, but as a mental structure, the ego has only so many ideas, techniques, and creative inspirations in its playbook. When it runs out of creative ideas, it acquires more material and stores to re-supply its mental warehouse. But sometimes, the stock gets too low even in the mind’s warehouse. And when the writer tries to ignite her imagination, instead of an abundant flow, there is nothing from which to draw. This is called the ego’s creative impasse or creative block.
But the soul’s level of creativity is quite different. It doesn’t rely on a mental structure that relies on its own mental capacity and stores only so many ideas. The soul draws from an inexhaustible wellspring because it is connected to infinite imagination, and knowledge. It is part of the collective unconscious and the Divine.
Yes, connected to the subconscious, and the collective unconscious, the soul is one with the Creator of creativity itself. So, the soul’s creativity originates from the same place as our dreams— our subconscious, the depths of our being. During each REM sleep cycle, our soul writes a story, chooses the characters, dresses them, gives them various feelings, puts them on location, chooses the terrain and the colors, weather, and extras, and writes the script. This is the dream and it enlists our mind, body, and emotions. We do all this without any effort. It just flows.
So, if we have a creativity blockage, all we have to do is reconnect to the place where our dreams are made and to that constant inner flow.
Spiritual practice: Do you have an impasse? If so, a creative idea may help remove the blockage and allow answers to flow to you. Sometimes, prayer is a fantastic vehicle to open up blockages of creativity. Take your impasse into prayer and meditation. Step into a mentally visualized elevator and feel the sensation of going into your depths. When the elevator door opens, step out into your deeper mind. Find a seat or recliner there and await the images and thoughts that come to you. Read the classic, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.
Self-inquiry: Why is it preferable for many of us to stay on the surface when we know our depths have the answer?
Dear God,
“As I go down into the deep of my own being, show me the hidden things. Take me down to the spring of my life….” Amen (a line from “A Gathering Prayer” by George Appleton)
