Fill the Well
by Rochelle Melander
Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, suggests that we all need to “fill the well.” She writes,
“When we work at our art, we dip into the well of our experience and scoop out images. Because we do this, we need to learn how to put images back. How do we fill the well? …In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do not do what you should do—spiritual sit ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery. A mystery draws us in, leads us on, lures us. ”
Since January, I’ve been distracted and overwhelmed by the news. As I head offline for a much needed pause from social media and the news, I leave you with a few gems to help you fill the well.
Listen to Music
Music has helped me through many rough patches in my life. When I was teaching, I’d have a precious hour between morning and afternoon classes. I’d open up YouTube and play one of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. I learned new music, and faced the afternoon with renewed energy. I could recommend dozens of songs for this time, but I’ll stick with three.
Go! Indigo Girls
Stay Gentle Brandi Carlile
Not Ready to Make Nice Chicks
Read a Book
Here are a few to get you started. Some will help you understand what is happening, others will help you escape.
On Tyranny Graphic Edition by Timothy Snyder
Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
The Correnspondent by Virginia Evans
Make Art
I listen to Heather Cox Richardson twice a week. She always ends by encouraging people to make art. I always think of Maya Angelou’s words:
You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn’t do anything to the object of its displeasure. So use that anger. You write it. You paint it. You dance it. You march it. You vote it. You do everything about it. You talk it. Never stop talking it. —Maya Angelou.
Write a poem. Pen that story. Doodle. Dance. Create a meal. Decorate your house. Just do something to bring joy into the world.
Explore
Take a day off. If you like indoor activities, visit a nearby town or attraction. We like museums, so when we need a day off, we search for a new art museum. If you like outdoor exploring, find a park, river, or nature preserve to wander through. Time in nature is one of the few things that helps you reset your ability to pay attention. Here’s a quote from Katherine Rundell’s book, The Explorer:
You don’t have to be in the jungle to be an explorer. Every human on this earth is an explorer. Exploring is nothing more than the paying of attention, write large. Attention. That’s what the world asks of you. If you pay ferocious attention to the world, you will be as safe as it is possible to be.
Always Pack a Snack
When my kids were little, I always packed snacks. Why not now? Everything’s better after you’ve had a snack and a cold glass of iced tea! Here’s a quote from the novel The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann: “In my experience, it’s good to eat something sweet in a crisis. And drink tea. Tea and chocolate are part of a successful agent’s basic kit.”
How do you fill the well?
