Spirituality of Creative Inspiration: Is There Such a Thing?
Embracing the sacred connection between imagination, spirit, and artistic flow
Spirit, help us show up. Be with us as we lean into our creative giftings — those that You imparted within us. Thank You for always being in the midst of everything, including our creativity. Teach us to embrace our sacred connection so that our creativity inspires us spiritually and vice versa.
Those who speak in spiritual terms routinely refer to God as the creator but seldom see creator as the literal term for artist.— Julia Cameron
Is there spirituality within our creative expression? I believe so.
Are we spiritual because we are creative, or creative because we are spiritual?
I have found that the more I spend time with my Creator, the more grounded I am in my creativity. The answer to the question is yes. I believe we are creative because we are spiritual, and we are all born spiritual beings.
Every single person has within an ocean of pure vibrant consciousness. Every single human being can experience that — infinite intelligence, infinite creativity, infinite happiness, infinite energy, infinite dynamic peace.—David Lynch
Let’s explore
If a thought or feeling sparks creativity, then it is likely spiritual. The question becomes how to tap into it. Artists such as Michelangelo, Frida Kahlo, and David Lynch have attributed their creativity to spiritual inspiration in different ways, confirming that creative inspiration is spiritual. How they approached their intersection between spirituality and creativity is different, but that’s not the point.
The point is creative inspiration is spiritual.
When creative people dig deep into their spiritual source, they access new depths of imagination and expression.
The conscious mind
Our mental processing occurs in the conscious. It is where we identify incoming information, process it, and form opinions.
The subconscious mind
Our thoughts, memories, wishes, and feelings are stored in the subconscious and operate outside of immediate awareness (conscious), influencing our behavior and thoughts in subtle ways.
Spirituality and creativity are accessed in the subconscious, but not without communication with the conscious.
Why is this important?
The communication between the conscious and subconscious also affects our superconscious. As information enters the conscious, it is processed, and the feelings and emotions connected to that get stored in the subconscious. This is why we react or are triggered long after trauma has occurred. The body remembers, and the subconscious stores.
Although our emotions live and breathe subconsciously, they evolve and grow emotionally and spiritually.
The superconscious
The subconscious creates a path to the superconscious, where our spirit dwells. In this space, we connect with God, our Inner Voice, spirit guide, or any other wisdom guide. We are able to transcend in this location, but it can’t be done without its siblings: conscious and subconscious.
The path looks like this: conscious mind → subconscious mind → superconscious mind.
If you think about it, everything connects to our spirit because it all occurs in our brain.
Faith as our guide
Creativity and spirituality require faith. To trust the process, we need to let go of expectations. This is crucial for creativity and helpful for our spiritual journey. Letting go of what spirituality “should” look like is liberating.
Letting go of expectations means trusting something outside of our cognition. Call it what you like—God, Buddha, Higher Power, Allah.
As we stand or sit to begin a creative project, we subtly or intentionally let go of ourselves and what we know and trust something outside our being. I am one of those artists who gets visions. When I was a freelance graphic designer, this would happen as I was dipping into my imagination jar right before I would drift off to sleep. Inevitably, I would get a vision of something for that project.
I don’t know about you, but I trust that God was giving me a spark of inspiration.
Connecting the dots
Many faith-driven people also understand the importance of using creativity to connect with and nurture their spirits. This is done through six senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and our intuitive perception of knowing without knowing why.
Creativity invites us to see the world with new eyes. When I was visiting Eastern Europe many years ago, I connected with a woman who was a budding photographer. As an amateur photographer, I was excited to meet with a fellow photographer. She then led me to her favorite places to shoot photos. While walking, she said, “I want to see through your eyes because I go here every day, but you will help me see new things.”
Think about when someone visits us in our hometown, and we take them out for a tour. They can sometimes ooh and aah at things we have since taken for granted. It is then that they help us see new things from a different perspective.
Creativity also helps us reconnect with our inner child and inner peace. Children tend to imagine the great beyond. Too bad we don’t hold on to that forever, right? As we grow up, we tend to get choked in fear, racing with societal norms, leaving behind our childlike wonder like a long-lost love.
When we allow our creative spirit to be sparked, we step away from what is reality to wander the green pastures of what can be, allowing our imaginations to connect to our senses, especially the sixth sense of intuition — the space where passion is ignited and welcomed.
What are some ways you can wander in your imagination?
As a writer, how much time do you allow your mind to wander and connect with your spirit?
Have you stepped out of your typical writing genre and attempted something different? Athletes often cross-train to provide foundational strength to the muscles around the ones they normally use. For instance, a runner might also bike or swim.
I write meditations and spiritual content, but I also paint and write poetry. When I paint, I like to turn on music. I also dance and cook. All of these become ways that I creatively connect to my spirit.
Take a walk in nature this week and notice what senses connect. Do you hear new things? Do you see new things? Are there new smells that you can only smell when walking in nature?
Think about taking off your shoes outside and walking barefoot to ground yourself to the earth. How do you feel? Close your eyes for a moment and allow your imagination to wander.
Mindfulness meditation
Find a place where you can sit quietly without distractions.
Bring your attention to your body, breath, and emotions, observing any sensations or thoughts without judgment.
Gently shift your focus to your creative outlets, allowing your spirit to inspire and guide you.
Follow your breath. Imagine you are breathing through your heart. Place one hand on your heart, feeling the energy around your heart as you breathe slowly.
As you continue to feel this energy, name some things you love about your creativity and your process.
Allow some silence to nurture the space in your heart as you listen for your Spirit to speak into your heart.
Allow your imagination to wander and visualize. What inspiration comes to mind?
Continue to breathe and listen for the Spirit to speak.
When you sense Spirit is finished, gently move your attention to your breathing. When you are reading, open your eyes.
Write any thoughts down that you want to remember.
May you find space to allow Spirit to connect with your creativity in imaginative and inspiring ways. May you accept the invitation to let your imagination wander and be drawn to those things that will keep the lamp lit within you.
May you know that you are loved because you matter.
May your soul be refreshed.
sdg