Re-connecting with my Creativity

I recently started The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and I’m already obsessed. This 12-week journey is all about rediscovering creativity, and it’s been a game-changer for me. I had heard about the book previously but watching rapper Doechii’s  journey on YouTube and hearing how great the process had been for her, rekindled my interest.

Morning Pages: Clearing the Mental Clutter

One of the core practices in the book is morning pages—three pages of freewriting. It’s basically writing anything that comes into your head without worrying about grammar or punctuation. I’ve found this incredibly helpful in quieting the background chatter of my to-do list. It also keeps me accountable and calls me out on my b*llshit. For example: after writing “book a dentist appointment” for five days straight, I finally called—just so I wouldn’t have to write it again.

The front cover of the Artist’s way by Julia Cameron.

One phrase from week 2 has really stuck with me: “The reward for paying attention is healing.”  For me just taking the time to pay attention to my surroundings and the somatic work of listening to my body’s cues has been really powerful. And paying attention makes me feel more grateful for what I already have. This whole process has made me feel more open to inspiration and encouraged me to explore my creativity in unexpected ways.

A Shimmer of Inspiration:

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know I’m not a big makeup girl—I wear it, but I don’t have the expertise (shoutout to my sister-in-law Holly for all the recs!) Usually, my makeup routine happens in under five minutes by the front door whilst the kids have breakfast.

But the other day, I found myself in Flannels (Nara needed the loo).  I swatched a Pat McGrath eyeshadow palette and I was blown away by the shimmer! I had to know more. I went down a rabbit hole learning about her journey, listening to her Desert Island Discs episode, and feeling inspired by her creativity and innovation.

One thought of hers stood out: real insiders are outsiders—the people shaping the industry don’t always look the way you’d expect. It made me wonder if defying conventions in one way makes you more open to taking risks in others. She was also really inspired by the punk aesthetic which took me by surprise.

So, in an uncharacteristically impulsive move, I bought my dream Pat McGrath palette on eBay. (Would I recommend buying used eyeshadow? Probably not. But hey, you live and learn! I’ll be sanitising it before use.) Sure I’ll be sharing future results, wish me luck!

Creativity and the body.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the connection between creativity and the body—something I’ve been exploring through somatic therapy with Rakhi. It has really expanded my thinking on what creativity could look like. I wanna explore creativity and the body further and this led me to think about henna as an art form. Henna, like makeup, is playful and temporary. There’s no pressure to be perfect; it’s can just be about expressing yourself.

A timely credit to Neelam for her fantastic newsletter, which introduced me to more two people also exploring their South Asian heritage.  Firstly, henna artist Sanna whose artwork is truly stunning and Sonia Haria’s book, South Asian Beauty. It dives into skincare, haircare, and makeup through the lens of South Asian culture. Deepening my connection to my cultural heritage in this way feels deeply nourishing. I’ve just bought a second-hand copy and can’t wait to learn more.

The Artist Date:

Playing with Henna - I clearly have a lot to learn, I ended up doodling with a pen instead!!

Another essential part of The Artist’s Way is the “artist date”—a dedicated, solo time to nurture your creative side. Julia Cameron describes it as:

"An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist."

My first artist date was listening to Raveena’s album Hypnosis in full, something I rarely do anymore, and it was dreamy (best first date ever?!). This week, I’ve been experimenting with henna, letting myself play and create without overthinking. As many dates, it didn't go quite to plan as the henna was too thick but next time I’ll know to warm it up a little first. You can also see my recent experimenting with saris over on insta.

Make Space for Creativity in Your Life

I hope this inspires you to carve out time for creativity, whether that’s through writing, music, makeup, food, or even a new approach to getting dressed. Your creativity is worth nurturing, so why not book a date with your creative self? And if you need a little support in expressing yourself through style, you know where to find me!

Creating a hair plait tie, adorned with lots of jewellery. Really enjoyed wearing this, it felt so fun.