conscious creating

Is Your Creative Life Worth Fighting For?

| Bonnie Kelso

Two Brains

How much time do you spend watching TV? This image appears on page 27 of my book Vitalize Your Creative Life. I stand by this graphic and the message it conveys. I also freely admit that I am a TV binger and lifelong TV addict. By the word “TV” I mean the effortless preoccupation of my brain by programmed sounds and videos on a screen (of any size) while the remainder of my body remains relatively inactive. In part I had no choice. I grew up with TV. I am the product of an early generation exposed to a now common type of addiction. Continue reading →

Detachment & Your Creativity

| Bonnie Kelso

Detachment

I taught a creativity class last week about “Detachment.” As creative beings, detachment can be difficult. We become very attached to things, possessions, people, memories from our past, our creations themselves…

What does it mean to detach? I used to feel that if I detached from something it meant that I didn’t care about it. Now I realize that when I detach, I allow the object of my attachment the freedom of independence.

Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 8: The Balsamic Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonCan you believe it has been less than a month since we started this Moon Cycle? It’s been quite a journey! This is what Conscious Creating is all about.

  • Checking in with your intentions every few days.
  • Staying open to opportunities that will help to manifest them.
  • Acting in alignment with your heart, mind, and soul.

It’s a powerful practice and one that can be used in so many areas of your life. Your increasing mindfulness bringing life and vitality to your creations and your day to day experiences. Ahhhhhhh!

So where are we now in the process? We are at the Balsamic Moon and the last phase of the Moon Cycle before we begin again with the next New Moon.

Just as balsamic vinegar is a potent and flavorful liquid produced through a reduction process, so is the Balsamic Moon phase a time for Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 7: Last Quarter Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonWelcome to the Last Quarter Moon phase. How did your “share” go? Who did you talk to about your reveal? More importantly, how did you inspire them? Through sharing, you are given the opportunity to sort through important details. When you told your story, which part of the story did you get really excited about? What part did you rush through because it was too boring? Yadda, yadda, yadda… What part made you take a moment to pause and reflect? And at what part did you see your listener’s jaw drop open?

Sharing your story and your creative process helps you to identify the “magic” bits and pieces. Important cues are being delivered to you through the energetic exchange of conversation. It is your job to pay attention, record, and contemplate this valuable feedback. Keep in mind that feedback is not limited to how the other person responds. How you provide yourself with feedback through your feelings as you experience the sharing process is just as valuable.

… and so goes the Waning Moon phase. The Waning phase from the Full Moon through to the next New Moon is all about clarification. This is the time to edit, to refine, to tie up any loose ends. It’s time to do what needs to be done in order to put a project to rest. Especially at the Last Quarter, the energetic nature is about change, possible conflict, and ultimately a significant shift of some kind. Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 6: Disseminating Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonWhew! How was that Full Moon, people? Anything unexpected happen? Personally, I felt a little overwhelmed by it. I took a few naps, slept extra deeply at night, and woke up with some serious bed-head on more than one occasion. How about you? What was your reveal? Now that you have had a few days to ponder your reveal, you might be thinking… what do I do with it?

Welcome to the Disseminating Moon phase! This is where the magic really begins. To get started here’s a visualization for you…

It’s a super hot day, yeah, like Vegas hot! Ever feel it? It’s like stepping into an oven. You look into the sky for signs of relief, and there’s a huge cloud overhead. Suddenly, the sky opens up and it starts to rain, gently at first. The raindrops first feel warm on your skin, then as they increase in number, they feel cool and refreshing. Before you realize it, your internal thermometer has dropped ten degrees and all is right with the world again. You’re smiling, your energy is back, and you’re ready to indulge in your next creation…

Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 5: The Full Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonHere we are at the Full Moon! Not only a Full Moon, but one sporting a Lunar Eclipse! Much like the Solar Eclipse New Moon a few weeks ago, this Full Moon we will be given an extra special energetic boost due to the Lunar Eclipse. Emotions may run high so be prepared… for anything to happen! If you experience some powerful emotions your best course will be to avoid resistance, which we all know is futile anyway. Stay calm and receive what you are given with the spirit of gratitude and all will turn out just fine. Don’t forget that the Universe has always got your back.

Some people will swear up and down that the Full Moon brings out the crazy in people. I will argue that the crazy is always out there, energetically, it’s just that during the Full Moon you become more aware of it.

Think of it like this… You’re in your car and your driving along the open highway. I’m having a great déjà vu right now of Route 66 headed east through Arizona! You’ve got your favorite mix CD blaring as loud as you can stand it. You’re clipping along at least 55mph. You are overcome by the beautiful sunshine and you crack the driver’s side window to let in some fresh air (Crescent). There’s a whoosh sound as the air starts to make it’s way into your car. Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 4: The Waxing Gibbous Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonWelcome to the Waxing Gibbous Moon phase! Hey, we’re getting close to the Full Moon now! So much closer… but not quite there yet! That’s how it feels when you’re growing. I welcome growth in my life, because it is through my growth experiences that I evolve. I understand that I am not just evolving for my own soul’s benefit, but I am evolving for my entire species! This excites me. I am a growth junkie, really. It’s why I spend my days creating stuff to share with you. You think it’s about you? Well, it is, but it’s also about me. Everything I create for you I have tested on myself first. I’m my own best lab rat. This moon phase is extra special to me, because I was born under a Waxing Gibbous Moon. So, basically, growth is part of my lunar nature.

(If you want to look up the lunar phase at the time of your birth, you can use this moon phase calculator: https://stardate.org/nightsky/moon)

So, back to you and your growth… How did it go over the past few days? Now is the time for some reflection, under the light of the Waxing Gibbous Moon. You took an exciting action recently that tossed you outside of your comfort zone. Ask yourself these questions in regard to the results of the action, but remember not to be Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 3: The First Quarter Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

MoonHere we are at the First Quarter Moon phase. What did you discover over the last few days during the Crescent Moon phase when you started saying, “yes!” more? What opportunities were delivered to you through your positive interactions? Now is the time to take inventory of any and all possible paths that have been presented and choose a purposeful action.

Remember the Game of Life? I used to love playing this game with my family. We had a stack of board games and on game night I would run and grab The Game of Life. It was my favorite and I didn’t mind how long it would take to get through the game, but other members of my family were not as eager to sit in a chair for the hour minimum it often required, so when I would bring it to the table I was often greeted with a few groans. If you’re not familiar with the game, I’ll take a moment to get you up to speed… So, there are these little car game pieces that you get and you are a peg person that sits in the car. At the beginning it’s just you and a windy road with several forks in it ahead of you. Each square ahead gives you instructions, which are basically life events to “experience.” The game is a good metaphor for what I’m suggesting because at the very beginning of the game you are presented with a big choice, whether to go left or right. Likewise, at the First Quarter Moon, you are presented with a choice. You need to choose one actionable item. And, it’s one that once you get to the end of the game and realize as you look back, made all the difference. Continue reading →

Your Creativity & The Moon Cycles (Part 2: The Crescent Moon)

| Bonnie Kelso

Moon

How did it go? How was your Solar Eclipse/New Moon Reset Party? Did you come up with a good juicy intention? What are you going to create in your life?

There’s always a lot of energy swirling around during the New Moon. Sometimes it’s best to just surrender to it and go with the flow of it and just see what comes out of it all. About a dozen years ago, I went to a New Moon Party in Koh Samui, Thailand. It was a big outdoor rave in the jungle. It was super dark, but all the makeshift huts were painted with glow-in-the-dark neon colors. The whole place was lit up with black lights. The music was naturally quite loud, and I was surprisingly sober. But I could feel the collective energy there and it was intense! It was a really good time, like I could see the love energy pulsing inside of everyone there. I remember dancing… a lot! I remember connecting with strangers… many hugs and holding hands and giggles and butterfly kissing one boy for perhaps fifteen minutes or so… Continue reading →