Fickle Inspiration

Inspiration is a funny thing. It's elusive, but when you find it there is sometimes too much to know what to do with. I seem to go through peaks and troughs with it. Some days I find it difficult to drag myself away from my work, even taking it to the dreamworlds with me and coming up with great ideas as I sleep. But other times I have no enthusiasm at all. And on those days, if I try to work on something it comes out really disappointing.
This was one of the reasons I found it difficult to work as a fashion designer full time. Creativity isn't something you can rely on to be there when you need it. It can't be scheduled into a roster or put to work the 9-5. It's fickle and moody, it comes in droughts and floods like Australian weather patterns. It's elusive and mystical.

I'm fairly into nature spirituality and love some of the ideas of neo-Pagan revivals like Druidry. They talk about the idea of "awen" which is the Welsh word for flowing inspiration which helps artists, poets, magicians and great warriors alike to succeed in their ventures. Connecting with awen is like connecting with deity or some divine spark. Creativity is what makes up the magic and life of things. Indeed, the word "inspire" in English even means to have the Spirit within you - to be possessed in a sense. At least that makes it a bit more understandable why it's so hard sometimes! ha ha

Anyway, another reason I like these ideas is because the ideological basis of many of them comes from an appreciation of the magic of nature - nothing less than the Forest Spirit itself. I have been taking some photos recently to try and budge a creativity block I have been having the last couple of days.

The incredible simplicity and beauty of nature is so amazing. It doesn't have to THINK about how to be beautiful - it just is because it is filled with life. That's the kind of beauty I am hoping to encapsulate with my work. Hopefully I will be able to find my inspiration again soon