I want to show others the power of intimacy and vulnerability, that they’re not alone in this life process. That while there’ll be critics, true love comes from the people that support you with honest constructive criticism in whatever you do.
People ask me why I don’t try to go through big publishers to become a more established author.
Before I answer that, I should state my very first book, Under Willows. Over Flowers., I went through an independent publisher to learn the creative process of putting a book together as an art piece. It was so wonderful and gave me the knowledge of how I could play. Which is what I wanted to do - play. Remaining curious to the process. So, I highly recommend an independent publisher. Now, I choose to publish on my own. So, why do I do that and why don’t I go bigger?
Number one, writing is a meditative practice for me that helps me to declutter, make sense and meaning out of the human experience. It's also a method that gets stuck emotions, or just stagnant energy, moving through the various bodies (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, etc.). It’s a Metta (loving-kindness) yogic practice for me. And, one that's fairly personal to me.
Number two, it is an art form for me, a creative practice that I personally don’t want others sticking their fingers into to tell me how to do something. Especially, because it is a creative practice. I protect my joy to a certain extent based upon prior experiences. In the past, I’ve lost my connection to joy in things like commercial acting because it became about losing yourself in the process following a demand in order to make money. It’s really easy to become disconnected from who you are when that happens. But, that's just me. Do I want to make writing my living? Of course I do. But if I do, it’s my way, it’s as an independent artist. And there’s certain bounds I choose to put up in this process. I want people to feel safe practicing their own art as well, no matter what that is. How you play a sport, how to you paint, how you communicate, etc. I want to attempt to be a model of one way of how that can look. That you don’t have to sell yourself out if you don’t want to. That the more you practice your art, leaning more into your authentic self, connecting with Source; that broader Absolute Truth, I really believe that’s where happiness is; true joy is.
Number three, I write not only to connect with myself, but to give something to others. I want to show others the power of intimacy and vulnerability, that they’re not alone in this life process. That while there’ll be critics, true love comes from the people that support you with honest constructive criticism in whatever you do. They will tell you what’s working well, what they see in reflection back, and feedback on the creative process in order to grow together.
I really don’t know where my writing will go. But that’s part of the excitement of the process. I am constantly changing, so will my words. As long as so I remain real and authentic, being as genuine as I can, I’m happy with that. There’s so much to discover about the self. The landscape is so wide and vast, the discoveries are quite endless. One of my favorite quotes I feel speaks so clearly to this is from Ludwig van Beethoven, that I actually discovered from the Piano Guys. It's so moving to me because I’ve lived it:
“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise [you] to the Divine.”
We can travel the world, have the biggest house and all of the things, but if we don’t continue to find ways to connect with our own spirituality, our Divine nature, I really believe we are just chasing after the wind. The feet will move, but we won’t be going much of anywhere. How can we find that joy as human beings in the immediate? It’s really in the practices that we lean into that help us to root in order to branch out. It’s a wonderful process. And one I hope all humans can embrace.
May all beings find joy in the immediate. May all beings find peace in their natural nature. May all beings be happy.
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