How to find your Creator State Connecting with your creative consciousness by Sandra Walter

Spoiler Alert This book discusses the premise of the novel The Creator State and its conclusions. If you would like to discover the story for yourself, I recommend reading the novel before diving into the how-to guide. Share this work How to find your Creator State page 2

This pdf is a free work and does not contain affiliate links. Please share or remix with attributions to Sandra Walter under the terms of Creative commons attribution license 3.0 Content by Sandra Walter www.sandrawalter.com [email protected]

The creative vibration manifests everything in our reality. Art is the source of our existence. It is not our purpose to mimic, but to design. Life imitates art. - from The Creator State

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Preface On my 13th birthday I wrote in my diary, “I want to be an actress and I want to marry Andy Gibb.” Tragically, Andy passed away when I was of marrying age, but my wish to become an actress was granted. I have performed on stage as an actor, dancer, and performance artist. I paint, sing, attempt to play the ukulele, make silly videos, and enjoy photography. In the last two years I have seen my poetry and my first novel published. I have been very fortunate in my artistic life, and I want to share my experiences with artists who crave a deeper connection with their art. Being an artist comes naturally to most of us. Being a professional artist who must consistently produce quality work can be challenging. Just as other professions streamline their work flow to increase efficiency or make a better product, we artists have to find ways to effortlessly tap into our creative gifts so we can do more of what we love to do best … create!

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This book will guide you through the basics of finding your Creator State. I encourage you to take action on any of the methods or messages which speak to you in these pages. I sincerely hope it inspires you to connect with your greatest gifts. All the best, Sandra

Contents First glimpses What is the Creator State? How to get to your Creator State Step One: Do your homework Step Two: Give your ego a vacation Step Three: Remove doubt Step Four: Start in a supportive environment Hold on: You may be wondering ... Step Five: Breathe How to find your Creator State page 5

Step Six: Create with abandon Step Seven: Surrender to the art Are we there yet? The final step Why use the Creator State? Possibilities for the future

First glimpses The first time I felt a very different experience while acting came during a performance of A Streetcar Named Desire. I was portraying Blanche DuBois. There is a scene in the latter half of the play where Blanche is frantically dialing the phone, and demands to be connected to Western Union. She pleads to the operator, “Take down this a message … desperate, desperate circumstances. Caught in a trap.” My consciousness at that moment shifted. It seemed to cross over, to flip to, Blanche’s consciousness. Gone were the technicalities of a live performance (an audience just a few feet from my body, the lines, the lights, the props and costumes, the anticipation of a difficult scene ahead, all of the Sandra-consciousness). This was beyond any previous experience of getting really “into” character. This was different. Deeper. As if my spirit merged with the creation of Blanche. The Blanche whom I had created. It was as if she entered me to experience herself in that moment, in the life of the play, and in the actor who had chosen to channel her there. The feeling lasted a few minutes until the scene involved stage combat, where my awareness shifted back to the technical moves at hand. How to find your Creator State page 6

Streetcar can be a magical experience, but my “caught in a trap” moment caught my attention, and sparked my curiosity that art could do more than merely imitate life. For the next few years, I monitored the times when I felt this sensation. It evolved into a feeling of connection to a larger system of creation. I simultaneously wondered if I was working too deeply for live theater, a

very public endeavor. At least with film or television there is a buffer; an editor, another take, or a cutting room floor that no one would have to witness. My art happened right in people’s faces, and I couldn’t apologize during the show if things got out of control. Then I noticed a common factor in my connected moments: the times I set my ego aside and allowed art free reign over the process was when my deepest connections occurred. By letting my doubts go, the art had a will of its own. Artists crossed my path who spoke about this sensation. A musician friend of mine asked me if I had ever “left my body” during a show. After speaking with a variety of artists, musicians seem to have the most frequent occurrences of this kind of consciousness. But the sensation of a creative consciousness stretched across all mediums, in both subtle and powerful transactions between creator and creation. Many of you have felt this in your own creative endeavors. The second you release your inhibitions, that is the moment your art becomes something else; an opportunity for a unique creation to take place. How to find your Creator State page 7

When you pick up the pen, or start to dance, or sit at the keyboard and just let it happen, invariably something does. And that something is what I longed to explore. What is this sensation we are feeling?

What is the Creator State? The Creator State is a state of consciousness. Artists of all kinds; painters, musicians, writers, filmmakers, dancers and actors, can experience a heightened state of awareness while they are creating. Those moments of clarity when you feel inspired, “on” or deeply connected with your work are your Creator State. It is more than being good at what you do; it is a state of being within your chosen medium. Most of us do our best work when we surrender to our natural talents and become the art we are creating. Have you ever marveled at an actor's truthful portrayal, felt transfixed by a painting, or been moved by the beauty of a symphony? These are all examples of the Creator State in action; when artists tap into their unique talents. When you release your inhibitions, ego, doubt, fear and the need to please an audience, an open state of creative consciousness can be achieved. It is the state of being a true creator. Activating this state can produce brilliant works of art. How to find your Creator State page 8

Many artists have considered this state to be the product of a higher source. I think it is an organic gift, a universal right, and an authentic state of being. This might sound esoteric. It may be difficult for some artists to perceive their craft as some kind of personal power. Creation is a natural skill. Our creative gifts are merely a micro-model of the creative powers used by the universe.

How to find your Creator State Step one: Do your homework Athletes need to practice to perform their best. So do you. I strongly believe that no artist can produce their best work without practice. Practice is to art what exercise is to the body. When your body is stronger, more flexible, and has endurance, your day-to-day tasks become effortless. When you practice your craft, either in quick workouts or in marathons, your mind and body become accustomed to your art. When your mind and body are at ease with the task at hand, your spirit is free. You are not preoccupied with the process of your art. You don’t ponder where to land the brush, or search for your lines, or remember the next step. The mechanics of your art become second nature.

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Regular art practice makes the technical portion of your craft a no-brainer. You no longer think about the activity itself. This leaves your art open to inspiration, where something less physical can take place. It is similar to regular meditation; when the body is at peace, the soul opens to possibilities. Regular practice of your art paves a faster route to creative clarity.

Step Two: Give your ego a vacation We spend so much time with our own egos. We need to take separate vacations to allow something new to happen in our art. Pack your ego’s getaway bag with everything it needs to survive; fear, self-doubt, judgment, and your personal hang-ups, and send it somewhere warm and sunny for a while. It can be challenging to dismiss what people think of your performance (or of you personally). Artists have egos, some larger than others. Your ego can be a great tool when the art is finished. It can help you market yourself, brag about your last great review, audition for that intimidating company, or talk about your work to strangers in the gallery. All of those are excellent outlets for your ego’s special skills. But our pushy, worrisome ego has no place in our creative time. Ego can hinder us with judgment and fear, which can shape our work into false forms. The need to shock, please, flatter, laugh, delight – all of these egobased needs can influence our work if we allow it. How to find your Creator State page 10

If we are worrying about how we look on stage, or if our art will shake the audience enough to make us memorable, or if our dance shows off our best moves, how can we create? We have to turn off the nonsense that our egos are obsessed with, and have some fun with our art. Be present with your creative energy alone, without your ego’s watchful eye. Give it your complete attention. Ego will return soon enough, and you can tell it all about what you did while it was away.

Step three: Remove doubt Doubt is the block to end all blocks. This is the most difficult hurdle standing between you and the rich experience of your Creator State. The egoless activity you are about to engage in may attract nagging, relentless doubts. They may look like this: • I should be more (insert any judgmental adjective here: crazy, free, quiet, bold, loud, mysterious, wild, talented, attractive, smart, abstract). • I can’t feel anything, I’m a hack. • I am not going to change the world, why bother. • It’s just a small performance, I can skate through this one. • My art is never going to sell. • I can’t create anything new, everything has been done to death. You get the idea. Doubt comes in many forms, and loves to grab us at that last second before we cross over to our Creator State. Doubt is a product of your ego and your personal experience, and needs a serious ass-kicking if you’re ever going to find something magical in your work. How to find your Creator State page 11

Creating with doubt’s influence can lead to ego-pandering and obsessive crowd-pleasing art. This is dangerous to the true message you are here to share, and only helps greedy profit-driven predators to manipulate the creative population. Fight the good fight and dismiss your doubts as soon as possible.

Step Four: Select a supportive environment After the homework is done, after the ego and doubt removal are complete, you are ready to give this new sensation a go. Your first venture can be alone or with others, as long as you are in a supportive, safe environment. Try to make your first attempt a rehearsal, not opening night or when you have a deadline. Not for your first time. You need as little stress as possible. You may want to try it alone to ease your self-consciousness. It depends on your medium and what the wise Julia Cameron calls your “vein of gold”. Use whatever your strong suit is for creating, in the medium where your most passionate work has been crafted. It will be much easier to find your Creator State in your most productive medium. Most of us have a few areas where we shine. Pick the one you love the most.

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If you’re in a rehearsal situation with others, you might want to mention to your director or conductor that you’ll be experimenting. Or mention it to a colleague. While you won’t be straying from the structure of the piece, you’ll want to be able to take action on impulses you receive while in your Creator State. It completely depends on your situation. Use your common sense; some companies or circumstances are more flexible than others. Don’t worry that people will notice; you’re not going to become possessed by the art spirits and do something crazy (unless your character or piece calls for it). Trust the creative process and free yourself up for some fun.

Hold on: You may be wondering… What about the script? The score? The choreography? My series of architectural photos? Rest easy, the goal of your piece stays intact. The state of consciousness we are talking about is a level above the base mechanics of plot, scene, or subject. Most artists have a goal in mind when working. You are typically trying to create “something”. Even if it’s an improv or a painting and you don’t know where it will lead, you still want to create something in a given amount of time. It’s what you do with that act of creation which is unique. Once you understand the basic technical aspects of your craft, then you can take steps toward the Creator State. The roadmap of plot, score, or choreography is the journey. Your interpretation of that journey is where the Creator State comes into play.

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Inspiration will come more naturally and frequently as you take the steps in this guidebook. Some folks I know can rock a cold reading right out of the box. That is a talent. But the deeper connections of the Creator State can be just as easy to summon up at a moment’s notice if we familiarize ourselves with how to get there.

Step Five: Breathe Take a moment to open yourself to what your art, the piece you are about to express, wants. If it existed without you, what would it look like, feel like, sound like? What would the universe want to say through this art? Let the channels open between you, the art, and the creative consciousness. Let the creative consciousness connect with you. The key is to practice an open communication with the creative mind, without forcing an outcome. Allow yourself to not know what will happen. Don’t control it. Don’t push for a certain outcome or your agenda; don’t force the work to be a certain way. A preparatory ritual can help. It may be as simple as a prayer or mantra asking for guidance, or a more complex physical and emotional relaxation. Whatever makes you feel connected to the calm place in your soul where art resides. How to find your Creator State page 14

I keep mentioning calm, because you want to work from a centered place. Be peaceful with your expression: don’t bully it, force it, or beg it to give you something new. Those are all effects of your mind and ego.

Step Six: Create with abandon Open up your creative channels. Forget yourself and live as your creation. See what happens. It should feel joyous. Create with abandon. You may feel these sensations: • the presence of the art within yourself • an expansion of your awareness • the energy of the art growing around you, and your own energy expanding to meet it • subtle inspirations coming to you; new insights, new thoughts • joy or excitement These are the beginnings of your Creator State. Allow these sensations to grow. Can you detect the shift to your creative consciousness? Trust yourself and keep going. Know this: you can’t do it wrong, you’re an artist. As long as you are not harming anyone in your pursuit, forge on. How to find your Creator State page 15

You might psych yourself out during the first few encounters. “There it is!” your mind will exclaim, and kill the moment. That is natural. You are working against the strong forces of ego and doubt. It takes time to learn to get into your Creator State, and it takes practice to learn how to maintain it.

Step Seven: Surrender to the art The switch from being creative to being a creator is magical. When you allow the natural forces of art to enter your creative process, everything changes. Let your art speak to you, guide you, tell you its secrets. Allow the mysteries of your own creativity to entice you to go further. Surrender. Radiate gratitude as the inspirations come to you. Send silent thank-yous to the art as you create. The creative consciousness will send them back to you a thousandfold. Trust the flow of creativity. Your consciousness will conduct the necessary images, words, movements and music from the collective consciousness. You are conducting the pure vibration of your creation from the collective. When you trust your creativity at this level, you open the the channels of possibilty. How to find your Creator State page 16

Are we there yet? You will feel it when you get there. While different artists have varying degrees of sensation, everyone I have encountered or spoken to about the feeling of the Creator State agrees there is a sensation attached with it. It may not be as euphoric as the characters in my novel, or my musician friend who had an out-of-body moment, but it is definitely different than everyday inspiration. It sometimes feels a bit like grace. Calming and loving. It also feels like a complete creation experience, rather than an imitation or interpretation of life.

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I remember going to a very intense show to see a friend of mine. He had obviously entered his Creator State that evening. It was an incredible performance, absolutely riveting. I waited for him after the show, and he approached me with a knowing smirk. His look said that he had experienced the state of consciousness I had described to him the month before. I embraced him and said, “Welcome to the family.” He replied, “Now I get it!” You know it when you get there. It already exists within you, it’s your natural gift as an artist. The Creator State is just waiting for its moment to be welcomed.

The final step Every artistic expression wants a life of its own, a moment to exist, to be alive. Some pieces or performances are going to vibrate with that specific niche where you discover a freedom to create, a knowing, your true talent. Tap into your talents and discover something new within yourself. Don’t demand to feel something astounding, or to create something amazing. An intense connection to your Creator State may not happen every time, every show, every film, every composition. Some pieces will resonate with your soul more than others. Find where your talents are strongest, where they bring you the most connection. Some painters thrive when composing abstracts but feel restricted in classical landscapes. When you discover your specific niche within your medium, you will discover freedom. Allow the art to live through you. This is your Creator State. How to find your Creator State page 18

Why use the Creator State? Reason #1 There is enough mediocrity in the arts and entertainment world. Show us the real thing! Good art is contagious; spread a killer outbreak of brilliance! Reason #2 You have a unique interpretation to share with the world. You don't know who your work will affect; art is mystical in this way. You cannot spend time trying to create for the "right" people or audience. Your soul is the right audience. The key is to trust that the universe will work through us for the greater good. And the more artists we have out there creating for the greater good, the stronger our impact will be on the future. Reason #3

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Creativity can be a powerful tool. New possibilities are being revealed for the power of creative thought. This is a time of transformation. You can see the rapid changes happening in the world. You can help create a better future with your art. Sound too ambitious? Maybe for the average citizen, but you are an artist. Set your doubts aside and feel the change vibrating in your life.

Possibilities Who hasn't been moved by a work of art? The film that makes you weep, the painting that delights your senses, or the symphony that stirs your soul? When an art form is witnessed, the observer's reality is momentarily altered. In these acts of creation, an artist is able to alter the observer's reality for that moment. This brings us to the power of intention. We know it works. There are several organizations proving it works remarkably (and measurably) well. I’m dedicating my next eBook to case studies with these groups, and exploring the more scientific applications of the Creator State (read about this on my Web site). As artists, we exercise our creative muscles regularly. This should enable us to be stronger candidates for using the power of intention. If artists can create a temporary shift in reality, altering an audience's perception of the truth, could a group of artists tapped into the Creator State, simultaneously concentrating on making a particular change in our world, manifest a permanent shift in reality? Why couldn’t we create a more balanced planet with some focused creative thought? How to find your Creator State page 20

If this type of creative activity interests you, I encourage you to connect with other artists. Sign up for my newsletter to get more information and updates.

Empower yourself When you exercise your creative muscles, you are strengthening the position of artists in the collective creative consciousness. Adding your own work to the existing body of work allows creative minds to grab a few more seats in the great hall of collective thought. The more positive thought we create in our art, the more we add to the collective conversation, and the stronger our influence will be on the future. No act of creation goes unnoticed. Whether it's a sculpture made in your quiet studio or a monologue rehearsed to an empty theater, your expression activates the law of attraction. Like attracts like. Your art magnetizes more creativity to your creative power with each action you take. It broadens your creative bandwidth. And what could be better than keeping those creativity channels wide open? Remember to:

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• Create regularly: Make the time and create something. • Forget your ego and work without doubt. • Get into your Creator State, and if you haven't found it yet, keep trying. • Share your art. Your gifts will affect people, and they will affect others. • Find artists to collaborate with. It keeps you motivated. Every act of artistic expression benefits you as an artist. Every act of expression adds thought energy to the collective creative consciousness. One art form spawns ideas for another art form. We're all connected through the collective consciousness. Your work may inspire many others, and you have to trust that is always worth the effort and time. Create for yourself, for others, and for the future.

I hope this ebook has inspired you in some way. When you discover your Creator State, please write and tell me about it. Feedback and comments welcome at [email protected] More material on the Creator State, Sandra Walter, and Creative Evolution available at www.sandrawalter.com Art is life; keep creating!

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