The Seattle Artist's Way Center

I get delighted by lights this time of year.

Dec. 1 hits and I start rummaging around my bins for my classic small white lights and up they go, strewn around anything that will hold them up (knitting needles – “sure, why not!?” Lights around lamps?, “yup, sounds good!”;).

Maybe it’s just the darkness of the season in the Pacific Northwest, the desire for coziness and maybe even to conjure up the warmth that I picture is deep cell encoded of recollection of fires in the homestead my grandparents and great grandparents experienced.

Maybe it’s more than that?

At the end of our 12 week Artist’s Way classes, we have a little fun with a classic song “This Little Light of Mine” (I’m going to let it shine.) That song seems to encapsulate in 12 words what we are trying to get in touch with over 12 weeks. Can I allow myself to explore what calls to me, tickles me, intrigues me? And once I explore it, can I allow myself to let myself mess around, goof around, noodle around with it and allow for whatever comes out of it to shine?

Recently, I was curious about the origins of the song This Little Light of Mine so did a little research. It’s still a little unsure who was the original author of the song but there can be no doubt that it has captured the imagination and musical passion of many amazing musicians including Odetta singing with the Harlem Boys Choir on Letterman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yrB7ePz5CM ; or Bruce Springsteen singing it live in Dublin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0qAYq1GVec, Sister Rosetta Tharpe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj3fpujjFis. Watching each of these amazing performances, I get so excited watching them shine THEIR light that it makes me want to follow along in the conga line of light sharing.

As I head into holiday gift giving, I can feel overwhelmed with the “What would SHE/HE want?!”

This year is different.

I thought “Wait a minute, what if I think about what is in THEM that shines a light and find something that would foster their gifts and talents so they can SHINE some more!”

It freed me up. Big time.

So what might be that for those in your life?

How do they shine their light?

What do you see in them that SHINES … maybe it’s something they don’t even see in themselves?

Do they have a snazzy way of dressing?

Do they love to sculpt, draw, sing, dance?

Does their heart sing when they garden?

I enjoy looking at Christmas’ long ago and some stand out more than others. Our family had the traditional “stand in front of the tree” family photos and most of them look like we are being held photo hostage just waiting for the “click” to happen so we can get back to the fun.

Except for one photo.

It’s my cowboy brother staging a stick-up with me in the role of the stick-up-ee.

I love that photo. It was one of the first times I remember thinking “I love whatever this is (acting).”

That love of acting stayed buried for many years but eventually popped back up at age 40 (it’s NEVER too late to explore your creativity!).

I’ve had a blast exploring it ever since then.

I’m so grateful my mom took on the role of director and said “Hey, what if you guys …”

Indeed, “What if?”

What if we saw each other’s lights and honored and fostered them.

In doing just that, I see a very MERRY Christmas ahead of us.

P.S. We think our Winter 2022 Artist's Way Classes via Zoom make a GREAT Christmas gift! If you're not able to gift a class, consider giving Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way book to a loved one. It can foster their creativity in amazing ways!

WARMLY,

Kate