Thursday, June 14, 2012

Review: My Artist’s Way Toolkit

The My Artist's Way Toolkit is the online version of Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity. Like the book, the online tool kit presents a self-guided 12-week program which include daily and weekly exercises. These can be done online and offline and the expectation is that throughout these activities one will find the artist we all have hiding within us. Lastly it is important to mention that it is a subscription based program so there is a fee involved.

My favorite part of the program is the weekly 'Artist Dates'. I love that they are specific enough that I don't have to worry about the what when I'm writing. This week's prompt was "Go to a candy shop and buy yourself some of your favorite kind of childhood candy." It just so happens that I am in my native country and so this was a really fun one for me. I got tearful while writing about my favorite lollipops that my parents, who are now both gone, always used to buy for me. Writing about these lollipops was a wonderful exercise for my heart!

My least favorite part perhaps is the writing online, but after two weeks I have gotten used to it and actually enjoy it. I also like that I can do the exercises from everywhere since I always have my iPad or iPhone with me. If I only did these exercises in long hand then I probably would quickly fall behind since my journal stays at home. I find I do most of my creative writing while waiting in the carline at school- sad but true!

A note to keep in mind is that if you cancel your subscription they will keep your data for 60 days in case you change your mind. I love that!

This is a great toolkit for someone that needs help in self discovery, it's a great "wake-up" of sorts to get your creative juices going. We all go through dry periods and I think once in a while it's a great idea to try something new. I'd recommend this as I find that for me it's been a great tool!

Please join me at the BlogHer Book Club page HERE for more discussions about the My Artist's Way Toolkit.

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.