I've only said this about one other book ever, but The Artist's Way actually did change my life. The book and program require commitment, but it's fun and enlightening. If you let it it can open your mind to your own ideas, creativity and possibilities.

I was hesitant at first to start it -- the requirements of three written pages every morning, an "artist's date" each week and going two whole weeks without books, magazines or tv.. well, I couldn't imagine that.

However, once I started in I was amazed at the changes. I was full of new ideas and ready to try anything. The synchronicity she talks about really does happen. The belief that if you take care of the quantity the "Creator" will take care of the quality. The morning pages became a great place to dump all the stuff in my way every day so I could focus on what was really important.

Each chapter includes exercises as well, and going back to childhood and figuring out who you respect, are jealous of, and what makes you really happy... well, it clued me in to a lot of what I actually wanted to do in my every day life.

I believed I could do things and started doing them. Applied for a job writing, submitted articles, started learning to play the violin, began working on papermaking and bookmaking. I finally felt like I could say, "Yes, I'm an artist."

The thing about this book that I think people might have trouble with -- there are a lot of references to God, the Creator, and even supernatural powers. For me this wasn't a problem, but a friend of mine did have difficulty with it. However once she figured out what she did believe she was able to get through it. I think that this can also be a good thing, since you have to think about your beliefs.

If you can make the commitment to the exercises, morning pages and artist's date the results are amazing.

If nothing else, reading deprivation week turns out to be a great time for spring cleaning and that always feels good.



Recommended: Yes