I’m trying to do it differently this time because last time (I wrote a novel) it was like carrying an 80 pound pack while walking on a beach in the pouring rain (if you’ve ever backpacked on sand, you know what I mean) or trying to talk politics with my dad (Daddy, you know now we agreed, down deep? That’s one of the things you got to learn in heaven, right?)

Since this month at the Comfort Cafe we’ve been talking about daily rituals, it got me thinking about creating a ritual for writing my novel.

First I thought about the ritual needed to do, what its purpose would be.

• To help me hold the writing lightly – what Mark calls “writing on the muse stream” so I don’t get mired in perfection and drown the story in that
• Make a heart commitment to write deeply and truly and to let myself care madly about this story
• Keep moving the story forward and
• Refuse to burden the story with my dreams of grandeur

My Morning Writing Ritual is Born

The night before I turn off email and Twitter (practice starts the night before).

When I go up to my studio in the morning, I light two candles made by Carla. One candle has a writing quote on it by me and the other is from a dear client and represents my wish that my work radiate good into the world.

I prop up a copy of a Harry Potter book to my right to symbolize my desire to have fun and keep the story moving forward.

On the ledge to my left is a postcard of the Medicine Buddha held in place by a small green wooden mouse from my childhood – to represent discernment and listening to my intuition about what to write.

On my desk is a blue glass container filled with owl feathers from a hike near Point Reyes. These represent magic, what I want to touch in my writing.

I do a little Shiva Nata.

I put in headphones and listen to music to help me concentrate – I especially like Gaia by the Monroe Institute.

Then I write without much editing, stopping when I get stuck to breath and listen to what word or idea wants to come, letting the props and music hold and support me.

I’m thinking about sharing more on my process and even some of what I’m writing here, so stay tuned.

What helps you create with more ease and trust, less fear? I’d love to hear!