Many of us who identify as “creative types” see ourselves as generators—people who make new things, whether they’re worlds made of words or pictures made of paint or objects made of natural elements. If asked about our work, we might point to or describe things that exist in the material world, artifacts that represent the transformation of our ideas into a physical form. The more harmonious, provocative, or “beautiful” (however you or your culture define that) your creations are, the more valuable you are as a creator.
There is a lot of good that comes from creating work—artistic or otherwise—that makes people pause, think, or otherwise feel good about themselves. But when we only focus on what we produce, we might be setting ourselves up for an imbalance in where we derive true meaning and nourishment in our lives and livelihood. Like many things in our society, creative work is increasingly judged by its monetary worth, by how many likes or follows it generates, or by other qualitative evaluations that give power to someone other than its creator. This commodification of art and creativity can be one of the reasons why we feel challenged in stepping into the role of a creative, or taking on creative work as an amateur—if it’s not going to earn you a six-figure salary or a prize, it’s not worth doing. As Lewis Hyde writes in The Gift, “The more we allow such commodity art to define and control our gifts, the less gifted we will become, as individuals and as a society.”
Lighting the Creative Spark Within
Changing the conversation about the value of creativity can happen on multiple levels, but one of the most important, and accessible, places to start is with yourself. I don’t mean assessing your own relationship to creative work and how it fits into your daily schedule, career goals, or other values—though that is important. What I mean is more literal. We can reclaim creativity by seeing ourselves—the nexus of cells and energy and so much unknown that we call our bodies—as beings who are defined by creation, and whose attention to transforming one thing into another not only determines our survival but can enable us to embody creativity in every moment we’re alive.
This understanding of the nature and purpose of our existence is fundamental to the definition of health per Ayurveda, the ancient holistic mind-body science that sees each life—human or otherwise—as a reflection and part of the intricate design of the whole universe. With that right there, we can appreciate what it means to be a creative being in the world; as nature constantly cycles through birth and death, so are we at the level of our atoms as well as the time period we call our “life.” Honoring this infinite capacity for creativity can take many forms, but what it always comes down to is ensuring that we have a strong digestive fire—or agni—at the center, ready to help us make sense of the foods, emotions, ideas, and experiences that define our sense of self.
In Ayurveda, having a strong and regular agni is always a priority because of its essential role in ensuring that our bodies receive nourishment and eliminate waste materials on a daily basis. It’s said that dysfunctional agni is actually the root cause of all disease! While this may seem crude, it’s important to point out in a discussion about creativity because 1) many creative people are so out of touch with their bodies that they’ve lost a connection to this vital function; and 2) maintaining one’s physical health through proper nutrition is the number one way to feel the focus, energy, inspiration, and enthusiasm you need to manifest your creative work in the world. This is how we “create” throughout our lives, no matter what our jobs or interests are—every time we eat, breathe, or have a conversation, we are transforming that information into our literal tissues that make up our bodies, as well as the emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that make up our spiritual and mental selves
We have other sources of intelligence, too. And they live in the body
Many of us believe that our creative output comes purely from our brains—the organ inside our skulls that fires orders to the body to sit, stand, chew, write, etc. The brain is definitely involved in our cognitive and other abilities, but as Western science is increasingly coming around to (and Eastern science has known for centuries), we have other sources of intelligence, too. And they live in the body—in the heart and in the gut. Connecting these three seats of the mind through Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle practices that spark the flame of agni therefore not only leave you more nourished and balanced in each of those areas—mind, body, and spirit—but will also reveal a new depth of inquiry and insight that the brain alone could never receive.
Check back next week for a continuation of Jennifer’s series exploring Ayurvedic rituals for creativity.
