What’s Up with The Artist’s Way Anyway?

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So you’ve probably heard of The Artist’s Way before, and if you haven’t, it’s likely crossed your path a time or two without you realizing it. It’s one of those books that people mention over the years and you shrug it off. It’s also one of those books you can read over and over because there are so many little nuggets that hit home and feel so right. They feel encouraging and validating. They speak to the part of you that knows you’re a magic superstar but haven’t quite figured out how to admit it to yourself yet.

Every time you revisit it, you see something new. You notice how the words hit differently now, with a more seasoned understanding. You realize you’ve grown since the last time, and somehow this new version of you grows a little more again. Once The Artist’s Way is on your radar, you start noticing that so many of the artists and creators you admire have read it too. They quote it, they reference it, they live by it. It’s a seminal, mammoth of a book, and it will change you if you let it.

What Is The Artist’s Way Like?

The structure of The Artist’s Way feels a bit like a recovery program. Each week you read a chapter, reflect, and dig deeper into what might be keeping you from doing the thing you’re truly, beautifully meant to do. You can read or listen (it’s on Spotify), but trust me, you’ll want the physical book. You’ll want to highlight, underline, and scribble in the margins. You’ll want to talk about what you’re discovering with others, because this work is rich and thought-provoking and sometimes hard to sit with alone.

That’s why I always recommend reading it in community. It’s powerful to process and share with others, to have cheerleaders, sounding boards, and companions along the way.

Julia Ain’t Perfect

Now, let’s be honest, it’s not a perfect book. It was written in the 90s by a woman of great privilege, and sometimes that shows. Some people find those moments hard to stomach. Others acknowledge them, roll their eyes a little, and move on, because the wisdom underneath is still deeply nourishing when you interpret it through your own life and context.

All of this is to say: Each year I gather a small group of thoughtful, creative humans to walk through The Artist’s Way together this winter. We’ll meet regularly to talk about the readings, share our revelations and frustrations, and support each other as we unblock what’s been stuck.

It starts in January, right when you’re ready to turn over a new leaf, and runs through April, just in time to launch into your dreamy, creative spring. The gathering is limited to 8 people to keep it cozy and meaningful.

If you’ve been feeling the tug to start something, to wake something up, or to remember the artist you used to be, this might be exactly what you need.