One of the goals I've set myself for my 101 Things in 1001 Days is 15-minutes a day of "chair and stare" time for a month. I started today. Actually, I started on Wednesday and then quickly fell of the chair. So I've started again today.I read an article ages ago that said Picasso found chair and stare time absolutely crucial to his creative process. I searched for a reference for this today, with no luck whatsoever! Now the key, of course, isn't being in a chair. It's taking that time to just be with your own thoughts, look out at the world, experience the moment. When I was a girl, I did this all the time, barefoot and looking in the grass in our backyard or lying on my back and looking at the sky.
Now I find this a real challenge. I start making lists in my head, planning, organizing. I get bored. I get restless. I get tired. I thinking about all the things I should be doing. And that's why now, during this super busy period, I have decided to take on this task, to give myself some downtime, to see what shows up, to see where my mind meanders.
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7 comments:
Hi Jamie!
I used to do autogen-training every day for 20 minutes but now it´s really hard for me to stop doing anything for that long. I will give it a try - but I can feel my legs twitch just at the thought of keeping still for 15 minutes!
So glad you found my blog! I've been having problems with the host so...I guess your timing was perfect. This is a very good practice you are trying and I love your 101 things in 1001 days. So cool! I know you're super busy right now with certification etc. but I'd love to try one of your tarot coaching sessions when things ease up. Be well.
Way to go Jamie! I know how hard this must be, especially for you. Keep at it, it will get easier.
I started to really enjoy doing this kind of thing when I started calling it a brain break. I would say to myself, you mean I can just not worry for 15 minutes about anything? I can just relax and look at the sky? Wow!
Of course, I don't do it as often as I would like myself but you are inspiring me to stare into the trees from my bed today. I think I'll actually do that. Nothing better than listening to the birds.
Thank you so much for your kind comment on my blog! :)
Joy, annaxx
Hi Jamie! (Nice to see my "lady" in your post of a few days ago!) As for "chair and stare" I know I couldn't do it. I can't stand not having anything to do with my hands and mind. I'm restless. I'd be curious to read more about Picasso's process. I DO need staring time at intervals with a piece of art I'm making. I need to stop and stare at it for a while and decide how to proceed. Kind of like a conversation... "What do you need now, Painting?" But starting at nothing, I could do for maybe 12 seconds! How's it coming for you?
This is such a hard thing to do - sitting still for so long! I can't wait to see what you come up with. I bet you want to continue when your month is up!
i so admire you and your list and love hearing about how it is going. and i have to share my thought...maybe start with 15 seconds. i am not kidding. 15 minutes is a huge span of time (from this yoga teacher's perspective)...i will write more on this in an email.
i am working with a couple of minutes at a time right now and i have been teaching yoga for about 5 years. (hee, hee)
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