Big magic: Creative living beyond fear

by Elizabeth Gilbert

This month we will be reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. In this book Elizabeth Gilbert offers “potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration”. She invites us to be curious and open about the creative process and encourages us to let go of our preconceived notions about what creative living looks like or what it should be. She shows us what it takes to live a creative life and what we can do to start right now. “Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.”

I chose this book because I found it incredibly inspiring. Just like she did in her earlier book Eat. Pray. Love., Elizabeth Gilbert once again tackles some deep spiritual questions related to inspiration and creativity with humor, pragmatism, and respect. I often forget how essential creativity is to our lives and view it is an indulgence, an after-thought. She makes a point that creativity allows us to live an “amplified life”. She says that “it’s a bigger life, a happier life, and expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.” She states that creativity allows you to both “bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you,” and to temporarily step out of yourself. She writes: “We all need something that helps us forget ourselves for a while – to momentarily forget our age, our gender, our socioeconomic background, our duties, our failures, and all that we have lost and screwed up.[…] Perhaps creativity’s greatest mercy is this: By completely absorbing our attention for a short and magical spell, it can relieve us temporarily from the dreadful burden of being who we are.”

This approach echoes the main point of yoga, which is ultimately about shedding all those labels that we define ourselves by, and being able to see the essence of who we are underneath it all. From that perspective, both yoga and creative living can accomplish the same goal of breaking identifications, if used appropriately.

I hope this sounds interesting to you, please read the book and join our discussion!

To get a better idea about the book please check out this lovely interview:

Elizabeth Gilbert & Marie Forleo on Fear, Authenticity and Big Magic