Posted: May 4, 2024   •   Posted in: Community, Reflections

On creativity

Fundamental to all

I have always been very creative. In truth I spend time each day working on a project, and I have several in hand.  Like many children I really enjoyed arts and crafts and as I became an adult I never stopped; it feels like something fundamental to my nature.  I would even hazard it is something fundamental to all of us, though often expressed in different ways.  Over the years I have introduced many people, both children and adults to the joys of crafting. This has partly been a response to my thinking that it is a basic talent we all have.

Setting up a Friendly Craft Group

Setting up a craft group for Friends was part of this lifelong project. I am glad to say many people have commented on how enjoyable it has been, even if they have not tried crafting before.  Of course, there is no pressure to take part and often options to choose from. Anyone is welcome to sit, watch and join in conversation if that is how they would like to take part; there is no pressure to produce something.

A spiritual component

My thoughts concerning creativity are not limited to giving people something pleasurable to do. I have long felt it to be something that has a spiritual component. Indeed the act of creating could become something with great spiritual depth.

This is partly based on my view that creativity is central to human nature.  Even seemingly mundane activities such as creating a meal, choosing your best outfit for an event, or decorating your home may be seen as creative actions.  Of course, we can look at the extensive breadth of human creativity and also marvel at people’s incredible talent.  Creating something new may echo stories of a Divine Being bringing the whole of creation into existence. If these stories hold creativity is such high regard, maybe we should too?  There are countless practices in various religions that place a spiritual value on creativity – from Rangoli patterns in Hinduism, to Buddhist Mandalas painstakingly created with coloured sand, only to be eventually swept away as a sign of impermanence.

The development of inhibition

To observe the truly uninhibited when it comes to creativity, you only need to spend time with children.  Children love to create items and will do so at length and with great focus.  Then comes an age when they decide they are either good at it or not, and many abandon creative projects.  I would like to see adults just pause for a moment and ask themselves if classroom experiences or similar have left them excluding themselves from something they may enjoy.

Just do it

So my message is simple, if you think you are not creative – maybe think again and why not have a go at something.  In doing this you maybe discover something not only enjoyable but spiritually insightful.

Gina (Beccles Quakers)