Customer Reviews

The Artist Inside: A Spiritual Guide to Cultivating Your Creative Self

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Topic intrigues me, but I was disappointed in this volume. The author has grabbed a lot of different theories from art therapy, spirituality, and shamanic practices, but the synthesis doesn't ring true. The exercises seem stiff and lifeless and it seemed that the author was stretching ideas to make them fit the points he wanted to make. The book itself was not aesthetically pleasing, is rather *pop* in its presentation which also deters from its message. I felt like I was being sold a future workshop series by the author. Many of the topics discussed in this book are better expressed in other books such as Trust the Process by McNiff, the Mission of Art by Grey, Art Therapy Sourcebook by Malchiodi, and Art is a Way of Knowing by Allen. I recommend these books as paths to the *artist inside* for those who want to explore the idea of art as healing.

Whether we recognize ourselves as artists or not, our inner dream artist is inviting us on a path of self-exploration, spiritual deepening, creative expression, and self-healing. Tom Crockett offers sacred perspectives and practical tools which link the creativity, inspiration, and ceremony of journeying, making art, and perceiving our inner and outer experiences. The process invites us into the sacred realm that dwells within each of us and all around us, as well.

In his own words, Tom says, "... there is no way I can convince you logically and rationally that objects can have spirit or energetic consciousness. What I can do, on the road to helping you develop a spiritual practice around art, is to help you shift to an energetic way of perceiving the world. It is through the technique of vision-shifting that I believe you will come to agree with me that objects can, indeed, have spirit." This book holds invaluable keys for everyone -- especially for those in touch with, and those wishing to be in touch with, the inner artist, dreamer, therapist, and spiritual guide.