Cultivating creativity by changing things up

I walk through my local woods most days, often sticking to the same paths and routes on autopilot. But recently, due to some nearby roadworks that made for a tricky pedestrian crossing, I’ve been starting my woodland walk differently and in reverse. And today, I spotted something I had never seen before: a treeman! Someone had fixed two eyes, a nose and a mouth with moustache to the top of one of the tree trunks.

Mr Tree looks rather whimsical and I couldn’t help but smile. I wonder how long he’s been there – quietly watching over his fellow trees and all the wildlife above and below ground. Had he been there all along, unseen because I was always walking the other way? He reminded me of the Green Man from folklore – a mysterious, leafy face often found in old churches and carvings, said to symbolise renewal and the cycle of growth. Anyway, this unexpected sight got me thinking about creativity…

Finding inspiration in unexpected places

What inspired someone to add those facial features to the tree? If I'm honest, it’s technically a form of vandalism but it did make me pause, look up and smile. Why did they do it? And when? Was it simply a creative pursuit, something just for fun and to brighten someone day or something else? Perhaps it was a newish fixture, connected to springtime or the Spring Equinox?

Today, changing my usual route allowed me to see new things – as they often do. Mr Tree gave me a new outlook, a different perspective and I felt like a different part of my mind was at work. It reminded me of drawing with your non-dominant hand, which I experimented with during my art and design education. The technique freeing up my creativity and flow, helping to express things more freely and simply.  

I realised: by stepping outside of our usual patterns, we create space for new ideas and insights to flow more freely.

Tapping into creativity and intuition

One of my favourite ways to nurture my creativity right now is through Morning Pages – a practice coined by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. As soon as you wake, you grab a notebook and pen and write your thoughts. Whatever pops into your head. Stream of consciousness. Three full pages (yes, your hand will hurt by the end!).

I don't do Morning Pages every day. Some mornings are too busy when I have a full client day ahead. But I always notice the difference when I make time for them. They seem to tap into a different part of my brain. And perhaps my heart and soul, too. Writing like this helps me access my intuition, clear my mind and sometimes even answer my own questions. It’s as though I'm giving myself kindness and guidance as if I were talking to a friend.

Sometimes I’m venting my worries – getting the ‘shitty committee’ out of my head. And sometimes I’m uncovering ideas from my ‘inner wise cheerleader’. Either way, it helps me download my thoughts, like reorganising computer files to find clarity and calm for the day ahead.

How I’m nurturing creative flow

Over the coming weeks and months, I’m hoping to explore more ways to nourish my creativity alongside daily walks and journalling:

Forest bathing and/or a foraging walk, perhaps exploring herbal medicine and gaining a deeper understanding of the healing power of the natural world. 

Planting my garden – I’m currently preparing a south-facing raised bed for planting and seeking advice from the incredibly lovely Rowan Ambrose. I’d like scented flowers and herbs and vibrant summer flowers like dahlias for cutting, alongside some hardy, low-maintenance plants. Plus a veggie or two. We’re patiently waiting to see if we’ll have fox cubs in our garden again this year. For the last two springs, we’ve been blessed with gorgeous little visitors who live under our shed and come out at night to play with their siblings and practice their hunting skills. 

Creating Pinterest boards packed with beautiful inspiration to help both my clients and myself when dreaming up website designs!

Taking myself on an Artist Date inspired by Julia Cameron. Perhaps to Bath for an art exhibition, a mooch around the Botanical Gardens and the Urban Garden, finishing with a book author talk at Toppings book shop (such a stunning book shop!).

Picking up a pencil and drawing again – since my degree in illustration, I’ve rarely drawn by hand and it feels like a little hurdle to overcome. But I’d love to start with flowers (surprise, surprise!).

Yoga nidra classes with my dear friend and client Emma Graham at Permission to Rest to support inner wisdom, stillness and reflection – a primer of sorts for creativity, ideas and inner-wisdom.

Cooking recipes from my folder – over the years, I've torn out pages from magazines and collected recipes I’ve never quite got round to making. And recently, I’ve been choosing one to try each week. It feels so satisfying to sort and reorganise my folder as I go. Last week I made a marmalade and sultana loaf cake – so delicious I’m making it again soon! Let me know if you'd like the recipe.

Reading – I joined Ruth Ridgeway’s $1 book club where we’re reading four memoirs over the course of the year. Aside from that I currently have three non-fiction books on the go –  Rootbound by Alice Vincent, A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater (a lovely one to dip in and out of), and Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer.

Attending a calligraphy workshop or other creative workshop. Paper marbling or pressed flowers, like I used to do as a kid.

What inspires you?

I'd love to know what sparks and fuels your creativity. How do you find those moments of inspiration? Whether it’s a walk in the woods, trying a new recipe or slowing down to notice the beauty in our day-to-day life, it’s all part of the creative flow.

And if you’re looking for ways to bring more creativity into your work – or dreaming of a soulful, aligned website – I’d love to chat.