Where is my mind?
“With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick, and spin it
(yeah)
Your head’ll collapse if there’s nothing in it
And you’ll ask yourself:
where is my mind? where is my mind? where is my mind?”
For myself, the process of creation has ebb and flow. Sometimes, my mind is brimming with ideas and possibilities. At other times, it feels like the ideas are damned up: there, but irretrievable.
I've spoken with many other artists about this, and it seems to be the norm. During those dry spells, I have to find the patience to let that reservoir refill, without forcing anything. But I cannot allow ideas to stagnate. It's a tricky balance; made trickier by the fact that it is a different balance every time.
What works for me is not dwelling on my own creativity, but to be inspired by what others have created. Specifically, too, artists who work outside of my own chosen medium. Music is a frequent go to for me. Different forms can really help me to either slow down or speed up my mind. Sometimes I need to create space within my own mind, but at others I need energy. Some songs attract me because of their lyrics, others because of the music itself. Some few attract me for both reasons.
The Pixies song I quoted here is one of the latter. I'm in love with the music, but sometimes, I really do wonder: where is my mind? I've been there lately. But I think just listening (admittedly obsessively) to this song is helping me to move closer to my creative shore.
So, no new pots to post today, but I can feel my creative reservoir refilling. So stay tuned! Also, I've included a link to a video set to "Where Is My Mind" that I quite like.