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Take
fifteen minutes a day to mentally tend your imagination
garden. Just before bed is often a good time. Because
the subconscious mind responds very well to ritual,
pick a special outfit to wear when going into your
creative garden. (Pajamas are fine, if they are
special.) Putting on special clothes will prime
your subconscious mind and put it into the receptive
mode.
Since
ancient times, all priests and holy men have worn
sacred clothing to illustrate that important, soulful
work is going on. (And they often looked like pajamas!)
By wearing a special garment when working, you get
all the creative circuits in your soul operating
and releasing into the ethers the best of your creativity.
 One
thing I have learned over time is that to really
engage my imagination, it helps to do something
physical to boost it. I boost my own imagination
by engaging all of my senses in this creativity
ritual.
First,
I put on my sacred kimono (a Japanese wraparound
kimono from Chinatown), and I tell my subconscious
mind that I am going into my imagination garden.
I bring a notebook and pen. Next, I light incense
and candles. My favorite incense is copal, because
it has a rich, earthy smell and was used in ancient
temple blessings. My candles are beeswax, but only
because I like beeswax candles!
Then
I play special meditation music. I have several
favorite CDs that have natural sounds of birds,
running water, wind breezes with flute accompaniment.
The music sets the ambiance I need to start dreaming.
When
I have created the proper ambiance, I close my eyes
and meditate on my Heart's Desire. I try to envision
it as a movie that I am starring in, rather than
simply watching from afar. I enjoy my creative movie
for a few moments, then open my eyes. Finally, I
write down what I want to create, and then I read
it back, out loud.
This
entire ritual takes fifteen to twenty minutes,
and I enjoy it so much that I look forward to it
every day. Try creating your own imagination garden.
There is no "proper" way to do this. Trust
your natural instincts
and allow yourself to invent your ritual with a
sense of childlike play. Don't censor your dream
or try to downscale it to realistic size.
The imagination is where all invention is born,
and it needs to be unleashed with sensuality and
abandon. By doing this, you will create the necessary
passion to set your dream in motion.
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