As I was finishing up my last writing project and preparing for this month’s Art of Writing retreat in Florence, I reflected on a time when I struggled more than ever one summer to juggle the business of being a mum and being a creative. I felt that need, that yearning to write, yet somehow never found the time to put words on paper. I was happy but there was constant low-level frustration. Do you feel that when you aren’t able to write?
Then, as so often happens, the Book Fairy came to visit. I call the books that find you Book Fairy gifts because I truly believe that fate places the right book before you at the right time. You don’t find Book Fairy books, they find you.
Such as The Rainbow Way: Cultivating Creativity in the Midst of Motherhood. I’m not mad about the title; in fact, I found the title such a put off I left The Rainbow Way on my bookshelf and ignored it for months. It’s also not what I would normally buy, especially now that my children are no longer babies. The book was a gift and one summer day, when I was thinking, “I’ll never have time to write so why bother even turning on my computer,” I started flicking through the pages of this beautifully thought out book.
In the middle of the book, author Lucy H. Pearce writes about The Crazy Lady. That wrathful, irritated, wild woman Crazy Lady inside all creatives. She is the loony bin female side of us, who erupts in anger when unable to create. She may appear once in a blue moon, or with the moon, but she will appear if the artistic, creative side of our character is suppressed.
Here are two quotes Pearce has gathered, among many, about The Crazy Lady:
As in all things there is great danger. If you don’t honour Crazy Woman, she might destroy you. – Lynn Andrews, author of Jaguar Woman
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I tried just waiting [until the children were older to be creative] but it was sending me slowly insane. I felt frustrated, trapped and resentful towards my husband who continued to pursue his interests. – Michelle
In The Rainbow Way Lucy explains, understands, honours and recognises The Crazy Woman. The realisation that The Crazy Lady exists for me was big. She is there lurking inside me, that irrational female persona, screaming to get out if I don’t express myself creatively. I definitely believe in The Crazy Lady.
Does the Crazy Man exist? Perhaps there is a Crazy Person that is inside all Creatives. But take heed, if you find life legitimately locks you out of your creative time, your Crazy Man or Woman will fight their way out. Reading this book helped me understand that I am not alone.
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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.