Meditation & Creativity: A Match Made in Heaven

I came to the Hamblin Centre in 2018 *1 (now The Hamblin Vision - online) as a creative writer in residence, looking for answers. I was a writer that struggled to write. This may sound odd, but it’s a very common problem amongst writers. At the time, Creativity was some elusive being that liked to play hide and seek. She was mortally afraid of my inner critic, and together, in some bizarre, unwanted double act, they made it as hard as possible for me to write. I’d be inspired by a word, an image or something I’d seen on a walk and I’d think to myself, there’s a poem waiting to be written. I’d take out my notebook and pen, put the pen to the page and…nothing. Creativity had disappeared. Then, something. Ah, there she was again. Then I’d look at ‘the something’ and my inner critic would sit down beside me and say ‘That’s rubbish, cross it out. Write it again. But better this time.’ Oh. Ok, I’d say. I’d cross out, I’d try to write it better. But somehow it always came out worse. This really seemed to spur my inner critic on: ‘Wow, this is going well. You might have a poem by the end of the year.’ Creativity would be so wounded by my inner critic that she disappeared, refusing, quite naturally, to come back that day. In the end, my inner critic was such a strong presence that Creativity refused to come back at all. Writing was fraught was tension, negativity and frustration. I wanted to write but I didn’t want to write. I was at war with myself and I had no idea how to find peace.

My Creative Writing master’s required me to be a creative writer in residence and I knew I wanted to find somewhere that promoted healing. I had never felt more in need of this and hoped to help others in search of inner peace as I tried to find it myself. As soon as I walked into the Hamblin Centre (now The Hamblin Vision, online), I felt a sense of calm, of welcome. I felt at home in the gardens, and I fell in love with the meditation sanctuary. I knew I needed to be there, but I wasn’t sure what form my project would take at that stage. I had a look through the classes offered and saw a meditation group which sparked an immediate interest. I had meditated before, but always found it difficult. However, I felt very strongly that this was my starting point and this was the space to resume my journey with meditation. I felt safe enough to sit with myself there.

I won’t pretend it was easy for me. At times, it felt almost unbearable. However, through meditation, I realised that to sit comfortably with myself, I had to understand my inner critic. I had to meet them, really meet them, and allow them to have a voice. This is how the relationship between meditation and writing began. I would meditate, often drawn to breath focused meditation, and whatever came up in my meditation would be written down. I began to explore the connection between meditation and creativity through various books which opened up a world of possibility. I discovered whole books on the connection between the two, packed full of exercises that united both practices. I sat week after week in the meditation sanctuary or gardens, with often only the rain and trees for company, and I actually began writing again. I didn’t always like what I wrote. I didn’t always find it comfortable. But I was writing. Creativity realised it was safe for her to come out more. Some solo sessions weren’t fraught at all, but abundant with compassion and an ability to see things just as they are, and importantly, to be ok with that.

I see poems everywhere and whilst I may not always write them, life takes over sometimes, I know they’re there. I know I can write them. Creativity and I have built trust. My inner critic and I have come to an understanding. Thanks to meditation, I am now a writer who can write.

When you feel ready, find a safe space and try it out for yourself using the exercise below. I’d love to know how you get on. Please do feel free to email lottie@mantimoon.co.uk to let me know!

You can visit  https://www.mantimoon.co.uk/mindscape/ for details on how to be part of my online meditation and writing group. For further workshops uniting writing and wellbeing please visit: https://www.thehamblinvision.org.uk/online-events.

15-20 Minute Meditation & Writing Exercise: The Square

-          Release anxiety

-          Increase calm

-          Open your mind

-          Allow creativity in

Settle in your comfiest spot – this can be lying down or sitting – floor or chair – outside or in. Etc. This is your meditation. Wherever you choose to be, there is no right or wrong. Once you are settled, allow your eyes to close or gaze softly at a spot in front of you. Find a sense of stillness as you turn your attention to your breath. Allow it to gently flow in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don’t try to change it in any way, just observe it for a few minutes. In and out. In and out. If uncomfortable thoughts arise, allow them to pass like a cloud in the sky, observing, but not interacting. Return to your breath. In and out. In and out.  

I’d now like you to focus your mind on the image of a square. Once you have this image firmly in your mind, breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Imagine that your breath is travelling along one of the lines of your square. Now hold your breath for a count of four and follow the adjoining line of your square in your mind. Breathe out for a count of four, travelling along the third line of your square. Now hold your breath for a count of four, following the final line of your square. Repeat this for a few minutes, breathing in calm and breathing out tension.

Allow your breathing to return to normal and mindfully take up your pen for a six minute freewrite that explores the square in your meditation. There is no right or wrong, just write whatever comes to mind, free from self-censorship. Don’t allow your pen to stop, even if you don’t know what to write. Return to the phrase ‘still writing’ until something in your mind gives. Harness the energy of your ‘first thoughts’* – let them do the talking without internal editing. If your inner critic shows up, allow them to sit with you. Tell them you understand. Tell them it’s ok. Keep writing.

Once your freewrite has come to an end, underline or circle any phrases or words that you are particularly drawn to – anything that surprises or sparks your interest. Now use these words or phrases as inspiration for writing a free verse poem. Be kind to yourself as you write your first draft, let it come out as it wants to come out. There is time for editing later. This is the time to allow your creativity and instinctive responses to lead. If your inner critic shows up, allow them to sit with you. Tell them you understand. Tell them it’s ok. Keep writing.

* (1) The Hamblin Centre is in the process of being sold to a new buyer, but the charitable work of the Hamblin Trust is continuing online, operating as The Hamblin Vision.

* (2) Phrase coined by Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing down the bones.