I can now blame someone else and there are very few who will argue with me. I'm sure by her bank account and its massive size, there are many, many, many like me who have been sucked into her web and have had havoc wrecked on them in the bargain.
And to think I paid money for this! Beware of this woman...
...Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way.I'm about to start my sixth week of this saga and journey. I will not bore you with the sordid details. Let's just say, when I picked the book up, I knew who I was; fairly certain was I of my abilities and direction.
Now, none of that is true for me. And, I seem to be getting more lost than found.
I would like to tell you that I highly recommend this book, but I'd be lying and you know I can't do that. Instead, I give you this warning: Do not read this book if you are happy with who you are and your talents. Do not read this book if you are one of the few blessed with the smugness of thinking you're all that plus a bag of chips.
Do not read this book if you're not willing to question most of what you thought about yourself.
And for the love of all that's holy, Do NOT read this book if you're not willing to consider that more might be out there for you than you had been willing to hope.
If you don't heed my advice, I do promise that Ms. Cameron will make you miserable and ruin your life, too.
The only bright spot in this nighmare is that I actually got a two-fer when I said yes to this group. Not only do I have Ms. Cameron to blame, I can also blame Kavindra of A Clear Path To Happy; it was she and her Kali loving ways that sucked me in.
And, I'm fairly certain that Ms. Cameron is the 21st century face of Kali the goddess who tears things up so they can be put back together to be the best ever.
They say in order to learn, you must be willing to forget everything you thought you knew. Holy crap, I hope I'm learning now. Either that or I've become the village idiot for nothing.
Do I know you?
Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka The Woman Who Does Not Know
29 comments:
LOL Holly!
I love your post and the ingenious way you have created curiosity and intrigue and desire to read a book that, quite frankly, scares the you-know-what out of me after reading your review.
You are sumthin' Miss Thang. I so love you.
LOL Holly - I love you - giggle snort. Don't ya love that? Thinking you are all good then - lightbulbs are turned on and well - not so much. I'm thinking I will tackle this one myself. I am always up for a good shake things up kinda read!! Hmmmmm!
Hugs and love, Sarah
LOL!! Don't you hate when that happens? :)
Just when I think I know me fully someone (usually an author) comes along and shakes me to my core!
I Love It!!
Chuckling here!
Holly, you call 'em like you see 'em.
I've started this book, get about a week or week and a half into it and then get distracted by life. ** sigh ** I have yet to make it as far as you have in the reading of this.
Now you've really got me wondering about this whole process, but I shall venture forth with the book again.
You do crack me up and I seriously doubt you will ever become the village idiot! :D
Hugs, Kathleen
oh Holly. I am on week 6 too but we have to keep going so she can put us back together again...
oh Holly. I am on week 6 too but we have to keep going so she can put us back together again...
Holly, thank you!!!!
I haven't bought into the Julia Cameron's, "The Artist's Way" but every where I look in the blososphere it's there. I don't know about you but I feel like sometimes these type books are are more a hindrance than a help and the only thing they enhance is the authors bank account. Any time I've bought into them I find at best a couple of helpful suggestions but the bulk of what you're buying is just or should be, common sense.
I remember taking a Human Growth and Development course years ago before I started my day care and every night I would come home and tell hubby something new that I had just learned was wrong with me. We would have a great laugh. Up until taking the course, I was perfectly fine and happy with "me" just the way I was.
Same with these self improvement books...if you don't think or feel a certain way, you need to have an adjustment.
For the most part I'm perfectly happy and enjoy my quiet little life the way I live it ...it isn't until someone points out that there must be something wrong with me because I don't go out a lot and socialize that I start to feel that maybe there is something wrong with me.
That really pisses me off.
While there's always room for improvement in everyone, being accepting and happy with what you
are is wonderful. Only I know me and I don't need a book to tell me what I should or shouldn't be.
So funny... I own the book - it felt so all or nothing, that I had a hard time trying to figure out what to take away from it without going "all in" (which isn't really an option for most people at any given time) I tried those morning pages and all it did was make me want to go back to sleep!
Village Idiot?!?!?! I think not!
Your post is a classic and should be printed as the forward to her next book-- You know like the warning label on cigarettes :-)
Your way with words is how I know you ain't broke baby! I'm impressed you've stuck to the journey. Keep up the good work. When you're all finished let us know and we'll throw you a virtual "re-birthday" party.
xoxoxoxoxo
Uh Uh , should I be scared, should I run for the hills now.
I just started this book, I literally just finished the introduction. Now your post has prepared me but I think Kali has been working in my life this last year so I think I will pull up my bootstratps and wade my way in to the deep end. Send me wishes of good luck on this journey, I am sure you will read about it on my blog.
"All that and a bag of chips?"
You do crack me up Holly (but I'd rather be all that and a bag of chocolate chips!)
I have definitely heard of this book...I have held it in my hand, I know where I can borrow it for free....but, until now, I've never really had the inclination to read it. I'm not one for self-help books.
But, I have to say, this has got to be the best book review I've ever read!
Oh yeah! The wretched thing certainly has a way of stirring up the dust in those Dark corners, doesn't it?
It's good though...a high colonic for creative constipation..if you'll pardon the imagery...
Dig in, Sistah, you will emerge from the fracas weary and bedraggled, but so much better for having trodden the path...
At least, that's what I keep telling myself...I'm on week 10. Believe me. It gets harder. And easier..all at the same time.
~love~
I am ROFLOL! What a book review and you know you've piqued my interest! I once read that those who completely glide along in life without confrontation are sadly living in a make believe world. I guess this lady has that confrontation of the inside person down pat and will guide you to that REAL world fast! Sounds good to me!
LOL! You had to get all the way to six before that happened? I got smacked in the face with my crazymakers at Chapter Two and started searching for my birth certificate to make sure I knew what my name was. Considering that, I'd say you're in pretty good shape. :-)
Despite Ms. Cameron's Kali-like ways, I'm still stumbling down the path, even though it's taking me forever because I can't choose just two or three exercises.
I'm confident that we'll both be put back together at the end. Besides, there's beauty in the broken places, right? :-)
Holly you are so funny! I have heard of this book in blog land and i have found some are struggling with it. Oh and Holly, you could never be called the village idiot! I think it might be me!
hmm.. I am going to email you.. I am not sure about this post.. is it all in fun or are you serious?
I thought I knew til I read the comments, I was laughing out loud at first but some comments have wondering, now I am not 100% sure. Maybe I am missing something, maybe it is too early to be reading blogs. :)
but I will say this: a few years ago, I did a workshop here in real life for 12 weeks,following the book, being led by a trained counsellor and it was one of the best things I ever did.. about week 4, I wanted to run, I didn't want to know what I was finding out.. but I stuck through it and it opened up my spirituallity in a way I had never hoped for. One woman started University at the age of 52 and another started painting, a dream she had for a long time..
Well, as you know I'm struggling a bit since coming home from my adventure. Where should I be?? So will this book HELP or just mess me up a bit more! :-) Luv ya!
so does this mean that you don't want to join in the follow up book next year? hee, hee xoxo
its kinda like holding the 'sucker'..and them someone takes it and throws it off the bridge....jest remember this dearie......
12% ain't much.....sooooo.....what's hiding in the other 88% ????Heh heh heh
I doubt that someone as small as that can be the personification of Kali :) And to be a village idiot requires that you live in a village. Since I live in one in India, I consider that the real McCoy...anything else is possibly as false as Julia's diatribe in the book on how to become a better...whatever it is you're meant to become.
I know the book Holly and I also know that very few complete the requested tasks.
I've had housemates in the past who have embarked on the 'Artist's Way', who have turned themselves inside out and have felt better for it.... (mostly)
The most valuable experience I had from that book many years ago was the morning pages....I still think that they're a good exercise, but not one that I've done in years.
I like anything that exercises the brain and makes us question what we think we know :)
It's not easy to run wild.
best wishes
Ribbon x
It can be painful to tear everything down before you rebuild!
Sounds like quite the book and quite the time, sounds like your gonna stick it out though. Good luck, you will never be th village idiot.Big Hug
ohhhh...thanks for the warning !
That is TOO Funny! I think that we always find a new *us/me* in life..life is forever evolving and we are evolving with it.
We change. Simply put. Each decade within my life 20's, 30's, 40's - I've changed, new thoughts, ideas, wants, needs, dreams and goals.
I've learned to take things with a grain of salt even from Julia.
I agree though - some of the questions are not only tough, but downright annoying.
Like I want to know RIGHT now where I will be when I am 80!!!!!!!!!!!
No thank you!
I so know that feeling whenever I work through any part of TAW. But it is always worth it :)
Holly WHAT an incredible post. I am new to your blog and ALREADY I am in love with it. Yes, Julia Cameron is the woman I love to hate. I have read the book at least 4 times, I have completed the workbook once, and have read four of her other books... I still do morning pages after 10 years and usually use Julia Cameron to jumpstart myself back to the life of the creative!
You explained it so honestly. Thank you
The same thing happened to me. I always fancied myself an artist and have been sketching, painting, and sculpting since I was a young kid. Art was my release in life, it is how I was able to express my feelings and frustrations with this life. I went to college with a major in art and a minor in horticulture (my second love). I always got compliments from friends and strangers about my pieces. Even was lucky to have sold a few. Tragedy hit me when my mother died of breast cancer and I found it very difficult to draw, I feared I had lost it. Then I read that horrific book! Things just got worse for me I have not been able to find my good old happy spot like I used to with that ladies self doubting words popping into my head...URGH! I sure wish I could repay the favor.
I am very sorry you have fallen for her spell as I did. I wish you a rapid and safe return from her HELL! I am still trying!
~Cheri (Buddy's Two-legger)
This sounds frightening and terrible and....deliciously intriguing. Like looking at the calories on the sara lee cheesecake box. I don't want to know, but I MUST! I'll certainly regret it, but will I be able to help myself? I'm already planning a trip to Hastings despite my best intentions. I'm not sure if I need to be better or just...happier?? Eat the cheesecake. Love yourself.
Post a Comment