We Are All Artists

Did you know that each one of us is an artist, created for creation? We are born with a unique set of interests and talents, all of which are fascinatingly varied and seemingly random. It would seem that creativity is in our DNA.

Each of us has many talents, but some play a bigger role in our lives than others. They become a part of our life purpose as our craft/vocation.

Your craft involves taking your talents and creating something meaningful with them. Our craft is both the creative process and the product, or creation, itself.

This can be anything from a service, to a technical skill, to even a creative outlet like writing or music production.

Your craft is typically something that:

• You are naturally good at

• Facilitates self growth

• Is helpful for you personally

• Provides a sense of fulfillment

• Positively impacts others

  
  

Practicing your craft is one of the most blissful experiences you can have. Not only does it bring emotional fulfillment, it also provides a sense of purpose. And, our craft can help others too. For one thing, others can receive the gifts of our work and be uplifted. But also, every time one of us aligns with our true calling we are raising our vibration. This raises the collective’s vibration and this is how we heal the world.

Read ahead for more tips and tricks on finding your craft, and turning it into a successful practice.

FINDING YOUR CRAFT

When it comes to discovering your craft, there is no universal rule or formula for how this looks. Your craft is an extension of you, and as you step into greater alignment with yourself, you tend to also simultaneously align more with your craft.

Some people find one or more of their crafts at a young age. They may have been exposed to a niche interest as a child that developed into a passion, and it's become a paid practice by early adulthood. Others discover their crafts at very specific points in their life, possibly after a transformative experience or after they've reached a level of inner growth necessary for their gifts to come ‘online.’ Some may have one craft that evolves over time — either branching out into other areas or changing form altogether.

Finding your craft is an organic process; it’s not something that can or should be rushed. This process is unfolding in tandem with your own life journey.

With that being said, the sooner you can discover your craft and share it with the world, the better. If you’re reflecting on your crafts and feel there is room for growth and evolution here, now is the perfect time to start taking small, actionable steps to clarify your calling.

A helpful way to begin is by focusing on yourself, your inner growth, and your interests. Here is a reflective set of questions to ask yourself while brainstorming your craft:

• Does this bring me personal fulfillment?

• Has this helped me?

• Am I naturally good at this?

• Does this energize me?

• Does this contribute positively to the world?

  
  

If you can answer yes to all of these questions, that's a great sign.

If you’re looking for more individualized inspiration as you explore your craft, you may consider purchasing a written career astrology reading here. These readings touch upon the essence / flavor of your career, your public persona, plus how you can maximize financial and career success. Astrology is not absolute, but it can plant very helpful seeds of inspiration.

ART IS FORM & CONTENT

Any type of creation -- from artwork, to a service, to even us as human beings -- is a combination of form + content. This goes for your craft as well. It's both how you say something (form) and what you say (content). The form and the content both contribute to the overall message of your art / craft.

For example, let's say your passion is holistic health. Perhaps you've completed a course and this knowledge has helped you tremendously. Now you're thinking of ways to turn it your expertise into a practice. The health knowledge is the content, but the form is still up in the air. How would you like to provide your services? You may decide to offer pre-recorded, generalized coaching content, you may take on weekly clients over zoom, or you may write a book (or all three!)

Ideally, the form and content of your craft both bring you joy. You might have an idea for the form of your craft but you’re unsure about the content, or vise versa. If you can keep an open mind and commit to continuous exploration, what is most aligned will likely reveal itself naturally over time. Usually it’s the choice that has been sitting quietly and peacefully in the back of your heart.

DISCOMFORT CAN BE HEALTHY

It is completely natural to feel a bit of discomfort and even resistance as you discover your craft. Your craft is something that can help you step into a higher version of yourself, and being face to face with your purpose can feel daunting. You may even experience an internal wrestling match where you recognize that this is part of your purpose but your ego is kicking and screaming and dragging its feet, because this path requires a level of surrender or emotional maturity that can be uncomfortable.

Little by little, you can practice getting out of your comfort zone and towards a new level of responsibility, creation and visibility can feel truly freeing. I know it can be a challenge because answering a call is not always an internally smooth ride, but it will be worth it.

With this being said, where discomfort is not healthy is if practicing your craft consistently leaves you feeling unqualified, unsure of yourself, or like you have imposter syndrome. This can be a sign of a few things: either this craft isn't fully aligned with you, the form/content need tweaking, or you may be rushing this craft before you are personally ready. In general, our craft should be something that we feel very confident doing because we're very good at it.

PERFECTION DOESN'T EXIST

I feel that many people feel a sort of internal pressure for their craft to be perfect in order for it to be valuable and worthy of visibility. But there is truly nothing in our natural world that is 'flawless'. Everything natural and organic, including us and our craft, is perfectly imperfect.

Our craft should be consciously created and refined with care — but inspiration often comes suddenly and spontaneously, and sometimes we just have to go with it. When it comes to the revising, editing, and reflecting stage of the creative process, there comes a time when it’s good to stop editing, and put your product out there. Even with that small inconsistency, or perceived imperfection, your creation will still be beautiful and valuable because it is a unique reflection of you.

DON'T CREATE FOR THE CRITIC

When we create, we are taking inspiration from inside ourselves and creating something real and physical. I think every artist experiences a certain level of vulnerability when creating, due to the personal nature of this work. On top of this, we are constantly exposed to outside noise — from people wanting to chime in with advice, to strangers on the internet. This may lead to us subconsciously creating for the critic: editing, second guessing, or even changing the craft all together. Tuning out the outside noise will allow your craft to come fully into its true, authentic form. Remember — no one can tell you more about your true calling than you can.

MORALITY MATTERS

I believe artists do have a moral obligation when they create. Nobody is perfect, but we must hold ourselves to a moral standard for the betterment of ourselves and the world. Our craft should not promote sinful behavior, such as lust, greed, or vanity. Our craft shouldn't profit off of manipulation, deception, or even subtly misleading others

Intention matters what it comes to creating. The primary motivation of creating should be for yourself, as an act of love and a commitment to reaching your highest potential. The primary focus shouldn’t be money. Additionally, using your craft to help others is a powerful secondary purpose for dreating. We want our crafts to spread truth and love, never fear or ego. If someone is creating for their ego, for attention, or for a lot of money, then it is likely their art will feel meaningless and empty.

ART & INCOME

Turning your craft into a sustainable source of income is your birthright. And I find that when someone has turned their craft into a real world practice, the universe always seems to send a reward — both on a personal and financial level.

But, when starting out, It's helpful to follow your inspirations and passions and trust that financial compensation will come eventually. Focusing too much on the financial aspect when you create may unknowingly limit you; when it comes to creating, restrictions and limitations are not helpful. As you begin to bridge your current situation with your higher timeline -- the timeline where you are getting paid to do what you love — it may simply require patience and flexibility.

On a practical level, you can decide how much time and resources you are able to devote to exploring your craft whilst ensuring you have financial security along the way. You precede your art, and you can only create when you are in the place to be able to do so.

You deserve to be financially compensated for your craft, and to not have to seek compensation elsewhere, unless you choose to do so. You are meant to do this for a living -- both for yourself, and others.

I hope this article was helpful for you. I wish you the best of luck creating, and I admire your bravery in taking those first steps to follow your purpose. I have no doubt it will lead you somewhere beautiful!