Writing as Spirituality: Tapping into the Soul

The other night, my husband and I went to see the Tedeschi Trucks Band play in Boston. We’ve been huge fans of Derek Trucks’ guitar-playing for years: it can be described most aptly as joyful. I would go as far as to say sacred. The way Derek Trucks plays guitar makes me feel, simply put, happy. Ecstatic, present. In the liner notes for his album, Soul Serenade, there is a quote by Hazrat Inayat Khan from the book The Mysticism of Sound And Music, part of which has always struck me: “… I should like to say that the true harmony of music comes from the harmony of the soul. That music alone can be called real which comes from the harmony of the soul, its true source, and when it comes from there it must appeal to all souls… ” Creative work is from the spirit and sharing it is the connection of spirits.

At its best, I think of my writing practice the way I think of my yoga practice: a ritual that is bigger than self, larger and more expansive. Definitely a mode and process that allows me to expand, invites presence and joy. And like a beautiful self-propagating cycle, the more I expand, the more I practice—and the more I practice, the more I expand—creativity circles and unfurls. At its most potent, writing serves as a means of steadying and grounding me. When my practice is flowing—when I am making time for it, making it a priority—writing is meditation, and I connect with the deepest part of self. This opens me to better connect with my children, my husband, everyone. These are the small ripples that change the world.

This may sound overly mystical and possibly inaccessible, but I think what it means at the core is locating that place of self authenticity, tapping into it and creating from that space. The trick is gaining entry into that space and when you do, propelling it forward—maintaining the momentum and making creativity a part of everyday life. Like a flame you keep from blowing out. How? Part of it is simple habit, I think. Practice, meaning a thing that is never completed. A daily endeavor that will never meet its end. Continual work. The other part is finding the inspiration and making time to connect with it, so that it doesn’t really feel like continual work once you’re in the flow. For me that is going outdoors and experiencing nature, reading writing that inspires (lately the novels of Dawn Tripp, Louise Erdrich, always Alice Munro) and music (with the chill of fall settling in, I’ll bring out Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan, among others). And, I think for many, it means connecting with divinity, however that looks and feels to you.

The other night when I went to hear Derek Trucks play guitar, as the slide guitar enveloped me and the happiness swelled, my own thoughts and ideas began to flow. The magic of artistic connection—the harmony of souls. Find the connection with others and with self and witness the burgeoning creativity. You can’t help but feel joyful when doing the work of your spirit.

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