Art by @deltavenus
What does being creative mean to you?
When you reflect on this aspect of yourself, what comes to mind?
How does it make you feel?
How do you relate to this concept?
Do you see yourself as a creative person, or not?
For many of us, when we think about creativity our mind goes to the visual arts, music, design, literature, film, performance art or some other ‘artistic’ expression. But there’s a difference between being creative and being artistic. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative.
Creativity is our ability to use our imagination to create and solve. To see things from a different perspective, make new connections, break habits, and to experience things in new ways. It’s also part of what keeps the spark alive in ourselves and our intimate relationships.
Being creative is an inherent part of living and an important skill to cultivate for the sake of our wellbeing. It’s a skill that we rely on everyday from the simplest of tasks like getting dressed, to having a conversation, writing an email, to cooking a meal, to parenting and to solving more significant work and life problems.
Creativity comes from a state of being in flow. Flow states are characterised by paying attention without clinging or grasping to judgements, thoughts or outcomes. It’s being open and intuitively responding to the moment to moment experience. It can be felt as a sense of unity both internally and externally. Tantra and other mindfulness practices like yoga or Zen practice can help to develop present moment awareness, openness and non-judgement - key qualities of flow states.
The unique thing about Tantra is that it also works with our sexuality. In Tantra, there is a close link between our creativity and sexuality. Our centre of creativity is also our centre of sexuality and eroticism.
Tantra is about bringing mindfulness to our sexuality and using this as a pathway to flow. When we attend to our sexuality with presence, openness and intention, it’s not uncommon to experience a burst of energy, imagination, motivation, curiosity, creativity, to see things from new perspectives and to experience mental clarity, among other things.
So if you’re feeling stuck on something, consider engaging your sexuality through a Tantric massage or a mindful self-pleasure practice. Set an intention beforehand, allow yourself to become fully engaged in the moment, let go of judgements and outcomes and instead see what organically unfolds.
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