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Seed Your Flow with Library Visit Part II

The Lake Wales Public Library Seed Lending Library lends to creativity, too.

Library Visit Seeds Inspiration

Library visits seed greater flow regarding work and creativity. Moreover, they install a sense of wonder in the variety of ways to reach out in curiosity. This makes sense. First, just as seeds grow into plants and bear fruit, vegetables, or flowers, so does intuitive expression grow from interaction with the media, services, and education offered at libraries. Second, the more you apply that curiosity, the greater stored knowledge is held. Therefore, the ultimate way to grow flow is by finding and visiting an actual Seed Library, such as the one at Lake Wales Public Library in Lake Wales, Florida.

Wonder why seed libraries grow in so many libraries around the country? See here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/public-seed-library

Sow Seeds to Create More Work

As I approached the display of the Seed Lending Library, I had a flood of ideas for paid work. First, I wondered who was most likely to use a seed library? How many people grow their own food and is it enough? That made me think of grant proposal writing aspects of this service. Next, I wondered how libraries like this one in an agriculturally-based community could get the word out more. The thought of a social-media driven news article or a brown-bag lunch lecture came to mind. Also, the phrases joy of gardening and fruits of labor gave me a jolt. What sorts of poetry projects could rise from this display? Finally, I considered putting a series into my blog about creating flow from library visits.

Carrot and gourd seed packets bring to mind stories that root writers in writing for both paid and family heirloom projects.

Plant Seeds for Greater Creativity

As I browsed through the antique card catalog file that was repurposed to alphabetically organizing local seeds, I was thrilled. Here are the beginnings of many plants. And, stories, too. A glance at the carrot packets reminded me of how much my daughters loved The Tale of Peter Rabbit as children. Then, the sight of radishes reminded me of another story they enjoyed, Rapunzel. In turn, an idea for an essay on motherhood and reading to children emerged. Perhaps I would only write it for them?

Your Turn

Take some time and see if a seed library exists in your area. Or, simply look through some seed packets during your next trip to the store. See what projects grow from that experience

Here’s to growing your flow.

Marisa

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Sow Flow: Visit Antique Shop

Enter Treasure House to Sow Flow

Open heart, open mind.
Sometimes the best way to prepare to plant is to be open to receiving inspriation from the Divine Gardener.

Want to sow more flow in the new year? There is a surefire way. Visit an antique dealer, thrift store, or junk shop. While this post discusses a recent trip to one treasure house, inspiration abounds at any such venue for a number of reasons. First, entering such an adventure opens our creative souls to the Source, who I like to call the Divine Gardener. Second, when we are open to our creativity, we collect more seeds or ideas to plant. Third, we prepare our projects lovingly when we sow with safety in mind. Recently, I took a trip through an antique mall, which is appropriately called, Treasure House. Visiting Central Florida in the near future? Check out the Facebook page to learn more about Diego and Susan Barriero’s rambling antique hive at: https://www.facebook.com/treasurehouseone/ 

Receive Inspiration from Divine Gardener

Having the desire to go on a hunt for story leads is one way to contact the Divine Gardener. All any of us creatives need to do is to be open to receiving the inspiration handed to us. I find that I have the best connection with this experience when I go into a shop with absolutely no expectations. I trust that the Divine Gardener will provide the seeds – the experiences linked by intuition – for any future project. And, then, just without the strain of needing to find things to write that’ll sell – the perfect objects appear. Often, they’re  reminders to be patient enough to wait. Then, to receive that which is in need of the right soil to grow.

Start with Many Seeds to Add Variety

Make sure you have a variety of seeds for a variety of work.

When we are open to ideas, they pour forth through the odd associations in the objects’ placements. Look for the metaphor and it will lead you to the free-wheeling beginnings for poems, plays, flash-fiction pieces, and more. Notice that as I moved throughout the Treasure House that the objects simply appeared to me in the order I needed. They were in three separate areas that were interconnected. I delight in the Divine Gardener’s ease.

And, the One pouring out these leads, ideas, and connections has more than any of us could use. We just need to continue to trust the flow as it grows. One image – one inspired seed – at a time.

Cold Frame Safety for New Projects

Start from seed and watch your flow grow.
What could you grow if you gave it a beautiful shelter?

What if we gave our new projects the same care that the Divine Gardener does? First, use extremes-in-temperature protection . Have a planned daily writing schedule. Avoided on-going heated writing streaks. Or, the opposite dry seasons we will upon a seed. It happens when we lack trust in our own words. Next, avoid sentimentality. Too much emotion will kill a project. In other words, let the Divine Gardener tend to the impact the words carry. Simply get the message down. Finally, give the project streaming light. Perhaps, as I learned in the Advent Dark Journal journey I recently took with Suzi Bank Baum, a blessing or prayer before working on the project is in order? As Suzi suggested recently, maybe saying Thank you, seeds! is all that’s needed. Curious about Suzi’s multi-discipline approach? See more at https://www.suzibanksbaum.com/

Your Turn to Grow Your Flow

Take out your calendar. Mark off an adventure to an antique dealer, thrift store, or junk shop. Look for associations with the items that catch your eye. Click a few photos. Say a little prayer. Then, get to work writing the words that the Divine Gardener planted within you during the experience. Next, help them sprout by tending to them daily. Finally, tenderly shelter those words as they continue their journey.

Here’s to growing your flow in 2019 and beyond,

Marisa