Now you have me. I will have to go back & see how I felt when I read the book. Maybe it is one of those things that are in the eyes of the beholder.
Linda

I don’t know if I would go so far as to say creepy. But I have found, after several attempts, that it just doesn’t work for me. Some of the bits in there like the artist date, is stuff I do anyway, so that wasn’t anything special. The Morning (or is it Mourning) pages and I never clicked.

Must work for some people, just not for me.

Andrew

When I first read it, some 12 yrs. ago, I highlighted what was important to me at that time. I still go back and touch base with these areas when I’m blocked or just discouraged. Seems to help me identify the problem, and get going again.
I have since purchased all of her books, along with others, done my highligting for quick reference, and get through the hurdles much faster.

As for the journaling, I journal only when I need to. Like an emotional cleansing. Sometimes I write happy, and other times I write very negative. I do what I need and only at the time I need it. Can be morning or midnight.

I’ve painted for over 30 yrs., and sometimes a little block can turn into a major problem when the bills are due. Many times a little encouragement from a motivational book has helped me get back on track.

If nothing else, Camron’s books have helped me take charge of my career, and not let so many outside influences get in the way.

I’ve learned to do things the way I need to to be successful.

Deb

I have had this book for many years…so long that my copy mentions listening to the side of an album. I just browsed, but never got around to doing more than a week of it. Yes, I can understand people finding it creepy, as I think I did slightly too. I am not verbally eloquent like many of you on Wet Canvas and find it hard to explain. I have recently completed it, morning pages, artist’s dates and some of the exercises, but not the contracts. Doing it I found it more like a gentle way of making me reflect. Nothing like others have mentioned in this forum. I am still doing the morning pages, don’t really know why, just like the routine of doing them with a cup of tea in bed before the day starts. Mine are more like a diary with a bit of reflection. I have always created and didn’t consider my self blocked, other than procrastination. However, I seem to feel more settled, but open to new possibilities, ‘synchronicity’ etc in my life. I am a bit of a skeptical person, but in a strange, maybe sort of creepy way, they might have worked….snuck up on me! Could be coincidental of course! Lol!
T
ps. I see she has now added walking to her ‘tools,’ I have done this for years and I find it very beneficial for mind and body.

I had a look at this when I hit a creative block. Actually it was a block on everything – but that’s another story! It had been recommended by someone who said it had worked for her and so I had a look on Amazon. I was completely put off buying it because I felt I was the subject of a high pressure sales technique – sell the dream as we salesmen used to say. It added a lot of new age touchy feely hugs type hype but essentially it was a process for those in need of something else other than creativity and motivation in their art, (in my opinion).

So, creepy? I think so. I also think there are better ways to find nirvana.

But then if it works for you, why not???

Glad it’s not just me!

Yes, I found it creepy too but moreover very dull and repetitive and… mushy, somehow. I picked up a copy for a quarter in a thrift store & I’m not sure it was worth it. All that stuff about the importance of the morning pages and do them WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT- it did come off as a little cult like or maybe like AA and yes, controlling. Geez, Louise, I’d rather be painting than scribbling down my thoughts, and making art is a better use of my time, in my opinion.

I’m glad some people found it useful, but my copy is going back to the thrift store. This book is not for me. However, I really liked the book, “Art & Fear” by David Bayles & Ted Orland.

I’m with Rose and debra d.!

Like any system that you work with, the idea is to suspend judgement and work with it for the duration. After that you can do whatever you please.

Unlike things like EST, there is no hype and hope whatsoever that you will continue to spend large amounts of money on it.

It ultimately is about deepening your own connection to your creative source.
Its hope is to help you find a way of connecting deeper to your creativity and inner self to find your answers from within and to open up further to your own creative flow.

Definitely not for everyone, but definitely NOT a cult in my eyes.

I did morning pages for quite a few years. I was journalling before that anyway, and I still journal now, though not in that strict format. My time living in the TAW universe was extremely and productive and transforming for me personally. Not that I was into all her exercises, but, as already mentioned, the main tools of morning pages and artist dates, as well as focus on creativity and also the relationship with creativity and one’s spirit, are the real tools (along with regular walks, as found in a later book, Walking in this world). If you just used those tools and did nothing else you’d probably see shifts in your life as well, though the book is set out quasi 12 step, I think she had a background in a 12 step program, so maybe that’s where you glean the ‘cult’ feel from it. But it’s no more cultish than a 12 step program, and certainly can be just as transforming. Just like other 12 step programs you don’t need to stay with them for the rest of your life. You use them to make whatever changes you need to make and are totally free to move on, using any helpful tools as you see fit. Unlike other 12 step programs where you’re trying to give up an addiction the premise is that you’re ‘recovering’ something in you that you have been burying/stifling/whatever, (your creativity) in a way that’s empowering, rather than (like say AA) you’re feeling like there’s something wrong with you.

Of course like anything there may be some zealots, but you accurately can’t judge the material by that.

My 2c.