Artist Creed with Jan Phillips

Jan Phillips

“Our stories contain the answers to each others’ questions. What I cannot find in searching through the riches and rubble of my own life may become apparent to me in the witnessing of yours. It’s through our stories that we begin to name ourselves, to say who we are under all the social trappings, and to emerge from those trappings like a butterfly from a chrysalis. We are midwives, in a way, to each other’s rebirth.” ~ Jan Phillips

Women Writing for a Change is a 10 week creative writing circle. The writing circle is an open space for women to celebrate and nurture each other. Before passing a candle around to say our names into the circle, we open with a poem to inspire our evening of free writing and sharing.  This is my second year attending the Columbus circle.

Last week I was struck by Jan Phillips poem.  I believe this is what artuals do for us and to others who look, read or feel our work.

Artist’s Creed

By Jan Phillips (1994)

I believe I am worth the time it takes to create

         whatever I feel called to create.

I believe that my work is worthy of its own space

              which is worthy of the name, Sacred.

I believe that when I enter this space, I have the right

to work in silence, uninterruptedly, for as long as I choose.

I believe that the moment I open myself to the gifts of the Muse

I open myself to the Source of All Creation

         and become One with the Mother of Life Itself.

I believe that my work is joyful, useful and constantly changing,

    flowing through me like a river with no beginning and no

End

I believe that what it is I am called to do

             will make itself known when I have made myself ready

I believe that the time I spend creating my art

        is as precious as the time I spend giving to others.

I believe that what truly matters in the making of art

         is not what the final piece looks like or sounds like,

              not what it is worth or not worth, but what

        newness gets added to the universe in the process

           of the piece itself becoming.

 I believe that I am not alone in my attempts to create,

    and that once I begin the work, settle into the strangeness,

the words will take shape, the form find life, and the spirit take

Flight.

I believe that as the Muse gives to me,

So does she deserve from me:

           faith, mindfulness and enduring commitment.

Resources:

Jan Phillips website: http://janphillips.com/about-jan/