{"id":34862,"date":"2015-10-16T17:07:45","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T21:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=34862"},"modified":"2015-10-16T17:07:45","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T21:07:45","slug":"yoga-for-creativity-intention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/es\/journal\/yoga-for-creativity-intention\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoga for Creativity: Intention"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is part three of a four-part series running across wanderlust.com and YOGANONYMOUS about the different stages of creativity.<\/em><\/p>\n

If inspiration<\/a> is the seed of a creative project, and motivation<\/a> the rain and the sun that sparks its growth, then intention<\/a> is where we can become the masters of our imagination. It\u2019s where we can inspect and observe our project under the microscope of self-reflection and self-knowing to see the DNA of our creative work. In setting intentions, we\u2019re choosing what we want to encode into the genetic fabric of our creations, for ourselves, and for others.<\/p>\n

Intention<\/a> is the stage of the creative process where we pause and go deep into our mind and heart to open up a conversation between the two: What am I trying to say here? What is my impassioned message to convey?<\/em> You\u2019ll explore what you want the viewer or reader to take away from your work, and which pieces of your heart and mind will go into it. Question why you are doing this, and what for. The more honest answers you can come up with, the richer and more powerful your art will become.<\/p>\n

For this reason, intention sits at the heart chakra<\/a>, symbolically the center point between me and you, inner and outer, reality and possibility\u2014and the midpoint between the body and the spirit. Therefore, the heart of inspiration lies in the power of balance and equanimity: loving ourselves without being self-important, being compassionate without giving away our time and vision, and learning how to be even-handed in success and in failure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The enemies of one\u2019s intentions are peer pressure, conformity, and the fear of being rejected<\/a> or disliked. These are some of the biggest creative dams<\/a> out there, and they revolve around how and where we build and support our sense of self-worth. Can we forgive ourselves in times of self-pity; for not creating, not trusting, and not self-motivating? Can we forgive others for hurting our artist-selves, for bursting our precious bubbles of creative vision, or for trying to change us? We must find balance in our hearts to accept the consequences of expressing our true selves.<\/p>\n

In terms of our yoga practice, a little symbolism goes a long way. To many cultures, trees represent the bridge between heaven and Earth, just as the heart represents the bridge between body and spirit. Practicing Vrksasana (tree pose)<\/a> can not only teach us physical balance, but also provide an opportunity to notice the self-talk and emotions that come up when we struggle with, achieve, or fail at balance. It\u2019s a chance to cultivate equanimity and self-love.<\/p>\n