<![CDATA[The Inner Canvas Collective : Creative Growth]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/s/creative-growthhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VYKt!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea290055-9157-4676-b800-57ac0f57f352_1181x1181.pngThe Inner Canvas Collective : Creative Growthhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/s/creative-growthSubstackTue, 14 Jul 2026 16:04:53 GMT<![CDATA[Valor & the Courage to Begin]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/valor-and-the-courage-to-beginhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/valor-and-the-courage-to-beginSat, 27 Jun 2026 17:41:13 GMTInspiration can not be forced. It moves through us. As psychotherapists, we are attuned to witnessing others; we can pay attention. We observe, we feel. It tends to come naturally to us. The problem often surfaces when we are tasked to start. Doing so takes valor and creative courage.

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]]><![CDATA[The Creative Ritual]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-creative-ritualhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-creative-ritualFri, 19 Jun 2026 15:16:27 GMTCreative energy is natural to us. Yet, protecting and directing this energy can be, and at times is, challenging, if not nearly impossible. Considering the state of the world and modern technology, t…

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]]><![CDATA[Summer '26 Professional Creative Growth Series]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/summer-26-professional-creative-growthhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/summer-26-professional-creative-growthFri, 12 Jun 2026 15:52:27 GMTAnnouncing…The Summer Creative Growth Series

Reviving the Creative Spark that lives in us all.

“I think boredom is the beginning of every authentic act. (...) Boredom opens up the space for new engagem…

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]]><![CDATA[Wandering, Creating, & Staying Weird]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/wandering-creating-and-staying-weirdhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/wandering-creating-and-staying-weirdThu, 12 Feb 2026 13:03:20 GMTCreativity is both innate and spiritual. As humans, we all possess the capacity to create and be creative. For some, the creative spark touches the soul; for others, it is something they call upon da…

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]]><![CDATA[The Art of Writing]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-art-of-writinghttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-art-of-writingThu, 29 Jan 2026 19:01:31 GMT

"Writing, like dreaming, is a medium in which I think and talk to myself in ways I cannot do in any other form." - Ogden

Why Write about Writing?

Writing about writing may seem odd to some. The act its…

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]]><![CDATA[Sacred Stopping: Reclaiming Rest for Creativity]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/on-resthttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/on-restMon, 29 Dec 2025 14:36:58 GMT

If you want to do the thing, stop doing anything at all. Silence and rest might be what leads to your breakthrough.

Rest is difficult for some people, but not for others. For me, at times, it feels nearly impossible. My default is to do more, strive for efficiency, and lack patience; yet a deep part of me also yearns for quiet. The time when everything stops, stillness, the nothingness that feels spacious. Time in solitude to feel, reflect, and go within. I used to dread it, and if I am being honest, sometimes I still do. Because in the quiet there is a loudness, an unavoidable facing of oneself.

There are times, especially in today’s digital age of being “chronically online,” that we must help ourselves rest and reconnect with our humanness. I am starting to find comfort in the pause, slowness, and flowing with the moment, but it requires attention and intention. Recently, my ritual has been to observe a Creative Sabbath.

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The Sabbath (or Shabbat) is a sacred day of rest and devotion, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset by Jews. Although a Sabbath or ‘Sabbatical’ is a concept that has been adapted secularly. The idea is to dedicate specific time to your creative life and protect it at all costs. A creative sabbath is for creative renewal. It is a time to recharge, a sacred way to protect your creative practice and growth.

Protecting and dedicating sacred time for your creative work is just as important as the work itself.

For me, a creative sabbath is a time to ease the pressure to produce. I step away from passive consumption and choose active rest instead. I intentionally shut out the rat race mentality. I avoid all content—social media, magazines, television, and video. I tune in, pause, and listen. I also step out into nature, solitude, and return to myself.

  • How do you go about resting, protecting, and fostering a creative sabbath for yourself?

  • What surfaces when you block distractions, noise, and intentionally avoid passive consumption?

    Leave a comment

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]]><![CDATA[Style & Psychoanalysis]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/style-and-psychoanalysishttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/style-and-psychoanalysisTue, 25 Nov 2025 18:32:18 GMTI can make connections among seemingly loose associations naturally. While most people tend to gloss over such things, I come to know the relationship, complexity, and connections with ease. This cre…

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]]><![CDATA[The Creative Spark]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-creative-sparkhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-creative-sparkTue, 12 Aug 2025 16:02:14 GMTOur Story

Social media often makes us feel disconnected. But then, there are those beautiful moments when it does exactly what we hope it’ll do–spark a connection that may otherwise never find its way…

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]]><![CDATA[The Artist as a Modern Mystic]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-artist-as-a-modern-mystichttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-artist-as-a-modern-mysticTue, 12 Aug 2025 14:24:25 GMTLately, I have been thinking: Artists are the modern-day mystics. Skeptical? Hear me out.

There are several parallels between ancient mystical and modern creative practice. Ancient mystics are known …

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]]><![CDATA[The Importance of Play ]]>https://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-playhttps://theinnercanvascollective.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-playTue, 15 Oct 2024 16:07:01 GMT

Play is an important part of our lives throughout the lifespan. Although play tends to be synonymous with children and development, it is beneficial and necessary in adulthood. Playing is innate to our soul and being. According to Brown (2009), play is a biological drive essential to our health, akin to sleep and nutrition. We are designed by nature to flourish through play. Yet most adults do not dedicate enough time to play in their lives.

Power of Play

Play is a state of mind as much as it is an activity. To play, one must be open to discovering new information with a sense of wonder and awe. Play does not have an agenda and is not attached to outcomes, productivity, or goals. The power of play lies in its ability to allow our spirit to be free. When we play, we go beyond the constraints of reality and transcend what is known. Playing is living in the moment, experiencing flow, and discovering joy.

Benefits of Play

Research has demonstrated the benefits of play in adulthood including improved emotional and physical health and well-being. Playing in adulthood relieves stress, stimulates imagination and creativity, and allows for adaptability and problem-solving.

Play can also enhance our relationships. Infusing play into our relationships fosters closeness, aids in resolving conflict, and builds positive connections. In long-term relationships, play can bring a sense of novelty and excitement while strengthening intimacy.

How to Play:

Setting aside time: Although seemingly counterintuitive play does not come as easily to us in adulthood. It requires intentional time that is set aside for engagement.

Step outside the norm: Play is about exploring and discovery, being willing to engage spontaneously, stepping outside your normal routine, and allowing for living freely in the moment 

Tap into your childlike wonder: Embrace a Beginner’s mind: a childlike innocence about the world and people around you. Allow yourself to explore and experiment, detach from purpose or outcomes, and remain open & curious about people and the world.

Cultivate your creative life and expression: Tap into your inner landscape and the uniqueness of your experience in the world.

Find & follow your deepest inspiration.

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