As the days get shorter and darker, and with Christmas fast approaching, I’m starting to prepare for family gatherings and holiday celebrations. A big part of this preparation is setting the table, both literally and metaphorically.
For me, setting the table starts with this question: How do I create a welcoming home which brings out the best in people, helps them relax and invites meaningful conversation and connection?
Inevitably, the answer leads to clearing clutter, sweeping away the dust of busy fall weeks, and re-arranging the furniture. The house fills with the smells of homemade cooking and baking, and candles are lit just before the guests arrive.
These preparations, and the feelings of anticipation and celebration they create, remind me that I can bring this same mindful intention to my creative practice.
Setting the table for creativity means understanding and creating the conditions that invite play, spark the imagination, and open space for new ideas to take hold. For me, this happens when I set aside my phone, put away the clutter of too many projects on the go, arrange my art supplies, and clear space on my studio table. Now I can breathe, now I can think. I can review my notes about the project or idea I want to explore, and I can see with fresh eyes. I can engage in meaningful conversation with my work, which invites inspiration and experimentation.
How do you set the table for your creative practice to flourish?
Profoundly Creative 
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