Transfiguration For Creative Thinking
Transfiguration For Creative Thinking
Here's a thought: What if you could get into the state of heightened creativity at will? Imagine it. You are mooching along in your humdrum everyday kind of way and nothing much is happening. You can't afford to wait for divine inspiration. And the weather man is giving no indications that you can anticipate spontaneous brainstorms or bolts from the blue. You're bored. You're boring. And you wanna get creative. ...You need some transfiguration, baby!
Transfiguration, baby!
Creative thinking requires a transfiguration or change to take place in your consciousness. You basically need something or someone to give you a good slap in the chops and... hey, you're transfigured. Transfiguration is defined as a marked change or metamorphosis in form or appearance, usually one that glorifies or exalts. In the Bible, Jesus stomps up the mountain with some of his buddies and he undergoes a transfiguration. "Eyewitnesses" on the scene describe Jesus as emanating a Divine radiance. Now, leaving aside the fact these eyewitness reports didn't get written down until 70-100 years after his death (wasn't quite CNN standard), you've still got to admit this transfiguration idea seems pretty cool. Kind of like an early Sci-Fi, where the being opens his eyes and mouth and light beams out of every orifice.
Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
Being 'lit up' is the key term for creative transfiguration. Normal thinking is a bit like an overcast day. It's okay, it's life, but it's kind of dull. Creative thinking is like one of those brilliant, sunshiney days where you feel on top of the world. Big difference. And the difference is the amount and quality of energy. Transfiguration in the biblical sense involves a big surge of Divine Energy. God, the Holy Spirit or one of his angels basically comes and sits on your head and slides down into your head chakra and - kapow! -- Jesus H Christ you are transfigured and start to speak in tongues or start singing the gospel or something. Anyhow, you've got a righteous buzz going on and you know this is a great state to be in. Now, I don't think I can offer you the whole sun shining out of your ass special effects, but here are a few tips on how to achieve a state of creative transfiguration.
1. Intention creates the spark
This is pretty obvious but you've got to want it. You have to set aside some time and space for your creativity. The first step in creativity is always intention, the decision. This is the moment when you become the Creator, the grand designer and architect of what you are about to create. This is a powerful state, so feel the power within you, the creative power of intention.
2. Get enthused and inspired
This is the trick many people miss because they think that something external must inspire them spontaneously. But hell no! Enthusiasm and inspiration are just states of energy that you can whip up at will. You want to feel enthusiastic? Well, sit up on the edge of your seat, put an eager look on your face, lift your chest up. Your physiology (your posture and the way you move and hold your body) determines your emotional state. Wanna be inspired? Then start inspiring -- start breathing in deeper and let yourself create that inner feeling of enthusiasm (the fire within!). Think of it like this. When you are in mundane mode, you are like a ball of cold plasticine, all stiff and uninteresting. You have to start kneading it, rolling it, and warming it up until it is pliant and can take on different shapes really easily.
3. Get moving
You've got to do your thinking on the hoof. You need to grab that pen and paper and start scribbling out your notes, mindmapping ideas and solutions. You need to grab up that musical instrument and start playing and experimenting with melodies. You need to splash color on the canvas, rifle through your spare parts in your invetion shed, or bash the keyboard on your computer as you do whatever it is you do. Take the merest thread of an idea and pouce on it, and start acting on it. Flesh it out as you move along.
4. Unleash the Image Genie
Lift yourself up by your bootstraps by dreaming big dreams, and filling your mind with big powerful images of success and achievement. You need the power and the glory images of transfiguration to catch the excitement and to spark it in others. Don't be coy about this. The inner space of your mind is YOUR universe, so bestride it as the Emperor or Empress of all you survey. In the inner world, the sun shoud definitely be shining out of your ass. Don't be afraid -- it's okay to "big up yourself" and inflate your own ego. Go for it!
5. Adopt powerful purposes that are meaningful to YOU
I haven't seen any one shining with light like Jesus is decribed in the biblical transfiguration (other than on The X Files!) but I've seen plenty of people fired up and seeming to shine with purpose, belief, joy, passion and enthusiasm. What's your passion? What's your purpose? What fills you with joy? Make sure you are getting more and more chances to live your passion, follow your purpose and experience your joy. Passiom, purpose and joy unite all the disperate parts of your energy. This unified field of energy is a transfiguration, and with it you are like a 100 watt light bulb compared to all the other people who are like 20 watt bulbs.
6. The Magic of the Spirit
There's no denying that the God meme gets people fired up like nothing else, though watching Richard Dawkins on the dais it doesn't seem to matter which side of the belief system you bat for. Whether you are fired up by the idea of the Judaeo-Christian God, by Allah, by Brahman, Tao, The Source, Universal Intelligence, Nirvana or whatever we are calling it this time next thursday..... or you are fired up by a defiant scientific atheistic position (man as God?), all that matters is that you are fired up! Use the fire of other worldy inspiration to fill you with a power beyond your 'normal' self and use that to be creative.
7. Transfigured by Love
Blimey, nothing transfigures the ordinary Joe and Jane like falling in Love! When someone you know falls in love, you can see it in their face. They appear to shine. They have a really good vibe going on. They smile, laugh more, look relaxed and happy. They are more creative. So like I said in my article on Sex Transmutation, it's so important to get yourself a muse -- someone (or something) you can fall in love with, admire and worship. There are all kinds of causes and purposes that inspire us in life, but few that motivate us more powerfully than our love partners, family and closest friends. Most people would willingly sacrifice themselves to save the life of their child or life partner. There is awesomely powerful energy at work in our closest relationships and we can use that energy by reminding ourselves of it frequently. You can stir up that love by dwelling on good times that you have shared, why you love someone, or what it is about them that so you adore. And you let that flame go to work in your brain and in your life. You let the thought of them and of dedicating your work to them inspire you to acts of greater creativity.
Ramping Up Your Creative Energy
So, there you are. Play with this concept of creative transfiguration. It's really all about ramping up your energy. And there are various different ways you can go about doing that. No doubt you already have some great techniques that you have discovered yourself. Put them to work today and make this a super creative day! Can I say that I want to see the sun shining out of your ass without you sending me photoshopped butt snaps? You know what I mean, get up that transfiguration mountain baby!
Cheers,
Wily
