Ever wonder how to find your creative rituals? Everyone in the art world talks with conviction- and maybe a touch of reverence- about their creative rituals. A.K.A. the way they begin every session in the studio.
It’s such an assumed thing, that we all need them and of course have them. So basic that those of us who haven’t found precisely what gets us going creatively feel too ashamed to ask how to find rituals that work.
So we flounder, mystified, wondering if that’s the magic that’s missing. The reason why we don’t make enough art. Why we never get in the studio as often as we hope. Or why, just maybe, we fear our work isn’t as good as that “successful” artist who has her rituals down pat.
I’ve been there. Maybe you have, too?
Every creative person has individual needs, blocks, and muses. Spending some time noticing yours pays dividends in your practice and well-being.
I’ve incorporated everything from journaling and hot tea to prayer and bible-reading, to nature walks, tidying the studio, sketching warm-ups, and luring my dog into the studio armchair for company. All of these have purpose, but not all have stuck.
This is partly because I’d heard that I SHOULD have creative rituals, but no one told me what, exactly, they were and how they functioned. Instead of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks (like I did), we’re going to make this a more measurable, enjoyable, and nurturing process.
Let’s break down what creative rituals are, their benefits, and how to find supportive rituals for your practice. This isn’t some sorcery- let’s demystify!
What are creative rituals?
Creative rituals are a suite of supportive habits that consistently and dependably help you transition from daily life into creative flow.
As a painter, I view this from the perspective of getting into my studio and getting paint on canvas. But creative rituals could be for transitioning you towards a landscape photography hike, a choreography session, or overcoming writer’s block. Plug and play your own type of practice here!
What should your creative rituals do for you?
What specific benefits are we looking for? How do we know if a particular ritual is worthwhile?
- 1. Does it shift your mindset? (Calm, focused, relaxed, playful, energetic. however your mind feels when you’re doing your best work- that’s the goal.)
- 2. Does it signal to your mind/body/heart that it’s time to create?
- 3. Does it connect you to your personal source of inspiration?
- 4. Long-term, does it help you produce more or better work in a sustainable way, preventing overwhelm and burnout?
With these four things in mind, you can more easily evaluate what rituals to try and which aren’t worth your time. So now that we know what we want from a supportive ritual, let’s talk about the process of how to find them. There are three simple steps!
Observe Yourself
Throughout the day notice what activities or objects positively affect you: calm you, energize you, make you feel content, excited, inspired, or fulfilled. Write these gold nuggets down! (I almost titled this step “Pay Attention” but instantly got School Marm rap-your-knuckles vibes. Nope!)
Noticing your own internal responses is critical to finding creative rituals that benefit you individually, but if you need a starting point, I’ve made a list of ideas to spark your process!
Ideas for Creative Rituals
- Stretch/Yoga
- Dance
- Journaling- Morning Pages, Brain Dump, Memory Journaling, Word Prompt
- Put on a calming playlist
- Light a candle
- Put on a certain apron or “uniform”
- Go for a walk
- Meditate
- Put on an energizing playlist
- Brew a hot drink
- Play a record
- Pray
- Go for a run
- Drink a smoothie or fresh juice
- Put on a special piece of jewelry that connects you to a close person
- Collect nature treasures
- Read the Bible or book from your religion
- Turn on an audiobook
- Read a poem
- Tidy the studio/workspace
- Take a bath
- Silence your phone
- Workout
- Indulge in aromatherapy
- Sauna session
- Make a list (inspiring books, favorite artists, places you want to visit- anything!)
- Sound therapy
- Warm up sketches or contour drawings
- Swatch paints (or the equivalent in your medium)
- Read three pages of a book
- Rearrange your art supplies
- Take a few reference photos
Experiment
Time to play! Try to start every creative session with a couple things from the list you wrote down. Notice how you feel moving into your studio time afterward. Do you feel a sense of readiness, or do you feel like you’re running behind? Does your creativity seem to flow with ease? Are you full of ideas, relaxed, excited to try something new?
Make notes of your internal responses. Though I find value in spending time being thorough in writing down observations, some people find this draining. If that’s you, simply rate each item you try on a scale from 1-10, note it, and move on to making. Rinse and repeat until you’ve played through your entire ritual idea list.
Evaluate
Read back through your notes and choose one or two of the most impactful activities. Try to start your creative practice with these every day for a week. (or couple of weeks if your practice is more sporadic). Notice how your creative time is affected. Ask yourself:
- Am I more inspired to begin? Do I feel more ready?
- Is my mind more calm?
- Do I feel centered and aligned?
- Am I full of ideas?
- Do I have a sense of clarity?
If you’ve answered with any ‘yeses’ you’ve found a healthy creative ritual for your unique self! Congrats! Feel free to repeat the process with more items on your list, and try different combinations (ritual stacking, if you will) until you feel your absolute best as you begin creating.
If you answered ‘no’ to most of the questions above, it’s simply time to play with new ideas from your list! This can take a little time so be patient with yourself. Eventually, you will strike gold, trust me! And trust the process.
Now you are equipped with everything you need to find your own creative rituals that support and nurture your practice!
Let me know how your process is going by commenting below or by tagging me on Instagram @giles_south_studio. And if you’re like me and walking in nature is part of your creative rituals, check out these reflection questions to help you deepen your awareness and connection while you walk!
Need a little guidance in planning your next creative project? I’ve made an Intentional Art Project Planner for that very purpose!
As always, this post is free of affiliate links and sponsors. Thanks for being here to discover how to find your creative rituals!
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