Big Magic

I had an epiphany today. A real, bolt-from-the-blue, body tingling, mind-expanding epiphany. And it was good! Really good.

I was listening to Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic on Audible. Elizabeth wrote Eat, Pray, Love back in 2007. A book which incited in me an inspiration for adventure which hasn’t really dissipated in the fifteen years since I read it.

Big Magic was written in 2015. Over my year of writing, thus far, several teachers and mentors have mentioned this book and I finally got to it…somewhere in my to-be-read list. I decided to listen to it on Audible, as it was read by the author. I often find this adds an element of personal perspective from the writer which you don’t get on the printed page.

I am still reeling from the excitement produced from listening to the final chapters of the book.

Big Magic is a memoir, and a guidebook to living creatively. Elizabeth puts into words so many feelings I have encountered in my process of writing, but also lots of things I experienced before I started writing. Making excuses, feeling unqualified, etc. etc. Her enthusiasm for writing is contagious.

The epiphany came when she gave me permission to enjoy my writing. Not in a flippant go-have-fun way. In a deeply moving, soul recognising way. She described the hundreds of years of suffering and pain many creative people have endured to create their work. The alcoholism, drug addiction, poverty, and lack of success, that many artists have experienced. She talks about the many creatives who agree with the old adage, ‘if it’s not painful, you’re not doing it right.’

I have always enjoyed writing. But many people, with far more experience than me, have basically spelled out that unless I’m bleeding from the eyeballs to get the words on the page, it’s not real writing. It’s folly. It’s pretend. It’s dress-ups.

I love sitting at my desk, immersed in my thoughts and memories, telling myself a story. I hear it in my head. I try to amuse myself. I giggle. Today I wept tears of gratitude while writing about Stu. After being given permission, I sat and wrote without worrying, overthinking, or second-guessing myself. I enjoyed the feeling of being in the flow. I allowed myself to be carried away with it. Writing offers moments of profound self-realisation. It’s life changing. I feel so fortunate I get to do this! Writing, for me, really is ‘Big Magic.’ What is your Big Magic?