Thoughts on "Soul" and creativity

I had recently had an exchange with a great violinist and curious spirit, Joshua Peckins about the nature of self and creativity:


Hey Sean,


I want to ask you about people’s free choice, self-hood, the creative life, soul, ability to imagine and then act, etc. It always seemed to me that you had a special gift for living your own life. It’s not about rebellion or even the strength to be independent. (I used to think that the creative life was about those things.) Lately, I’ve been thinking that it’s much more about imagination. In other words, when you don’t have anything that you MUST do (of even if you do, for some reason you’re not going to do it right then!) – do desires and plans reveal themselves, or do we find ourselves bored? I guess we don’t face this aloneness very often, because when we’re not working we’re busy with other people, taking care of basic life, in the routine, etc. And then when we do face it, it’s tempting just to fill it with leisure-business, like going out with people or watching TV. And there’s nothing really so bad about those things, it’s just that they’re inputs, not outputs. What about actually creating something? When the opportunity to do that comes, we need the imagination and the desire! I would be so happy if you would share your thoughts on this. I guess it’s sort of the question, Do we have a soul? I’m going crazy here, so if you think the answer is, “No,” then say it gently! :)

Peace,

Joshua


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Dear Joshua,


My short answer is that there is soul, but its not "ours".   I think maybe it's everyone's, actually.   What we might want to call a personal soul is perhaps just our ego's bid at immortality, which it will not get.   The paradox, of course, is that if we can relinquish identification with this ego, this piece of psychological scaffolding, this story of "who and what we are" that our powerful mind conjures up to help us weave through the world; then, and only then, does the impersonal soul emerge clearly enough and do we discover and connect with that which truly is immortal.

The moment breathes with soul. It always does. It always has. Even when we get stuck, it is always there breathing with us and through us. Even when we fight it and distract ourselves, it is.

More and more I'm beginning to think that the best creative life is based on joy and awareness.   I think imagination is wonderful, but perhaps awareness is prior to imagination.  Imagination can be another place to get stuck.  We can imagine all day and not create much at all.  We can get stuck in our heads in the moment we are trying to create.   Imagination is a powerful mental tool and it can yield the extraordinary when it is wielded by masterful intention.


I hope what I have written here quiets your mind. If it doesn't, then do not worry. If you let the dog run around long enough it will eventually get tired and go to rest.


peace to you,

Sean