At the start of the Covid years, I was beginning to create a follow-up to my first book. While writing (and illustrating), I started to experience moments outside of creation that were guiding me away from what I was creating. The further I went down that path of this follow-up, the more I was pulled in a different direction. In short, the Universe didn’t want me to write that book. So, I started to pay more attention to how the Universe was guiding me, how it ultimately became a collaborator in the process. Once I surrendered to that guidance and found my lane, A Curious Reality in Imagination: A Creative Odyssey was born.
When I found the appropriate pathway and ultimately the purpose of this book, little nudges from the Universe started appearing, verifying each step within the writing. I’m sure many would call those nudges coincidences; I call them confirmations, and I’ve learned they appear to ensure I’m on the right path. Convincing me the Universe is on my side — on our side. When we follow the callings and find our path, the Universe contributes strongly to walking that path along with us. Once I figured that out, I understood each small step taken over each day before — each day of my life — had led me toward who I had become.
It’s been about 2 years since that book was released, and the nudges keep whispering, and lately it’s nudged me to create a visual companion to the book. A “map” to find this place of pure imagination — my happy place — where reality and creativity blend. Even though in the past I’ve said often there is no map to this location (I would still say that), I know my way to get there.
To develop something visual, I started to crudely sketch something that resembled a Venn diagram — and then I went all in in that direction. I shared a work in progress earlier this week on Substack (and other platforms), and a slightly updated version appears below that feels more complete (along with a time-lapse further down the page because, well, they’re just fun). It’s possible this “map” (diagram) will be included in the next edition of my book (at least I hope that’s the case).
If you look closely, you will see in the center ring the words Space Between, which happens to be the title of this conversation on Substack. This is the space I believe we have immediate access to at all times. During special circumstances, we have access to the center, and that’s where things really take off — the more we get to that area, the more we are called to return (similar to a drug that you can’t get enough of).
An important note is that this is my “map”, my way of getting to this place. My hope is this “map” helps you get to your happy place.* Your path is different; all of ours are different — though the destination may be the same. We all have access to this place, which is why I believe we call it our imagination.
Of course, in this past week, while developing this “map” (the same week that had an enchanting full moon), a confirmation did appear. A friend posted a “story” on Instagram by Maria Bowler (author and life coach; you can follow here on Substack ). The video she posted is here, and I’ve added a small part of her message:
“Create while the world is on fire, because it is a way to engage deeply with the world and care for it. If we do not exercise our imagination, we are going to live in the imaginations of other people.”
Feel free to read that several times — it’s important. Our imagination is a powerful place. When we can access its full power, it will open our minds beyond anything we thought was possible.
Once we find our way to get there.
The results of entering that space, what I’ve called my happy place, or pure imagination, are some of the possibilities:
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Recapturing our childhood wonder
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Witnessing magic
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Inspirations surface
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Moments of weightlessness
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Clues and confirmations appear
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Seeing more possibilities
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Shifting perspectives
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Understanding levels of love