Small Reques for help

[Eric McTavish]

Well I haven't posted here before but now is as good a time as any.
I need a bit of inspirational help. Some my know that my position as a graphic artist with the government here at Ft Knox might be ending May 30th (with very few prospects in sight in the near future) My problem (as if that wasn't enough) is I'm a bit depressed, and this has sapped my creative energy I have lots of personal projects to work on in my studio at home but I just cant get the inspiration to work on my own artwork! I was hoping someone might know of some herbs, incense, ANYTHING, that might help me out???
Thanks

[Rose N. Crantz]

Ah, I feel for you, Eric. (for! FOR! F-O-R, Tink, I swear!!) Whenever I find myself feeling lax in creativity I dab a bit of rose essential oil on my wrists. The scent is pleasant, the herb known for inspiration and it sends you all sorts of happy/relaxing vibes. If all else fails...take a break, get away from your work. Tell yourself "I am NOT thinking about that today". After a day or two, you should be aching to get back to it.

The good thing is, Beltane is approaching. New beginnings...so maybe you could ask the universe to send you a fresh batch of creative juices.

[FairieTink]

I understand you.... I own a hosting/design and programming business... there are days I can not get my creative juices moving, so I step away.. totally from the computer.. read, watch stuipd tv anything, you'll find your way back to it.

[Eric McTavish]

Thanks ladies
Ah, I feel for you, Eric. (for! FOR! F-O-R, Tink, I swear!!)
Just for huh Rose? :cry:

It's not that I dont want to work I have all these projects lined up but once Im in my stuido It's like...Blah! :P nothing comes out right, my motovation is gone... yeech, I'd agree that usealy after a few "off" days you pop right back into things but this has been going on for a month now. :(

[Rose N. Crantz]

Thanks ladies
Ah, I feel for you, Eric. (for! FOR! F-O-R, Tink, I swear!!)
Just for huh Rose? :cry:

Well...you know, I need Tink's permission (or her eyes to be averted elsewhere ;))

A month? Sounds like the writers block version of graphic design. Give the rose essential oil a try...you never know. And let us know how it goes!

[Eric McTavish]

I will and thanks again!

BTW just ast TinkerWench I'm sure she'd loan me out for a few hours! :shock:

[Rose N. Crantz]

A few hours? :shock: What time should I be there?!

[emalia]

Try Saging your work area.. Sometimes it helps me work better, and it gets me up off my ass and moving again.

On a health note, make sure you aren't getting TOO much sleep.. that can do it as well.. Makes you want to sit and stare at walls.

[Eric McTavish]

Ohh now sageing is something I havent thought about!

great idea!

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Prsonally, I love rosemary essential oil, as well as bergomot - I find both to be stimulating and refreshing. Rose and lavander are both too heavy for me - I get headaches.

Fresh air! Talk walks in the sun - exercise and sunlight both help combat depression.

Fingers crossed that youfind a new, exciting job soon!

[shadow]

Eric this might sound wierd and it definately isnt a religous thing but working out sometimes relaxes my body enough so that my mind is free to roam into better things. I like working my sword forms for about an hour which allows my mind to go places i cant get it to go while im concentrating on a million different things

[Nevada]

Peppermint oil does wonders for me...plus just stepping away from my home territory..head for a local park etc and picnic...just observe everything around you and relax. Good luck.

[Jeannie Fitzgerald]

Sounds like either depression or burnout. Sounding off on someone (pro or otherwise), not unlke what your doing here but with greater depth) can help you identify the problem. A change of scenery, so to speak, when trying to work can also help. Try rearranging your work area. Change any nonessential decorations. Changing room color is drastic but almost the same effect could be had by changing curtains, adding wall hangings, etc. Possibly look into Feng Shui (sp?). A change in background music, room aromas, or even the time of day you work could help.

Mayhap a current project is subconciously blocking your creative juices. I have ADD and this is a common problem for people with it but it can affect people without ADD as well. I frequently run into tasks that almost completely intimidate me for no seemingly logical reason, such as paying bills (thank God for automatic withdrawal!), yet once attempted turn out to be trivial. Again, sounding off on someone may help determine if that is the case. Breaking intimidating tasks into small steps often helps to break the block.

A completely unrelated health or personal problem could also be sapping your creativity. Again, sounding off on someone could help identify that. By sounding off on someone, i do not mean seeking advice. Just talking (or writing, even) about things helps to gel your thoughts into a more recognizable form.

Mayhap a vacation away from home and work will help. (if that option is possible).

Good luck and I hope your Muse returns soon.

[Eric McTavish]

Thank you everyone!
I'm hopeing this will be a big help.

I like working my sword forms for about an hour which allows my mind to go places i cant get it to go while im concentrating on a million different things
Maybe time to get back into my Bushido.

I'd like everone to know I'll be taking you advice and we'll see how things turn out! :)

[Psyche]

*taking notes*
I feel for you Eric... I have a bunch of projects lines up and I just look at them and draw a blank.

[Eric McTavish]

Well, just a update, I've taken your advice (everyones, tho I'm still trieing to find a Sage smudger) and am doing much better, still a bit slow on the uptake of work but doing much better! Thank you all for your advice!

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

In a pinch, you might could look to the spice aisle in the grocery store for whole dried sage leaves. Gather a bunch together, light the ends, then wave the flame out and ta-da, a fill-in smudger. (just watch out for singed fingertips if the leaves aren't very long)

[mstarfire]

A change of pace might need a change of place

It might help to take your work to a different place if you're zoning in the 'office'. Is there a project or two that you could do in the backyard or a park?

When moving the project to a new area, allow intentional time for 'look-around' and 'setttle-in'. If you build this time in, then you know you have 'x' amount of time for it and won't feel guilty doing it.

Bite off a smalll chunk of a project. Somtimes once you get started, you discover that's all you needed was a start (I was gong to say 'jump start' but remembered to whom I was talking. This is about getting WORK done, hmmmm?)

Set up a goal to achieve and a reward for when you get there. Make both realistic and significant.

Hrm, nope, not me, I haven't faced this in my past.... Uh, uh.

Peace