Book Talk: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

“The work wants to be made and it wants to be made by you.”

– Elizabeth Gilbert

My boss recently read this book and offered to let me borrow it. I was hesitant, as the last book she lent to me has sat on my bedside table, untouched + forgotten – even though I found it crazy inspiring! For me, reading has always seemed forced. But this book…inspiration is splattered on every single page. Dripping, actually. I finished Big Magic in less than 2 days. I could not put it down! The ideas and concepts that Elizabeth present are absolutely brilliant.

One of my favorite visuals she brought to life was her theory that creative ideas + sparks of inspiration are floating in the space around us. Some choose to enter our mind, body + spirit and attempt to manifest themselves to take form – and from there, we either obliviously ignore their tingling sensation or we bravely act upon them. ‘The work wants to be made and it wants to be made by you.’ What a concept! We just have to believe in that magic and tap into that other world of beautiful opportunity. We all have access to it – it is just a matter of leaving that door open and maintaining awareness of an unexpected visit. These so called magical ideas have a mind of their own and tend to come and go as they please. So if you love it, HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE. You can’t simply store it away in a vacant cubby in your brain, because sooner than later, it’ll get bored and say bye-bye. And more than likely move on to another creative mind who has left their door wide open with milk + cookies at the table.

Follow clues. I love this. We are presented with clues all the time, but we rarely tap into these little buggers. Clues are the universe manifesting itself into a form for us to see. So chase after them as fast as you can, even if you feel like your running in a dream and you can’t pick up your feet. Heck, these clues might even try to trick you and take sharp corners, laughing along the way. But run. And be mindful that they might not actually take you anywhere or lead you to a brilliant idea. But at least you tried, right? Those streets and trails that you ran down might open doors to narnia, or you may fall down an otherworldly rabbit hole. But hell, I’ll take that any day, rather than watch an idea run off into the horizon until it dissolves into the atmosphere as you are left wondering what if.

Big Magic Book Talk:

– Do you remember the last creative idea that hit you like a semi truck?

– Do you practice discipline and dedicate a certain time of the day to express yourself creatively? 

– When you are in your element, what forces do you feel in the body?

– Where do you + what do you to recharge and refresh your presence?

– Naturally inspired. Locally aware. Universally beautiful. With love, Taylor.