Ghost Story: Your Genius & You
I have, ever so often, been accused of (or at least asked about) staying up all night thinking of a student / exercise / pathology / idea.
The truth is … I don’t.
The question is usually accompanied with something like: but you’re so good at your job / you know so much / I could never have thought of that / it’s genius! You’re Genius! (At least that’s what I hear in my mind)
It brings up for me a conversation my friend, Jenna, and I have frequently about the speech that author, Melissa Gilbert, gave entitled “Your Elusive Creative Genius.” In it Gilbert discusses the pressures of creativity and the need to best your last success. She introduces us to the ancient Greek and Roman practices of discussing GENIUS not as something you are, but rather something you have. In both cultures the energy of creativity and insightfulness was something that spoke to you, passed through you like a ghostly idea-spirit; existing as inspiration that was there for you to act upon or … simply ignore. If the venture, or product, was successful it was a result of the relationship between you and your genius. If it was a sinker, and bombed, you shared the blame with your lame idea-spirit. I generally blame ghosts anyway.
When I initially heard that it brought back a memory from the Michael Jackson documentary, This Is It. Personal feelings aside, his music and creativity changed entertainment. In the documentary it was told that he’d often wake from dreams and need to write things down, and act on creative sparks, because it was his fear that if he didn’t act soon enough the idea would venture over to Prince … and he’d for sure act on it! HA!
When I think of my work, or more appropriately how I work, I consider myself a conduit or vessel for information to flow into, through, and out of with ease …
I’m open to ideas and imagination. I try not to get in the way with judgement or skepticism. I share and suggest what feels important at the time. For me it doesn’t detract from the years of education and practice I have within and around my work. I’m not less of an educator (or ineffective) because I acknowledge that I’m often inspired rather than thought-filled when working. In fact, if I hadn’t the experience I do have I may not, with any relevancy, be able to interpret and act upon the wisdom passing through me.
What if the same relationship were true, even just possible, for how we collaborated with the parts of us we recognize as “the body?” What if a body-bound cellular Genius was available to us every day? I think it just might be. I think we’re often missing the whispers and calls because we willingly dumb down that portion of our listening. (“What could I possibly know,” we think.) More than not trusting our expertise, which we may or may not have, we fail ourselves by not trusting our sensations (the voice of body wisdom). Does it feel good to do? Knowing that good is often challenging and thought-provoking, and as novel as it is known.
We stop investigating if something feels as good tomorrow as it did yesterday. Trusting that there is wisdom in the body and listening for that information, that collaboration, is THE GENIUS! You don’t have to wait for that knowingness to pass through you and into the hands of someone else, teacher or critic (some other expert), for it to be validated.
My work is guided by listening - listening to you, for you, and helping you to do the same for yourself. Sometimes we miss, but the goal stays true.
Do you recognize the voice of your Genius? Or are you more familiar with your Critic/s?
Which are you listening for, routinely?
Homework: Stand, eyes fully or partially-closed, near a wall (for support if needed) and let yourself begin to sway/move in whatever directions feel good. Your only job is to remain standing on two feet. What shapes, rhythms, and emotions come forth? Does it feel genius or critical? Which are you more accustom to noticing in movement, and in turn life?
~ james CRADER
