Soul of an Artist

Is having the soul of an artist rare? Or does everyone have one?

Is it a spark that exists in everyone? Something to be kindled to its fulfillment? Or ignored to its peril?

Music producer Rick Rubin claims to have discovered that creativity is “a way of being” rather than a characteristic of those making great art. 

His point of view suggests that we all have the capability to be artists. We just have to show up in the right way. Creative energy is everywhere. We just have to slow down, open up, and receive it.

The more I study the topics of meditation, philosophy, creativity, enlightenment, religion, personal development, and artistic pursuit, it seems to me these all point to the same thing: live in the now. Embrace the present moment to the absolute exclusion of all else.

Surprisingly simple to comprehend. Perhaps less simple to achieve.

Then again, Rubin makes it even simpler. In “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” he writes:

When we’re making things we love, our mission is accomplished. There’s nothing at all to figure out.