Have you always wanted to express yourself either in by writing a short story or personal memoirs, piecing a colorful quilt, painting, or any other artistic endeavor, but felt that your creativity is being blocked by an internal judge? You are not alone!

Come and join us with this invitation to unlock your creative spirit beginning Wednesday evening, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. We will study together the 12 weekly lessons from Julia Cameron’s book, "The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity."

“Creativity is God’s gift to us .... Using our creativity is our gift back to God,” Cameron said.

The 12-week sessions include the following topics:

Week 1: Recovering a sense of safety

Week 2: Recovering a sense of identity

Week 3: Recovering a sense of power

Week 4: Recovering a sense of integrity

Week 5: Recovering a sense of possibility

Week 6: Recovering a sense of abundance

Week 7: Recovering a sense of connection

Week 8: Recovering a sense of strength

Week 9: Recovering a sense of compassion

Week 10: Recovering a sense of self-protection

Week 11: Recovering a sense of autonomy

Week 12: Recovering a sense of faith

Cameron explains there are two pivotal tools in creative recovery: the morning pages and the artist date. The first tool, the morning pages, involves writing three stream-of-consciousness pages, longhand every morning. Doing this process is so important that Cameron calls it “non-negotiable.” The morning pages are private; nobody else is to be allowed to read them except for you, and then, not until you have done them for two months. They are not supposed to be “art” or even “writing.” They are to help recognize and release the critic inside.

The second tool, the artist date, as Cameron explains, “is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.”

The Artist’s Way will help you to nurture your creative spirit. We’ll cover a variety of topics for conversation and inspiration including self-awareness, motivation and inner healing as we explore all forms of art. Being artistic is not a prerequisite. As Cameron writes, “No matter what your age or your life path ... it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on creativity.”

All are welcome. The book study is free and will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 9, at Edgecomb Community Church, 15 Cross Point Road, Edgecomb. Participants are asked to bring an open heart, a copy of the book, "The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" (ISBN 978-1-58542-146-6; it can be purchased at Amazon or through your favorite bookstore) and a notebook to write in.

For further information, please call the church office at 207-882-4060.