The War of Art (Excerpt)

[WyrmDL]

I read this short little intro to the book this morning. I think it speaks for itself, but damn, it hit me like a brick. Kinda one of those things you feel is lurking in the background; you know it's there, but you don't consciously realize until it's in your face.

Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

Have you ever brought home a treadmill and let it gather dust in the attic? Ever resolved on a diet, a course of yoga, a meditation practice? Have you ever felt a call to embark upon a spiritual practice, dedicate yourself to a humanitarian calling, commit your life to the service of others? Have you ever wanted to be a mother, a doctor, an advocate for the weak and helpless; to run for office, crusade for the planet, campaign for world peace or to preserve the environment? Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what Resistance is.

One night I was layin' down,
I heard Papa talkin' to Mama.
I heard Papa say, to let that boy
boogie-woogie. 'Cause it's in him
and it's got to come out.
—John Lee Hooker, Boogie Chillen'

Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease and erectile dysfunction. To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be. If you believe in God (and I do) you must declare Resistance evil, for it prevents us from achieving the life God intended when He endowed each of us with our own unique genius. Genius is a Latin word; the Romans used it to denote an inner spirit, holy and inviolable, which watches over us, guiding us to our calling.. A writer writes with his genius; an artist paints with hers; everyone who creates operates from this sacramental center. It is our soul's seat, the vessel that holds our being-in-potential, our star's beacon and Polaris.

Every sun casts a shadow, and genius' shadow is Resistance. As powerful as is our soul's call to realization, so potent are the forces of Resistance arrayed against it. Resistance is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, harder to kick than crack cocaine. We're not alone if we've been mown down by Resistance; millions of good men and women have bitten the dust before us. And here's the biggest bitch: we don't even know what hit us. I never did. From age twenty-four to thirty-two, Resistance kicked my ass from East Coast to West and back again thirteen times and I never even knew it existed. I looked everywhere for the enemy and failed to see it right in front of my face.

Have you heard this story: woman learns she has cancer, six months to live. Within days she quits her job, resumes the dream of writing Tex-Mex songs she gave up to raise a family (or starts studying Classical Greek, or moves to the inner city and devotes herself to tending babies with AIDS.) Woman's friends think she's crazy; she herself has never been happier. There's a postscript. Woman's cancer goes into remission.

Is that what it takes? Do we have to stare death in the face to make us stand up and confront Resistance? Does Resistance have to cripple and disfigure our lives before we awake to its existence? How many of us have become drunks and drug addicts, developed tumors and neuroses, succumbed to painkillers, gossip and compulsive cell-phone use, simply because we don't do that thing that our hearts, our inner genius, is telling us to? Resistance defeats us. If tomorrow morning by some stroke of magic every dazed and benighted soul woke up with the power to take the first step toward pursuing his or her dreams, overnight every shrink in the directory would be out of business. Prisons would stand empty. The alcohol and tobacco industries would collapse, along with the junk food, cosmetic surgery, and infotainment businesses, not to mention pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and the medical profession from top to bottom. Domestic abuse would become extinct, as would addiction, obesity, migraine headaches, road rage and dandruff.

Look in your own heart. Unless I'm crazy, right now a still small voice is piping up, telling you as it has ten thousand times, the calling that is yours and yours alone. You know it. No one has to tell you. And unless I'm crazy, you're no closer to taking action on it than you were yesterday or will be tomorrow. You think Resistance isn't real? Resistance will bury you.

You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts and later to the School of Architecture. Ever see one of his paintings? Neither have I. Resistance beat him. Call it overstatement but I'll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas.

Thoughts?

[dangnewt]

I first read it as the Art of War as well but it is the War of Art.

That said, an interesting and inspirational little intro. Not sure that resistance is the most toxic force out there, but it certainly can be corroding to the spirit and it is pretty widespread even if in modest quantities in most of us.

[joenoone]

Originally Posted by WyrmDL

You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts and later to the School of Architecture. Ever see one of his paintings? Neither have I.

Actually there are quite a few pieces of Hitler's artwork out there. Not that I'd want one - in my opinion it ranks right up there with artwork from serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Both are something I wouldn't want to have or be associated with.

But regarding the quote above. It isn't accurate or relevant as he didn't let resistance stop him and he did try to become an artist. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful (history would of been better if he was a crazy artist, not a crazy dictator). The art world is very fickle and for many artists, especially painters, success often comes posthumously.

So, I guess a better takeaway would be "do what you want, because in the end we all die".

[()smoke()]

very interesting, i'll look into the book, curious as to how the author expands on the notion

[joenoone]

Another great inspirational book for Bassists that I'd recommend is Victor Wooten's:

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

[superfunk47]

Originally Posted by joenoone

Another great inspirational book for Bassists that I'd recommend is Victor Wooten's:

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

^That is one that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, especially musicians or artists of any kind. Truly life changing, at least IME.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by WyrmDL

I read this short little intro to the book this morning. I think it speaks for itself, but damn, it hit me like a brick. Kinda one of those things you feel is lurking in the background; you know it's there, but you don't consciously realize until it's in your face.



Thoughts?

Linky?...

[machine gewehr]

That's not a strange feeling for me.I've felt,been feeling and will feel the "resistance" for a long time it seems.Right now,it gives me the finger through my Lakland that's sitting on the couch.

I can see the kids in the orphanage that I've been willing to visit,maybe take one as a sentimental brother/sister is giving me the finger.

Deep inside,I can see myself giving me the finger...

I'm having a hard week,don't mind me.