Finding Your Hour of Power
Do you have a time of day when you are at your best, able to be your most creative and productive? In college I was a night owl, but three decades of having to show up at a job beat that out of me. Even now that I am retired, I tend to be an early riser. Give me a hot shower, a little light exercise, hot coffee and a nutritious breakfast and I am ready to focus on what's most important to me on any given day, often my artwork or writing. Life often hands me early morning errands, tasks or appointments that get in the way with this inclination, but hey, that's life. I love the way the energy regenerates while I sleep! If I wait till too late in the day to do something creative, I've noticed how less focused I feel. My body is telling me -- hey, relax and stop trying to beat the clock!
I attend a women's circle where we discuss native American spirituality, largely based on the books and totem cards created by shaman Jamie Sams. One of her Sacred Path cards is called "Hour of Power". She tells a story about sitting under a Jacaranda tree for twelve hours, energized and empowered to learn about her own best hour (around midnight). She calls the act of finding that sweet spot "a ritual of joy", wherein she felt energized, alive and connected to Mother Earth.
Whatever your hour of power is, your low point is usually twelve hours opposite. For me, when I was working in a public library all day, having gotten up about 6 AM, my low point was 6 - 7 PM, right after I got off work. All my energy was drained, and being an introvert, I very much needed to hunker down and regroup before I could face any more external interactions. Taking a hot bath helped. A quiet diinner, a little reading and I was civilized again.
What we need and how we live changes over time. Seasonal variations, sunlight, weather, health, family situations, stress, etc. all affect our internal timing. Getting into balance is not always easy or possible. But when we can, how right we feel, catching the perfect wave, riding life's waters joyfully, ready to rest when we touch shore.
How does your body clock affect you? Does the "hour of power" concept resonate with you? Hope to see some comments coming in......
Best wishes for all our creative intentions in 2012!
Collage: Beat the Clock by KAO
Tags: body, clock, power, timing
Views: 44
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on -
I love staying up late. And I love getting up early. The two don't go together. However, if I can somehow sneak in an hour-long nap, I'm totally energized. Right now it's 5:30 pm on Friday, and I'm at my low point energetically. I feel pooped. However, if I were able to take a nap at say, 3 pm (which I sometimes do on the weekends), I can keep going strong till midnight.
I wonder if we can get Jamie Sams as a guest on HWT radio. I'm going to try.I LOVE your Beat The Clock collage, Keddy! FABULOUS!!!
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on -
Kay, I am rarely able to nap, even after a night of insomnia. But I give it the royal try, close my eyes and am at least able to power down a bit. Maybe almost reach a meditative state. Hope you can get Jamie Sams to speak on radio - I'd make sure all of her fans in Houston tuned in!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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Keddy, I found this 10-year-old article about Jamie Sams. I wonder if her health is any better now. Do you know much about her? http://www.emergingworlds.com/ch_stories_detail.cfm?Content=46
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on
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Except that she lives in the Santa Fe area and has been battling chronic fatigue, no, I'm sorry.
I left a query on a fan site in case anyone can connect us. I remember how shocked I was to learn how ill she had been, since her books have no mention of it, and her wisdom is so immense. I never would have guessed she was anything but tremendously healthy in body as well as what I've glimpsed of her mind and spirit. I do have one person I can contact, the founder of our group who has since moved away - maybe she will have a lead. I'll let you know if I find any more info.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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Thanks, Keddy. I got your separate message with the contact info. Yes, I too am surprised she's not in vibrant health.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on -
Great topic and one that I am now well aware of. I am an early riser, but I also like huge blocks of time to create in, like whole days or at least an afternoon. I notice on the days I work, (deliver mail) that there is no energy left to be creative. I need to be fresh and rested and relaxed with time to get lost for hours in play.
Last weekend, I had one whole day and I made two quilted wall hangings. I was able to stay with them to complete the Art or Creative part, now I can do the finishing up in pieces of time. To machine quilt the borders is more of a relaxing mindless task. But to be creating a new piece I need to be fresh and new.
I used to try and create tired and end up with a very tired body and nothing creative. I now know better. In fact...I wait for the body and time/space to let me know. I can tell by how I feel if there is even a point in even trying. It seems like I have to feel alive, energized and open ....and then it all flows without me forcing or struggling.
Here is one of the Ladies I made last Sunday...
It is like we need to be fresh, open and willing to feel the subtle ideas...and it is hard to do with a heavy tired body. Or even if I have too much on my mind or too many chores that need my attention. I now make sure that I have a clear head and chore list...and guilt free go and play. Or, I too have given my self like 4 to 6 hours of play and then do the house work. Just knowing when you are your best is huge, it cuts way back on frustration and then start blaming the art and not you and your energy.
Thanks Keddy for keeping us learning about our creative selves.
Beth
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on
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Beth, love the new mitten tree; this piece is filled with joy.
Like you, I crave long patches of uninterrupted time. When I was working, I only had 2 Saturdays a month off. Sometimes I would do all my housework and laundry on Friday night even tho it was rather tiring, so I could really settle in with creative projects on Saturday. And like you, I find things to do related to my art when I am not at an optimal energy point, scanning in my collages, organizing my clippings, etc.
Exercise really helps, too. This morning on my walk, I was taken with the sight of giant dandelion plants everywhere on people's lawns where the grass used to be before our summer of drought. What raggedy, rough green dominatrix plants they are! I often get ideas for art as I walk about, and unless I write them down or make a sketch, they evaporate. Tending to a creative life takes some discipline, that's for sure, and working within the framework of our bio-rhythms is a part of it.
Here is a photo from a recent series I am doing called Altar Art for Labyrinth Lovers - they ar 4 " collages, tiny but I hope inspirational. There is a store called Lucia's Garden here in Houston, kind of a new age bookstore/gift shop, that has started selling my labyrinth art, and they want more, so I've been happy to get into production mode.
Thank you, Beth, for your continued input and inspiration!
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on
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Love the simplicity of this one. Glad you found an avenue to sell your work...that does keep you creating. And I love how your walks have hints of what is to come. I too watch and get inspired in the oddest of places.
Beth
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on
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Thanks, Beth. This one is actually the prototype & after I loaded it I though well maybe I should have shared a later one. I am keeping this one since it kicked off the series. The labyrinth as a spritual symbol fascinates me, containing circle, cross and spiral in one nifty package!
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on
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Interesting....circles cross and spirals...An interesting combination. I will have to ponder that in a quilt someday.
I too like to keep the originals. Good for you.
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Permalink Reply by Shirley Graham on -
I love the collage too. I, too, use to be at my best in the early morning hours. Especially when it came to writing. Like Kay, I find the hour power nap during the day helps me make it through the late evening hours much easier. IF I don't take a nap then I find I feel energeless for rest of day and all I want is to rest. I've also found as I get older my need for nighttime rest has changed. I use to be a total night owl but now it's all I can do to stay up late. I do have sleepless nights or those where waking every few minutes harasses me. Sometimes I get up and try to be productive but usually fail miserably.
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on
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Hi, Shirley! Maybe some day I'll get the hang of napping. It sure seems to help a lot of people. Sleepless nights are such a hassle. I have to make sure I limit my caffeine & chocolate consumption after about 2 PM or I'm stillspinning out half the night. This hour of power concept has helped me to prioritize my quality time. I like to strike when the iron is hot. Or what would another analogy be? Now that it is almost night, I'm fading! Hitting the sweet spot, there's a better term -- when whatever I am doing clicks right along.
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