A metaphorical and potentially helpful tool to understand the journey of our creative development would be to distinguish these 7 different stages.
- The city is when you’re running along like everyone else trying to live up to the cultural values of security and success. Risk and authenticity here are dangerous, you don’t even think about it.
- The forest is when the way you live no longer fits you. You’ve outgrown those cultural values and are ready to discover and follow your own, but not sure if it’s safe to do so.
- The desert is when you begin to follow your truth, but not much of what you wish to happen happens yet. And you’re not going to make it happen, if it’s not happening naturally.
- The pastures are when some fractions of the things you wish to happen, begin to happen, but which seem so small and insignificant, that you’re still doubting.
- The marketplace is when you have your big breakthrough, and things seems to start happening for you. You’ve broken through the doubts of trusting your authenticity, and are manifesting fully and usefully in the world.
- The fireplace is when you sit down to share your wisdom. There’s nothing that you’re pursuing anymore, other than to help others understand life and suffer less.
- The outerspace is when your identity has changed address, from space to outerspace, you’re living the lucid dream of reality. In the world but not of it.
This is a very short overview of what are usually long stages that could last from months to years long.