Poetry Chop Shop
April 21, 2024
Mindfulness exercise:
Summoning the Muse meditation. Play song “Summoning the Muse” by Dead Can Dance. Take deep conscious breaths in the belly holding the intention of inviting the Muse to join you in your practice to help you tap into the creative flow.
Step One: 15 to 30 minutes: Reread your previous writings prompts or flip through old journal entries. As you read your writing when something jumps out at you: a word, a sentence, a phrase…or if what you’re reading inspires you to think of a new line or phrase…write it down clearly on a separate sheet of paper. Continue reading. Every time something catches your attention write it down. If you write small, try to write a little larger to give yourself space between words and sentences to rip or cut it out later without cutting into your writing. Don’t overthink this. Follow your gut. Have fun. It’s like a puzzle. Allow this to become meditative. Respond to the pull or spark certain lines elicit. For me, I feel a tug or pull in my core…it makes me feel plugged in and turned on. Give yourself plenty of time to weed through your writing, mining for gems and juicy nuggets. Try to fill 1 to 3 pages so you have plenty to work with in the next step.
Step Two: 30 to 60 minutes: Once you have filled at least one page. Begin cutting or ripping out each sentence or line and placing them out front of you so you can see each piece. Cut/rip out certain words so they are standing alone. Cut some sentences in half or in thirds. Once you cut out all the lines and have them laid out before you, place your heavier piece of cardstock or use your journal to assemble your lines into a structure that flows for you. Or into a format that makes no sense at all. This process is more about feeling and flow, uncovering messages, making discoveries, finding meaning and just enjoying the moment. As you are doing this, remember to think about your Muse and continuing to ask them to assist or flow through you, especially if you get stuck. Ask the Muse to help show you the way. Arrange the lines to intentionally sound silly, and then start rearranging the pieces like puzzle until they click into place. Discard or set aside pieces that don’t work. Make mini words clusters on the side. Create new pieces to work into the larger piece. Draw in symbols or emojis to add interesting elements. Let this become a conversation with your creative self. Let the way you place the paper on the cardstock or in your journal become visually pleasing to you. Give it a shape or pattern. This is about what you like not what you think other people will like because our best work is done when you are creating according to your personal style and aesthetic. Let this become a piece of word art rather than the great American novel. Spend some time putting your word puzzle together, as you go along, you can take pictures with your phones so if you mess up the order, you can refer back to the version you liked. When you are satisfied or thoroughly over it, grab the tape or a glue stick and start adhering the pieces either onto the cardstock or into your journal.
the kestrel nest 