Sorry this is so late! PLease post your FINAL check in here.
Chapter 12 is titled “Recovering a Sense of Faith.” In this final chapter, Cameron focuses on the importance of trusting the creative process and embracing a sense of possibility and openness to a greater creative force—what she often calls the “Great Creator” or creative flow. She encourages readers to recognize that the journey of artistic recovery is ongoing, and that the completion of this twelve-week course is really the beginning of a lifelong path toward creative growth.
A central theme in this chapter is the concept of believing without seeing—placing faith in your creative instincts and ideas even when there’s no tangible proof or immediate result. Cameron emphasizes that creativity often involves uncertainty, and part of the artist’s role is learning to live with and even welcome that uncertainty. This sense of faith is described not in a strictly religious sense but as a willingness to surrender to the unknown and trust that things will unfold as they should if you keep showing up to your work.
She reflects on how many artists sabotage themselves by trying to control the outcome of their efforts too rigidly. The lesson she underscores here is that creativity thrives when you let go of trying to dictate results and instead focus on the process. Faith, then, is about accepting that doing the work itself is valuable, even if the end product isn’t clear right away.
Cameron also revisits the idea of synchronicity—the little coincidences or “happy accidents” that occur when you’re connected to your creative path. In her view, these moments are signs that you’re aligned with your deeper purpose, and the more you act with trust, the more frequently synchronicities seem to occur.
She addresses the fear of success, which often follows fear of failure. Some people, she argues, are more afraid of living up to their full potential than they are of failing, because success can bring new responsibilities, visibility, and the pressure to keep performing. Cameron reminds readers that true success is defined individually, not by external validation, and that faith can help you navigate the unfamiliar terrain of growth and achievement.
Toward the end of the chapter, she encourages artists to continue their morning pages and artist dates beyond the twelve-week course. These tools, she says, are foundational for maintaining a steady connection to your inner artist. They serve as a way to keep faith active, providing a space to listen inwardly, dream, complain, celebrate, and stay in dialogue with the creative self.
Overall, Chapter 12 is a gentle but powerful invitation to keep moving forward with courage, patience, and belief in your creative path. Cameron assures readers that the work they’ve done has laid a foundation, and that by continuing to show up with openness and trust, their creativity will deepen and expand in ways they might not yet imagine.
I really enjoyed this book club, thanks Dallas, Ann, Christopher and everyone else who participated. It gave me a new perspective on how and why “artist block” works and some good advice to move forward.
I haven’t been doing the artist pages, etc. since we finished the book. It seems like a relief to be over them, but I do miss it, so will try to return or replace them with another daily activity, for example, sight reading or playing by ear.
To keep the momentum going, I have gone back to “Learn Faster, Perform Better,” by Molly Gebrian. I really like this book.
Other than that, I am arranging “Maple Sugar” by Ward Allen for my accordion and preparing for my 2 - 3 hour farmers market gigs starting in a little more than a month. Omg, I gotta get going!!!!! Good luck to everyone with all your projects!
I'm checking in from historical Gettysburg, PA. I can't believe we're done. The 12 weeks went by quickly. I did the morning pages every single day, this past week included. I did a couple of the tasks. We're not home for about a month and I don't have my accordion with me. This will be my routine through mid November. When we're home, I do plan on playing and getting a lesson in. The Artist's Way was an interesting experience and my first book club experience. Thanks for leading us, Dallas!
I did morning pages all but one day. I did a few of the tasks that were here. I saw tons of synchronicity, and in some extremely challenging emotional moments this week - I have asked the universe to help me; I have put my faith outside of myself hoping/praying/faithing that the universe will help me.
A significant part of my recovery is the new mindset to just get out there and try to do my thing: I don't have to make sure my jazz is "worhy", "valid", impresses anyone. I just need to do my thing. And absolutely it will get better, as I get out there and do it more and more. I was very lucky to have three days in a row of wonderful gigs and that was super inspiring and nourishing. I am still feeling inspired to practice, I feel and see my progress, and I am inspired to keep going to open mics to do my thing - as I am absent from more gigs due to this crazy disrupted period of my life still.