Seven Ways Nature Reflects the Creative Process

I do love this time of the year.  Here, in the Southern Hemisphere, we have fully blossomed into Spring.

The colourful riot of flowers, the fresh lime leaves and the chirpiness of the birds is everywhere.

The tuis – our New Zealand native birds just love dangling from the branches – from any angle they can as they suck the juices out of the beautiful cherry and pink blossoms, Kowhais and other garden plants.

After the cold, dark and weary winter, the contrast is significant including the bounce in people's steps. 

Seeing the lushness of the new during my walk this sunny afternoon, I began reflecting on how nature has parallels with creativity. 

 1)  Cycles - the natural cycle of the seasons reflects the creative process. Sometimes our creativity is just flourishing and at other times it feels as if it has gone underground.

2)  Diversity – this season, more than others, highlights the diversity in nature with all the varied colours, shapes, sizes and smells of the different flora and fauna appearing together.

Creativity also emerges and thrives with diversity in thoughts and ideas.

3)  Smells– the heady perfume of jasmine and the gentle whiff of wisteria this afternoon was intoxicating under the strong sun.  

Our feel good hormones and creative juices get aroused with certain smells, which are pleasing and/or have some previous positive memories associated with them.

4)  Happy accidents  – as per nature with the unplanned flowers and shrubs popping up in unexpected spots including the paved footpath – creativity also ‘pops up’ as we have that special  ‘ah ha’ realization at an unexpected time and place.  

Nature frees our clogged up minds and lets our imagination roam free.

5)  Juxtapositions- this again mirrors the creative process, as it is the previously uncombined thoughts and juxtapositioning of ideas, which result in new insights and solutions. 

Nature breaks the rules, as does the creative process in discovering new things.

6)  Giving shape – nature evolves organically with some input from us e.g. when we give shape to our gardens.  

Creativity also thrives with our input – when we marshal our nascent thoughts and ideas into some new form. 

7)  Joy– last but not least, Spring lifts our spirit leaving behind sodden months, preparing us for sunshine – and hope.

 Ultimately the creative process has to be a joyous one.