I am going to begin describing the creative process over the next week because that will begin to enable conscious creative clarity. What do we really want and how do we get it? These are two fundamental questions that can bring purpose and motivation to our lives. Clarity is an essential aspect of creative achievement. Understanding the different aspects of creative process aids clarity and also prepares us for the surprises within a creative life. 
![EARTH! (2).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmc77HuJdbicg9gA2ejqi2vAYJks78z5H5TrqmhY9h95fr/EARTH!%20(2).jpg) 
Clarity helps us understand healthy directions to pursue. We know what dreams, goals, intentions and solutions we want to achieve. How we get what we want is definitely influenced by our creative thinking skills and abilities. I have developed a mirror/map to help explain creative process. The mirror/map is simply a reminder of what most of us intuitively already know and its greatest value is as a re-minder that we have choices, options and tools that are available on our life journeys.

It is an interactive mirror/map. The words and symbols show elements representing life, creative process and consciousness. Imagine a large circle divided into 8 sections but the center contains symbols of consciousness. I use different symbols depending on what I am trying to convey and to whom. In some cases there may be the brain hemispheres surrounded by a large heart. Consciousness is anything but simple and we will delve into that in a later chapter; for now we just want to acknowledge that the Heart or Mind propel our creativity. We could also postulate that the Divine Mystery and the human soul propel creativity by inspiration and contemplation. From this center we can observe, direct, experience and learn about creative process and life.
The 8 sections of the circle contain multi-faceted dimensions of a seemingly logical and cyclical creative process. Only one dimension (the fifth) is the flow of creative expression or thought. The first dimension is the many initiators of creativity. This is followed by 2 - research, 3 - environment and rituals, 4 - environment and rituals, 5 - creative expression, 6 - contemplation, 7 - refining and 8 - celebrating with gusto. You have completed a logical process of a creative endeavor. 

However, I believe creative process is both logical/cyclical and spontaneous/mysterious. The cycle can be experienced completely out of order through choice or spontaneous mystery. Spontaneous creative thoughts often just happen and can be from the mystery of inspiration. 

One is also quite capable of mixing up the order of the initial dimensions to accent preferred experiences. 

Around the exterior of the circle are Life Scenes. These are about a dozen (or more) categories of experience that we choose to be creative in. Career, finances, relationships, select goals etc. are all examples of Life Scenes that we impact with out creative thoughts and actions. They are some of the primary areas of life where creativity can be focused. These Life Scenes offer us a full range of opportunities to be creative.

You may have to imagine the mirror/map for now although I have several illustrations in the forthcoming book Create Naturally. But stretching your imagination is part of creativity and that is what I wish for the Steemit community.
All writings copyright Daniel Hime 2018.