July 7, 2021 | Categories: Articles

Desire is a complex convergence of sensory plea­sure, memory, cognitive processing, and an innate sense of inner alignment. Our senses function as a gateway to, or interface with, the observable world. One key to keeping our faculty of Desire viable and vigorous is to maintain it through meaningful senso­ry experience.

We all can recall episodes that show the power of our senses to excite us. Childhood memories can last for decades: for example, the sight of a blazing sunset, the taste of our favorite food, the smell of the first new-mown grass, the soft touch of a kitten, the musical sound of your own name, and so on. These are highly personalized responses, and your list is likely to be different than anyone else’s. For example, you may not respond to any items on this list. Or, by sheer coincidence, one may be your favorite.

Each day brings new opportunities to add to your inventory of sensual engagement. As Julia Cameron, the author of the Artist’s Way, explains, we gather daily a harvest of raw materials to store in our inner ‘well’ and use later for creative inspiration.

You must regularly tend to this resource and replen­ish it with what your heart craves. If you prepare for sensual and experiential immersion at regular intervals, you will always possess abundant supplies of powerful impressions when it’s time to be inspired and create. By continuously feeding yourself the es­sence of what moves you, you can store reserves of Desire that will sustain you through any challenging chapters of your creative journey.