Season one is history!

Nature has seasons (naturally!), and so do we as individuals. Focus is a wonderful thing in what can be accomplished under its gaze but, bound by physics and the reality of finite energy, it inevitably shifts from one thing to the next.

With 25 episodes now in the archive, I think it is safe to say that the Contemplative Creative podcast project has been a fruitful labour thus far; one marked with growth and refinement in all aspects of its existence: content, curation, audience, and myself as an individual. I have learned a lot in committing myself to this organic iterative process of production, but I am going to draw a line here marking the published 25 episodes as a complete first season. In so doing, some space will be created to step back and consider a wider perspective in moving forward towards season two.

My notebook abounds with ideas, but instead of presenting them as I have thus far through a monologue/dharma talk format, perhaps there is another less solitary way. I would love to include more candid discussion; involving other inquiring minds in said discussion and also opening up the conversation to you (the audience!). Many thoughts are currently incubating in consideration of season two…I am excited to see the form they will take and hope you will stick along with me.

Want to receive a quick email notification when season two launches? I hear you. Sign up for our newsletter here and I will send you a quick notification when it is available.

In the meantime, while waiting for the next public release please feel free go back through the library of free content available in the archive. I am proud to look back at the ideas explored and realize they have a timeless nature to them. I will be keeping it online for the foreseeable future as we move forward in other directions.

Sincerely,
David

Patreon

You asked and we made it happen; Patreon support is now available!

We would like to officially announce an opportunity for you to vote with your dollar to support the content we make available here.  We have created a Patreon page where you can become a patron of the Contemplative Creative project by making a one-time donation (or even committing to a monthly gift).  It doesn’t have to be much.  It could be a dollar, or a cup of coffee, or anything at all.

Our first goal is sustainability, and then comes growth.  We want to focus on creating unique, quality content and getting it directly to you.

With your support we hope to make this a sustainable project as we look to the future.  We want to improve the quality and quantity of the podcast, and continue to add new resources to contemplativecreative.davidquiring.com as well.

If this sounds like something you are interested in being a part of, please visit www.patreon.com/contemplativecreative, or click the Patreon link on the website’s sidebar.the donation process has been moved to PayPal for a more streamlined process (as of June 2017).

Like the monks, we lay my bowl at your feet and humbly make this ask.  Give freely if you are able and willing.  Any amount is appreciated, and thank you for your support.

Goods now available!

I’m happy to announce that we’ve partnered up with Society6 to offer you some useful merchandise with an inspirational twist!

We’re calling it the “Words to Live By” series.  Each design will be based around an insight we’ve arrived upon in the process of developing podcast content; words that are timeless reminders to live a better life.  The idea is that each cup, tote bag, print, or whatever product fits into your life, will also serve as an inspiration to that which you do and stoke your internal fire.  As a bonus, a dollar or two from any purchases you decide to make will go towards supporting the costs of running Contemplative Creative!

Check out our goods page for more information and the updated list of what is available exclusively on Society6.  But first, take a peak at beautiful design #1 below.

Personally, I am really liking the mug format and in fact have this particular one sitting on my desk full of steaming ginger tea as I type this.  Every time I reach for a sip I am reminded of the mantra; a particularly appreciated reminder when faced with quick decisions on a busy day or work!

Quality Over Quantity - Mug
Design #1 is “Quality over quantity in all ways. Always.” – a foundational philosophy explored in episode #12 of the podcast.
Available here!

Podcast release schedule change

I know what you’re thinking: “It’s Wednesday, and there was no new episode of Contemplative Creative yesterday!”

This is true, but there’s a good reason for it.  We are shifting our podcast release schedule from Tuesdays to Fridays, so expect the new episode to be downloaded to your pocket in just a couple of days.

Thanks Idea Spark!

The summer collaborative with the folks behind the Idea Spark iOS app is now behind us, just like the summer itself.  If you’d still like to purchase the mobile application though, we still wholeheartedly recommend it to you!

The app is built to help you get out of creative ruts by suggesting new ideas.  With it you can select contexts and themes to customize it as you like, and focus its idea generation on things that you’re open to.  Then it will generate a quirky little phrase with which you can use to start a new project.

So if you’re feeling uninspired and are not sure where to start, or you’re doing a daily art project and running a bit low on ideas, or maybe you’re trying a new art form altogether and simply need some lighthearted ideas to experiment on with it…well, it runs for $1.99 or so (depending on the country which you call home) and can be a resource in your pocket when you need it.  It costs less than a cup of coffee and has the potential to support you in your art as much as you choose to use it – that’s a pretty great win-win situation all around I think!

They’ve put together a great little video on their official website that demonstrates the workflow of the app better than I can describe it – please do make a point of clicking over there and checkin it out for yourself.

Thanks for being our first sponsor and throwing your support behind this project Idea Spark!  Going forward we at Contemplative Creative will continue to partner with projects and causes that we can get behind, and our support continues past working together like any good relationship.