Creating Your Ideal Future: Preparing For The Arrival Of Your Magnificent Obsession

Creating The Perfect Atmosphere For Your Inner Muse.

While I’m no expert, I can share with you some tools and techniques that I personally use.

Sound

Silence can be bliss. Having the house to myself is a luxury that requires a day off work or my husband’s good nature to take the children out somewhere for a few hours. I can listen to the birds, the sound of my own tapping at the keyboard or read out aloud to check how something sounds.

Listen to inspirational music and sounds that rev you up to that higher vibrational state where you feel elevated above your every day. Two of my personal favourites are the soundtracks to Amadeus and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Smell

Burn some pure essential oils in an oil burner or some stick incense to stimulate your sense of smell and experience the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of the selected essence.

I recommend Frankincense for a pure essential oil and Nag Champa for stick incense.

Frankincense assists with mild anxiety, nervous tension and stress. For some people Frankincense and similar calmative essences deliver a sense of calm and gentle detachment from the harshness of reality. Add a glass of your favourite alcoholic beverage (scotch on ice for me) and you should be ready to tune in to your inner voice in no time.

Nag Champa is a fragrance from India. It has a high concentration of sandalwood. Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead and The Black Crowes have been known to burn Nag Champa at their performances. Other musicians have cited mood and spiritual alteration due to burning this incense that is also burned in Hindu temples. [Source: Wikipedia]

Clothing

Wear comfortable, inspirational clothing. This usually means loose and cool garments that symbolize your positive state of being in some way; with or without underwear.

I’m on the lookout for a soft, silky robe with three-quarter sleeves that ties up at the front. My robe will be something I envisage an Egyptian Queen would let slowly drop to the floor before stepping into a pool of water covered in rose petals; with or without special company. It is teal green and blue with gold accents and shimmers in the candlelight. I have matching house-shoes that are tailor-made for my feet for ultimate comfort. I wear my hair up, off my shoulders and out of my face to reduce distractions.

Lighting & Candles

While a sensible lamp or overhead light is probably best for long-term use, the capturing of your dreams and Magnificent Obsessions is a sacred moment. The romance and nostalgia of the moment is emphasised by the unique contrast of lighting to your normal study/writing environment. Match your mood – sophisticated, historic, ancient, modern, futuristic, spartan and anywhere in between. This is your moment. Go with what you’ve got or buy or borrow what you need to make it your moment.

Lighting is very important for inspiration and eye health. Make sure you have a background light of some kind that contrasts favourably with your computer screen. Avoid overly bright lights and if you choose candle-power, ensure you have an extra bright light off to your master side if you are writing notes or a subtle down-facing lamp for guaranteed light that doesn’t flicker or go out with the wind or at the end of its wick. If using lots of candles, be fire conscious and take necessary precautions.

Table & Chair

Chair and table ergonomics will make or break you when your inner voice is firing and you decide to burn the midnight oil or see the sun up.

Your chair needs to be comfortable for long stints and your table to chair height needs to be supportive of return blood flow to your body. You may also appreciate a foot-rest depending on your personal desk-style. I also occasionally use an electronic foot-massager to combat swelling and stimulate blood flow for better concentration.

Food & Water

Plan to be well watered and fed if necessary. Always have a glass of water on your desk. A jug of water and a glass is preferable in case you do not get round to filling up your glass. It is easy to top-up your glass mid-sentence to wet the palette and keep going rather than succumb to hours of picking up an empty glass and thinking, “Oh, that’s right. I need to get up at some point and fill that up.”

You might also appreciate some fruit, nuts or other snack food to be within reach. Grapes are great as they are a natural sugar and are not messy. I’m sometimes partial to licorice all-sorts, peanut brittle or dark chocolate coated almonds.