“We treat the body rigorously so that it will not be disobedient to the mind.” -Seneca
“Art is choosing to do something skillfully,
caring about the details,
bringing all of yourself
to make the finest work you can.
It is beyond ego, vanity, self-glorfification,
and need for approval.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” -Joseph Campbell
A Misogi is a Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body. Another interpretation of a Misogi writes entrepreneur and author Jesse Itzler, is “undertaking a challenging task to transform oneself.” Because when you voluntarily do hard things, amazing growth happens. This explains why people climb mountains, run 100 plus mile races like the Badwater in Death Valley, or stand for hours on end underneath ice cold waterfalls.
These are tremendous physical and mental challenges to take on. And no doubt, one grows tremendously from these. But I propose a different kind of Misogi, one in which you will also grow…I call it, an Artistic Misogi.
Here’s how it works:
Find a piece of material that lights you up, and then commit to manifesting it with excellence and generosity. For yourself. Your fellow artists. And the audience you seek to serve.
Rest assured, you will be scared (and excited). You will be challenged. You will face numerous obstacles along the way.
To execute said material, it will take everything you have. Your pound of flesh. You will have to make sacrifices. Stretch yourself. Learn new skills. Be uncomfortable.
But…
If you commit. If you get organized. If you set realistic deadlines. And then surround yourself with others who are also striving for excellence and generosity, you can make it happen. You can have an incredible, potentially life-altering experience. One that reminds you why you chose this art form in the first place. You can be transformed.
The Vs. Studio Producing Workshop begins soon.
Your Artistic Misogi awaits.
Ready to take the plunge? (I promise, no standing under waterfalls.).
Let me know!
The Vs. Studio Blog 
Hi Johnny.Can I get a little more information on the workshop in January and also I’m interested in Paul’s solo show workshop. Thank you for the piece on what it means to challenge yourself. I have been working on a musical about epilepsy—I know crazy subject, and a long story. It’s very personal to me. My granddaughter has intractable epilepsy & epilepsy has no cure, and in her case, it just keeps getting worse. The Musical is a vehicle I believe that will help get the word out. Music Definitely makes a complicated and really never discussed topic a little more palatable to share with an audience. One of the characters is seizure in the play and he is wretched. Writing this play has given me some sense of power in a powerless situation. A way to connect with my fellow man ( hopefully) and a way to pour my heart out when it’s breaking. It is my wish that it will help people understand more about epilepsy the least researched or understood brain disorder. Anyway there are doors slamming in my face constantly lol, as I try to move forward with this project. And there are times I want to give up. The blog this morning about preparing yourself to withstand challenging situations and by doing so you will grow from them- and get the courage to continue was exactly what I needed. So thank you for that. I just love knowing that your Tuesday night reading of plays with a group of talented artists is always there in the world making it buzz with art. Constantly creating and birthing beautiful things into being. As artists we need each other. Thanks for your blog and Tuesday nights. Have a great holiday and keep on keeping on. Warmly Sandra Cruze – Sandi
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