What if God is still creating, learning, and discovering alongside us?

In this episode of The Spiritual Artist Podcast, I welcome author and travel writer Lori Erickson to explore the mysterious relationship between creativity and the Divine.

Lori's latest book, Travels with the Muse: A Creative Pilgrimage, takes readers on a journey through sacred places, artistic traditions, and encounters with artists around the world. Along the way, she discovers that creativity may have less to do with mastery and more to do with attention, curiosity, and a willingness to begin.

Our conversation takes an unexpected turn when Lori shares a fascinating possibility: What if God isn't simply the creator of everything, but is also learning and evolving through creation itself?

We explore this idea through the lens of process theology, along with the power of sacred places, the mystery of the muse, and the simple spiritual practice of picking up a pencil and drawing.

Perhaps creativity isn't about making something perfect. Perhaps it's about participating in something that is still unfolding.

Align. Listen. Create.

Want to learn more about CJ Miller? Check out his Spiritual Artist Retreats, 1:1 Personal Coaching, and Speaking Engagements at www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His retreats are designed to help you reconnect with your Creative Intelligence and express your true artistic voice. You can also find his upcoming schedule there, and his book, The Spiritual Artist, is available on Amazon.

What happens when life changes, the house grows quiet, and we find ourselves alone with who we really are?

In this episode of The Spiritual Artist Podcast, CJ Miller welcomes harpist, composer, author, and Episcopal priest April Stace for a heartfelt conversation about solitude, creativity, presence, and personal transformation.

Following a divorce and her only child leaving for college, April found herself living alone for the first time. What initially felt overwhelming gradually became an unexpected invitation to rediscover herself. Through music, journaling, gardening, and a solitary train journey across the country, she began exploring the freedom of listening to her own desires.

April shares how these experiences inspired her seventh studio album, Aphelion, a musical memoir exploring solitude, loss, and the surprising ways distance can bring us home.

Together, CJ and April explore the difference between loneliness and solitude, the sacred practice of listening, and how creativity emerges when we stop forcing outcomes and become fully present. They also discuss April's experiences as a hospital chaplain, the transformative power of compassionate attention, and the importance of allowing ourselves to change.

About April Stace

April Stace is a harpist, composer, writer, Episcopal priest, and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at The General Theological Seminary in New York City. A lifelong musician, April has released seven studio albums, including Aphelion, an original solo harp album exploring solitude, loss, creativity, and renewal. She is also the author of several books, including White Knuckle Love: A Memoir of Holding, which draws upon her experiences as a hospital chaplain. Across her music, writing, teaching, and ministry, April explores how art can open us to mystery, deepen our attention, and help us feel less alone.

Explore April's music, books, and creative work:

https://www.aprilstace.com

Learn more about Aphelion:

https://www.aprilstace.com/aphelion

Want to learn more about CJ Miller? Check out his Spiritual Artist Retreats, 1:1 Personal Coaching, and Speaking Engagements at www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His retreats are designed to help you reconnect with your Creative Intelligence and express your true artistic voice. You can also find his upcoming schedule there, and his book, The Spiritual Artist, is available on Amazon.

What if becoming a better artist isn't about taking more classes, mastering more techniques, or learning all the rules? What if the most important thing you can do is simply keep creating?

In this Spiritual Artist pep talk, CJMiller shares a realization that came to him while painting: creativity naturally evolves when we give ourselves permission to explore. Through the story of another artist's journey and his own experience of feeling creatively stuck, CJ explores how frustration, experimentation, and even boredom can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

Discover why your creative voice emerges through practice, why you don't need to know everything before you begin, and how trusting the Creative Field of Intelligence can help you move beyond judgment and rediscover the joy of making art.

Whether you paint, draw, sculpt, or simply want to reconnect with your creativity, this is your reminder: You don't have to get it right. You just have to keep going.

Learn more about CJ's Spiritual Artist retreats and workshops at https://www.spiritualartisttoday.com

Explore The Spiritual Artist by CJMiller, available on Amazon.

Want to learn more about CJ Miller? Check out his Spiritual Artist Retreats, 1:1 Personal Coaching, and Speaking Engagements at www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His retreats are designed to help you reconnect with your Creative Intelligence and express your true artistic voice. You can also find his upcoming schedule there, and his book, The Spiritual Artist, is available on Amazon.