They expect that its products will be unreal or not valid in the physical world. Yet there is a great correlation between what we think of as creativity, altered states of consciousness, play, and “spiritual” development.

When we create a poem or a song or a painting we are in a state of play, of enjoyment, of freedom. We intend to make something different, to produce a new version of reality. We create out of love, for the sake of the experience. At one time or another almost everyone has that kind of experience, but children have it often. They compose songs and music and paintings in their heads. They alter the focus of their consciousness frequently. They do not stop to ask whether or not the play is real or pertinent. Physically, play develops their body mechanisms. It also flexes the great capabilities of their minds.

When we think: “Life is earnest,” and decide to put away childish things, then often we lose sight of our own creativity and become a goal that must be attained. The goal is to be achieved through hard work, and as long as we believe this we do not understand what the spirit is.

A natural analogy–plants do not work at developing their potential. They are not beautiful because they believe it is their responsibility to please our eye. They are beautiful because they love themselves and beauty. When we are so serious we almost always distort the nature of our own spirit as far as our understanding of it is concerned. We cannot let our guard down long enough to discover what it is. We keep looking for new rules or regulations, or methods of discipline.