The Third Self: Mary Oliver on the Artist's Task

In "Of Power and Time" found in "Upstream: Selected Essays," poet Mary Oliver delves deep into the psyche of the artist and explores the external and internal factors affecting creativity. In it she describes three parts of herself -- two ordinary ones, and one third self "where the wellspring of creative energy resides." This third self cannot be controlled, and is often its worst enemy. "What does it have to say? That you must phone the dentist, that you are out of mustard, that your uncle Stanley’s birthday is two weeks hence. . . . Then you return to your work, only to find that the imps of idea have fled back into the mist." Here, Brainpickings' Maria Popova masterfully weaves a discourse on creativity's friends and foes using Oliver's brilliant insights as well as quotes and concepts from other artists. Read on for more.

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