“They who, having no touch of the Muses’ madness in their soul, and come to the door and think they will get into the temple by the help of art–they and their poetry are not admitted; the sane disappear and are left nowhere when they enter into rivalry with madness.” -Plato (more or less)
We like to be in control. We don’t like madness or frenzy, and we hate letting go. But The Fearless Challenge isn’t about being in control. It’s about finding out what happens when we go a little (or a lot) crazy. The challenge isn’t about anyone’s precious egos or liking what is written today. It’s about writing seven days straight, and looking back after saying, holy shit, where did THAT come from?
The Challenge is simple:
1. Sit down to write a song in about 45 minutes.
2. Let go, say something CRAZY.
3. Use the last 15 minutes of the hour to make a recording as a artifact of what was claimed from the unknown.
That’s it, and it can be S.C.A.R.Y.
Said another way the challenge is to: find your edge and lean forward, afraid of falling but fall anyway. It’s to jump out of the plane of everyday thoughts with no parachute and nothing to hang onto. The good news is there is no ground. Eventually you’ll come home to your senses and you’ll have a new song.
The challenge aims to enter into communion with the Gods, into communion with powers that, bless our analytical minds & the double-blinds of science, we can’t explain for shit.
That can be scary.
Here’s a mantra to use with fear: BRING IT ON.
Say these words and then run at the fear.
Then say; “I LOVE FEAR,” because fear is nothing more than a little biological energy, and when you sit with it, it will launch you like a rocket into the unknown, and you’ll find flow. Then time and identity won’t matter until you return back to earth. Thinking doesn’t help us do that–it helps us AVOID doing that.
This week, I dare you to set a timer for 45 Minutes each day and write a song you never knew you could.
I dare you to share a simple one take recording of that song.
I dare you not to judge yourself for what finds its way onto the page, or into the recorder each day, or even for the whole week.
I dare you not to quit when you DO judge yourself.
I dare you to continue when you’re certain you’ll never write a good song again.
I dare you not to make excuses.
I dare you to write seven songs in seven days.
The next challenge will be posted at The Fearless Songwriter on Facebook.
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