Creativity as a Doorway to Spirit

By Isabella Price

When I moved from Switzerland to the U.S. six months before the World Trade Center collapsed before our incredulous eyes on 9/11, I had no idea where this journey into the great unknown would lead me — let alone that it would take me into the crucible of an ever-deepening connection to Spirit

The truth is that at that time I didn’t yet consciously realize that I was on a spiritual path and had been a seeker all of my life. Before I moved, I had a well-paying job in higher education in Switzerland where I taught classes on global history.

My native country also has, for the most part, a very secular culture. Growing up there, I recall that the term “Spirit” or “spiritual” was practically non-existent. Had somebody mentioned this word, it would likely have been politely ignored.

Looking back, I would say that my move to the U.S. led to a great opening, an expansion of my Being. As we cut our ties to the comforts and safety of a previous life, we become a blank canvas that harbors infinite potential and possibilities.

Yet, as I was watching the events of 9/11 in shock and horror like everybody else, I did not yet realize that these events would plant a seed in my consciousness. What I intuitively knew was that 9/11 had changed the world forever.

With my background in history, I remember feeling a deep inner calling to contribute in one way or another to help make this world a better and more peaceful place. I was deeply disheartened as I witnessed the divisions and conflicts that erupted in the aftermath among the Abrahamic faith traditions.

To find some solace and make sense of a reality that seemed increasingly surreal, I deepened my studies of Buddhism under the guidance of Zen master Jian Hu, who opened the door to comparative religion by encouraging me to study the scriptures of Gnostic Christianity in the light of Buddhist teachings.

I also sought out other teachers across the spiritual traditions and traveled to some of the world’s most sacred sites. What stands out for me was a trip to India in 2003 that proved to be deeply transformative, culminating in an encounter with Ammachi, also known as the “Hugging Saint” or “Mother of Immortal Bliss.” My encounter with Ammachi and the countless hugs I was blessed to receive over the course of many years not only opened my heart but also made me more attuned to the Feminine Face of the Divine.

At a later point, I eventually ended up teaching Amma’s IAM meditation technique to veterans suffering from PTSD. I had received so many healing benefits from this technique that I felt called to share it with the community. I recall in particular one of the veterans who had lost his smile and whose body was hunched over in agony when he first came to meditation class. One of the most rewarding experiences of my life was to see him smiling again a few weeks later when he returned for a refresher class.

Shortly after moving to the U.S., I started teaching “world cultures” classes at the California College of the Arts. Later I created a new course, “Religions, Symbols, Mythology: A Cross-Cultural Journey.” One day after class, one of my students approached me and suggested I write a book based on this course.

This planted another seed in my awareness, prompting me to begin writing manuscripts that I thought I would use exclusively for teaching purposes. As time went by, I eventually found myself increasingly immersed in a creative process beyond anything I could possibly have envisioned. It was as if my soul had caught fire.

In my daily meditations and prayers, I kept hearing the calling “book… book” with increasing intensity. Eventually, I came to envision the blueprint of a book that would encompass the basics of the world’s wisdom traditions and, most importantly, reveal the underlying unity of the traditions at their spiritual core.

Little did I know then that over the course of many years I would end up writing the “One Truth, Many Paths” book series. Had I known, perhaps I would never have embarked on this journey, as it would have seemed too daunting…

Interestingly, during the initial writing period, I would always draw a line of separation between my spiritual practice on the one hand, and my writing and research on the other. However, as the creative process unfolded, I came to realize that this book project was not separate from my spiritual practice. In fact, the two eventually merged and the book became a major spiritual teacher to me.

Why? Because the writing process with its inevitable twists and turns opened the door for me into an ever-deepening practice of surrendering. Without trust and surrender to the flow of the great unknown, Spirit, or Cosmic Intelligence, I would simply not have been able to complete this major creative project given that I was faced with so many challenges.

Writing a book series on the wisdom traditions in a language other than my mother tongue (German) already posed a challenge. Then the economy tanked in 2008 and all the major publishers went into panic mode. As a first-time author, the chances of being published were practically equal to zero. My husband and I were also going through some serious financial challenges during those years.

Moreover, because of the intensity of my creative immersion process, I had to put limitations on my social activities. This was anything but easy. As the years kept dragging on, I experienced many moments when I wanted to give up because I felt I couldn’t go on any longer. Yet interestingly, whenever I was stretched to my limits, the creative spark in my soul brought me back to my desk, inviting me to continue my writings and deepen my spiritual practice of surrendering to the ineffable Mystery of all that is.

And the journey continues…

Isabella Price, MA, is an author, international speaker, and higher education professional at JFK University, where she teaches “World Spirituality” courses. She is the author of the leading-edge book series on unitive spirituality, “One Truth, Many Paths.” Her most recent book is Goddess Power: Awakening the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine in Your Life. For over 25 years, Isabella has taught classes and workshops at JFK University, the California College of the Arts, and numerous other educational institutions and religious venues. She has traveled extensively and participated in numerous rituals from diverse spirituals traditions. Isabella holds an MA in the humanities (global history and comparative religion) from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She is also a certified SQ21 Spiritual Intelligence coach and teaches meditation to veterans and other community members suffering from PTSD. For more information, click here to visit Isabella’s website.