The Inspired Heart
An Artist's Journey of Transformation (includes bonus chapters!)
Audiobook
Written and narrated by Jerry Wennstrom
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This is the extraordinary story of an artist's daring exploration into the source of his creativity. In the late 1970s, Jerry Wennstrom was a rising star in the New York art world when he decided that the ultimate creative leap was to destroy his large body of art, give away all of his possessions, and spend the next 10 years wandering, seeking, listening, and trusting God to take care of him. "It was a powerful, holy experience that left me shaken and empty, but exhilarated," says Jerry of the destruction of his art. Mindful that he was choosing a strange and dangerous way, he questioned his own sanity and the existence of any higher power. Ultimately, he came to the simple, yet radical understanding that every moment in life requires the artist's creative attention. And with that new perspective, he was able once again to create art without worshiping it as a false idol.
Says Wennstrom, "In the process of letting go, there was a slow build-up to that most importand leap. I experienced it as a leap into 'being,' rather than the 'doing' of creating art, or the expression of being through my art. I let go of everything I thought was most 'me.' I felt like I was making a leap into a new relationship with the most direct and creative expression I could give myself to."
The Inspired Heart tells of a life lived by the singular requirement of Grace—to remain fearlessly attuned to the heart. It is an upside-down perspective, where what is generally most sought after is relinquished, and conscious entry into uninhabitable terrain reveals a remarkable truth. Wennstrom sees no event as out of place in his world, where anything, from street-corner violence to the gentleness of a stranger, can become a blessing.
The main text of the audiobook is read by the author and is interspersed with interesting voices reading the different parts of the book. Thomas Moore's foreword is read by voice professional Kendall Hubbard, the Chapter titles are read by Marilyn Strong, Rainer Maria Rilke's poem, situated at the end of the book, is read by Bernd Label in Rilke's regional accent. The uniquely original music that subtly weaves its way throughout the recording is by musician and poet Steven "Muddy" Roues.
This audiobook includes several wonderful "bonus chapters" that are not included in the paper book!
8.5 hours
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BUY MP3 CD, $21.95
What others have said about The Inspired Heart:
"A heart shaped stone. A memory wafted in the scent of a summer breeze. A tune you hum without thinking. These are just some of the mystical ways Jerry's stories carry themselves. Jerry speaks from the place where the magical and holy intersect with the practical and everyday. The name of that intersection? It is, "transformation." —Mary anne Radmacher, author/artist
"Few of us have emptied our cup as completely as Jerry Wennstrom did when he destroyed his art in 1979, and therefore few have experienced as deep a reawakening to the subtle stirrings of the divine in everyday life. It's hard for me to convey how deeply I respect what Jerry shares with us in his book, The Inspired Heart, in his art, and above all in his person. Here is a completely genuine voice of creative spirit."
—Chris Bache, author of Dark Night, Early Dawn
"I'm sure that many people will find comfort and inspiration in this book. Jerry is able to describe a spiritual journey outside of any ancient tradition or modern system, and I trust that originality. He avoids the many hollow words that sometimes enter contemporary spiritual thought and embodies the idea that you can be fully spiritual and fully secular at the same time. Jerry's experience shows that simply by being receptive to deep intuition and living intelligently from the heart, you can achieve a degree of holiness."—From the foreword by Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul
"Jerry Wennstrom is an artist who works both with materials and with relationships. This book is truly a story of 'pilgrim's progress' told by a man who risked everything to find his true path and the inevitable spiritual gifts that come from helping each other along the way."
—Christina Baldwin, author of The Seven Whispers: Listening to the Voice of Spirit
Watch Inspired Heart musician Stevne Roues perform with B. B. King: