In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 21st, 2022, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in the "Week One" chapter of The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron. I mostly focus on the concept of the shadow artist (someone who pursues a life path that is similar or parallel to the actual art they want to be pursuing, but not the art itself) and the notion of artist abuse (which is what we inflict on ourselves when we criticize our artistic efforts). I also talk about my history as a creative writer and my experience of fulfilling this week's A.W. responsibilities: writing my daily morning pages, taking myself on an artist date, and doing a few of the other "tasks" that Cameron provides at the end of the chapter.