Do you long to discover more of your unique creative voice and share it with others?
Grow in your artistic expression by cultivating your creative self
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Art results from:
- the depths of our own creative identity,
- the ways we notice and respond to inspiration
- the craft we employ to express it all.
We are thankful that many opportunities exist to cultivate our artistic crafts. There are workshops and classes to develop different techniques for painting, songwriting,  photography, dance, musicianship, and culinary creativity. Â
However, while our skills and craft are important, the art we create flows out of who we are. Being a better artist requires cultivating who we are in the essence of our being. This is the art of being human.
Are you ready to discover more of who you are and how you express your creativity??
This is a place to nurture your own formation as a creative and grow with others in community
In this course we’re asking, what wisdom might some of the world’s religious heritages have for us to grow as creative, spiritual, and relational people?
This course is a journey of discovery, exploring the creative, spiritual, and relational essence of human nature as we draw from the wells of 6 major spiritual heritages: Moses, the Bhagavad Gita, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Jesus and Muhammad.
The focus is on surfacing insights from each tradition that help you live a creative life and engage in your creative process in whatever walk of life you express that (not just “the arts” as we normally think of them), and in whatever ways you might choose to describe our interconnection with each other and with Source, God, Mystery, the universe, collective consciousness, etc.
Hone your ability to listen for creative inspirationÂ
- Reflect on the ways you notice and attend to yourself and the world around you
- Experience 42 creative cultivation practices
- Create at least 6 new artistic offerings
Discover your unique voice by cultivating your creative self
- Grow in compassion for your deepest self
- Receive wisdom for the creative life from six spiritual heritages
- Grow in awareness of the roots of our creative blocks and ways through them
Share your art as part of a creative community
- Experience belonging, connection, and mutuality as part of a community of artists
- Unpack the ways you relate to others and share (or hide) your creative expressions
- Receive insights, reflections, and encouragement from othersÂ
Course Content
This course draws wisdom for artists from six spiritual heritages.
Each of the six sections includes seven episodes.
Each episode includes:
- A video reflection
- A creative example piece
- An experiential creativity cultivation practice, designed to help you surface inspiration for your next artistic expression
Each section includes opportunities to experience community as you share with other participants your creative work emerging from the creativity cultivation practices, and even more importantly, the ways in which wisdom from that spiritual heritage is shaping your own formation as a human being.Â
Section 1: Moses
In this Section we begin before Moses was born, and then follow his life through birth, childhood, adulthood, and on to his experience of discovering his life purpose.
For artists, allowing ourselves to process our pasts with honesty and compassion can unleash fresh springs of creativity, as well as enable us to experience a deeper sense of wellbeing.
Section 2: Bhagavad Gita
In these 7 Episodes we explore the origins and nature of creativity and humanity through selected portions of the Bhagavad Gita’s extended conversation between Arjuna and Krishna.
For artists, the Gita provides wisdom related to what inspires creativity, who we are as artists, addressing the complex motivations for creating and sharing our art, and the mystery of knowing and experiencing “reality”.
Section 3: Buddha
In the Section focused on the Buddha we explore insights related to our creativity and our nature as humans through a narrative from the life of the Buddha which portrays an extended conversation between the Buddha and a King.
For artists, the Buddha’s teaching provides wisdom related to what inspires and perhaps inhibits creativity, and some of the things we “bring with us” into the creative process.
Section 4: Lao Tzu
In these 7 Episodes we explore the unique insights that Lao Tzu brings for us as artists and human beings through his primary work, an 81 stanza poem, the Tao Te Ching.
For artists, Lao Tzu provides wisdom related to the paradoxical manner in which creativity is both natural, and yet not common. As such, to create art, or lead, or live wisely is simply natural, on the one hand, and yet is something we must cultivate.Â
Section 5: Jesus
In these 7 Episodes we explore the way that the Gospel of Luke presents various aspects of Jesus’ life and teaching. We seek to surface the implications of what Jesus said and did for us as creative human beings.
Jesus’ early life, family relationships, first public events, ways of interacting with his audiences and closest followers, as well as an example of his artistry at work in creative communication are all explored. The Section closes with a look at how Luke presents several events which took place after Jesus’ death.
Section 6: Muhammad
In these 7 Episodes we approach the Qur’an as a work of art in its own right, and thus, the work of the artist, Muhammad. As such the Qur’an offers a rich array of insights for us as artists and creative human beings.
We will look at what most scholars identify as the first verses and the final verses of the Qur’an, the “bismillah” which opens almost every chapter (bismillah: short for “in the name of God the compassionate and merciful...”), the presence of a number of mysterious letters at the beginning of some chapters, and specific examples of the poetic artistry of the Qur’an.
TWO WAYS TO CONNECT IN COMMUNITY
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Art is essentially relational and experienced most meaningfully in community. It connects us, allowing human beings from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and religions to share in our experiences of life, moments of inspiration, and sense of connection with something bigger--whether we call that Source, the Divine, Spirit, the universe, primordial consciousness, etc. In addition, reflecting on the the creative process itself is a common ground of our shared humanity that draws us into greater awareness of our deepest selves and connection with one another.Â
Therefore we feel it is important to offer more than just the content of the course. As you work through the content of the course, there are two ways to connect in community and share your reflections creative work: Self paced and Cohort.
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Self Paced
Work through all six sections of the course content at your own pace. Share your reflections and creative responses as part of the online Ancient Wells Course Community with everyone else who is going through the course. Then, join in a monthly live session to connect and share more deeply with others the ways you are responding to the course and the resulting artwork.
Monthly Live Sessions are every 2nd Thursday, at 4:30-6:30pm PT and 7:00-9pm PT.
Upcoming self-paced Live Session dates are February 13th, March 13th, April 10th, and May 8th.
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Fall 2025 CohortÂ
You will take part in 20 cohort group calls over a year (including summer break) with the same people, and you will have opportunities to share and experience each other's art and personal journeys of growth as you deepen in relationship with each other. In addition, you will have membership in the wider Ancient Wells Course online community as well as a designated cohort chat space to stay connected between group calls.Â
Cohort Rhythms
The cohort will meet online every other week. For each section of the course, we will meet three times over the course of six weeks.Â
First Live Session:
Discuss the first four episodes of the section and reflect on what creative inspiration is emerging for your next artistic piece.
Second Live Session:
Discuss the last three episodes of the section and practice deep listening with one another as you describe what is stirring in you, reflect on your creative process, and share how your creative work is emerging.
Third Live Session:Â
Present your creative work, interact with others around the ways your art impacts one another, and reflect on how you are being shaped by wisdom for artists from that section's ancient well.
WHAT YOU GET:
Self Paced
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Access to 20 hours of video content for 10 months
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42 episodes, each including:
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Video reflection
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Example piece
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Creative cultivation practice
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The opportunity create 6 or more of your own new creative expressions
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Monthly Live Sessions centered around participants' creative expressions.
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Membership in the online course community
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Fall 2025 Cohort
In addition to all the self paced features, you get:
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Community in a cohort that goes through the course together over 10 monthsÂ
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20 facilitated cohort group calls to share and experience each other's art and personal journeys of growth
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Access to a private cohort chat space to stay connected between group calls
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Two more months of access to the course materialÂ
KEVIN CALDWELL
course instructor
Kevin is one of Table Collective's Co-finders. He has lived in South Asia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia, where he developed close relationships with men and women from various religious heritages. He describes himself as a multi religious contemplative. He has worked in fish farming, ran an automotive services company, and led two nonprofit organizations. He has an undergraduate degree in English Literature, a Master’s Degree in Theology and a PhD in translation studies. Kevin has published a book of poetry (The Cow Behind the Barn) and several albums of music, available and all streaming platforms.Â
In this course he connects his multi-religious contemplative life and his creative life in ways that invite us to do the same.
(Photo by James Meder)
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"The Table Collective experience is one that my whimsical inner child has always longed to be a part of...it's an experience that has affirmed that the healing that I have searched for has always been inside of my artistic soul. I am thankful that this safe space exists and is founded upon connection, creativity, and courage."
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Victoria Ky
"This course has been a galvanizing experience for the artist I know is in me. Through the journey of Moses, we were promoted to thoughtfully examine the generational story of our families and begin to metabolize that past for the sake of artistic expressions. For much the same reason, I came to understand along with the community I shared with, that art is ultimately communal. Â
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SP - Pasadena, CA
IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?
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Whether or not you think you're an artist, you are creative as an integral part of being human. This course will help you foster that essential creativity in a community that is growing together.Â
Whether or not you consider yourself a religious person, spirituality is an essential dimension of human life. This course will help you nurture your spiritual awareness as part of your creative process.Â
Whether or not you prefer to create alone, we are deeply connected with one another and in many ways our art is completed as it is shared with others. This course will offer opportunities to experience the beauty of shared connection with people from diverse backgrounds.
This is the art of being human, and it is for you. We hope to see you in the course!
Is there a trial period?
How many people will be in each cohort?
What if I will have to miss one or more of the live sessions?
I love this course and want more! What else do you offer?
