The Fertile Void
Two days ago, as the New Moon glowed newborn in the sky, I was feeling incredibly smug as I wrapped up recording vocals on two songs that I’ve been brewing on and brooding over for a very long time, Haunted + Soulless. The feeling of leaving the studio knowing I’d nailed them both was one of near euphoria.
I’ve always gone through these cycles, where there’s a high that comes in the wake of creation. And then, inevitably, I’ll feel low and restless until I sink my teeth into the next thing. Turns out there’s a name for this: The Fertile Void. And it’s every bit as dark and drab in there as the name would suggest.
The Fertile Void is the dark lull that follows the thrill of accomplishment. It’s a comedown like no other.
It’s super tempting to immediately seek to escape this part of the creative process by immediately starting the next thing. But is that the answer? Is the void meant to be experienced and even explored? Is there a price to be paid for running from our fear of stillness between storms? What new ideas can emerge if we dare look down into the abyss?
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