For the past twenty years, I've been obsessed with trying spiritual tools—anything to help me balance my mind, boost my mindset, heal all those inner wounds and get and keep me focused.
Meditation apps, energy healing sessions, therapy modalities I can barely pronounce—if it promised to help me understand myself better or unlock some creative potential, I was all in.
But here's what I never expected: all of that inner work would become absolutely essential to my writing career.
When I started writing seriously, I hit wall after wall. The voice in my head was relentless: Who do you think you are? You're not a real writer. This is garbage. Sound familiar? I'd sit down to write and immediately get hijacked by that internal critic, or I'd pour myself into work projects instead—anything to avoid the vulnerability of putting my own words on the page.
It took me years to realize that my writing wasn't blocked by lack of talent or time—it was blocked by all the old stories I believed about myself. The meditation practices, the mindset work, the spiritual tools I'd been gathering? They weren't just nice-to-haves. They were the keys that unlocked everything.
That's why this conversation with Clementine Moss hit me so deeply. She's living proof that creativity and spirituality aren't separate paths—they're two sides of the same coin.
Clementine is a professional drummer who makes her living in a Led Zeppelin tribute band, but she's also a contemplative writer, meditation practitioner, and spiritual counselor. Her memoir From Bonham to Buddha and Back explores how drumming and meditation became parallel doorways to the same destination: healing those deep patterns of unworthiness that keep so many of us from fully stepping into our creative power.
In this conversation, Clementine shares:
• How she discovered that drumming and meditation were seeking the same healing—connection to that "invincible, infinite part" of herself
• Why creative people seem to carry such deep feelings of unworthiness (spoiler: she thinks it's universal, but artists feel it more acutely)
• Her journey from identifying as a writer to letting music take over for a decade—and how that "detour" gave her exactly the material she needed
• The synchronistic way she found her writing coach (hint: it involved a pug and a garden)
• How studying to become a spiritual counselor unexpectedly unleashed a flood of creative output
• Her unique healing practice called depth hypnosis, which combines shamanism, Buddhism, and Western psychology
• Why she believes you must follow your creative life force, even when it doesn't match your logical plans
What struck me most about Clementine's story is how she learned to trust the process—both in creativity and in healing. She talks about showing up to write or make music even when she felt like she had nothing, calling it "running the dirty tap" to clear the way for what wants to come through.
Her latest album Clem and Clear Light is literally a love letter to the parts of herself she had to release in order to grow. As someone who's also had to say goodbye to old versions of myself that weren't serving my creative path, I found this incredibly moving.
This isn't just a conversation about balancing different creative pursuits. It's about recognizing that all the work we do on ourselves—the meditation, the therapy, the spiritual seeking—isn't separate from our art. It IS our art. It's what gives us access to the authentic voice that's been waiting underneath all our conditioning and fear.
If you've ever felt torn between your practical responsibilities and your creative calling, or if you've wondered whether all that inner work you're doing actually matters for your art—please take the time to listen to this one. Clementine's story is proof that the path to authentic creative expression often winds through some unexpected territory.
Takeaways for Writers and Creatives
1. Honor Both Sides of Your Nature: Don't compartmentalize different aspects of your creativity – they often serve the same deeper purpose
2. Show Up Consistently: Even unproductive creative sessions serve a purpose in clearing the way for breakthroughs
3. Follow Your Enthusiasm: Your creative life force will guide you, even when it diverges from your original plans
4. Embrace the Uncomfortable: Both creativity and spiritual growth require willingness to sit with discomfort
5. Find Your Healing Practice: Whether through meditation, music, writing, or other practices, discover what connects you to your authentic self
Key Quotes That Will Stay With Me:
"I was seeking in meditation and in my musical life the same healing. I was seeking the same place within me that was still and quiet and knew itself to be connected to the divine."
"You must go where your life force is calling you... the creative force is our life force... It tells us by our enthusiasm where we're to go."
"You have to trust the process and it's really important to show up for it. You must show up for it."
About Clementine
Clementine Moss is a multi-talented artist who seamlessly blends the worlds of rock music and contemplative practice. As a professional drummer, she makes her living performing in a Led Zeppelin tribute band while also creating original music. Her spiritual journey includes extensive meditation practice, including 10-day Vipassana retreats, and training as a depth hypnosis practitioner.
Find Clementine:
• Website: clemthegreat.com (for music, books, and spiritual counseling)
• Book: From Bonham to Buddha and Back
• Latest Album: Clem and Clear Light
Resources She Mentioned:
• Vipassana meditation retreats
• Depth Hypnosis through Foundation for the Sacred Stream
• The power of showing up consistently, even for "dirty tap" days
This conversation reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. When we're willing to do the inner work—to face our patterns, heal our wounds, and trust our creative instincts—we don't just become better artists. We become more fully ourselves. And that's when the real magic happens.
Connect with Liz:
Instagram: @lizmugavero
Website: cateconte.com
Get Writing is about the intersection of craft, creativity, and the inner work that makes it all possible. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it—and if you know someone who needs to hear Clementine's story, please share it with them.
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Chapters
06:15 Clementine Moss: A Multifaceted Creative Journey
08:50 The Intersection of Spirituality and Creativity
13:07 Navigating Unworthiness in the Creative Process
21:18 The Evolution of Writing and Songwriting
25:50 Starting a Blog to Writing a Book
33:10 Meditation Practices and Their Impact
34:56 Unlocking Creativity Through Spiritual Work
40:00 The Making of an Album
43:09 Understanding Depth Hypnosis
52:34 Exploring New Projects and Future Plans
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