It turns out I like the flurry - tending to stay in motion

Yesterday was a crazy day in my life. I had to complete two vastly different projects. First, I was presenting my "Let's Talk Clouds" workshop at a local middle school.

As the Earth Lady, I work with schools to help students jump-start their interest in science, specifically Earth Science.

Then, I switched gears and released my interactive Tarot reading ebook. As part of the project, I had to finish the programming, create the cover, and upload the entire thing to amazon.

I'm excited about this project because it allows the reader to choose a new card every day from a random selector set. Then, the reader sees the interpretation and a special call to action individual to each card. I've been working on the interpretations for years, but I had never figured out exactly how to create the interactive portion of the book.


And here's how the title of this blog post relates. I didn't try to focus on both projects at once. They are too disparate. As I've gotten older, I've seen the wisdom of limiting multitasking. Although it seems efficient, it isn't. It's a will-o'-the-wisp. It leads you down the primrose path of thinking you are being efficient while all the while your brain is operating at a slower speed and lower level.


Here's what I did do. I completed the workshop with the kids, and I gave it my all. I left it all on the classroom floor, as they say. We had a blast. Their transformation from before the workshop to afterward startled me. They went from post-lunch food coma to shouting about how much fun they'd had in just under 40 minutes. I can't wait to go back.

And after I got home from the workshop, I jumped into the Today's Tarot project. I created the cover. I finished the programming. I uploaded everything to amazon, and I released the entire thing.

It was exciting and energizing. I didn't feel my exhaustion until I was finished. And then I dropped like a stone.

Why did I just write up my entire day for you? Well, it's because I've had a realization. If you work hard, if you commit yourself to excellence on each project, you will succeed. And here's the most important thing. The key to that success lies in maintaining the level of focus and activity on each project while you are working on it. The Law of Inertia comes into play here. "A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion." If we take a lot of time between projects, we will fizzle out on them. If instead, we rev those engines, blast through the projects with full dedication and focus, and only take the foot off the gas for a bit between them, we will fly. And we will fly because we are already in motion. We are already doing and creating so it becomes easier to keep doing and keep creating.

To refocus my brain on a new project requires almost no time if I do it correctly. I've started taking the time to recharge by doing a quick breathing meditation. It is simple, and the best part? It's only a minute long. I've created a small video of the meditation. The next time you need to recharge between projects, go ahead and try it.

And let me know how it works.

Building my sand castles (or the devil is in the grains of sand)

I feel like I've joined the rest of you in the 21st century. I'm signing up for paperless billing (I can handle getting everything via email and still pay all my bills and do all my accounting, right? Right? I'm not so brain-fried that I can't manage that, I hope.)

It's always interesting to me setting up this sort of infrastructure. There is all this organizational and logistical effort up front with the hope that your work will be pay off in time (and tree) savings in the future.

I call this time of front-matter organizational set-up, gathering my sand. Bear with me. I look at most big projects as building a sand castle. Before I can build the sand castle, I need to gather the sand. And while I'm doing so, a lot of the sand trickles back down away from my building site. There are all these grains of sand (read details) that must be gathered and addressed and formed into some sort of usable mass before you start building. Then, once you finally have the sand gathered all in one place and moistened down so you can work with it, you can start on construction of your dream castle.

In many ways, my life is like that in this moment. I've been gathering a bunch of sand. Putting all the bits and pieces on the field. I'm almost ready to start building this next phase. 

 

There will be much more to come on this thought process in the next few weeks and months as I fabricate my new reality.

I'm excited!

Vacations: a vital part of life.

Why I take vacations

I don't do it often, but it turns out I need the recharge time.

I'm crawling back to myself on this break. I've been doing a lot of thinking about my roles in the lives of my friends, my clients, my students, and the world at large.

The big revelation? I spend a lot of my time and my self generating output. I give readings, advice, education, performances, etc. And usually all of that comes with its own brand of communication. When I perform, I strive for an exchange of energy. The audience and I make time for a chat. It's just that some of the chat is me making music and them listening. The rest of the time, we converse. Truly.

When I teach, the exchange is almost as 50/50. I learn from my students almost as much as they learn from me. 

When I do readings or coaching, the energy output is much more mine since the people who come to me want my guidance and rarely is it a full exchange. Rather, it is my output to help them heal, progress, and grow towards their highest path.

When I volunteer for causes I support, I do so with an open heart and the fervent hope that what I am doing will help make a difference. There is satisfaction in a job well-done in volunteer work that I rarely get from any other sort of work I do.

I've always operated on the premise that my wellspring was infinite. I tell clients all the time that they need to stop, breathe, and recharge. But it turns out, I've not been taking my own advice.

Before this vacation, I was running on fumes. I was surviving, but I was not thriving. And since my goal is to not only survive but thrive, it has become clear to me that I have been working at cross purposes with myself and with my highest path.

Well, that had to stop. I wasn't paying attention to myself and my needs. And my body started giving me messages that if I didn't chill out, it was going to chill me out for me. So, Rich and I hatched this rather last-minute plan to go away for a bit before the craziness of the autumn season falls upon us.

Once the Ren Fest starts, I will be working seven days a week until December 26th. Since I already maintain a similar pace and have been for the last few years, I needed this break.

And that makes me think. How many of us push ourselves past our limits and forget that we even have them? How many of us exhaust ourselves with work and when we're done look for the next thing on the list to tackle? There will always be another challenge, another item on the "To-do" list. Another project will beckon. Another quest will present itself.

And yet, if we aren't well-rested, we will not be at our best. If we are not relaxed, we might falter when we most need to stand strong and resolute.

This is all my way of saying that I've decided to cut myself some slack. And I want to encourage everyone else to do that too. The projects, goals, and to-do lists aren't going anywhere. They will be there tomorrow. 

Here's the thing, though. The instant you look at a project with dread rather than anticipation, it might be time to look at either your motivation or your energy level. I think even the most arduous and heinous things we need to do to live our lives can present a fun challenge rather than a drudgerous task. The things that tip that scale? First, is the level of our fear about being able to do it well. To that I give that ol' platitude, "Feel the fear and do it anyway." It might be corny, but it is true. This is for another post, but when we feel fear, that reaction is giving us clues. They key here is to learn to interpret them and then utilize the information they provide. More on this later.

Second is our stress level. If we fear being able to achieve our goals, often, we will avoid embarking on the mission. If we are too tired or too stressed, we will avoid the arduous task like the plague. And that will only prolong the agony. So, the lesson I've learned here is if we are too stressed to do justice to our task, perhaps it's time to take a break and relax and release some of that stress before we accept the challenge. Then, we can come to it with fresh eyes and a full heart.

And by the way, it doesn't have to be a long break. Not every break has to be five days in Key West (though that doesn't hurt, let me tell you). A break can be five minutes of breathing with eyes closed or a walk around the block or petting your cat (one of my personal favorites). If we do something to release the grip of stress, we will do better and we will be better. Certainly, we will feel better.

I leave you with a quote from one of my favorite movies, "The Princess Bride:" "Remember, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything." -Count Rugen

Productivity Tuesday: On the count of 5

I stay busy. I work 10-14 hours almost every day. I have seven different businesses going at the same time. So, if I'm going to get anything done, I'd better be efficient and productive.

I wish I could do it consistently, but like everyone, I go through periods where I just don't want to get up and do the next thing on my list. I'll get distracted away from starting my task. And if distractions don't present themselves, I'll seek them out. I'll sit on Facebook. I'll check Twitter. I'll brush the dog (that needs to be done daily since he's a Husky, but it doesn't need to be done right when I decide to do it because I'm avoiding drafting the invoice I have to create). I'll pretend like the task I end up doing was important enough to put off while the actual task that sits patiently on my to-do list waiting to be checked off as completed.

The resistance to starting seems to be my sticking point. Once I'm going on the task at hand, I get into it, and I do it. But up until the second I get my butt in gear and get moving, I'll seek and find the limits of my ability to procrastinate.

I've been reading a lot about how the brain is a habit-seeking structure. If what we need to do is habitual, we will get it done, often without thinking about it. Imagine brushing your teeth. For most of us, by the time we are adults, brushing our teeth has habitualized to the point that we rarely need to remind ourselves to do that. We might still need to remind ourselves to floss, but at least the brushing gets accomplished.

In other aspects of my life, I've developed a paradigm where I give myself permission to procrastinate before beginning a task. Sometimes, we just need that extra down time in order to recharge. But, for many of us, that extra few minutes turns into hours or even days. Suddenly, weeks have passed, and we are no closer to the goal. 

The setting and achieving of long term goals is for another post (perhaps that will be next week's Tuesday post). For today, I'm talking about small but important tasks we know we must do but do a great job of avoiding.

So, here's where the Count of 5 comes in. When I need time to procrastinate, I make that time a micro length. Instead of allowing myself minutes or hours to wallow in the sty of procrastination and avoidance, I give myself a count of 5. Now, that count of 5 (a simple 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) can be as long and languid as my breath can make it. I give myself that micro-break to think and dream about whatever I want. I release all need or anxiety about the task I need to begin. I float on a cloud of relaxation and enjoy the heck out of myself without thoughts of working, doing, or planning. I allow myself the pleasure of existence without stress. And I count to five. At the end of the five, I get up, I get moving, and I begin the task. Knowing that I had that time to myself without stress helps me proceed and blast off.

To me, utilizing this micro-break relaxation paradigm is a critical component of my productivity. If I give myself permission to revel in the freedom of those few seconds, that rejuvenation allows me to rise, forge ahead, and thrive.

Try it and let me know how it works for you.

So, get to it already. (the idea, the motivation, and the desire - the necessary pieces of creation)

Sometimes, wisdom knocks me on the noggin from the most unexpected places. I was watching a random episode of Warehouse 13 while I was eating dinner and Kelly Hu's character (she's the new owner of the B&B) said the following to Claudia about her wanting to be the new caretaker of the Warehouse. 

"If you want to be the Caretaker so badly, go caretake." 

I started laughing and crying simultaneously because truer words were never spoken. And they apply to pretty much anything.

"If you want to be a writer so badly, go write."

"If you want to be a figure skater so badly, go figure skate."

"If you want to be a ______ so badly, go _________."

The key is to figure out what you want and then go after it like you are a missile and it is the target. And most importantly don't give up. Don't ever give up. And frankly, it doesn't matter whether or not you "can" or "should" go be whatever it is you want to go do or be. What matters is that you go for it with everything you've got.

Sheer brilliance. Thanks, Warehouse 13 writers. You rock!

Dedication and Perseverance to Ourselves

Dedication and perseverance are in my thoughts this morning. How do we dedicate ourselves to our chosen paths and how do we persevere when the obstacles seem too great? 

For me, I think it is about a couple of things. First, it is about service to others. Much of what I do is designed to help other people find their path. I feel that responsibility keenly and even when I feel doubts or fatigue, I push those aside if I am in a position to help someone else reach for their dreams. I have taken some serious hits, if you will, while on the road to helping others. Sometimes, I haven't known until much later that I did indeed help, that my sacrifice was worth it. I have to be okay with that. It is about service, and that is what I tell myself whenever part of me wants to quit.

For my own creative life, it is about expression. I have had to learn that expression in and of itself is worthwhile. If we keep our art, creativity, and/or feelings tucked away inside us rather than expressing them in an open and even positive manner, they will leak out in less than ideal ways. Or, we will hurt from keeping things bottled up inside. So, better out than in, in this case, for me.

The next one is about adding to the creative light in the world. In my opinion, if we create and express ourselves, we are only adding to the life force in the world. That is a post in and of itself but I did want to mention it here.

And last, we carry the torch for those who came before us. Each one of us, no matter what we do, stands on the shoulders of giants. Those who came before have guided us, taught us, held our hands, and sometimes kicked our asses. If we take inspiration from that, we can move mountains and change the world.

I just wrote the following to a friend about Robin Williams' death and it relates to what I have written above.

"Robin Williams' death affected me a great deal. The way I look at it is that this is an opportunity to pick up where he/they left off and to bring even more creativity and joy and awesome into the world. He/they had to stop but we can carry on for him/them."

This is not to say that we are all geniuses like Robin Williams. But I can say that each one of us has a voice and that voice can make miracles happen. They key then is to dedicate ourselves to our voices and to persevere in their expression.

That's the magic.

Stress Reduction Step 1: Know that you know your stuff

With the solstice, I plan to embark on a year-long quest to eliminate stress from my life (and I as I incorporate new methods, I will chronicle them here). Sure, I keep talking about getting rid of stress and I even manage my stress pretty well, but there are certain patterns I'm seeing that contribute to my stressed out state and I have so far been unable to change them. This Solstice will mark the first step in a journey that I hope will alleviate some of the stress (most of which I place on myself).

I've identified one of the biggest contributors to my stress levels remaining high, and it is an insidious little bugger. Here it is: the way my brain seems to work is that if I don't do something consistently and keep improving at it, I start losing the skill. Now, that's not the insidious part. I figure a lot of us have that issue in that "if you don't use it, you lose it." No, the part that stresses me out is what happens to my perception of my ability to do what I haven't been practicing. 

Instead, of thinking, "oh yes, I'd better practice that up a bit so I have my chops up for this gig or that event," I end up thinking something along the lines of, "Holy crap! I haven't done a palm reading in three weeks, and now I have completely lost my skills to do it." Partially, that's because when I consciously try to remember *how* to do a palm reading, I draw a blank. It is not until I am seated at a table with someone in front of me that my years of training (and doing) flood back and I not only remember but usually kick butt. And that's the thing. I've practiced it and studied it sufficiently that the skill is no longer conscious. It is hard wired into me now. And yet since I no longer have conscious awareness of possessing the skill, I have a feeling that I also no longer have conscious awareness of confidence in the skill.

I'm not sure it's a conscious thing but I can certainly feel the effects of that mindset. Before every job, before every gig, I get that "Holy crap, what if I've lost the skill" feeling. It is ridiuclous. I know it is ridiculous. I've read palms for thousands of people. I've read tarot for tens of thousands. I know my sh*t and analytically, I know that I know it. But, that doesn't seem to matter when I stress out in the moment that I have forgotten my own name, much less all the ins and outs of my particular way of doing readings.

This happens to me with songs I have been singing since before I can remember. I will forget the words or the chords or I will forget how to consciously play this or that fiddle tune. Here's the thing: when I get up on stage, I inevitably remember or if I forget while I am performing, I am perfectly able to make a joke out of it with the audience and then do a "Two to Tango, take 2," quip and then move on. Obviously, I prefer not to forget the words or the music and so I practice, hard, daily and certainly before every gig (more than once Rich Potter has remarked that he thinks I practice way more than enough). And I make sure I know my sh*t before every reading, music, or other performance gig. And I make sure I have my presentation down cold before every school visit. 

I know I know my stuff but in the moment, it is hard to remember that I know it.

A lot of my gigs are seasonal and I don't perform the same material year-round (unless it's the jazz, folk, or original music). There are holiday songs, songs from different cultures, etc., that I only play say near St. Patrick's Day or during Hispanic Heritage Month or around Halloween or the December Holidays. So, they are vastly different repertoires, all of which I need to know and keep up on. 

So, I do it. I keep up on them. I practice and I maintain my certainty of knowing my stuff. It is time consuming, and I've been thinking the amount of practicing I do is likely unnecessary. So this year before my international holiday shows, I ran an experiment. Instead of starting at the beginning (with lyric and chord sheets) like I usually do every year because I am certain I have forgotten every song I ever knew, I just broke out the set list and practiced all the music from memory with no chord sheets or backup. I wanted to see if I could remember it without the crutches. Sure enough, I could. And I had remembered so much that I added a bunch of new songs because I saved myself so much practicing time.

Last night, I did the same with the palm reading gig. Instead of freaking out about not remembering where the life line is (jk, it's never that bad), I instead did a meditation where I told my nervous nellie inner self that I knew my stuff and that I would be fine (I used different words but that's the jist). Sure enough, I did do fine. 

In fact, a number of people were shocked at the accuracy. One woman to whom I said, "You have just taken a huge leap of faith. You have to go while others stay and that is a good thing," was shocked because literally an hour before she had just decided to quit everything and move to New Jersey to be with the man she loved.

So, the key for me seems to be that I need to know my stuff (iow, practice) and more importantly that I need give myself credit for knowing it. That seems to have been the missing piece. Sure, I can know it, but if I don't take the time to acknowledge it and credit myself for my years of training in all my various endeavors then I misplace my certainty that I can do it.

In the moment, I kick ass when I read, play, present, perform, etc. In the moment, I know I know my sh*t because hey, here I am doing it. It's the stuff before I step out to do what I do that needs to be modified.

So, that is what I will affirm for myself at the solstice. I will affirm my abilities and I will begin the life changing process of fully crediting myself with how far I've come.

My latest poem: "Heart of Stone."

I found the stone on my morning hike. It told me the poem. Enjoy.

New poetry.

I don't often write poems, but this one flew out of me. I might need to rearrange two of the lines but for right now, here it is.

Creativity vs administration: should you do the one or the other?

I had the most amazing time working on "Influenced," Discordian Film's entry to the DC 48 Hour Film Project. We had an fantastic team, a terrific cast and crew, and if I say so myself (since I wrote the actual screenplay after the story was developed by the entire cast and crew), a kick-ass movie to shoot.

But as I was working on the movie, I realized that there were a couple key points that were making it a helluva great time for me.

First, I got to write a script, from soup to nuts. Flexing my writing muscles always thrills, chills, and fulfills me. And it was shot as a film the very next day, so you know, instant gratification. (also awesome)

Second, I got to act in it and acting is one of the great loves of my life. I hardly ever get to do it anymore, but I got bitten by the acting bug back in tenth grade, and my fever for it has never died down. So, you know, it was a thrill to get to do that, too.

Third, we had an amazing crew of people dedicated to the logistics of making things happen. In my all-too-busy life, I was not. the. one. in. charge! What a treat! I got to be involved. I got to do creative things with a bunch of other creative people. I got to write (which I love) and I got to act (which, ditto). And I didn't lead anything. I wasn't responsible for the organizing (other than guiding the discussion on where the story was going to go), the administration, or the herding of any cats. Other, far more capable, people took that on and did a bang up job. And that left me free to do what I wanted to do and what I do pretty darn well - create.

That freedom, that knowing that other people had the admin stuff down and would take care of it, left me free to soar and create the best darn movie script I could make. It left me free to break out my old acting chops and take risks and that just rocked.

I am in a place right now where I am making some major decisions about how my life will progress in the next few years. And I'm realizing more and more that my creative aspect needs to be given a lot more freedom to breathe and to fly.

To that end, I'm making changes in my life. Starting in July, I'll have more time for creative pursuits. More on that later.

The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Exhausted

What does it take to be innovative?

What does it take to break new ground?

How do I take the deluge of ideas that swirl in my mind at any one moment, calm them down into some sort of order, and then bring them to fruition?

I have have been thinking about these questions for a few weeks now. The reason that I'm asking them is that I'm finding that I have been accomplishing almost nothing except the things that are absolutely required of me by external sources. For my own inner desires, I've found myself too exhausted to be coherent, too tuckered to create, and too wiped to innovate.

I'm still working on all the things I need to be working on. I'm still accomplishing things. I'm still teaching kids how to save the Earth. And I'm making plans, big plans, in my head. The trouble is that the second I sit down to actualize those plans, my creative energy dries up like the Sahara during a noontime sandstorm.

Here's the thing. My personal, internal dry spell isn't calm. It's not a place of stillness. It roils. It continues to plague me with possibilities in the form of pulsing waves of ideas, plans, thoughts, notions, and inspirations.

The trouble is that I think I am just too tired to grab anyone of them and make them mine.

There are too many, and I feel too tired to do any of them justice. My brain and body react slowly, like I'm trudging through molasses. So, instead of making headway on the myriad projects I want to pursue, I'm finding myself stymied by the onslaught of possibilities.

If everything you see is made of shiny, pretty things that demand your attention, that grab you by the throat and force to work on them, or rather force you to want to work on them, then it is highly likely that you won't get a darned thing done, unless something gives.

At least, that is currently my story.

So, the question I need to ask myself is, what will it take to make sure that either I slow down enough to rest and therefore speed up my reactions later, or the stream of ideas slows down enough for me to be able to focus on just one project at a time until I find the time to rest and rejuvenate?

One or the other needs to happen. In my 20s, I was game to sleep two hours a night and work my butt off the rest of the time. In my 30s, I paid the price with a thyroid that got blown all to hell. Now, in my 40s, I am hopefully learning the wisdom of realizing that no matter how hard I try, I will never do all the things I dream of doing or complete all the delicious, delirious work I crave to complete. This is a terribly tough lesson for me. In fact, it makes me weep every time I think of it for longer than about three seconds. I never want to give up or give in. I always want to keep trying. And right now, I can't.

Right now, I need to realize that in order to regain some vitality so I am able to work on some of these creative works, that first I need to rest.

It is so hard for me to accept but I find I must. In the end, my spirit is willing but the flesh is tired. And until the flesh is well-rested, the spirit is just going to stew in its own juices and let some of those tantalizing morsels of ideas, thoughts, and notions slip on by.

In the meantime, I will at least take excellent notes.

Today's Tarot: Queen of Pentacles (creativity, productivity, peace, work)

Whenever I draw this card, it reminds me to enjoy the processes of my life. Sure, there are tons of things we all have to do. Often, the thought or even the stress of getting ready to do them makes them seem bigger, than they are. And when we actually bite the bullet and start, we get into the process and then the tough knots unravel before us as we get to it step-by-step.

The Queen of Pentacles is many things. She might be mother, wife, caretaker, provider, peaceful priestess, creative, producer, etc. I tend to think of her as a quiet buddha. She has no fanfare and she rarely gets accolades but she doesn't seem to need them as she quietly goes about her life, living and doing what needs doing.

She doesn't gripe and she doesn't whine. She just goes, step-by-step and does what needs to be done naturally. And, to make things more curious, she's just happy. She has found that peace and joy come from the simplest acts and she relishes every drop of that serenity as she moves through her life.

Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a book called, "Being Peace." To me, the Queen of Pentacles typifies that phrase. She doesn't have to do anything to attain peace. She simply is peace and whatever she does and whatever she produces and creates, she infuses that love of all into everything.

So today, I encourage you to enjoy and relish the processes of your world. If traffic kicks your butt (as it does mine), consciously look at the colors in the sky or enjoy whatever music is on the radio. Sing along, in different voices. Pretend you're Ethel Merman singing a Taylor Swift song. If that doesn't bring a smile to your face....

If you're doing paperwork try and stay conscious of the feel of the paper or the click of your fingers on the keys. Whatever it is that you need to do today, transform every step of it (even the yucky ones) into something you enjoy. Appreciate it for what it is, right now.  Be present. Be mindful. Be peace.

The secret lives of me: Neuroscience, Edna, and Eloise

Woo HOO! Edna, Eloise, Astrid, and Elora LIVE!! Some of you have read my thoughts on how I manage my time, my memory, my social interactions, my calendar and my creativity (http://izoldat.blogspot.com/2012/12/inspiration-sometimes-comes-as-three.html). I have given names to each of those aspects of myself. 

Edna rules my memory and knowledge. Eloise rules my social interactions. Astrid (she's new but she's smart) governs my schedule(s). And Elora takes on creativity.

When I originally dubbed Edna as the part of my brain that I view as knowledge, it was rather as a joke. When I needed to remember something, I would get frustrated at not being able to think of it in the moment. So, I created Edna (who looks a lot like Edna Mode from "The Incredibles"). When I need to remember something, think up something, or put things together, I turn to Edna and I ask and let her do that thinking/remembering for me. After a while, I realized that other aspects of me needed equal time and so those other characters were "created."

It turns out, I wasn't that far off. According to the book below (I just heard the story on NPR and absolutely need to buy the book now), that appears to be how our unconscious mind works. It is sort divided into those various "people," and they take care of those jobs for us. 

According to Eagleman, the author, when we think that we've just come up with some great idea, it's actually many facets of our unconscious minds that have worked sometimes days, sometimes weeks, on the problems or the ideas before either the solutions or the ideas came to the forefront of our conscious selves. So, we tend to take conscious credit for it, but Eagleman says that in fact, it's all those unconscious selves inside us that are responsible and our conscious selves are rather the receptacles that receive those ideas. When I think about it, what I've been doing with Edna and the other ladies is giving them purposeful missions in the various fields in which I feel need to have specific purpose. For me, what works is when I give unconscious self, conscious goals and personify those portions in such a way that I have some part of myself I hold accountable for the tasks I will need to complete.

I believe it was Mozart who said that he didn't so much compose his music as he took dictation. And that appears to be borne out in the research as well.

Hey, I think I just compared my process to Mozart's. Considering he is one of my all time idols, I'm in pretty good company. :)

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/159922899/incognito-whats-hiding-in-the-unconscious-mind 

Today's Tarot: The Star (Dreams, Creativity, Inspiration)

Today's Tarot: The Star

Dreams, Creativity, Inspiration.

When I think of the Star card, I think of keeping your feet on the ground while reaching for your dreams. In the card, the figure literally has one foot on land (of practicality) and the other in the water (of dreams). She tells us to stay practical but always keep dreaming of the possibilities. The best part is when we get to act on those dreams from the stable base we've built for ourselves. And, when we do it on our own terms, so much the better.

So, today, I encourage you to spend a little time evaluating your dreams. What are they? How are you serving them right now? And what small or large thing can you do that will take you one step closer to fulfilling them?

Affirm for yourself that you deserve your dreams and act on that affirmation from a place of pragmatic wisdom. Then, the universe will be open to you. And that's just the best!

As always, if you want a more detailed reading: http://readingsbyizolda.com

Self-Care, Self-Love, & Patience

This week's cards rock, on toast, with sugar-free, all natural jam.

The first card: Two of Cups. This card is all about connection, sharing, a soul-to-soul union. If the past comes calling (and by "the past," I mean an old lover/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend/snookly, and that person gave you warm fuzzies and you parted on good terms with love in your hearts, then by all means, consider giving it another go. If not, why then stay on the lookout this week for someone who will trip your "Universe Is Smiling On This Union" switch. Be careful not to jump guns, but seriously, this could be a beautiful foray into a whole new dimension in love.

If that "holy crap, how am I going to handle all this love coming at me" thing doesn't happen, then it's really time to look deep into your soul and see what you need to feel loved, cared for and joyful. Need a foot rub? go get one, or heck find directions on how to give yourself an at home foot spa treatment. In fact, here are some now: http://skincare.about.com/od/caringforyourfeet/ht/footspa.htm. Take the time to decide what you need and then do a wee bit of research and you will move toward that goal.

Tuesday, especially, you will want to practice self-care. If someone starts giving you grief, walk away. Don't engage. They aren't worth it. You deserve better and you know it.

The second card: Queen of Cups. Self-love in all its glory. What does it take to get us to go deep inside and find that small, secret, scared part of ourselves and then nurture it (which by the way is a revolutionary act)? What do we need in order to show ourselves compassion? How far down the road of stress and unhappiness do we need to get before we cut ourselves some slack? This is your mission should you choose to accept it.

This week: Be Kind To Yourself. Love yourself. Give yourself frequent breaks (particularly if you live in the really hot parts of the world. It's brutal out there and we have shorter fuses when nature is being extreme). Drink deeply from life's well, this week. Spend time in repose. Allow yourself to feel, really feel, what's going on inside. Figure out your needs and try to meet the ones you can meet. You might not be able to meet them all right now, but that doesn't mean you won't. And this way, you will at the very least have a set of needs identified. Once you have that, the rest becomes all about finding new and creative ways both to love yourself and to move forward on your path. Oh, and creativity plays a big role here. Be unapologetic about what you create. You are the artist of your own life and don't you forget it. Oh and for you artistic, creative types, now would be a great time to break out your old copy of Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" (or check it out from your library) and work through the book. You will be delighted that you did.

The third card: Temperance. "Be patient" is one of the worst things you can say to me. WTH?? I want it (whatever it is) and I want it now. The need for patience makes me want to tear out my own hair. I chafe about it. I gnaw and gnash over it. I am not good at it. And you know what? This week, the universe just doesn't give a flying rat's butt. This week (and perhaps longer, darn it) it's all about patience. Things come when they do. And it's our job to get over ourselves, sit down, hush up, and wait for the signal. We will know it when we see it. And it will come.

A few of the latest 60-second stories

Some thoughts on writing from the 60-second story project. This is an old post but I just ran across it and as I am about to start serious work on book two of the Fairy Godmother Diaries, it seemed like the perfect time to post this one.

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11/20/10: "Yesterday's mythology is today's science, and today's mythology is tomorrow's science," Mr. Talbott said as he faced the class. "Tell me what that means." "Well," Matthew shrugged in his Letterman's jacket. "There was a time when we all thought that the sun revolved around the Earth and there were all sorts of myths and explanations associated with that. But now we know that it is in fact not the case. Now we know that everything revolves around me." (science)

11/21/10: Malina was a magnet. She was a magnet for dangerous men, for grand adventures, and for trouble with a capital T. Any man who would hook up with her was on seriously borrowed time. "Still," Thomas mused as he took in her impossibly long legs, lush figure, and flashing green eyes, "Some things are just worth dying for." (magnet)

11/22/10: (might be a tad disturbing): "You make it a habit to be right, don't you, Gabrielle?" Myron moaned as the restraints tightened. "Well," she replied as she gave the rack's wheel another turn. "I do think it's the right thing to do to apologize when you inconvenience someone and even more so when you eat their last cookie." (habit)

11/23/10: Long after the tremor faded, the flakes of ash danced on air currents before they landed on the sloping hills and scorched the earth raw. The few humans left still cowered in caves and avoided the boiling oceans. Rock and tree, bone, and sinew, the Earth's crust erupted again and the world turned to blood and fire. (flakes)

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The longer I do these little mini-stories, the more I refine how I write. The idea that something starts from a spark of inspiration and then I create from that is not new to me. However, before I started this project, I tended to create willy nilly. I was buffeted by the winds of creative fate. Something would start and I would follow wherever it lead regardless of whether or not it was a good place. I also disregarded the idea that I might have conscious control over how to execute whatever creative project it was. I guess I felt that if I tried to control anything, the entire thing would "pffft" fizzle out and then I'd be left with nothing but a few burning embers but nothing substantive.

While working on these daily mini-stories, I've realized that while the spark (in this case, the prompt word) is necessary, it is not in control. I can choose the method with which I create the tale. I choose whether or not to write it immediately upon seeing the prompt word and let the story unfold as it will. Or, I can decide to wait and let the story develop that crucial beginning, middle, and end and begin writing only after I have an idea of what will happen.

In the above four examples from the last four days, I have two examples of each method.

The Marriage of being a visionary and a doer

The Star, The Moon (reversed) and the Three of Pentacles. Today, it's pretty simple. There's a time to be inspired and there's a time to put our noses to the grindstone and just do the work to make things happen.

Some people are idea people, visionaries. They see far and clearly. Their ideas are innovative, unique, and revolutionary. But, even with all those fantastic ideas, those very same people often can't put one foot in front of the other to actually make the things they so clearly see in their minds. Others are the nuts and bolts people who can take those ideas and turn them into reality. They know how to develop plans of action, they know how to take those steps to do the work to create and/or support the manifestation of the vision.

The key to success, I believe, is to have both inside us. We can't just have the brilliant ideas without the wherewithal to actually manifest what we envisioned. So we need to cultivate both sets of characteristics. The Star, the Moon, and the Three of Pentacles epitomize this state for me. The Moon is visions, ideas, inspiration, possibility. The Three of Pentacles is the nose-to-the-grindstone, buckle down and do the work card. And the Star is the synthesis of those two. It calls us to keep reach for the stars (dream, envision, inspire) while we keep our feet on the ground (plan, strategize, do).

That meeting of Earth and sky, that distant horizon, if you will, is where we need to go to achieve whatever level of success we decide upon. Ultimately, one cannot exist without the other. It takes partnering those two different parts of ourselves and strengthening the one that is more challenged.

So, which are you more like, the dreamer or the doer? Decide and then spend today cultivating the strengths of the other side. Are you a dreamer? Practice taking a step to plan and do. Make a list of what you wish to accomplish today and check each thing off. (Make it small and manageable or your dreamer side will rebel.) Try not to take on too much or you will get discouraged and might quit in frustration. Each small accomplishment will make room inside you to work on the bigger challenges. Are you a doer? Spend part of today finger painting, smelling roses, or just doodling and see where it gets you. I guarantee, it will get you somewhere wonderful.

Today's Tarot 3/8/12

Ace of Cups, Four of Rods. I almost wish this combo happened tomorrow (my anniversary) but here it is today and it is good. The Ace is new beginnings, particularly creatively and emotionally (new love, new art, new something that feels good). The Four of Rods is moving to the next step or at least opening to new possibilities. Whatever thoughts you've been having, you will come up with new ways of looking at them, new exciting, creative ways. Let it all wash over you today and you will find a brand new path laid out before you, if you look less with your eyes and more with your heart. So, go, do your best Daniel-San impersonation, close your eyes and leap. Remember, this is more about seeing differently than anything else. If you are faced with adversity, step back, and find the lesson and new information in the situation. You will be very excited to note that there are grand possibilities when you do that.

Today's Tarot 3/5/12

The Star, Two of Rods, Three of Swords. In one sentence: You've got to risk it all to have it all. Oy, I'm a little tired just thinking about it, but this is today's outlook. Want to finally tell him/her how you feel, you risk rejection but you could have the love of your life (and if they reject you, they don't know what they're missing). Want to apply for that job you've always wanted? Do something outlandish like showing up in their office and doing a presentation in their lobby (this one could get you escorted out by security but it could also get you the interview, doggone it). Want to write that book? Great! Here's the first phrase, "In the beginning..." (not the best first phrase, but at least it's a start). go for it. Do your thing. Keep your feet on the ground and reach for your dreams. Heck, if you don't reach for your dreams, who is going to do it for you?

Today's Tarot: 2/29/12

Ace of Rods, King of Cups. Wow! Purposeful compassion, creativity, and romance. If you need/want/desire to start on any of the three of these, today is the day. The Ace inspires and even demands new beginnings, actions taken, and the start of a brand new, more active path. The King is is the external expression of our creativity, kindness, and love. Regret and fear will get you nowhere. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there. Seek it. Find it. Make it yours.

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Woo HOO! Now this is a nice reading. I love it when the cards tell me the secret to life (to life?) itself (itself?). And today they have. It's about time for me to start writing the second book in the Fairy Godmother Diaries series. I have been percolating for what seems like forever. I have had ideas but not push to begin the writing process. People are waiting for the second book, and I know that, but other things have taken precedence inside my head. But today, these two cards are like a metaphysical kick in the pants. "Get going. Start!" They say. Well, so, today, I will do exactly that. I will finish the outline. And I will go find a place where I can have tea, coffee, and quiet in equal measure, and I will write at least a few thousand words to get it done.

It's actually freeing to see the cards be so very clear about how to spend my day. Should I clean the kitchen? No. Should I do more laundry? Absolutely not. I should go and write. And that, my friends, is exactly what I am going to do.

What are your thoughts? What can you begin today that you have been putting off?