Image credit: "Seven Years Bad Luck" by Tim Sheerman-Chase
You only lose what you cling to. ~ Buddha
I am loathe to change, to let go of things. I get cozy, they get familiar, and the ripping away of these comforts can feel all too traumatizing. And yet...there is the space their absence creates. A peaceful moment, a pause, a slowing down. It takes some work to get used to a slower pace, but it is an excellent addition amongst all the subtraction. If you find yourself frantic or overwhelmed, consider what you can release, even if only for right now!
Scaling Back
Mars enters Pisces (12/19, 4:23 am EST) Active Mars is cooled down considerably in watery Pisces. Pisces tends to go with the flow and isn't necessarily very apt to physical movement. This can leave you feeling slowed down over the next few weeks. This is a great time to explore a medium like watercolors which reflects this flowing energy very well!
Mercury Retrograde (12/19, 5:55 am EST) In league with the recent Full Moon in Gemini, the impending Winter Solstice, and of course the general feel for this time of year Mercury rides through the sky backwards for a bit encouraging you to think more before communicating and to mind your tech a bit more than usual. This can mean editing & re-editing written communications you have to send out and focusing on being as clear with your language as possible. This energy is also conducive to just re-thinking what you're doing with your time and whether you want to continue doing so! (Hello idea purge!)
A Special Treat
Last week I started my baking season. Usually I get right on this by Thanksgiving...but this year has been fraught with a lot of stress & upset so it took me a bit longer to do this. The first type of cookies I'm usually going for are my ever popular Pumpkin Cookies! They're an easy recipe that I was inspired to try from a dear friend (after she introduced me to them) and they're now a family favorite.
Don't these look yummy?!
Sharing recipes is something I'm apt to do, but I always like to have the kinks worked out before I throw down a dish. And I have to say I'm mighty proud of this batch because I was even able to take the care to form them into mostly round dollops (which is a feat trust me...usually I'm so ready to be done & eat them I slap 'em down on the sheet and that's it!)
What makes this batch even more special is that I finally whipped up the icing too! Normally I pass on icing for cookies because they've got enough flavor all on their own, and these are no exception! However, if you tend to run towards sweeter options definitely try them with icing. Since I don't have a mixer, and hand whisking fast enough for an icing just isn't possible for me, I treated it more like a dip. But it was still *just as good* (if not better...because who doesn't love dipping things?!)
Last Minute Lady
If you caught one of my last Periscopes I mentioned considering a konmari approach to #MtCraftmore. Of course, as soon as I mentioned it I seized up mentally, deeply questioning my commitment. But with the Full Moon energy from yesterday, I felt that the pull was stronger and more necessary. Then considering the time of year approaching...dormancy & reflection...are worthwhile words to consider. So leave it be that I'm going to try that approach in the final weeks of December & I'll let you know how it turns out!
I'm also going to admit to another gifting faux pas this year...sigh...last year's fiasco involved me making cards to send *starting out* in December. I saw this as a mistake shortly after when I realized, even just sending cards was very labor intensive when it's more than just a few! This year I shortened my gift list to 5 people (sorry not sorry to everyone else)...but I'm still not done. So all of my spare studio time is going to finish up this particular gift and it is dragging on & on...Oy veh!
Further Contemplation
On the note of reflection, the recent Full Moon in Gemini (releasing distractions + embracing joy), the impending march towards the Winter Solstice (12/21), and just the general feelings of the end of the calendar year minimalization of my project load & schedule is popping up in my mind.
I won't get into it (it's super personal mmmk) but things got really rough for me at the end of November. It was ugly, saddening, and shook me to my core. It also galvanized some much needed change & with some outside help, so far so good. But change is never isolated to one part of your life, it easily touches other parts sooner or later. In my case it was sooner, for which I am thankful.
What it's got me really re-thinking (business wise) is: Am I focused on doing things that bring me joy? (Hello new Personal Year Number). I always joke about Mt. Craftmore and one of my goals (totally unmet btw) this year was to really tackle and demolish said mountain. So now I'm thinking, in this quiet time as we transition from one year to another, while the darkness slowly starts to fade (after the solstice) that it's finally time to get real with that intention.
I know for me, and many creators, it's easy to get attached to something you've poured hours of your time & energy, not to mention attention, care, & love. But everything has a place, and the more you hold onto, the less space you have for other things. Drastically re-thinking my work schedule (yet again) I took another hour out of it...more space. I have chosen to fully focus on the task at hand, rather than my unending to do list...more space. And I have stuck to my priorities of time better (no working outside of work hours during the day)...more space.
If you've been feeling bogged down, I invite to consider how can you add more space into your day, your life. What can you let go of & step away from (really consider all those UFOs you've got lying about)? Consider taking a konmari approach, like me, to lovingly part with those things that you aren't really enjoying working on.
An Important Change
The newest thing right now is the updating of my work schedule. Adding in more space & time off to my schedule means I'm adding about another week onto my production times. So if you're wanting something custom made bear that time change in mind when you've got a deadline to order! (Lay terms...short projects will 6 weeks, more in-depth ones 12 weeks.) Bear in mind these are suggestions of time and can vary depending upon the complexity of the design, what I have in stock, ordering, designing & customization!
With all this energy encouraging you to re-evaluate, step back, and maybe even stop it might feel like your life is going nowhere fast. Resist the urge to fill that silence with thoughts & actions and remember that it's okay to just be sometimes! Be mindful of where you're putting your energy and make sure that whatever you do you are present & enjoy!
In the comments below, share with me...
- What's your favorite thing to bake?
- How are you with your gift planning?
- What will you be stepping away from in order to make more space?
Thanks for tuning in to this week's "What's Up Wednesday?". Make sure you come back next week to see what's going on in my world! And if you haven't yet be sure to join my newsletter and connect with me on your favorite social media!
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