I’m sure you’re noticing the growing light, the endless days. Are you also finding yourself enjoying moments of stillness and peacefulness that seem to be plentiful right now? As we approach the moment when the Sun appears to stand still in the sky, there’s so much beauty to contemplate.
[Read more…]You see it in the angle of the light. And feel the cool bite in the air (in the northern hemisphere). The leaves are beginning to dry out, lose luster, change color.
Here’s one realization that brings the awe right into me:
I no longer have to thingify everything about my spiritual journey. (Freedom!)
It’s liberating and lovely to let go of my ego’s need to thingify, solidify, and make a credo out of the places curiosity takes me. To appreciate the flow of life, and the changes, and to be okay with the changes as they come. To enjoy the exploration, without having to know how deep I’ll go, how permanent the changes may be…. [Read more…]
I’m digging through my notes and files as I prepare for the upcoming workshops that I’m offering in February — The Divinely Feminine Art of Making. Details coming soon, provided I have no more unplanned (who would plan such a thing?) visits to the ER and all the self-care that follows.
Update: The workshops are scheduled, and you can sign up here (or click on the image).
I’ve been a maker for at least ten years now. I’ve been brewing my own kombucha for that long, and making herbal remedies and beauty products for about that long as well.
Being a maker is a true reflection of my values. The key value at play here is the one that claims sovereignty over every aspect of my healing journey and puts me in the center of every decision to be considered. Another big benefit of the art of making: made-by-hand artisanal products make great gifts.
You no longer need a copy of Photoshop to create engaging image quotes. Nor do you need to hire someone like me to make them for you. If you don’t have a list like this yet, here is a resource that lists 15 of the current free ways to create image quotes.
In case you haven’t tried this tool for yourself yet, here are three good reasons to add image quotes to your repertoire:
The downside to using some of the free image-quote–creation software is that you have to take the time to find out how to adjust the colors and pick the fonts that best support your brand. I’ve researched a few of these apps, and in most cases, the ability to change colors and fonts is there and it’s well worth your time to find and use those tools. When your image quotes reflect your brand’s heart and soul, you are going to be so much more successful at getting your message to the people you are meant to serve.
[edited to add:] Please make sure to add a copyright line to each image quote you create — this is a critical step in effective brand protection. I prefer a small watermark at the bottom. [Thank you to my smart readers for reminding me about this!]
Whatever you’re blogging for: to grow your list, or fill a program, or sell a product…. Take a look at your outline, or your rough draft as you’re writing it, and come up with a key message. Today I outlined the three steps I’m writing about here. Other times I find an inspirational quote (quoting other healers and teachers and sometimes just quoting myself!). I almost always repeat the headline (or a shortened version of it) in the image itself. This is very good for search results and social sharing. When your image is pinned or shared, and the key words are in the image, the connection to your article is clear and inviting.
You want your reader to stop at your image. So pick or create something beautiful. Or meaningful. Use free stock photography (I love Pixabay), or low-cost stock photography (right now I use Shutterstock and Deposit — I just grab deals as they come around), or an image of your own. Or find an image that will cause your reader to stop and wonder, or even get irritated or curious (maybe irritated or curious enough to engage with you by leaving a comment).
Because I’m a designer and because protecting my brand and my clients’ brands comes as naturally to me as breathing, it’s taken me a while (too long!) to talk to you about this. But it’s never too late. When I make an image, I will change the colors to match my Magnolias West palette. I did that today. I used the Magnolias West red, gold, and gray in the brain, heart, lightbulb, and symbols. When I use a photo in a image quote, I color-correct it to harmonize with my colors. You do not have to get this fancy to do a good job of getting your important message across and protecting your brand at the same time. Start here:
Glad you asked! Think about the word “brand.” Yup, it means to burn something into something permanently. What does that mean for you today when you work so hard to create and sustain a brand that is the visual representation of your mission and purpose? It means you want to have your words, your image, your message, your passion permanently entered into the heart and memory of your readers so that you and your business come to mind easily and often. As a designer I work my magic so that each client’s brand creates a beautiful foundation and home for all of her awesome work and service.
Your brand has many components: Your logo. The fonts you use in your marketing materials. Your color palette. Your product names and descriptors. If you don’t have all of them within easy reach, get your designer to give you what you need. And when you have this information, use it and protect it.
There are a million more questions I could try to anticipate and answer now, but I have a better idea — ask me! What did I leave out? How can I help you leverage the tools you have to get the best results for you and your beautiful and oh-so-worthy-of-protection brand? Talk to me in the comments. Or book a free Discernment Session with me to see if you’re ready to do some work on aligning your passion and purpose with your beautiful brand.
Create, complete, and launch. This is a rare second Aquarian New Moon in the same month. While the first one was at 0º (and therefore integrated with the energy of the preceding sign, Capricorn), this one is only in Aquarius for a couple of heartbeats. The New Moon comes at 29°59′ Aquarius, and then enters Pisces ten seconds later (with the Sun right behind).
Aquarius and Pisces combine their energies to inspire you to create, complete, and launch the things that have taken priority as you mulled them over during the Mercury retrograde (Rx) that has just ended. You are now invited to nurture your vision, to innovate, to dare to move forward!
When the New Moon appears in an Air sign, as it does here, the two-week period that follows is a wonderful time to communicate and inspire; combined with the end of the Mercury Rx, now’s the time to release the brakes (on whatever you were prudently postponing) and go for it!
The apparent docility of Sheep can hide toughness. Sheep can survive severe conditions and are stronger than they appear. The Sheep can be very focused and determined. A Sheep won’t be told what to do, stay at a job they dislike, or be forced to compromise.
The Sheep year celebrates creativity. Another invitation! Let your artist out. Get some paint and some paper. Play with color. I’ve been wildly happy since I began my art journal in the beginning of this year, since I moved my art supplies out of the closet (see what I did there?) and started using them. I’ve begun to post some of what I’m creating here.
What are you called to create, complete, and launch? I’d love to know — talk to me in the comments! Blessed be.
We’re in a month that may bring lots of changes and opening with back-to-back Eclipses — the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse this week and then a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio on the 23rd.
Aries is the first sign of the astrological year. Aries initiates, which often may feel more like a kick in the pants than a gentle invitation. Either way, or somewhere in between, step into the opening, and ask yourself: What are you being called to begin, to create, to manifest?
You may be able to see this Eclipse in your area. Even if you can’t see the Eclipse with your eyes, you can make the most of its energy by allowing its shadow to bring out what’s been hiding in the dark recesses of your heart. Set aside some time in the darkness, as close to the Eclipse as possible, and ask:
In the quiet, in the darkness, you may get surprising answers. Stay open. Stay open. Trust the invitation to begin. And begin, beloved, begin!
What are you being called to create? Share in the comments, let’s be excited together!!
Libra and Scorpio have lots to do with how we connect with others and express ourselves. Are you noticing that some relationships need extra care, or even that you feel called to back away from some relationships that are no longer working? I’ve just let my long-time web developer go, which was very hard; we’ve worked together for eight years. But I know that I deserve to work with a partner who’s enthusiastic about my vision. My clients deserve for me to have the best team I can. Stand in your truth, speak from your heart, begin and end difficult conversations with loving acknowledgement.
I have also had some of the usual Merc Rx techno-glitches to deal with, and a spate of things just not going as planned.
What else? What do you do to ensure ease and spaciousness during a Mercury retrograde? I’d love to know! Please talk to me in the comments.
Feel that creative sunshine stirring inside you?This lunation is a wake-up call! A wake-up and take creative action call. Leo is the fixed fire sign, and this infusion of Leo fire can jerk you right out of your routines. And that’s a good thing! Let this be a new beginning that propels you down a more active, self-created path. Did you feel yourself dragging around lately? Did Summer’s long days become Summer doldrums? Well, now’s a perfect time to dust off your goals and your action plan, stoke your inner fire until it’s sizzling, and take action on all the wonderful things you want to do for your business!
Early on Monday, the Moon makes a trine to Uranus, opening the door to good and productive creative changes. Uranus showers us with independence, originality, visionary thinking, and Leo moves us forward. Yes, I know change is not always easy. But you have a choice, precious. There’s always a choice. You can meet change with resistance, and resentment, or you can meet the change that will get you closer to your goal with willingness to do the internal work you need to do to get unstuck. You might find yourself coming up with unexpected solutions to what might have felt completely stuck and unsolvable the last time you looked.
The courageous fire of Leo (roar!) can propel you forward in ways you never even considered. Light that fire that frees your heart, unleashes your innovative creativity. You have it within you, now’s a great time to share it! The indulgent, easy-going, harmonious grand trines, that we have been experiencing for some time, are finished now, so we can get down to work.
Throughout this month the alliance between Pluto, Uranus and Jupiter may well challenge and stretch us, but Jupiter in Cancer only ever wants the best for us and Uranus in Aries simply wants us free. Together they know that freedom is worth the struggle it often takes to achieve it and the struggle itself can become a dance when we loosen up, embrace the flow and make up some new steps as we go along. Mercury in Cancer is cruising along by itself and will finally leave Cancer for fiery Leo on August 8th. Mercury in Leo is ready, willing and able to help us start to share the wonderful, innovative ideas and creations generated by the Uranus–New Moon trine.
Take some time, as close to Tuesday’s New Moon as you can, to do this work. I like to do my New Moon ritual on the evening of the third day after the New Moon, the evening when you can see the first sliver of Moon in the sky. Any day between Monday the 5th and Thursday the 8th will work just fine.
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