Writing or creativity of any kind is a mysterious process, a journey into deep and unchartered waters. What you need is a compass… the Tarot.

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Time for Powerful Mindset Shifts

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 5/1/17. Theme, The Hanging Man. A Major Arcana card, here you see the Fool hanging upside down. Below him, the hourglass is turned sideways. Time has stopped. The water and mirror below him offer opportunities for new perspectives and reflection while the Full Moon

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Collaborate in Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/17/2017. Theme, 2 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition and creativity. Two is often a number of partnership and collaboration. This week, look for opportunities to collaborate in your creative work because it has

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Find Balance in Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/10/2017 Theme, Justice. This Major Arcana card speaks of justice and balance this week, as the theme for you this week for your creative work. Be alert to where you need to bring more balance into your creative work, perhaps between your work and

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Time for Your Writing Health Checkup?

I recently had my annual physical checkup. Perhaps it is because I am heading to official senior-dom in August, but I was given or scheduled for a bunch of tests I’ve never had before. They also drew blood, weighed and measured me (I’ve shrunk in height but, unfortunately, not in

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Proudly Share Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/3/17 Theme, Page of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth, anything you can touch, taste or feel. Page is the messenger with vitality and energy. Notice how this Page holds that Coin–proudly. This week, look

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Be Ready to Receive New Insights, New Ideas

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/27/2017 Theme, Ace of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Ace is the beginning, a gift from spirit holding all potential and possibility. This week, be ready to receive that new idea, new

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Don’t Get Distracted from Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/20/2017. Theme, 7 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition and creativity. This week, beware of letting yourself get distracted by other work or creative possibilities that distract you from your current project. Don’t succumb

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3 Steps Out of Creative Aporia

…Hermes only leads us to clarity when we abandon our preconceived plans. As with the Greek principle of aporia, only when we reach the point of pathlessness can a new way open before us. ~Aaron Cheak, PhD~ The other day, I was doing some reading and research and stumbled across

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Share the Beauty & Gifts of Your Creativity

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/27/2017 Theme, Page of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth, anything in physical form. The Page is the youthful messenger modeling for you the energy of the week–being ready to share the beauty and gifts

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Will You Play with Me for 10 Minutes?

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. ~Carl Jung~ Bob and I spent this past weekend in Virginia with our oldest Stephen, his wife Mindy, and their two

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Launch a New Creative Project

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/20/2017 Theme, Ace of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. Ace is the beginning, the seed. In Wands, Ace is the new creative project that carries passion and energy with it. This week, be

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Keep Your Eyes on the Creative Prize

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/13/2017 Theme, 7 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth. Seven is a number of action or being aware of action. This week, keep your eyes on your creative prize. That is, tend to your

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The Creative Power of Empathy

Empathy, the least comfortable of human emotions. ~Frances Gray Patton~ An important technique of fiction writing is Deep POV (Point of View). This technique uses the third person point of view in such a way that the reader feels as if she is inside the person’s head—or heart—for that scene.

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Ride on Your Creative Successes

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/30/2017 Theme, 6 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. See how the Knight moves from the left (past) to the right (future)? This week ride forward on your past creative successes–of any kind.

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What is Your Creative Commitment?

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/23/2017 Theme, 4 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. Four is a number of stability. This card is often called the wedding card. I call it the commitment card. Note how everything inside

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Tend to Your Physical Well-Being

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/16/2016 Theme, Knight of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, anything physical. The knight is the one who has the training and resources to serve and protect. But in order to do that, he must return

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Be the High Priestess of Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/9/2017 Theme, High Priestess. This card is numbered 2 in the Major Arcana and speaks to the idea of bringing awareness to the deeper mysteries of the unconscious. This week, look for opportunities to share your own creative process with others and thereby support

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Start Anew with Your Creative Work

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/2/2017 Theme, 10 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. Ten is a number of preparing to begin again. This week, the first of the New Year, finish up and let go of old

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Serve Your Creativity

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/19/2016 Theme, Knight of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, and anything physical. The Knight is the one who trains and acquires equipment and other resources in order to serve the realm. This week, think about

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Dreams or Fears?

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/12/2016 Theme, 9 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Nine is a number signifying completion or ending. At the end of the day, as you lie sleeping, are you in the sacred

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Celebrate Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/5/2016 Theme, 3 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition, creativity. Three is a number of creativity and making.This week, look for opportunities to celebrate your creative work, by yourself or with others. Celebrate with

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Trust Your Creative Resources

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE Theme, 4 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, anything you can touch, taste or feel. Four is a number of stability or stasis. This week, it’s time to trust creative resources. Look for where you

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Move Forward with Creative Confidence

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/14/2016 Theme, 6 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, work. This card encourages creative confidence and optimism this week. Build on past successes for future ones. You’ve done it before, you can do it again.

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Focus on Your Creative Goals

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/7/2016 Theme, 6 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. This week, be aware of where you tend to worry about your work or doubt your directions and abilities. Bring your mind back

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Be the Master of those Creative Emotions

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/31/2016 Theme, King of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of emotions, dreams, intuition, and creativity. The King is the master of the element.This week, be aware of where and when you need to master emotions that otherwise might overwhelm

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Inspiring Deadlines and NaNoWriMo

A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all. ~ Rita Mae Brown ~ If you are a writer, especially a fiction writer, then you are very aware that October is almost over and that means… NaNoWriMo! If you are not a fiction writer, NaNoWriMo is

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Deliver Your Message in 2 Ways

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/24/2016 Theme, Page of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of the mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. The Page is the messenger of the court. This week, look for two ways to communicate with your audience or customers about

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Use Those Emotions for Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/17/2016 Theme, Knight of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of emotions, dreams, intuition, and creativity. The Knight is the one who trains and has the skills and resources to serve and protect the realm. But even as the knight

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Get the Big Creative Picture

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/10/2016 Theme, King of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth. The King is the master of the element, and here he stands surveying his domain, getting the big creative picture. This week, be sure you are

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Manage Your Creative Resources

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 9/26/16 Theme, 4 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, and anything you can touch, taste or feel. Four is a number of stability. This week, be aware of when you hold tightly to creative resources

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Is Your Journal Analog, Digital, Video or…?

One recent Sunday morning I woke early and, creeping downstairs to my studio, decided to use the time to clean out some email from my Sent box since the number had climbed into the thousands. As I read through emails I’d sent from as far back as 2009, I deleted

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Finish that Creative Project!

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 9/19/2016 Theme, 9 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career and work. Nine is a number of completion. Note how weary the warrior is, and the waning moon. The warrior has taken the work, the battle

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5 Tips for a Long Marriage to Your Muse

Bob and I celebrated 43 years of marriage last week. Add an additional year of being engaged and a year of dating before that, and we have been sharing our lives for 45 years. That’s a long time to spend with one person…in close quarters…come hell or high water. A

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Establish Your Creative Priorities

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 9/12/2016. Theme, 5 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career and work. Five is a number of challenge and change. You can see how the five men emerging from the same tree trunk are battling with

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Overnight Success—Are You Pursuing It?

People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most significant success is achieved. ~Annie Sullivan~ Recently, I attended our village’s annual lawn party fundraiser for our small but excellent library. A friend who now lives with her husband year round in New Orleans, attended the event after

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Be Alert for 2 New Project Ideas

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 9/5/2016 Theme, Page of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts attitudes, beliefs, and communication. The Page is the youth, the messenger. This Page brings you the message of two new project ideas this week. Be alert and

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Your Muse & You Ready for the New School Year?

A new school year is beginning. You walk into an office supply store and see all the specials on tablets, notebooks, backpacks, pens, pencils and other miscellaneous supplies for school. If you have children, then you’ve been shopping for all those aforementioned supplies, and new clothes and shoes, etc. If

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Time to Launch a New Creative Project?

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 8/29/2016 Theme, Ace of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, work. Ace is the beginning, the seed, the first step. It’s time to start that exciting creative project that you’ve been sitting on while you tend

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What is Your Writing Goal Today?

Recently, I set a writing goal to finish a proposal for a nonfiction book. For those of you who have never done a book proposal, it is something like writing a Master’s Thesis–lots of work, lots of writing. On Monday of that week, I set the goal to finish the

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Shine Like a Star with Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 8/22/2016 Theme, The Star. This Major Arcana card is all about shining your light because when you are the star in your creative work, you not only serve yourself but others. When you succeed in your creativity, you show others what is possible. It

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Is a Groundhog Eating Your Flowers?

Friends Netta and Brian moved to our village of Rensselaerville this past May. Shortly after moving, Netta planted a large pot of geraniums and set it on the steps of the entrance to the house. The pot was riotous with blooms just before friends from Philly were due to arrive

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Don’t Be Shy. Promote your Work!

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 8/15/16 Theme, Knight of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Note the communication. Knight is the one of the royal court who has the training, the resources, the strength, to go out and

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall—and Other Reflections

What dynamite we handle when we lift a mirror or bend towards one! Elizabeth Coatsworth, Personal Geography Whenever I read tarot for new clients, I tell them that the reading is a mirror, providing perspective and clarity on the direction and challenges of their concerns. We know that the future

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Will You Listen to Your Inner Music?

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 8/8/2016 Theme, 3 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition and creativity. Three is a dynamic number that speaks of trinity, especially the Goddess, the ultimate creative source. This week, be aware of your own

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Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Three weeks on the road—or in the air. And now I am home. Home, where I sleep in my own bed, eat the food I’ve prepared, and greet the daylilies still blooming in the yard. I can enjoy the view from the chaise in our bedroom while I write and

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Creating Boosts Your Well-Being

Art is not a luxury but a necessity ~ Rebecca West ~ As creative beings we yearn to create — write, doodle, paint, color, knit, (fill in your fave art-y activity here), but it’s difficult to make the time. Creating for the fun of it is often on the bottom

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3 of Cups and Creative Joy

Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow. Helen Keller In this week’s Tarot Message from the Muse, the Focus card for the week is the 3 of Cups. The Focus card asks a question. In this instance, the questions are, are you experiencing

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Create from Faith in Your Craft’s Foundations

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 6/27/2016 Theme, Faith. This Major Arcana Card is also known as the Heirophant, the one who teaches or causes people to see a vision with the power given from a tradition–like an art or craft. Obviously, the four major religions of the world arise

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5 Great Escape Artists…Authors

When I only begin to read, I forget I’m on this world. It lifts me on wings with high thoughts. Anzia Yezierska Summer is a time to kick back, stretch out in the hammock or on the beach, and escape. Escape through the pages of a good book. An ability

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Deliver Your Creative Message

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 6/20/2016 Theme, Page of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, work. The Page is the one with youthful enthusiasm and energy. He or she is the messenger of the court, carrying news and information from one

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5 of Cups, Pulse, Hope and Imagination

The process of writing, any form of creativity, is a power intensifying life. Rita Mae Brown, Starting from Scratch You’ve certainly heard about this past weekend’s mass killing at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. My Facebook feed was filled with reports, anger, rants and weary pleas for change. Too

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Manage Your Creative Resources

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 6/13/2016 Theme, 4 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, anything physical. Four is a number of stability and security. This week, be aware of times when you want to hold onto time, money, other resources

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Are You Using Your Lint?

Peculiar scraps of knowledge stuck to him like lint from all his jobs. Anne Tyler You know what lint is. It’s that stuff that rubs off on us, on our clothing, especially when we wear black. It gathers in the lint trap of the dryer. But I’m not talking about

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What Books Introduced You to the Magic of Story?

I love books, in any format. If you are a writer, then you love books too. And, I bet you were introduced to their magic early in your childhood. I also bet that, like me, you have memories of several favorite books that introduced you to that magic and set

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Stand in Your Creative Power

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 5/16/2016 Theme, Queen of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, work. The Queen is the mistress of the element. She is the one who has the power and the confidence to do what she desires to

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Strike a Pose — Wonder Woman or He-Man

When our youngest son was still of pre-school age, there was a cartoon television program called “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.” He-Man was really the handsome Prince Adam but when it came time to do battle with the dastardly Skeletor, Prince Adam grabbed the Sword of Power, raised

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Create and Connect with Confidence

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 5/9/2016 Theme, Strength. This Major Arcana card calls to you this week to subdue the wild fears and fantasies that keep you from creating with confidence and strength. Do not be overcome by the fearsome beasts of doubt and insecurity. Instead, tame them with

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Prepare Your Creative Soil

The process of weeding can be as beneficial to the gardener as to the garden. It gives scope to the aggressive instinct—what a satisfaction to pull an enemy by the roots and throw him into a heap! And yet, paradoxically, weeding is the most peaceful of any outdoor task. Bertha

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Finish that Creative Project!

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 5/2/2016 Theme, 9 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. Nine is a number of completion. You can see how worn down and tired this warrior is. Look this week for creative projects that

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Prince & the Queen of Cups Transcend Rules

A strong spirit transcends rules. Prince Rogers Nelson Last week, Facebook feeds were filled with the news of and reactions to the unexpected death of Prince. I loved the earthiness and whimsicality of his music. It was great to dance to, and his images were, like Bowie’s, out there. His

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Plan Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/25/16 Theme, 8 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth–anything physical that you can touch, taste or feel. Eight is a number of stability. This week, find opportunities to plan out creative projects–and promotion that will

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Elevate Your Creative Work

MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/18/2016 Theme, Temperance. This Major Arcana card with the angel elevated in a special space, represents balance, elevation above the structures and rules of life, alchemy and the mixing or bringing together of opposites. This week, pay attention to where you have to bring

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Create but Don’t Forget to Promote

And that is what writing is about. Love. Love of the art, love of the story, and love for and from the people who really understand your work. Nobody else matters. Love yourself. Love your work. Be brave. Just write. Melodie Ramone Last weekend, Bob and I attended the NAMS14

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Are You Coming Out of Your Creative Cave?

A journy is best measured in friends rather than miles. Tim Cahill Events like the writers conference this past weekend remind me how important it is to get out of the office/studio and connect with people. Writers and other creatives spend a lot of time working in isolation in a

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Don’t Know What to Write? Look Out…

Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact. -Robert McKee Now that we are formally into spring, I’ve enjoyed a full week of watching birds at the feeder just outside the window where I work

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Be the Master of Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/28/2016 Theme, King of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition, creativity. The king is the master of this watery realm. Look at how he stands holding the cup, able to dip into the water without

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Welcome the Limitations—Yours or Theirs

The enemy of art is the absence of limitations. ~ Orson Welles ~ In the tarot, the Major Arcana card 10 is The Wheel of Fortune. This card is usually about the turn of the Wheel, i.e. the change in fortune or life for the better. Cards from a variety

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Guard Your Creative Ideas and Confidence

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/21/2016. Theme, 7 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Seven is a number of change from a breakthrough or in this case, a break in. Trust you instincts this week and safeguard

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Emerging from the Dark at Spring Equinox

You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light. ~ Edward Abbey Are you afraid of the dark? I don’t mean the physical dark… I mean are you afraid of the creative dark? That place of the unknown, the unseen, and the unacknowledged? People, including writers and creatives, seem

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Ask for Help with Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/14/2016 Theme, 5 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth. Anything physical. Five is a number of challenge and change. This week, look for when you are tempted to go it alone instead of asking for

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Finally Finishing—The Ten of Wands

In recent weeks of my weekly video reading, “Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse,” one card showed up several times—the 10 of Wands. The suit of Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. In this card from Ciro Marchetti’s Legacy of the

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Make Time for the Finishing Details

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/7/16 Theme, 7 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth–anything physical. Seven is a number representing creative or active energies. Your creative project is almost ready to manifest in the world…almost. This week, pay attention

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Traveling on Rough Road?

One evening, Bob and I were on our way into town for a rare dinner out on a major two-lane state road. Spring driving here in the Northeast often means the asphalt version of corduroy, or a deteriorated and crumbled version of sinkholes. Bob, ever the skilled driver, approached these

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Look for, Ask for Help with Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/22/2016 Theme, 5 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth–anything physical. Five is a number of change, challenge, and struggle. You can see the woman holding her alms cup out looking for help but not seeing

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How to Thaw the Creative Deep Freeze

It is so bitterly cold that the wine as well as the water freezes in the glasses at the King’s table. ~ Charlotte-Elisabeth, Duchesse D’Orleans (1695) If you live in the northern regions of the US, you’ve watched the effects of extreme cold on lakes and ponds and rivers this

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Finish That Creative Project

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/15/2016 Theme, 10 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career work. Ten is a number of moving from finishing to beginning again. This week, look for where you need to finish up projects that you’ve carried

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Love Needs More than Scraps

Love cannot survive if you just give it scraps of yourself, scraps of your time, scraps of your thoughts. ~ Mary O’Hara, author ~ Do you remember when you were a child making your own Valentine out of scraps of doilies, construction paper, glitter, and ribbons? Usually, those were for

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Brigid and the Steam of Creativity

One of my favorite goddesses is Brigid, from Celtic mythology. She is a three-fold goddess (meaning she embodies Maiden, Mother, Crone) and is often represented as Goddess of the Forge (fire) and Goddess of the Well (water). As Goddess of the Well, she is healer and poet and the part

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Be the Queen of Creative Manifestation

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/1/2016 Theme, Queen of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth. The Queen is the mistress of the element, at home in nature. She loves life, and therefore, creativity. This week, look for where you are to

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To Receive Inspiration, Rest and Renew

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/25/2016 Theme, 4 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, communications. Four is a number of stability, no movement. This week, look for opportunities to be still, to rest and renew in silence and solitude.

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Brave Up and Take a Creative Leap

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 1/18/2016 Theme, The Fool. This Major Arcana is all about taking that leap of faith, of risking it all for something you desire or believe in. This week, look for where you are asked to take a leap creatively, to risk stepping into the

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David Bowie & the Hermit, Following a Vision

I don’t know where I am going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring. ~ David Bowie ~ Some weeks, I have absolutely no idea what to write for my newsletter and blog until I sit down to write. I have to trust the process and my Muse.

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Break the Chains of 2015

O darkest Year! O brightest Year! / O changeful Year of joy and woe, Today we stand beside thy bier, / Still loth to let thee go! ~ Julia C. R. Dorr, poet ~ Happy New Year! A brand new year and all that implies. New beginnings, new opportunities, new

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Receive Your New Creative Project

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, JANUARY 4, 2016 Theme, Page of Cups. The Page is the messenger, so this week, be alert to the message of a new creative vision, idea, or project that, because it is in the suit of Cups, comes from that deepest place of heart

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Value Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/21/15 Theme, 4 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of the physical, home, health, wealth. Four is a number of stability and structure. This week, be aware of how your creative work brings structure and stability to your life

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To Love a Tree

Years ago, when I was writing the first draft of my book Weaving a Woman’s Life: Spiritual Lessons from the Loom, I went on retreat in the Poconos. Because it was after ski season and before the busy summer season, I had the place almost to myself. In the afternoon,

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Be an Outspoken Champion for Your Creative Work

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/14/2015 Theme, Knight of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. The Knight is the one who has the ability, training, tools and equipment to serve the realm. Your service to your creativity this

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NO! Don’t Kill Your Darlings!

Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it—whole-heartedly—and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings. ~Arthur Quiller-Couch, Cambridge lecture in 1914~ How many times at writing conferences, seminars, workshops and coaching have you heard that advice? A dozen times

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Answer the Creative Call

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 12/7/2015 Theme, Judgement. This Major Arcana card urges you to stay alert this week to the higher calling of your creative work, to listen for the summons, to look for the vision of the power of your creative work. Where and how can you

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The Power of Story to…

After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world. ~ Philip Pullman~ This past Thanksgiving, Bob and I traveled to Virginia to be with our oldest son, his wife and his two sons, all of whom were struggling with a virus that resulted in

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Be the Queen of Creative Abundance

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/30/2015 Theme, The Empress. You are the Queen of Creativity. This Major Arcana card suggests you be alert and aware this week of all the opportunities that arise for you to receive creative abundance in the form of inspiration, new ideas, and creative gifts

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Creative Comfort Time

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/23/2015 Theme, 10 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuition and creativity. Ten is the number of moving from ending into the new beginning. This week, take time to indulge in a sense of comfort

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Inspire and Be Inspired

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/16/2015 Theme, The Star. This Major Arcana card can represent hope, healing, inspiration, illumination, insight and the promise of a better day. After the events of last week, surely we need this card and its healing energy. So look for opportunities to inspire and

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New Moon, New Chapter, New Book?

Today is a New Moon in Scorpio. Three words that express the energy of Scorpio are sex, death, and transformation. Those words, in one way or another, signify loss and change. To experience the true power and intimacy of sex, you must allow your boundaries, your sense of self to

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You’re the Creative Source

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/9/2015 Theme, The Empress. From the Major Arcana, the Empress is all about creativity in abundance and with deep passion. This week, be aware of where you have the opportunity to be the source for creative abundance. There is no limit to the ideas

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Dare the Devil?

We all have situations and challenges in our lives we’d just as soon not look at. Often, these situations affect and influence our creativity. This idea of being stymied and challenged while refusing to look at the source of the challenge is represented in the tarot by the Major Arcana

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Is Your Creativity Bedeviled?

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/26/2015. Theme, The Devil. This Major Arcana card suggests that this week, you look, really look, at places where you and your creativity are being bedeviled. That is, what illusions exist around your creative work? Where do you need to face things that have

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Ready to Claim Your Strength?

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. Mohandas K. Gandhi Recently, while on the road in California, Virginia, Georgia and New Jersey, I have done tarot readings for a number of women on topics ranging from writing projects to career directions to relationship concerns.

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Time to Surface that Creative Dream

MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 10/19/2015 Theme, Ace of Cups. Cups is the element of Water, in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuitions, and creativity. The Ace is all potential, all possibility. Look at this beautiful cup sitting at the bottom of the ocean. Isn’t it time to

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Are You a Smashed Pumpkin?

It’s that time of year. Beautiful, flame-orange pumpkins are everywhere—on lawns, on porch steps, in windows and even serving as heads for ghosts. While some are pristine in their pumpkin-ness, others have been carved with ghoulish glee to delight or frighten. They are a sign of the season, representing harvest

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