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.
“I don’t have enough time.” I hear this statement often as a creativity and book coach. How can you change it to “I have enough time…even if it’s not as much as I would like”? What, in your mind, is enough time to write or do your creative work? An
At the beginning of this month is the holiday of Lammas, or Lughnasadh (named after the Celtic god of skilled workers and craftsmen, Lugh), a holiday that celebrates the growth and harvest of the grain, especially in the form of bread and grain. This holiday is the first of several
Spontaneity, the hallmark of childhood, is well worth cultivating to counteract the rigidity that may otherwise set in as we grow older. ~ Gail Sheehy ~ The fun stuff comes when someone is not so strict on sticking to the script. You’re allowed the spontaneity, and great moments can happen.
Recently, our area was hit by a snowstorm that dumped two feet of snow on us. A typical later winter storm, the snow was heavy with moisture. It’s great for packing and building snowmen but not so great for clearing off sidewalks and driveways. I’d planned to attend a writer’s
True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~ William Penn ~ I get a lot of the ideas when I’m resting – either when I’m meditating or getting some kind of work done on my
I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don’t understand… in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in. ~ Neil Gaiman ~ Even though it is a new year, the struggle to live with and make sense of the world and its
We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play. ~ Charles E. Schaefer ~ Recently, I had one of those dreams that makes you pay attention, even though this one was more fragment than a full dream. You
One of my all-time favorite movies (in fact, I confess to watching it at least a dozen times) is Dirty Dancing, written by Eleanor Bergstein, directed by Emile Ardolino, and starring Jennifer Grey as Francis “Baby” Houseman and hunky Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle. There are so many reasons to
Recently, Bob and I spent a weekend in Virginia with our grandsons and son Stephen and daughter-in-law Mindy. The two boys, Andrew and Ryan are now 5 ½ and 3 ½ and our interactions with them has changed. Instead of bouncing, lifting, carrying, swinging and all those other physical actions
My theory is you shouldn’t apologize for believing in an idea-channeling muse. You should just be sure to feed her. ~ Laurie Seidler~ Whenever I teach dream work to writers or others, I remind them to practice gratefulness for their dreams and dream messengers by taking some kind of immediate
The thrones of kings and queens are understood as symbols and seats of power. Certainly there is no more powerful example of the power of a throne (ugly, intimidating, uncomfortable thing that it is) than the Iron Throne in the HBO series, Game of Thrones. But everyone doesn’t fight to
With the warm weather of the last few weeks, hubby Bob has taken me out for several MGB rides. If you aren’t a car enthusiast, an MGB is a British sports car manufactured by the British Motor Corporation. As you can see, it is a two-door roadster with a convertible
I don’t think you can create anything interesting from a comfort zone. You have to work from a place of fear and failure. ~Charlize Theron, actor~ Bob and I went to see the movie, Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron. The movie is based on a graphic novel, The Coldest City,
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Recently, I spoke with a friend and client who is feeling challenged by the demands from family and friends for her time and space. She’s feeling understandably frustrated and concerned. For her, it feels like the time and energy she could be using for working on manuscript revisions are slipping
The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. Arnold H. Glasow, business man and humorist I have a new respect for caregivers, professional and otherwise, after spending a week providing care and support to my 85-year-old maternal aunt who recently
The Magician of the tarot is number one in the Major Arcana (Arcanum = secret knowledge), often called the Fool’s Journey. The Fool travels through consciousness (outer concerns of life), to the subconscious (the search inward) and finally to the superconscious (spiritual awareness). Most people travel through these stages more
Where words fail, music speaks. ~ Hans Christian Andersen Our youngest son, Jason, is visiting for several weeks while he and his dad work on restoring a ’69 MGB-GT, a fun project for father and son. When not working on the car, and at home in Los Angeles, Jason is
This weekend, I will officiate at a wedding. The bride is a young woman I’ve watched grow from infancy, so this is especially meaningful to me. Her mom is a dear friend. So you can imagine that weddings, love and commitment have been on my mind. Years ago in 2007,
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 8/17/2015 Theme, 10 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Ten is the tipping number from ending to beginning. This week, be aware of when you are working towards finishing one project and
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, JULY 27, 2015 Theme, 7 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of spirit, creativity, career, and work. Seven is a number of action, taking action, being alert to it. Here, your theme for the week is to look for
This time of year in the Northeast, you drive through the countryside and suburbs where banners of bright orange tiger lilies wave at you as you pass. The tiger lily is a hemoracallis or daylily, meaning that each individual bloom only lasts for 24 hours. Yes, only 24 hours. The
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, JULY 20, 2015 Theme, 7 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, communication. See the burglar sneaking in the open window, looking to steal those two swords hanging on the wall even though he already
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, JUNE 13, 2015 Theme, Wheel of Fortune. A Major Arcana card, the Wheel is all about change and time. So is creativity, which is all about change and time. Jupiter, the big benefic that makes everything grander and larger, is a sign of good
The Universe is made of stories,/ not of atoms. ~Muriel Rukeyser Our oldest son and his wife came for a visit recently, bringing our grandsons, one-year-old Ryan and three-year-old Andrew. Andrew went home at the end of his visit with us with a fine collection of stories. Stories about roasting
I like writing to be more portable and flexible. I like writing to be something that fits into cracks and crannies. I don’t like it to dominate my life. I like it to fill my life. There is a big difference. ~ Julia Cameron, The Right to Write I do
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, JUNE 15, 2015 Theme, The Lovers. This Major Arcana card as it relates to creativity is often about bringing the intuitive and active, inner and outer aspects of the creative act together. It is in listening to your intuition and allowing that creative spark
We learn geology the morning after the earthquake. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Earth. The element of certainty and security. It’s the ground we walk on, the home we live in (whose foundations are planted in the ground), the income (coins) we earn. The food we eat, and the health of
Believe in your own identity and your own opinions. Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it. ~ William Zinsser Author William Zinsser died last week. He wrote the book On Writing Well. I love the idea that to be a writer, I must first
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 5/18/2015 Theme, 3 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth, the physical and material. Three is a number of shift and change. See how the craftsman works on carving out details and adding the sparkle to
Fire is a good companion for the mind. ~ May Sarton ~ Fire. Not the element you’d normally associate with spring. And yet, if it wasn’t for the heat, the fire of that ever-nearing sun warming the Northern Hemisphere, snow and ice wouldn’t melt and fill the rivers, and lakes.
This is my tenth post in this special series by Beth Barany and I on Travel and Writing. In this post, we talk about the value of those nighttime experiences for your stories. Also, get information on our retreats, Beth’s in Paris, and my VIW (Very Important Writer) retreats here
We all end in the ocean We all start in the streams We’re all carried along By the river of dreams In the middle of the night ~Billy Joel, River of Dreams~ In classical Greek thought and other ancient world philosophies, it was believed that the simplest parts that made
For this post in this special series by Beth Barany and I on Travel and Writing, we share about the importance of following the bread crumbs of curiosity when you travel in order to discover new stories, settings and information. Look for more posts from us every other Wednesday. And
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 4/6/2015 Theme, 5 of Cups. Five is a challenging number, a tipping point. Will you meet the challenge or surrender? Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, feelings, emotions, dreams, intuitions and creativity. This week, look at where you find
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 3/23/2015 Theme, Knight of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. The Knight is the Champion of the realm. He uses his training and resources to serve and protect. This week, use your training
And the baby bear’s bed was just right. This past weekend, Bob and I went shopping for a new mattress. I felt like Goldilocks, moving from mattress to mattress, looking for the one that felt just right. This bed was too hard, that one was too soft, this was one
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2015 Theme, 3 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, feelings, emotions, dreams, intuition, creativity. Three is a number of shift and of magic. This week, look for opportunities and occasions to celebrate you and your creativity. Like
MONDAY TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 2/9/2015 Theme, 5 of Cups. This week look for where past fears and disappointments are keeping you from stepping out with your creative work. Be aware of any timidity or “What if it doesn’t work? What if no one likes it?” Time to be
For this seventh post in this special series by Beth Barany and me on Travel and Writing, we share our personal experiences with how body language can communicate culture and country, and how you can use your experience of it to add dimension and detail to characters and setting. Look
Welcome to the sixth installment in this special series by Beth Barany and I on Travel and Writing. We are offering information, tips, techniques and tools for writers who are traveling for business, pleasure or on retreat. Look for more posts from us every other Wednesday. And get information on
Do you make New Year resolutions and set goals? If you do, and all you do is write them down—or even if you write out some of the steps and actions involved—then you are doomed to failure. Doomed. Why? Because new goals and changes require an environment to support them.
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 12/15/2014 Theme, 2 of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. Two is often about balance and choice. The theme for this week is to stop weighing choices and options over and over,
Part of the holiday season usually involves travel, to family and friends or on a getaway, which makes this the perfect time for the fifth installment of this series by Beth Barany and I on Travel and Writing. Whatever you write, we offer information, tips, techniques and tools for writing
“Just say, ‘To hell with ’em! Say it! Say it aloud!” So says Dina Delsanto (played by Juliette Binoche), a painter and teacher in the movie, Words and Pictures also starring Clive Owen. Delsanto, who struggles to paint despite a debilitating condition, says this to a female high school student
In this series, Beth Barany and I continue to share with you the magic of travel and writing. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, novels, short stories, personal essays or keep journals, we offer information, tips, techniques and tools for making the most of your travel for your writing. Look
I’m about to tell you something really embarrassing. For the last few months, I’ve been stalled on my manuscript. Yep, the book coach was floundering. I had 70,000 words written but couldn’t figure out what the next 10,000 or so had to be in order to get to the last
In this series, Beth Barany and I continue to share with you the magic of travel and writing. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, novels, short stories, personal essays or keep journals, we offer information, tips, techniques and tools for making the most of your travel for your writing. Look
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE 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 with training, tools, and experience who uses them in service to the realm. This week, take advantage of opportunities
Join Beth Barany and I as we share with you the magic of travel and writing. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, novels, short stories, personal essays or keep journals, we offer information, tips, techniques and tools for using travel to inspire, inform, enrich and empower your writing. Look for
Because of the two weddings Bob and I recently attended, the idea of commitment has been on my mind. I love weddings and witnessing couples affirm their love for each other and then dare to commit to journey together into the future—for better or for worse. As with the marriage
For the next 24 weeks, you are invited to join Beth Barany and I as we share with you about the magic of travel and writing. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, novels, short stories, personal essays or keep journals, we will offer information, tips, techniques and tools for using