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.
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse Theme, 3 of Cups. Three is a magic number and Cups, the element of Water, is in the realm of the heart, feelings, dreams, intuitions and creativity. This card is all about the celebration and after all, it is that time of year. This
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 11/24/2014 Theme, Judgement. A Major Arcana card, here the Muse calls you to a bigger creative vision or project, one that may challenge you but also serve you and others. Listen for the call this week. Focus, 5 of Cups. Cups is the element
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
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 11/10/2014 Theme, King of Swords. Swords is the element of Air in the realm of mind, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, communications. The King has power, resources and the big picture. In this instance, note how he does not have to wave his sword to exude
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
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE FOR OCTOBER 27, 2014 Theme, Queen of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth. This Queen is at home in her castle and knows how to make it a beautiful place for others to dwell. Beauty
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
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE Theme, 7 of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of Spirit, creativity, career, work. Seven is a number of creativity, intelligence, originality, and intuition. This week, look for where you stand at a gateway that, while separating you from others,
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
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 10/13/2014 Theme, The Moon. This Major Arcana card suggests that this week you pay attention to the insights, intuition and dreams that emerge from the unconscious. Trust your instincts and record those dreams. They will guide your steps in your
In many earth-based spiritual practices, someone who is entering into ritual or leading one for others, will begin by drawing a circle. The purpose of the circle is to create a boundary—”a line marking the limits of an area, territory, etc.” In ritual, the purpose of that boundary is to
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse Theme, The Lovers. A Major Arcana card, this card speaks about Spirit, Love, and the integration of opposites–masculine/feminine, spiritual/physical, sacred/secular. Be aware this week of bringing that greater Love into everything you do in your creative work. Manifesting your Love for your ideas, your
God is in the detail. ~ Anonymous The Devil is in the detail. ~ A derivation of the previous quote In a recent weekly video for Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, the theme for the week was the 10 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth and represents
Happy New Year! Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? No? Me either. Making resolutions just doesn’t excite me. Why not try a new approach to the New Year? One that is marked by a New Moon in Capricorn, with the Sun, Pluto and Mercury also in Capricorn, especially
MONDAY’S TAROT MESSAGE FROM THE MUSE, 9/29/2014 Theme, 10 of Coins. The beauty is in the details this week, especially in the finishing details. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth. So as you physically manifest your creativity in words on the page
I’ve been writing articles for my newsletter for more than five years now, so you’ll understand if I tell you that some weeks, my inner child throws a tantrum. “No! I don’t want to write another newsletter. You can’t make me. No!” And yet, the deadline draws near. I can’t
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 9/22/2014 Theme, Knight of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health and wealth. The knight is the one who is trained and has the resources to serve. This week, pay attention to the times when you can serve
Autumn…makes a double demand. It asks that we prepare for the future—that we be wise in the ways of garnering and keeping. But it also asks that we learn to let go—to acknowledge the beauty of sparseness. ~ Bonaro W. Overstreet The autumn equinox, or Mabon as it is called
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 9/15/14 Theme, The Empress. A Major Arcana card, so lots of energy, which is apparent from the abundant life that fills this card. This week, be aware of your creative power, your ability to bring to life so much beauty and abundance. You are
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 9/8/2014 Theme, 8 of Cups. Tonight is a Full Moon in Pisces, just as we have on this card, so the tarot is speaking loudly and clearly to us. See all those cups (heart, emotions, dreams, intutions) at the bottom of the card? Empty
We all have our priorities. Think of each priority as a coin you hold. Top on the list of priorities for most of us (unless you are superhuman, in which case you need read no further), are eating and sleeping. So there are two coins. For those with small children,
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 8/25/14 Theme, 4 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water in the realm of heart, emotions, dreams, intuitions, creativity. Four is a stabilizing number that can make you feel secure, which may be why you are ignoring projects you already have in process
I’ve been writing articles for my weekly newsletter for a long time, almost 250 articles. So it should come as no surprise that inspiration—and my Muse—occasionally go missing. After I’ve searched in the usual places for her like my dreams and journals, I call in Sherlock Holmes because only that
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 8/18/2014 Theme, The Star. A Major Arcana card, the Star shines, inspires and heals. So this week, look for opportunities to shine, to inspire and yes, heal others with your creative work. Also be alert to sources of inspiration for you. Focus, 6 of
Once upon a time… A princess took her favorite toy, a golden ball, into the woods. Sitting by a well, she repeatedly tossed her ball up into the air and caught it. After several tosses, she missed the ball which fell into the well, disappearing beneath the water. She began
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 8/11/2014 Theme, 10 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth in the realm of home, health, wealth. So look for the wealth that is yours this week, the rewards and abundance that is available because of your creativity. Appreciate the rewards for work
At the recent Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, Tim Grahl, author and book marketer for well-known authors like Dan Pink, spoke about building platform and connecting authentically with readers. He advised his listeners to not confuse the tools of social media with being the rules. I straightened in my seat when
Monday Tarot Message from the Muse for 8/4/2014 Theme, Knight of Cups. The Knight is the one with everything he needs to protect and serve. In this case, he serves, you serve, your creativity. So get in motion while being aware of the beasts lurking in the emotional depths (Cups).
Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true Deep down inside we want to believe they still do… Carrie Underwood, Ever, Ever After Whenever I attend a writing conference, especially one of the size (2000 attendees) and caliber of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) annual conference, I treasure and am enchanted
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 7/28/2014 Theme, 9 of Wands. 9 is the number of finishing and completion. Wands is the element of Fire in the realm of Spirit, creativity, career, work. This poor guy has worked hard to get where he is. So have you with your current
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 7/21/2014 Theme, 5 of Cups. Cups is the element of water, the realm of heart, feelings, dreams, intuition, and creativity. This challenging 5 reminds you that pursuing your creative dreams is up to you. You can sit with your back against the wall protecting
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, July 14, 2014 Theme, King of Swords. The King is the one with power and dominion, with confidence that emanates from within. Swords is the element of air, of mind, thoughts, beliefs attitudes, and communication. This King communicates and rules with utmost confidence in
After nine years, our reliable Chrysler Town and Country van is giving up the ghost. Although the engine is still solid, the body is rusting and other maladies afflict it. We are so ready for a new car. Still, I’ll be sad to see the van go. That van was
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, July 7, 2014 Theme, Ace of Wands. This week, it’s all about beginning new projects and taking action on new ideas. Wands is the element of Fire, of Spirit, of creativity, career, work. Ace is the beginning, the seed, holding all potential, all possibilities.
When Bob and I committed to traveling this spring to Tuscany, I knew from friends and reading I’d done that we would do a lot of walking. I just didn’t imagine how much. At a rough guess, we walked between 5 and 10 miles a day. All that walking burned
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, June 30, 2014 Theme, Knight of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth, of body, home, health, wealth, anything physical. The Knight is the one who serves with all his training and experience, his resources, equipment and skills. To serve your creative work and
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, June 23, 2014 Theme, King of Wands. Wands is the element of Fire, representing Spirit, creativity, career, work. The King is the figure who has the power to accomplish what he intends. This King serves the Fire of Creativity, and keeps that passion and
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 5/19/2014 Theme, The High Priestess. See how she emerges from the deep waters? You do that for your creativity. You bring to light the mystery and magic of your creative work for others. Be the doorway into your work. Focus, 4 of Swords. Swords
The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. ~Jill Churchill This past Sunday was Mother’s Day here in the US and I noticed on Facebook the comment from several
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 5/12/2014 Theme, 10 of Swords. Swords is the element of air and mind, thoughts, beliefs, communications. 10 is a pivotal point. This week look for ways and times you need to let go of the negative messages that assail you from within and without
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 5/5/2014 Theme, Page of Coins. The Page is the messenger, a youthful, vibrant, energetic messenger. Coins is the element of earth, anything you can touch, taste or feel. This week be the energetic, vibrant messenger for your creative work. Share it loud and proud
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 4/28/14 Theme, 2 of Swords. Two often indicates choice or decision and Swords represents the element of Air, of mind thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communication. This week, stop trying to make choices and decisions solely from a logical point of view. Trust and go
In the last few weeks, I’ve had conversations with clients and friends who are experiencing a lot of stress and challenge in their lives and in their creative work. Sleepless nights, accidents, a restless sense of something not just right… And it’s no wonder because Pluto, the planet of depth
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 4/21/2014 Theme, 7 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth representing the physical–home, health, wealth–anything you can touch, taste or feel. So this week, pay attention to the practical physical details of your creative work. Anxious as you may be to get your
Spring is finally here. And just like the birds preparing to build nests, first there is some cleaning out to do. If you live in the Northeast , you are probably throwing open the windows and doors to let in the fresh air. You may already be cleaning and putting
Thank you to friend and writing sister, Win Day, for the invitation to participate in this writing blog hop. Win is a writer, a speaker, a strategist, and a geek. Her company, Creative Implementations, offers lifestyle business strategies and WordPress development and technical maintenance services to creatives and heart-centered entrepreneurs.
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 4/7/2014 Theme, Faith. From the Major Arcana, this card emphasizes belief, faith in yourself and in your work. Act, create, move from that place of surety in who you are, what you do that rises from the traditions of your work, your level of
First there was the corset (now making an interesting comeback), then there was the girdle, and now there is SPANX®. All the ways over the centuries that women have tried to push and pull themselves into a shape that society deems attractive, proper and stylish. Recently, I coached a number
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 3/31/2014 Theme, The Magician. This Major Arcana card is all about the magic of your creativity, your ability to take ideas and manifest them in physical form. This week, watch all the ways you get to practice your magic. Remember your ability to make
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 3/24/2014 Theme, 2 of Cups. Cups is the element of Water, representing the heart, emotions, feelings, dreams, intuition and creativity. See the two cups with the images of a man and woman. We see them in The Lovers card as well. Behind them, is
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 3/17/2014 Theme, Knight of Wands. Wands is the element of fire, of spirit, career, work, creativity, and the Knight is the champion, the one who serves and protects. This week look to how you champion your creative work, stand strong for it and use
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 3/10/2014 Theme, Ace of Cups. Cups is the element of Water, of heart, feelings, dreams, intuition and creativity. Ace is the place of new beginnings. It’s the seed of all potential, all possibilities. Look at that beautiful cup lying at
Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood, you sure are lookin’ good. You’re everything a big bad wolf could want. ~ Rolling Stones Did you grow up hearing the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood? And were you clear about what happens to good girls when they stray from the path
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for 3/3/2014 Theme, The Fool. The first card of the tarot and the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The place of beginnings, of new journeys and adventures. But to venture forth means taking a risk, leaping into the unknown. Be willing this week to
Monday Tarot Message from the Muse, 2/24/2014 Theme, The Empress. This Major Arcana card shows that you have the power to nurture and create abundance for yourself and others through your creativity. This week, remember you are the source. Focus, Queen of Swords. Swords is the element of air, of
When I was growing up, Santa brought my family a new jigsaw puzzle every Christmas. Later in the day, Dad would set up the card table and parents and siblings would draw up chairs and start turning over puzzle pieces. Hours passed with breaks for snacks and the bathroom. Pieces
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 2/17/2014 Theme, 7 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth, of home, health, wealth. This week, pay attention to the final details and nurturing of your current projects. Make sure you give them all the sun and watering they need. Keep away the
Have you ever been to a conference or even just at a party or someplace new and someone comes up to you and asks, “So what do you do?” Do you cringe a little inside? Do you stumble and trip over your tongue, or worse, mumble? Or do you answer,
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 2/10/2014. Theme, 4 of Wands. Wands is the element of fire, of spirit, creativity, career, work. Four is a number of stability. Creating stability for your creativity means making a commitment and making space for it. This week stay alert to how you make
Brigit is one of the oldest known Irish or Celtic goddesses, worshipped as a triple goddess, i.e. maiden/mother/crone. As goddess of the forge or smithy, Brigit is the patroness of metalworking and other crafts. Her element is fire, the fire of passion and inspiration, and her celebration, February 2nd, includes
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 2/3/2014 Theme, Faith. This week, be aware of when you have faith in your creative work and when you don’t. The Muse asks you to have faith in her, in your creativity and in yourself. So remind yourself this week to have faith. Focus,
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 1/27/2014 Theme, Temperance. Like the Goddess Brigid who is the goddess of the forge, creativity, the well, the poet, Temperance asks you this week to combine passion and will with love and desire in your creative work. Moving back and forth between the fire
Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive. ~ Edith Wharton Making breakfast this past Sunday morning made me think about the importance of habits and routines. Six months
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 1/20/2014 Theme, Judgement. A Major Arcana card, number 20, this card tells you to stay awake and aware this week to the calling of your creative work or vision. It asks you to pay attention to power and purpose behind the work that you
Abdicate: to give up or renounce (throne, duty, etc.) The dreamer is the final authority on her dream. It is a rule I always stress when I teach dream work. Too often, I see people, whether they are sharing dreams with friends, with members of a dream circle, or on
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 1/13/2014 Theme, 4 of Wands. Wands is the element of fire, of passion, will, spirit, and creativity. This week, look for where your current creative work or project requires a commitment from you in order to keep growing, as if
Doesn’t starting a New Year feel like opening a new book? The pages are crisp and have that new book smell. There is the anticipation of the new story waiting to unfold before you as you turn page after page. On New Year’s Day, we had a New Moon in
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 1/6/2014 Theme, 7 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth, of the material realm, anything physical. The theme for the first full week of the New Year is to pay attention to the practical, final finishing details of your current projects. Now’s not
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 12/23/2013 Theme, The Devil. This major arcana card says that it is time to stop confining your creativity with the rules and bonds that you or others have placed on you about what you can and can’t or shouldn’t do in your work. Those
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?” Actually, how can we avoid listening? During the holiday season there is a barrage of sound– the voices of too many people in a crowded mall, the honking horns of tired, short-tempered shoppers who just want to get home, and the piped music in
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse,12/16/2013 Theme, 5 of Cups. See this poor woman with her back against the wall, protecting her cups? Is that you? Cups is the suit of water, heart, feelings emotions, dreams, creativity. And 5 is the number of change and challenge. Pay attention this week
“Are you content now?” said the Caterpillar. “Well, I should like to be a little larger, sir, if you wouldn’t mind,” said Alice: “three inches is such a wretched height to be.” Remember when, after Alice in Wonderland falls down the rabbit hole she discovers a doorway that opens into
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 12/9/2013 Theme, 8 of Cups. Cups is the suit of water, heart, feelings,dreams, intuitions, creativity. Whatever creative projects you were emotionally invested in, they are no longer doing it for you. Time to let go. Finish or drop. New possibilities await you this week,
This week’s post is by guest contributor, Beth Barany. I just got back from a writer’s conference. I love going to them. I love speaking there and helping other authors. But I’m tired. I’m an introvert. As I wade through all the post-conference activities of following up with all the
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 12/2/2013 Theme, Death. Death is a process of letting go. So this week, it is time to let go of old, out-dated projects, dusty dreams, papers, files, books, materials that clutter up your work space and your creative energy. In
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 11/25/2013 Theme, 8 of Wands. Wands is the element of fire, spirit, creativity, career, work. 8 is a number that is almost there. Time to give that final push to projects, to prepare for lift-off for that next phase in your creative work. Focus,
Recently, we had a Taurus Full Moon while the Sun was in the sign of Scorpio. Scorpio challenges us to face what we fear, to let go of attachments, and to surrender to a spiritual transformation. Taurus, on the other hand, is about the physical realm. What do we value?
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 11/18/2013 Theme, 5 of Wands. 5 in this suit of fire and creativity is a number of change and challenge. Here, it seems, creative roles and projects battle each other for your time and energy. This week, look at establishing
Whenever I do a tarot reading for a client and the 10 of Swords shows up, everyone cringes. With swords representing the mind and the thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and communications of the mind, this card in a reading can imply ruin, despair, or a mental overwhelm that keeps one pinned
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for 11/11/2013 Theme, 9 of Swords. The suit of Swords represents the element of air, mind, thoughts, attitudes and beliefs. Here this woman seems to be lying awake at night because of thoughts and messages that hang over her. Perhaps they are worries about
That inner voice has both gentleness and clarity. So to get to authenticity, you really keep going down to the bone, to the honesty, and the inevitability of something. Meredith Monk During a recent Akashic records reading from colleague, Tomar Levine, I was advised to pull back and roll up
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 11/4/2013 Theme, Justice. See the two women in their dark and light gowns? One carries scrolls, the other holds a sword. The theme for the week is balance, balance between the inner world and the outer one, balance between thought and action especially as
Happy talk, keep talking happy talk, / Talk about things you’d like to do… “South Pacific” According to the IRS, a business is something you engage in with the intent to make a profit. For creatives that means you intend to make a profit from your products or performances or
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse, 10/28/13 Theme, 5 of Cups. Cups is the element of water, heart, feelings, dreams, intuition, creativity. 5 is a number of change, a tipping point. This woman sits with her back against the wall protecting the two creative dreams she still has because the
Masquerade!/ Run and hide–/but a face will/ still pursue you! from Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber Masks are not just for Halloween. Over the centuries, they have served a variety of purposes. Entertainment. Since the time of ancient Greece, mask have been used for theater performances (noh
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 10/21/2013 Theme, The Lovers. So romantic, that kiss or almost kiss. Together the male and female figure make a whole heart. A heart that is the vehicle for the movement of idea or inspiration into reality. Creation doesn’t happen without
October 18th, we have a lunar eclipse in the signs of Aries (the Moon) and Libra (the Sun). Aries, expressed positively, is self-sufficient, straight-forward, and adventurous, but expressed negatively is self-centered, thrill-seeking and aggressive. Libra is very sociable, cooperative, and considerate or indecisive, pretentious and co-dependent, going along to get
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 10/14/2013 Theme, Ace of Coins. The Aces are the beginning, the seed, holding all potential, all possibility. Coins are the element of Earth, money, home, health, anything you can touch, taste or feel. This week, keep in mind the importance
Emergencies have always been necessary to progress. It was darkness which produced the lamp. It was fog that produced the compass. ~ Victor Hugo I woke the other morning, and saw that the rich gold of autumn leaves was dimmed by a thin layer of fog, a not unusual occurrence
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 10/7/2013 Theme, 3 of Cups. Cups is the element of water representing the heart and all its emotions, and creativity. This week look at the element of celebration, especially shared celebration, around your creativity. Look for opportunities to celebrate creative
Autumn…makes a double demand. It asks that we prepare for the future—that we be wise in the ways of garnering and keeping. But it also asks we learn to let go… Bonaro W. Overstreet in Meditations for Women. I love autumn in the Northeast because of the intensity of color
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 9/30/2013 Theme, 2 of Coins. Coins is the element of Earth, of home, health, wealth. Anything you can touch, taste or feel. Two is often about balance or choice. In the 2 of Coins, it’s about keeping your focus on
Every time one of our three sons approached his mid-teens—you know, that time when they want to learn to drive, attend late-night parties, and start experimenting with alcohol and other things you don’t want to even imagine—I yearned to install a very tall tower in our backyard and stick that
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 9/23/2013 Theme, Knight of Wands. To be of service, the Knight goes through a period of training, developing skills and acquiring the tools, equipment and resources he needs to do his job. Wands is the element of fire, spirit, creativity,
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 9/16/2013 Theme, Wheel of Fortune. Being creative and doing your creative work can feel a lot like riding the Wheel of Fortune, ups and downs are the nature of things. One way to avoid feeling the extremes is to move
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 9/9/2013 Theme, 10 of Wands. Surely you don’t want to spend this week on your belly crawling through the brush with a pile of projects on your back? Wands is the element of fire, spirit, creativity, career, work. Time to
Several weeks ago, as Bob, Jason and I walked around Carmel photographing the many sports cars temporarily at curbside rest before auctions, races, and the Concours D’Elegance, I realized how quickly I was able to determine, if not the year, at least the make and style of varying sports cars,
Monday’s Tarot Message from the Muse for the week of 9/2/2013 Theme, 8 of Cups. Cups is the suit of water, of heart, feelings, dreams, intuitions, creativity. What creative attachments or projects have you been holding onto? Look deeply because these attachments are not obvious. This week, be aware of
“Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window frame.” The Queen from Snow White As with all creativity, first there is the wish, the dream, the idea. The Queen spells out the picture of her