It's the tail end of romantic February, so I'm cutting it fine.  In saying that, we can always extend any celebration be it Valentines, kindness, gratitude, mothers and fathers, earth day, happiness, birthdays...let's keep the giving energies flowing to infinity!

As I drove home, listening to Kate Morton's The Clockmaker's Daughter, my gaze was drawn upwards to the sky, filled with masses of clouds catching the afternoon sunlight...spectacular!

​This is a region full of wide open spaces and breathtaking sky-scapes.
Nature always overflows my being with wonder, awe and gratitude.
​My week was a fulfilling mix of work and play, conversations with friends, little treats and quiet achievement.
​What more could I hope for?

I find Pentacles soothing, though they represent material aspects of life, their earthy grounded energy help keep us secure and upright. Circles are a symbol of beginnings and endings, of continuity and steady motion.  Enjoy the fruits of your labour, the harmony of success, you deserve it! Quite befitting as 9 is all about busi-ness and activity, leading to fruition and fulfilment.

Direction.  I have a penchant for maps and compass roses, I wonder where I am and ponder where I am going and how intrinsically intertwined everything is.  After listening to The Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley, I knew it to be a subject worth exploring!
How is your sense of direction? Do you always know where you are? Have you ever been lost? How do you orientate yourself or find your bearings?  How do you navigate your way through life? 
https://www.naturalnavigator.com/

Inexhaustible.  As a creative being, I often find myself coming back to the same themes.  Strangely enough, the ideas keep coming and my curiosity or fascination with certain topics just keeps growing!  If anything, I am overwhelmed by inspiration!  It is inexhaustible!  Do you feel the same or is something else inexhaustible for you?
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Romance.  Yep, it’s that time of year again. Let your inner gush loose, be as sappy, soppy and tragic as you like and tell us, what is romance?

The best way to continue my tarot journey and familiarise myself with the cards and their meanings, is to use them regularly. 
I am in some amazing groups, follow some wonderful blogs and dip my nose in inspiring books often.  All of these continually feed my fascination with universal symbolism, poetic and intuitive living, as well as my general wonder-lust!
This is the beginning of a monthly tarot card, nothing like a little universal energy to reflect upon and guide us along.  I am still learning, warming up and trusting my intuition, so feel free to add your thoughts or interpretation and read or take what feels right for you.

​I use The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson.

He is looking ahead, his chariot pulled by winged fairies, adorned with pentacles, above him a butterfly-winged angelic head.
Master of thought, ideas and design, the King of Swords is controlled but determined, trusted to be fair in judgement and decisions, he will use his power and authority if necessary, ruling with his sword and slaying with his sickle. The suit of swords represent air which governs mental clarity, thought processes and intellect.
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​The Court cards can represent aspects of yourself, though often represent someone you know (perhaps a star sign of that element), they may also represent a situation.  The King is a mature man of great strength, someone you may look to for advice and guidance.  He is firm in his truth, drawing logical conclusions and could be a researcher, lawyer, teacher, in communications or the military.

​I listen, learn, observe and take in all aspects of a situation.  A good time to make changes and set new goals.
​Use your head, find a strategy, plan ahead, make changes without becoming too emotional.

Symbolism : butterfly wings - transformation, pentacles - magical talismans, protection and guidance.

Today I was flying my 60's kite dress during my afternoon library shift. I made it on the weekend, slightly adjusting the neckline to do away with the back zipper. It is rather groovy, with plenty of room to move and certainly great for the beach or slinking about.
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I have made a few new frocks of late, using gorgeous Jocelyn Proust native Australian plant printed cottons.  I do prefer an A-line which is more flattering and am making the most of my op shop pattern collection and Gertie Makes Jiffy book.  There is a lovely pile of fabric waiting in my studio...I feel some flares coming on!

We did great writing it all out in 2020.  I am so grateful you came to join me.  If you are anything like me, you may have some catching up to do, so thankfully we can re-visit any of the units and prompts any time we like!  You can do them in any order, pick out what appeals to you or do the same one over and over!

I love it most when we share, encourage and interact.  It creates a magical and inspiring sense of connection that is exactly what we all need these days, so don’t hesitate, be brave and put it out there, this is a safe space and please always feel free to ask questions, if I can’t answer them, I’m sure one of us can.
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For 2021, I’m freshening up the format and will now post four prompts at the beginning of each month, one for each week, as a document which can be found in the menu.  This allows time to ponder, meditate and write or journal at a pace that suits you best.  I will also throw in a sprinkle of tarot guidance, book/film inspiration and the occasional playlist when the feeling grabs me!
Thank you for being here and I look forward to sharing creatively with you all again.
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Second skin.  Use this as a title or theme for your weekly writing.  Make it free or give it structure.  Let it flow.  

Poetic cloth.  Describe this.  Tell a story, write a poem or a song to sing…

Because I let time get away, I'm catching up!
​Wrapping up 2020 and still quietly contemplating my intentions for 2021.
​I stuck this together,
in a kind attempt to not overload your inbox,
though I've more to ponder,
more to say,
so please excuse the spurt of activity...
​it will pan out and find a rhythm soon!

This is me keeping track of myself.
​Seems I'm a mixed media human too!
Focused, unfocused,
sometimes lumpy,
with peculiar consistency,
slow and steady,
full of wonder and dreaminess,
​overwhelmed with happy-sad emotions,
inspiration and desire,
wishing to do everything
and nothing!
​contradictory and nonsensical,
and yet,
content.
​I am me.

Before I knew it, 2020 was gone!
​December was a blur even though it felt slow.
School finished.
I headed to the coast.
I caught a summer cold and got my first covid test.
Grey days and regular rain have been glorious.
​I stretched myself out, continuing some pottery glazing and helping friends at their native plant nursery.
​It is a crazy month for making as the days fill up with end of year stuff, so there will be catch up to do.
I tend to get quiet and reflective this time of year.
It certainly has been ripe with emotional upheavals!
​Last months heat has evened out and the festive season was cooler and wetter than it has been for years, so refreshing.

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Last minute Christmas list making!
Share your wish list with us...make it naughty & nice, wacky & wild, mindful, fun and creative.

Research and reflection required as you delve into alchemy. 
Follow the link for some background info.  When you are ready, share your everyday magic with us.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy
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Considering we are agreeing to these and blindly signing our souls away on a regular basis, I thought I'd share this clever book by Robert Glancy with you.
I read it a few years back, follow the link to read my review, definitely worth a read.
What are your Terms & Conditions, fantasy or reality?
https://www.goodreads.com/.../show/20740137-terms-conditions
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Come on, we all have them...don't be shy!
Make a little (or long) list of all your
tragic indulgences...

I'm talking the cringey things your friends bag you for, be it sappy romance novels, The Brady Bunch Variety Show or cat videos...note them down and share them with us!
https://youtu.be/gR9u9efiNvg 
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Formulas are fun and make writing easy.  So we’ll keep it simple and play around with some I found in  Image and Write...Poetry
By Karin K. Hess
 
 
Line #1: Write three ing words            Examining, studying, testing,
Line #2: I am                             I am searching for a cure
Line #3: Write three adjectives           Tired, tense, drained
Line #4: I feel                           I feel so close...
 
 
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
 
This formula freezes an instant and examines various aspects of it.
 
Line #1: Adverb or Adjective                         Asleep
Line #2: I was                                       I was dreaming
Line #3: Verb or Adjective                           Content
Line #4: I am                                        I am not alone
Line #5: Verb or Adjective                           Comforted
Line #6:I will                                       I will try again
Line #7: Verb or Adjective                           Refreshed
Line #8: Now                                         Now I can.
 
 
 
Line #1: What if
Line #2: I might (leave a space between lines 2 & 3)
Line #3: What if
Line #4: I could
Line #5: What if
Line #6: I would (leave a space between lines 6 & 7)
Line #7: Ask a question

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.
- THICH NHAT HANH
 
Walking is a technique of solitude, a way into reverie. The walker is not a sleepwalker but a daydreamer. - DEIRDRE HEDDON
 
If you seek creative ideas go walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. - RAYMOND INMON
 
All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
 
Last week we went on pilgrimage within ourselves, this week, let’s go for a little wander.  Contemplate these words while walking somewhere lovely, then let your words wander on the page…
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​​What are your key words?
What does this image open in you?
What would your key look like?
Use your key words to open all those free writing doors...

Hey Presto!
 
Ever dreamed of making inanimate objects real? 
Here is your chance.
 
This is a cute book to use with students or to offer to a young wordsmith.  It is fun, colourful and informative, set out with space to write directly in the book!
Try it out with this little test run on personification.

Making pilgrimage
 
We continue to explore our Fruitflesh with Gayle Brandeis. 
What and where are you made up of? 
Follow the prompt and take us on a tour…