Monday Muse
Traveling, Fun Links, Justice
Happy Monday! The last week was pretty crazy. I had my birthday girls’ weekend and then drove to Dallas for a few days to celebrate with my family. Now I’m prepping to head to Australia on Wednesday. Somehow with all of this going on, I also managed to get some words written (passed the 50k mark on my draft) and get ahead on my professor work (reading mentee pages and running my online class).
While I’m in Australia, I’ll be posting a journal about my trip. I did this through my social media while I was in Scotland, but I think Substack is a much better format for this sort of thing. I can’t promise I’ll manage a daily update but expect pics and posts pretty regularly. I’m visiting my best friend from college and her wife. My BFF is turning 50 while I’m there so this is a sort of joint birthday celebration. We’re planning on going to a bioluminescent bay for a few days, visiting Kangaroo Valley, hitting a rugby match, going to a lesbian Easter dance party, and all sorts of other adventures. Stay tuned for my reports from Down Under.
I also plan to do some fiction writing on my trip. I’ll have two 17-hour plane rides, and planes are excellent for writing. No wifi = boredom = lots of writing. Bonus points for seat mates who read over your shoulder and get scandalized.
Now onto The Monday Muse…
What I’m reading: On my roadtrip to Dallas, I listened to two Abby Jimenez audiobooks: Part of Your World and The Happily Ever After Playlist. I’d heard good things about Jimenez’s romances and I’m happy to report these had me giggling and crying. They’re funny and sexy with some pretty deep emotional themes, like surviving grief and abusive relationships. The conflicts are complex and the payoffs are very satisfying. Definitely recommend.
Fun Links
Warning, this is not permission to goof off and avoid writing, but everyone needs a break every now and then.
-Let off some steam by Screaming into the Void
-Looking for something good to read? Check out What Should I Read Next?
-Did you get emotionally traumatized by the news or someone’s gross social media post? Eyebleach will cleanse your visual palette with pictures of kittens.
-Bizarre Bookshelf: A weird directory of bizarre book tiles (I’ve read some of these)
Tarot Prompt: Justice
Today’s card comes from Yoshi Yoshitani’s gorgeous Tarot of the Divine. The image on this deck’s Justice card is of the Korean Amhaeng-Eosa, the secret royal inspector sent to the provinces by the king to punish corrupt officials.
Keywords-Harmony, balance, equality, virtue, honor
These days, Justice feels under attack and the truth feels dangerous. It’s rough for a creative to feel inspired when reality itself feels unreal and unfair. Yet this is precisely the time when we’re needed most. Creatives hold up a mirror to society. We let everyone know that the Emperor’s new clothes are just a birthday suit.
Justice invites us to get focused. We must align our actions with our integrity. We must play fair even if everyone else seems to be gaming the system. Trust karma to serve its own justice in time and focus on being balanced and fair in your decisions.
But justice also asks us to be balanced. Are you spending so much time obsessing over the unfairness of everything that you’re ignoring your own responsibilities and priorities? Are you squandering your creative energy by doomscrolling? Stop that, friend.
What to do today: Reflect on areas of your life that need balance. What truth are you avoiding? Address it now or face the consequences.
Thanks for stopping by The Messy Muse. Have a friend who could use some inspiration? Do a good deed and share this with them.
Happy wanderings