Monday Muse

Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Sacred Rest

Hello. First, I know the news is scary right now. It’s felt scary for a long time. We’re all exhausted. But it’s important to resist the call of the void. The void, in this case, being the Internet. Be sure to take time to focus on what’s right in front of you. Invest in your actual life. Find excuses to be delighted by the mundane. The bad news will always be there, but, in the words of Saint Mary Oliver:

“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Maybe use that quote as a journal prompt today. Just a suggestion.

Last Thursday, I flew to Chicago for a couple of days to hang out with a friend. I haven’t been to the city in about twelve years, but I instantly remembered why I’ve always liked Chicago.

I stayed on Michigan Avenue right across from The Bean and near the Art Institute. It was warm, but I took some time for a stroll through the park and watched kids scream and frolic in a fountain. I also spent a few hours at the Art Institute, which had a small Frida Kahlo exhibit in addition to their fabulous regular collection.

Thursday night, we hit up Delilah’s, which is a pretty famous whiskey bar. Y’all they had more than 300 whiskeys, including some pretty rare ones that delighted my companion, who is a bit of a bourbon expert. It had dive bar vibes and the staff was super knowledgeable and friendly.

I also wrote. A lot. The hotel I stayed in had a gorgeous lobby with good food, so I spent several hours there grappling with the book that I’ve been trying to force into submission. The good news is that my persistence has paid off and I figured out a massive plot element. I feel like I’ve finally locked in and want to work on it all the time. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this level of obsession and it feels sooooo good.

The trip was fast, but it was such a nice little adventure. I’ve realized that most of my trips involve some combination of museums, bourbon, and delicious food. I’m not mad at this formula.

I’m so lucky to be able to do my job from anywhere, and it’s great when a trip allows for both exploration and deep work. Speaking of …

I’m headed to Pennsylvania tomorrow for my semi-annual residency at Seton Hill. The entire program, which is low residency, comes to campus for five days of workshops, classes, guest speakers and writer fellowship. It’s kind of like writer camp. I’ll be teaching three classes and running two writer workshops, in addition to overseeing the thesis readings of some of my students who are graduating. Should be a good time.

Now, onto today’s tarot prompt.

The Ten of Wands (drawn from Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani)

Key words: Overwhelm, stress, obligation, refusing aid, duty.

The ten of wands is the final card of the suit of wands, which tells a story of passions pursued. The card comes at the end of a long journey of pursuing one’s purpose. The meaning of this card is feeling burdened by the responsibilities of your success. You’ve had to take on a lot and maybe you haven’t been so good at asking for help. Be careful or you will be too burned out to able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Prompts:

-Make a list of your responsibilities. All of them. Then look for opportunities to delegate, cut out unnecessary tasks, or outsource things that drain too much energy. It can also help to get very clear on your priorities and study where you’re energy is going. If all your energy is going to non-prioritized areas, there needs to be a recalibration.

-Sacred rest. Tens are always the end of cycles. In this case, this card might be indicating a culmination of efforts. Before you set off on a new journey, take time for rest. Refill your well because it’s probably running a bit dry at the moment. In order to keep seeing successful outcomes, you’re going to have to learn when to set it all down for a little bit and recharge.

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Happy creating, my friend!

The Messy Muse