Hey there First name / friend,

For the last five years, I've tried to spend most Sunday afternoons planning for the week by listening to my horoscope. I sit at my desk surrounded by books, papers, and all the stationary I use for collaging, take notes in my planner about the planets, sometimes journaling a little about my plans and dreams. Collaging started as a way to express ideas when I had a hard time writing, or to have a visual representation of what I was working on. But listening to my horoscope was something I reflected on recently after telling a friend that I do this because I need some semblance of a guide for these times. I just didn't realize how long “these times” have been. 

I first signed up for one of astrologer Chani Nicholas' workshops in the summer of 2017 and continued to until she developed an app in 2020. I immediately subscribed. On Sunday afternoons, I sometimes use oracle cards and tarot, all just tools to kind of jumpstart the writing. Other times, to ground myself in entering the week. I say this as we celebrate the Spring equinox, Ostara, in the midst of eclipse season and retrogrades. Energy shifting as we cross thresholds of introspection and change. I hope you're able to honor these internal shifts in order to meet the challenges of the time, to keep creating and expressing yourself any way you see fit. 

Have you heard of Stephanie Harrison? Author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong. I haven't read the book, but I appreciated her content and subscribed to her Substack. Here's something I found interesting regarding demoralization, which apparently can often be confused with depression: There's a name for what you're feeling

Click on first image for Chapbook Contest, second for Short Story Contest

nonfiction call from Write or die available march 24. they're looking for 5 cnf pieces that explore coming-of-age. a turning point that redefines who we are and what we know to be true. click on either image below to go to their page.