Hi all,
A quick reminder that Early Bird registration for the next 8-week session of Astrology for Writers: How to Make Your Writing Work for You ends on Sunday, March 15th — after which, the price goes up! I’m so looking forward to this next class and can’t wait to meet some of you there.
If you’re on the fence about taking the class, I hope you’ll join me tomorrow at 1p ET for a free 1-hour workshop that includes an exercise from the course! You can sign up for that here.
And now: let’s talk about developing our intuition as writers with the New Moon in Pisces. As ever, writing prompt horoscopes are at the bottom.
Xx,
Jeanna
I recently spoke with someone for an upcoming podcast episode who mentioned feeling uninspired in her creative life. A relatable feeling, particularly a year into the pandemic, surrounded by unimaginable grief. She asked me, How do you keep writing?
This question comes up a lot, but something about our conversation has me still thinking about it. The pithy answer is, “Well, I’m a Saturn-ruled Capricorn.” The practical answer is to quote the saying that has been attributed to at least six different authors, “I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning,” a saying that, personally, holds truth. For me, daily routine is essential to building creative endurance.
But my real answer, or perhaps the foundational answer — the thing that supports every other answer I could give and practice I have built — is that, over the years, particularly since leaving the evangelical church, I have worked to develop a relationship with my intuition, which has meant purposefully, intentionally getting comfortable with silence and with my own company.
Staying in close relationship with my intuition is how I keep writing.
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Intuition is one of the most important pieces of a writer’s toolkit. Debut novelist A.E. Osworth talked about the importance of intuition to their process with us last week,
For the Satan book — mostly, writing Satan has felt like channeling. My characters are waking me up at night with lines of dialogue. I’ve now had years of practice tapping into this really intuitive part of me, so now I experience that in a more free-flowing way. And I think that that only comes with having been intentional and building that muscle for as long as I have been.
But what is intuition? The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as, “The immediate apprehension of an object by the mind without the intervention of any reasoning process; a particular act of such apprehension” and also as “direct or immediate insight.”
Intuition is a noun — a concept, a thing, a democratic process that anyone and everyone can access at any time, no matter where they are. It’s one of those rare gifts of being human. But recognizing its insight doesn’t come without practice; I don’t think it’s a coincidence Osworth talks about “muscle.” You have to train for a marathon, after all.
Those special flashes of inspiration don’t actually land if you aren’t listening for them, and our culture (at least, here in America) is specifically designed to make it hard for most people to listen to our own selves. Our minds, so collectively steeped in white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism, heteronormativity, Enlightenment-era “rationalism,” and more, are trained to not trust ourselves — particularly if our positionality in society is, in some way, not that of the dominant class. Furthermore, we live in a society that is skeptical of, if not outright in denial of, the existence of the non-Christian spiritual, of knowledge that is coded as feminine, of the value of the other-than-human.
Intuition is complicated, and listening is hard.
But you didn’t need me to tell you that. Ask any parent of a small child. Any teacher in a classroom that is rowdy or all-too-quiet. Any person who automatically picks up their phone to check notifications rather than simply let the phone be and stare out the window for a minute. Listening is one of the most simple, unchanging practices of human connection across time and space that, somehow, has not gotten any easier. I don’t think it’s gotten any harder, but we have more distractions available to us to numb and dull our pain than ever before — including during the discomfort of those early stages of the creative process.
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The New Moon in Pisces arrives Saturday, March 13th at 5:21am ET. Generally, we associate new moons with beginnings. A new start, a new marathon. However, in this case, it’s less about going somewhere fast, and more about being willing to go somewhere deep. Pisces is a water sign that is so changeable as to become any precipitation it wants — a powdery fresh snow, a renewing spring rain, or a hellish sleet storm, even all in one day. Pisces’ healing waters will seep into all the hidden nooks and crannies of our lives, especially the ones we didn’t know were still there.
So this New Moon has the power to be an incredibly restorative reset for intuition. For creative process. For a project, sure, but particularly your relationship to the idea of how you work. Pisces energy isn’t about pushing yourself across the finish line but, rather, acknowledging what your body, mind, heart, and soul are capable of in this moment — and what the dream is.
This is a moon that, itself, is more about the vision and less about the project management (that would be Virgo energy, Pisces’ opposite sign). This moon will have just cleared a conjunction with Neptune, the planet of dissolution and fantasy, and will be heading for a brief sextile with Pluto, the planet of underworld journeys, a very quick conversation that will remind us that honoring our intuition can, in fact, lead us down profoundly transformative paths. This moment comes to us with a little romance, a bit of porousness, and a lot of potential for growth.
Really, this moon asks one question:
Are you listening?
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Showing up to writing is like showing up to the first few minutes of meditation. Really, those moments are just about settling in. The writing probably doesn’t immediately happen in one brilliant flash, just like the peace of meditation doesn’t just pour out of you (or maybe it does, in which case, please teach me your ways). Showing up to the work — breaking the surface of yourself — takes some effort and concentration before the magic starts to kick in.
Yes, sometimes the muse strikes out of nowhere. She’s generous that way. (My muse uses she/her pronouns; yours may not.) But what I have noticed, over time, is that she’s much more likely to strike out of nowhere — even (especially) at inconvenient moments — when I’m already doing the work of regularly feeding her.
Sometimes, writing feels like I’m in grad school all over again (which is to say: miserable), so I switch to administrative work or Twitter or decide to clean my apartment and just call it a day. But more often than not, the writing is slow for the first few minutes as I stumble around in the dark, and then, I hit upon something. Then: flow state. The real magic, where the words seem to come out of nowhere, where I discover a line of thinking or feeling I hadn’t realized was present until then.
What wonder, to constantly be in a state of discovery. How lucky are we, to have writing available to us as a practice, as a hobby, as our life’s work.
“Writing seems like a spiritual practice for you,” someone said to me recently, and I was so surprised by it that I initially didn’t know what to say. Even now, I would put some caveats around that statement — but. There is something undeniably spiritual that happens when you show up for your creativity, because your creativity, in turn, inevitably, shows up for you.
Writing Prompt Horoscopes for the New Moon in Pisces
Horoscopes are written in the style of writing prompts for your own individual use. If you know your rising sign, that will be the most accurate reflection of what is actually occurring in your chart. However, feel free to read for whatever resonates.
Aries & Aries Rising
What new behind-the-scenes, spiritual, ancestral, or otherwise quiet creative project are you really beginning and/or reinvesting in right now?
How have you slowed down during Pisces season? Or, have you slowed down? If not, what is the resistance there? How has this helped or hindered your writing?
What are you noticing about your dream life? What about the subconscious has been/is being made conscious? What patterns are you noticing, or are being disrupted, in your life? What feels particularly supported about this?
Taurus & Taurus Rising
What are you beginning when it comes to friendships and groups right now? (Safely and at a distance, of course.) For some of you, do these nascent projects connect to teaching, spirituality, or publishing?
How are you craving creative connection with other writers right now? What avenues are available to nurture that?
What relationships in your life support your work and especially your dreams? Which do not? Take stock.
Gemini & Gemini Rising
What new seeds are you planting in your career and in your public roles? Think long-term; this isn’t necessarily about the daily job you’re doing for money. This is big picture. This is legacy, if that’s a word that resonates for you, or “impact.” How is this inspirational Pisces energy inspiring you to reframe your dreams?
What relationships in your professional life and industry are particularly supportive right now? How are you investing in them? How are you allowing those people to invest in you? What is your relationship to receiving?
How is your relationship to the resources you share with others developing and transforming through the career seeds you’re planting?
Cancer & Cancer Rising
What publishing projects are you really picking up steam on, or even just beginning? (Whether you’re experiencing book birthing pains or are planting seeds for a project you want to be in the world, today is an especially good day to do some visualization around that.)
Are you feeling particularly drawn to wisdom traditions? — to spirituality, religion, philosophy, or something else? What is compelling this interest? Are supportive relationships or ideals a part of it?
What is your relationship to education: to learning, teaching, or both? What is your learning style? What kinds of information do you like sharing with others? How is this showing up in your life right now?
Leo & Leo Rising
If generating shared resources are where the locus of your energy is at the moment, what new beginnings are you interested in seeding? What commitments to others do you need to ensure are clarified? Read the fine print on those contracts.
If you’ve been navigating grief or loss, how are you feeling called to show up for yourself and your loved ones? If boundaries are an issue, how can you utilize your shared resources to address this?
What creative processes and routines that aren’t writing itself can you introduce at this New Moon to buffer and encourage your own healing?
Virgo & Virgo Rising
What seeds are you planting in your professional partnerships? With agents, editors, co-writers, clients? What relationships could use a dose of sweetness? (Pro tip: Querying agents is a great use of this particular moon for you, as is signing with new agents/clients, if that’s where you’re at.)
What relationships are encouraging your creative practices? Who really fills your cup? Who inspires you? Who drains you?
Are you reassessing how you write about your relationships, past or present, if this is a part of your work? If so, take some dedicated time over this next week to free write or journal about this topic.
Libra & Libra Rising
What new beginnings are you inviting into your daily work life when it comes to flow and synergy? What do you do for money that could use some soothing around the edges?
What kinds of healing is your body craving? What rest, nutrition, movement, and even literal hydration is this Pisces moon requiring? (Perhaps a bath?) Setting boundaries also means setting boundaries for yourself around what you need to thrive.
What relationships with coworkers and/or employees are feeling nurturing and nourished? Which are on the rocks? What kinds of creativity do these require?
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising
What are you seeding when it comes to your writing and creative projects? What feels “in flow” right now, or like it’s moving in that direction?
How are you indulging in play, the absolutely essential counterbalance to “work” and a vital component of encouraging the muse? What relationships are involved, if any? How are you feeding — and even healing — your inner child?
What romances, romps, and erotic adventures are helping you root down and stay in touch with your desires and wants? How does this relate to your creative life?
Sagittarius & Sagittarius Rising
What are you beginning in your home life? Are you moving/have you moved recently? Are you feeling the urge to redecorate or even create a new writing nook for yourself? Where is the energy manifesting, physically or spiritually?
How are your heritage or roots informing your current projects or practices?
What familial relationships, natal or chosen, feel especially nurturing to your work right now? Which, if any, feel distorted, porous, or boundary-crossing, and how can you use this moon as a reset?
Capricorn & Capricorn Rising
What new writing projects are you seeding at this moment? Perhaps more importantly, how do you feel about the twists and turns your work interests are taking?
What writing routines are shifting, or have been forced to shift? What could honestly use a refresh and reinvigoration anyway? What cracked edges and dried husks need hydration?
What ideas are you feeling inspired to teach, share, or otherwise communicate with your local community?
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising
What seeds are you planting when it comes to how you make your money? What feels auspicious about this? What activates old fear?
What income streams feel easy to infuse with care and attention? Which consistently feel like a strain or even a performance?
What new attitudes are you cultivating when it comes to what and who you value, and why?
Pisces & Pisces Rising
What new cycles are you beginning to embrace around self-love and identity? What feels especially hopeful about this?
What unrealistic ideals and fantasies are you dropping off at the returns & exchange desk right now? What are you trading in for a more authentic way of being?
What relationships feel like they are in line with the person you are and the person you are becoming? Which people in your life seem to pine for who you used to be? Be mindful of fitting yourself into clothes you’ve long since let go of.
HI EVERYONE IM REALLY A COP BUT DONT WORRY IM A GOOD ONE I ONLY GO AFTER THE BAD GUYS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS MAD AT SUBSTACK ARE MAINSTREAM CORPORATE JOURNALIST MAD THAT PEOPLE WONT EAT THEIR PROPAGANDA EVER AGAIN AND THEN MENTALLY ILL CAT LADYS WHO SAY ALL THE SOCIAL JUSTICY THINGS EVERY 5 MIN MON-SUN N HAVE LIKE 4 LIKES ON EVERY OTHER TWEET N SPEND 5 HOURS A WEEK WRITING A FRINGE SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER THAT ALSO NO ONE READS AND NEVER WILL AND SO IT GOES. BUT!!!! ANYWAYS IMMA MARGINALIZED AND I DEMAND PRO MONEY LIKE ALL THOSE 'BIGOTS' CUS IMMA-FIGHTN 4 EQUITY BABYYYY. EVEN THOUGH GRAHAM LINEHAM HAS NOTHING AGAINST REAL TRANS PEOPLE WHO ARE NORMAL JUST LIKE HE HAS NOTHING AGAINST OTHER REAL PEOPLE WHO ARE NORMAL HE LIKES TO HIGHLIGHT THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF AUTOGYNEPHILES, MENTALLY ILL CAT LADYS WHO HAVE AKATHESIA N HAVETO POST 1000'S OF TIMES A WEEK JUST TO FEEL ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY STRUGGLE TO GET LUNCH DATES N DONT HAVE MANY CLOSE FRIENDS N GETTING CLOSE IS SO ICKY CUS WHAT IF THEY REALIZE IM JUST A SELFISH PSYCHO WHO ONLY SAYS THE RIGHT THINGS BUT IS ACTUALLY A TERRIBLY EMPTY HUMAN BEING, AND JUST LIKE IN EVERY OTHER GROUP PEDOPHILES BC PEDOPHILIA ISNT SPECIFIC TO STRAIGHT GAY TRANS OR WHATEVER BUT I DIGRESS BABYY.
GUYSS IMMA SOOOO TIRED. FIGHTING FOR EQUITY HAS ME DRAINED, SEND MONEY TO MY CASHAPP OKAYYY.
ANYWAYS I JUST HAD SOME ROSE WE CANT HAVE GRAHAM ADDING NUANCE TO THE DEBATE, WHAT IF HE STARTS TALKING ABOUT THE CAT LADY SJW PSYCHOS. ANYWAYS LETS NOT FOCUS ON THE FAR RIGHT, THE REAL THREAT R THOSE CENTRIST, DONT TELL ANYONE BUTS ITS NOT REALLY THAT ITS JUST THAT ALL THE CENTRIST ARE MAKING VERY VALID CRITICISMS AND WE HAVE TOO MANY DETRANS AND ARE NARRATIVE IS CRUMBLING AND THE WOKE CASTLE HAS BEEN BREACHED AND MY MENTAL HEALTH STATE IS ACTUALLY THEIR FAULT.
AH FUCK IT GUYS HERE IS THE TRUTH:
JESSE SINGAL, MATT TAIBBI, BARI WEISS, ANDREW SULLIVAN, JAMES LINDSAY, CATHY YOUNG, KATIE HERZOG, SCOTT ADAMS, CHRIS RUFO, ALL THESE PEOPLE I FUCKING HATE CUS THEY R KILLING MY GRIFT. IM SO OPPRESSED GUYS AND MY LAST ACT WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE WACKO CONSERVATIVES MOVING TO PARLER EN MASSE, IM GOING TO CONVINCE 8 OF MY LESS BRIGHT, MENTALLY ILL OR ADJACENT, PRO VICTIMS, SNAKE OIL SALESMAN WITHOUT A VALID PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE WANNA CONSUME OVER TO GHOST OR WHEREVER WHERE WE CAN JUST YELL:
TERF TERF TERF TERF UNTIL WE DIE WITHOUT GETTING SMARTER, MORE NUANCED, LESS SELF RIGHTEOUS, BETTER AT BEING HUMAN BUT ONLY BETTER AT WHAT WE PERCIEVE AS THE VIRTUE SIGNAL THAT WILL GET US AHEAD IN THIS BROKEN AND SHALLOW MERITOCRACY THAT WE UNABASHEDLY UPHOLD.
P.S. I DONT BELIEVE ANYTHING ANYMORE AND SECRETLY I LOVE BARPOD N KATIE AND JESSIE ARE THE STUFF OF WET DREAMS N IM JUST SAD MY WOKE BUBBLE SAFE SPACE BURST.
FUCK MY LIFE IM A BROKEN HUMAN JUST LIKE GRAHAM LINEHAM, JUST LIKE EVERYONE.
OH FUCK DID I JUST HAVE AN IMPORTANT INSIGHT INTO LIFE.
NAH. THOSE THOUGHTS WERE DEMONIC.
ALSO I HATE RELIGION.
REMEMBER LADYS: SELF CARE IS LOVE.
TOOTLES
N I HAVE TO GIVE THE FREE STUFFS TO GET COMMENTS