Getting Past Blocks

You wish to make art but, suddenly, you can’t. Fret not, this is quite normal and it can be overcome. One or more things could be happening that are blocking your inspiration from coming in, passing through, and expressing itself.

It can indeed be alarming, however. You’re working on that project that you wish would succeed or working at a job that expects you to deliver. But then, what would normally come effortlessly to you isn’t coming at all. And you may be at a loss as to why.

What could be happening? You must take a moment. That’s right, set aside some time to dedicate to solving this issue. You ain’t getting anywhere without doing so. So come to terms with the fact that, to be productive, you must stop producing - or attempting to, anyway.

First and foremost, how exhausted are you? Did you overwork yourself? Get the rest that you require! Once you’ve done that, you can look at the potential causes of your block(s), which may be among the following:

- Paralyzing perfectionism. Often the main culprit. Waiting for everything to be perfect or meet the conditions for it to be before doing or accepting anything.

- Irritating environment. Too messy and noisy or, alternatively, too bland and void to withstand. 

- Blurred goals. How would you shoot without any clear aim?

- Stifled flow. You may have habituated yourself to strict rules and procedures that should now be revised or dropped entirely.

- Pending interruption. You just know, consciously or not, that an interruption is coming and you’d rather or ought to immerse in this. 

- Apparent pointlessness. It can be discouraging if it doesn’t bring any results we personally value.

- Loneliness. You might need to collaborate with others or at least socialize for a bit with people who truly feel like company.

- Joylessness. Since when has it become a chore? Make it exciting again. Remove more of what strips the joy and/or include more of what brings it. Or simply make way for it to happen on its own.

Furthermore, it may be that you have already emptied yourself of the good, great, or relevant concepts and ideas that you could bring to life. If that is so, it is time to fill yourself up. Seek inspiration once more. Look around, in and out, and get the sparks to make your own magic.

Can you think of more potential blocks getting in the way?

CREDIT: AI-Generated Examples done on Leonardo.AI

An Unbearable Situation?

If you’re in a situation you’d rather not be in, take a deep breath and softly let it out.

Go for a walk and sit in a pleasant spot where you can be by yourself to let your feelings surface and your thoughts roam. If that’s not enough and you can afford it without too much trouble, get yourself far away for 2-3 days, in a safe and cozy place where you can be alone. Physical distance promotes psychological distance. And you’ll need that to view the situation objectively.

Through reflecting on it, you may find that:
a) The situation in itself isn’t so terrible and merely adjusting your values and judgments on it will let it be perceived as favorable. Sometimes we are indeed too idealistic and forget that nothing is perfect in every way and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
b) The situation really does have quite a few things that are harmful to you no matter how you look at it. But in such a case, dismissing it all together might not be the best solution and you could still choose to work on what it’s lacking.
c) The situation definitely isn’t for you and you should begin to break out of it, whether you have something better to switch it for or not.

Relax, though. Chances are you have time. Just try not to get further entangled in it unless and until you can be sure you can and will stick by it for longer.

There’s usually guilt and shame around making big changes - especially when promises, contracts, and other commitments are involved. But you, your loved ones, and those who love you should and would put your well-being first.

Thanksgiving Month

November arrives again!
And with it, like it or not, the Thanksgiving mood.
If you’d like to practice gratitude, you can indulge it with me.
I celebrate it with cultural and blessed content and vibes here and there.

Cutting Through It

This time, I’m showing up as… the most “me” I can be if my insides were on the outside (or as close as I can get to such an abstract concept).

Covered in black, with some red coming through. And silvery accessories carrying symbolism. Not leaving out a bit of shimmer here and there. All to ask the question: Is this what both draws in and terrifies some? And at last, close a torturous cycle with it.

Though various motifs are present, swords are what primarily stand out for this entity that’s essentially crawling out of a nightmare to remind all that bravado isn’t bravery and roughness isn’t toughness. Also that cleverness and wittiness, or what passes or is presumed as such, isn’t enough.

Other than that, it is a dancer at heart!

Note: I was going to add tiny gems to my face but, unfortunately, couldn't get the rest I needed to fully do all of this. Had to settle for quick selfies, too, instead of setting up the scene and posing more. But at least got something immortalized.

 

Playing With Fire

It’s out! I’d been looking forward to it! And so thrilled that it was basically made to go with Halloween. Playing With Fire, a concept album inspired by Frankenstein.

After wondering for around a year about JC Chasez, whether he’d keep making art or not, he’s finally giving us vital signs! More than that, released a whole album and revealed his plans to further work with it. And I’m eager to see what comes out of this! JC always came across to me as the most intense (and dark) member of NSYNC but, hearing that he’s into this type of story, to such a degree, was a pleasant surprise. Welcome back! You were missed.

I loved listening to this album. I didn’t want to get into it without being in the right head space to fully immerse in it. But as the clock ticked by, I had to dive in regardless. And it turned out to be the escape into another time and place that I needed to get by. As can be expected from JC, the vocals are spectacularly outstanding. But beyond that, the songs feel rich with life as they carry out the story. You can enjoy them on the surface, but it is definitely best to profoundly take it all in and even let it take you on flights of imagination. Picturing more of the world that they depict. There are breathtakingly beautiful pieces in there that feel timeless together with a few that come across as having a combination of both modern and retro styles - I really liked those for it.

For real, my only issue is that I couldn’t listen to the album for the entirety of the month of October. (I will keep listening to it outside of it, though. I’m not done with it!)

Speaking Your Truth

When it comes to speaking your truth, being upfront, clear, and direct is usually the best route. It might ruffle some feathers and rock the boat. It might also cause you to lose a group of people (yet strengthen the bond with those most aligned with you or make room for more of them to show up). But it'll allow you to claim the honesty badge and remain in good graces with the virtuous.

However, if for some valid reason, you can't or shouldn't do that, being indirect about it is often also an option. Not the ideal one, but still better than nothing. For example, let's say that you can't or shouldn't tell others NOT to eat rotten apples and to try fresh blueberries instead. In what ways could you lead them to the same conclusion without telling them the conclusion itself? You could speak of why it is a bad idea to consume anything rotten and/or why it is a good idea to consume something that is fresh. Alternatively, you could speak of how the positive properties of blueberries outweigh those of apples within a given context. Or some kind of mix.

Be as obvious as you can afford to be - for threading in stealth can turn into or come across as manipulation. Make it so your audience is able to have the realization that what they figured is what you meant without you having to spell it out (and reserve the right to not elaborate further).

This is easier to do (and less problematic) if you're already the kind of artist who speaks in riddles, has to be read between the lines, and/or includes hidden clues in their work. Then it is nothing new and it is something people are already aware of and can expect from you. Might as well be even more indirect and share pieces that speak for you.

If by no means should you speak your truth, at this or at a later time, it is for you to recognize. But remember: a non-action is also an action with (in certain cases, grave) consequences. So, while it may be understandable, you ought to weigh that too.

Speaking your truth is truly of great importance. Your reality literally shifts based on what you communicate. And holding too much in can become an unbearable burden. Therefore, even if it doesn't land well, or is not wrapped properly, plenty can be forgiven for that sake. Nonetheless, engage in due reflection so that you can indeed be truthful.

Disarming The Monster

They’re bigger, and stronger, and maybe even faster. Do you even stand a chance? You do. Monsters, by nature, have one major disadvantage: They are monsters.

This means that their actions, their motivations, and their intentions, are monstrous too. At least enough of them to grant them the title. And if you can identify them as such, you can begin leaving them without much to use against you. You might not beat them entirely, but it is quite possible that you can get them to a point where they can no longer harm you as much.

What kind are they? Are they obvious, where all around can see them being monstrous, or are they sneaky, where you’d have to pay close attention to notice their monstrous tactics? The former has more room to move and do terrible things, but the latter is more likely to get away with them.

In either case, take note of what they’re doing. How gross and nasty is it? Monsters usually are desperate for power. Not because it will allow them to do more for the world or for others, but because they are pathetically fearful without it. They ought to dominate, to control, to somehow be above and beyond others because they cannot handle a scenario in which they aren’t. And they would go to any means for it. Lying to themselves, lying to others, and overall being weak in areas that you might not be. Such as actually being fine with yourself.

You can call them out right away or continue to observe how far they’d go for longer. Caution, though, you’re giving them more time to do more with and to you as you wait for more samples. This can be detrimental and dangerous to you. But if you’re watching from a safe distance and your spot is secured, you might want to let them be for a bit (unless you better intervene for others’ sake). Then gather what they’ve shown you.

How deluded are they? How much are they overcompensating for? How miserable are they making themselves? How much are they attributing to you (projecting) what is theirs to own up to? How better would we be without them? These questions, reflected upon enough, would render a significant portion of their words and actions null. At least the ones attempting to make you feel worthless and/or subordinate to them. 

From there, you must use your autonomy, remorselessly, to either further deal with them or completely remove them from your life.

CREDIT: AI-Generated Examples done on Leonardo.AI

Was that a sign?

Signs are everywhere and in everything, more so when not taken at face value and instead are further interpreted. It can be intriguing and fascinating to notice them, and they can bring you to new revelations, but assuming that they’re all leading you closer to where you are meant to go can be both disorienting and maddening. Not to mention, can also create awkward and uncomfortable situations. Part of life is about presenting you with opportunities to exercise discernment and judgment, letting you examine and determine more of your life rather than fully dictating it for you. This can be especially difficult and hard to do as we may dread finding ourselves at a point where we painfully regret not heeding the signs more. But remember that, for the important decisions of your life, it should take more than just a hint that you casually or even randomly came across with.

Nightmares & Terrors

Have you had strange dreams? What could be creepily lurking down there? Some would say that dreams are completely random, but I don’t believe that to be the case.

However, dream interpretation can be quite hit-or-miss and overall unreliable. It is not, at all, guaranteed that the precise meanings commonly attributed to the symbols and the patterns that emerge in your dreams will give you accurate insight into a present or future situation in your life. They might, though, prompt you to pay attention to what you could have overlooked and have a few new realizations that are founded in reality. Am I saying there’s no magic to it? Not necessarily. And recurring themes are definitely worth reflecting on.

The subconscious is unmeasurably complex, endlessly intriguing and fascinating, quite inexplicable as well. And if you are the kind of person who often has and remembers dreams, you might have noticed that it can sometimes give you the most beautifully soothing dreams but also the most horrendously upsetting ones.

Typically, having bad dreams indicates a restlessness in one or more aspects of your being. What worries you? What scares you? What do you fear? What do you dread? What has caused you intense pain and/or suffering? What is threatening and dangerous to you? All of this is likely to show up while you’re asleep, as if you no longer hold the door closed to them and they can pass over to torment and torture you. If not just to remind you that they are there.

Horrifying as it can be, they are an opportunity to dive in, face, and overcome what could be holding you back or even sabotaging you. Anything that makes you nervous is an area where confidence is lacking. And confidence, the true kind, gets you through anything.

Maybe there is trauma to work through, possibly stored shame, and possibly stored guilt. Wounds you are yet to properly tend to, too. Illnesses as well. But maybe the enemy isn’t within. Maybe it is outside yourself.

You could be under stressful and overwhelming circumstances, absorbing tainted energy from your environment, sensing toxicity going around or even your way. Perhaps something is wrong and you’re picking up on it. Whatever it is, it is messing with you and your ability to rest.

For all we know, it could be dark entities visiting to drain, consume, and possess you. That sounds crazy, but something could come out of it.

If this is you, get to tackling it all because, yes, you can stop having bad dreams if you get to the bottom of them. Resolve what you can and come to terms with what you can’t.

CREDIT: AI-Generated Examples done on Leonardo.AI

Scorpio's Description

♏ SCORPIO

Scorpio, the eighth sign, is a water and fixed sign, recognized for its terrifying intensity. Known for its depth and obsession, it delves into the mysteries of life with relentless curiosity, getting to the bottom of it. Often associated with death, transformation, and rebirth, as it fearlessly embraces radical change and growth. Their magnetic presence draws others in, while their penetrating gaze may intimidate them. Infamous for going to extremes.

Spiritually, Scorpio pulls us into discovery and pushes us toward evolution. It teaches us how to face the darkness within and without, incorporating our shadows to become our truest selves.

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.