< Previousifting myself this space stops those nagging feelings of something being missing. I realised long ago that the ‘something’s missing’ energy is actually me, missing the creative me! GAre you craving a creative retreat, where there is space to be, space to play and space to allow your creative inspiration to arrive? And at the same time, do you have this conflict that you’re too tired to be creative? I invite you to explore a new way forward via this excerpt from my book ‘Stop Waiting, Start Creating’. If you have a job or a family, there’s a great chance you’ll know this one rather too well. It used to be my theme song. When I got burnout, I discovered that part of what was causing the burnout, was a lack of creative energy. My refusal to be creative because I was tootired was actually making me more tired. In the beginning I resisted creating. I was too tired. ow could I create? Luckily, my body wasn’t having any of that nonsense. It knew that I needed to create and be creative to get well again. And so we began. HAt first I was so confused. I didn’t know what I would like to create. A mentor suggested I write a list of 50 things I could do that were creative. On the first attempt I got to about ten things, accompanied by the unwritten list of excuses as to why I still couldn’t do those things. I made a choice. In the beginning it was to do one thing on the list each week. That was all I could bring myself to do. Somewhere in this process, I found the book ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. It offered the epiphany I needed. Being creative gives you energy! And then I started to do something creative every day. The more creative I became, the more energy I had, and the more I created. It became an upward spiral, rather than a depressive dive into despair. hen I looked at the jobs I’d loved and the ones I’d detested, there was a clear pattern. WInherent in the jobs I loved was an element of creativity and creation. These energies were totally excluded from the jobs I detested. There was no space for me to create in those jobs. This was one of the greatest ‘aha’ moments I had. I discovered I could ‘create’ myself out of burnout. I’ve also watched people create themselves out of depression. What could you create yourself out of? Creating gives us space to get a sense of what it is we would most like to change. I am not a great meditator. I can’t sit for hours cross-legged. What does work for me is moving meditation - and that is, in effect, the energy of creating. Using my body to create something that has not yet existed is very meditative for me. And in that energy, I receive awareness of what else I would like to create and change. The other useful thing to know about being tired is that it most often shows up when we are trying our best to fulfil the expectations and projections of everyone around us. Most creative people are far more psychic than they have acknowledged.If you have a particular capacity to always know what people require of you, and you are running around madly trying to keep everyone happy and comfortable, you may like to stop for a moment and ask ‘If I was truly creating for me here, what would I choose?’ have a continual review process for my projects. Whenever I get cranky, I do a quick review. Ithis tired so that you won’t outshine anyone (or everyone) you know? This may or may not be true for you… please ask the question.” What am I creating that I am no longer in love with? What am I creating that is more for other people than me? What am I creating that is not creating a big enough change in the world? What am I tired of?” OF CREATIVITYthe centre stage, or that it’s Pisces because they are so dreamy and in touch with mystical forces, or else it’s the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn because they’re so tactile and grounded. I’m here to tell you that each sign has it’s own special talents – and since we are all naturally creative beings, it’s just a matter of finding which style of creativity is suited to the different signs. Now keep in mind that we are referring to the Sun signs here and there’s a whole lot more that comes to light when we understand our birth chart, which we astrologers utilise as a symbolic picture of the sky at the time, date and place we were born. For more detail about your particular talents, check your birth chart for Venus, the Moon and the fifth house of your birth chart. When it comes to Sun signs as indicators of creative potential, there are those who will tell you that it’s Leo who is the most talented because they loveMarch 21-April 20 Cardinal Fire Ruled by Mars Since Aries is the pioneer of the Zodiac, when it comes to their creative style they will be on the cutting edge of new frontiers artistically. They arenot afraid to try something new and will likely be the one setting the new trends in the art world. AriesTaurusGeminiJune 21-July 22 Cardinal Water Ruled by the Moon The Crab will be most creative around the home – when you enter the home of the Cancerian you will feel immediately comfortable and comforted. The furnishings will be homey but beautiful and the home will also have a sense of privacy that means if you are invited into the Crab’s lair you are a trusted friend and considered worthy of being invited into the bosom of the home. She is people- focussed and has a talent as a healer. She may even create her own healing potions, oils and meals. August 23-September 22 Mutable Earth Ruled by Mercury If you ever want anything done properly, with precise detail and with great care and love then you will find a Virgo involved and this applies no less to her creativity. Many people believe that Virgo is not very creative but nothing could be further from the truth. She won’t present her art until she believes she’s perfected it and subsequently much of it will never see the light of day which is a shame because the Virgin would like nothing better than to see the pleasure in the eyes of those she serves with her art. July 23-August 22 Fixed Fire Ruled by the Sun Drama, drama and more drama – but in a good way. Like all Fire signs, the Lion is incendiary and ephemeral and so is her talent. It needs to be enjoyed in real time. A great improviser, she responds best to approval and will warm to her audience so that they feel as special as she is. Leo is the sign that will bestow her creative talent over everything she touches and she loves to have an appreciative audience to witness and applaud her efforts. And how could we resist – she is worth it. CancerLeoVirgoSeptember 23-October 22 Cardinal Air Ruled by Venus The sign of the Scales appreciates beauty like no other sign and her art will be art for art’s sake. She loves balance, grace and co-operation, so group classes will have at least one Libran present. Libra is ruled by Venus and so her art is pleasing to the eye and draws people to it. She is a consummate designer and she will have many fans and followers. Mutable Fire Ruled by Jupiter Exuberance and freedom will characterise the Centaur’s creativity. You will learn a great deal about the world at large when you enter Sag’s artistic world and you will be inspired to widen your own horizons when you experience her particular brand of grand vision. You will find many art teachers are Sagittarians and you’ll also find them at the forefront of art culture. October 23-November 21 Fixed Water Ruled by Pluto There is something dark and mysterious about the Scorpion’s taste in creativity and it is very personal and not particularly pretty. But it will be strangely compelling nevertheless, so much so that you cannot take your eyes off it. She knows how to mine the depths of the human condition and she is not afraid to sift through the darkness to unearth the spark of light that is her true gift. Her art will transform and change you if you dare to understand it. LibraScorpioSagittariusDecember 22-January 20 Cardinal Earth Ruled by Saturn The mountain goat is a born climber and goal-setter. Capricorn values success, status and power. She has great respect for authority and the wisdom of elders so please act maturely. Even if your potential client is young, ending your sentences with “ya know” may send her heading for the hills. Capricorn sets her sights high and will methodically plod upward toward her lofty goals. Explain how your help will expedite her rise to the top and propel her career. February 19- March 20 Mutable Water Ruled by Neptune While the rest of the Zodiac is getting on with being creative and all, the creativity of the Fish is often all up in her head. She needs a grounding prod from a Taurean or Virgoan friend to remind her to bring her beautiful fantasies into the physical realm – once she has dreamed it up she may forget to bring it into manifest form and it would be so unfair to the rest of us if she isn’t encouraged to bring her art down to earth for the rest of humanity to enjoy. Pisces, being the last sign of the Zodiac and Mutable Water, has the potential to create in any medium. January 20-February 18 Fixed Air Ruled by Uranus Quirky is one way to describe the Water Bearer’s creative style – modernistic, socially aware and ecologically conscious, their creative efforts will be out of this world and cutting edge. She is inspired by groupconsciousness and will always understand the important trends and be leading the pack – and it must be a pack as she is no solitary artist. Her art must have meaning to the collective and so will always have an audience. CapricornAquariusPiscesWhichever sign you belong to, understand you have something uniquely creative to offer the world. The Universe is constantly expanding, and that means more opportunities to use your creativity to enrich the lives of all of us – start creating today!abcdefghijklNext >