I had planned to write about the connection between creativity and the nervous system this week. But something else insisted on coming through. And maybe it’s better this way. What comes next might make more sense with this as a foundation.
If things feel chaotic right now, that would be correct. Chaos is present. And having an emotional response to that chaos, feeling overwhelmed, angry, sad, tired, disoriented, is not only normal, it's actually healthy. Especially for those of us who are creatively attuned.
We are in a moment of strong energetic swing. A sharp pull in one direction - disruption, collapse, confusion, often signals the potential for an equal movement in the other. The energetic continuum holds space for both extremes. Destruction and creation. Disorientation and clarity. Contraction and expansion. These are not separate states. They are interdependent. One makes room for the other. It is important in times of unrest to remember this.
This is a lens I return to often in my work. When we view the world energetically, rather than only through the language of action or performance, we begin to feel the openings chaos creates. The possibility that doesn’t appear on the surface, but lives just beneath it.
Right now, the world is in upheaval. But that very movement implies expansion is also in motion, sometimes visible, sometimes growing beneath the surface gathering strength. And the place where that expansion often begins is in creative work.
Creatives feel this. Not just intellectually, we also register it in our bodies. In our nervous systems. In our attention. We’re not just emotionally sensitive, we’re energetically aware. Our systems are built to notice. We take in more sensory and emotional information. We perceive nuance. We read between lines. This level of attunement is often what makes our work so powerful.
But when the volume of the world is turned all the way up, that same attunement can be exhausting. What normally fuels our creativity starts to fray our edges. The same systems that allow us to hold complexity begin to feel like too much under so much weight. If you’re feeling it, know that yes, I am too.
But I’m not afraid or hopeless.
Because here’s what I’ve come to understand: chaos also brings creative possibility.
When collective attention is pulled outward, creatives are given something rare: camouflage.
In moments of cultural intensity, when the collective gaze is fixated elsewhere, the energetic pressure on us eases. Chaos pulls the gaze away from us, and in doing so, gives us space to move more freely.
That invisibility can be a gift.
We are here, in this lifetime, to do big creative work. That doesn’t necessarily mean public accolades or global recognition. But in all cases, it means the brave act of making something from nothing. And in doing so, we shift the actual chemistry and energy of our environment. Our work is felt. It holds weight. And others feel the shift.
Creativity generates heat, a kind of energetic intensity that can attract attention, projection, and resistance. This is something I teach in my Mentorship practice, in understanding creativity as energy. When we see it this way, we’re better able to work with it, rather than be burned out by it.
Even when we think we’re quiet, the heat is there. And often, the world feels our creation.
So when the world is busy reacting to something else, we’re given a moment of reprieve. We can make something true. Something strange. Something risky. And we can do it without having to handle the same levels of heat we normally do, especially the external invalidation that so often meets creative work. The misunderstandings, the projections, the pressure to dilute or justify, those voices get quieter for a while.
And that matters.
Because when the external noise dims, our internal signal gets stronger.
We have more space, can take up more space, and grow in ways that would really freak out the squares if they were paying close attention.
Right now, they aren’t. That’s our invitation.
Camouflage doesn’t mean our work won’t be seen. Or we are hiding. It means we get to create it without the same heat. The pressure lifts. The conditions change. And with that shift, space opens. Space to take up more room. To move into new layers of our creative identity. To let what’s honest rise to the surface.
But to truly meet this possibility, we need to call our energy back.
Creative work requires presence. And it’s easy, especially in times of chaos, to leave parts of ourselves scattered. Pieces of our energy stuck in old projects, past versions of ourselves, conversations we wish had gone differently, fears about what might come next. Sometimes our energy is still looping around the news from this morning.
To create with clarity, we have to return to ourselves.
We have to be filled with our own energy.
So before moving into action, take a pause.
Call your energy back from wherever it’s been.
Let it return to you. Let it gather.
Let yourself come into receivership before re-entering creation.
Start slowly. Reflect before you act. There’s no rush. There’s only less heat.
This is a moment to claim the space that has quietly opened.
So, take it.
Let the noise keep talking.
You are here to build.
This is the rare window creatives are made for, the moment no one is looking too closely. The heat is lower, the pressure lighter, and the outside voices more distant. Use that to your advantage.
Create what is risky.
Say what is true.
Follow the thread of what’s been waiting to arrive.
You do not need to explain.
You do not need to perform.
Let your work come through, not in spite of the chaos, but because of it.
Make the thing that shifts the energy.
Shape the future before the world knows it’s ready.
Let this be the moment you stop waiting to be seen, and start working like no one’s watching.
The pressure is off. The path is open.
Get to work.
Unsure how?
If your energy is frayed, your voice muted, or your work stuck in waiting, you’re not stuck. You’re ready.
In 1:1 mentorship, we build the structure to meet your next chapter, before it asks more than your current system can hold.
Book a discovery call below
This is your moment. Let’s design a way forward that fits.
xxx
Lisa
THE CREATIVE
Welcome to The Creative. Twice a month I share quotes from the books, Art is the Highest Form of Hope, Every Day a Word Surprises Me, and The Creative Act. I find perspectives on the creative process to be so meta when it comes to life. We are a creative process and everything we do is subject to the same rules. Creation is non-linear. It's messy. It moves forward and backward. And also gets stuck. Oftentimes we do not realize the purpose of a singular creative process until years later. Creativity likes to surprise us.
“The most important tool the artist fashions through constant practice is faith in his ability to produce miracles when they are needed.” - Mark Rothko
I should start by letting you know that I have zero neutrality when it comes to Mark Rothko. I adore his work. He was an instructor at my alma mater, the San Francisco Art Institute. Fear not, I’m not so old that I had him as an instructor, but his presence in the late 40’s left a lasting mark on how painting was taught at the school and how artists were encouraged to think about their work.
Rothko’s words "faith in his ability to produce miracles when they are needed" is an action I see unfold again and again in my work with clients. Whether they are painters, composers, writers, designers, or executive leaders, this faith Rothko speaks of is the very thing we build together.
Creative professionals often forget that our ability to make something extraordinary isn’t a fluke. It’s not luck. It’s not magic. It’s a practiced devotion. A relationship with uncertainty. And yes, it feels like a miracle, or as many would say, magic, but it’s one earned over time. One of the most persistent myths I encounter in working with creatives is that these “miracles” should feel easy, immediate, or even joyful. But more often than not, this movement and expansion coms after the breakdown. They arise because of those things.
In session, I often describe this as a kind of emotional stamina. The capacity to stay with yourself long enough to reach the other side. That’s artistic discipline and also, it’s a psychological and emotional skill. Resilience paired with curiosity. When we learn to trust that these miracles do not require inspiration or magic we free oursleves from our progress having to rely on the unknown.
And here’s the secret: as Rothko so quietly reveals, the foundation of the creative process is not brilliance or inspiration. It’s maintenance. It’s devotion. The miracle doesn’t arrive in a blaze of clarity, it is coaxed into existence through the daily return. The artist’s greatest tool isn’t talent (but hot damn does that help), but a willingness to tend to the work, even when it feels directionless.
So, if you’re doubting your ability to create something meaningful, let this be a gentle reminder: the miracle isn’t that you make beautiful things. The miracle is that you keep showing up to try. That you tend the process, even when you can’t see the result.
BY DESIGN
This section of my newsletter began as a resource for my clients, who use Human Design to deepen their creative practice. In Mentorship, we explore Human Design as a starting point and a way to work with creativity as energy to move toward energetic sovereignty and mastery of the creative process.
ZODIAC SEASONS
CANCER
June 21-July 22
Cancer Season embodies the emotive and nurturing qualities of the cardinal water element, fostering deep connections and emotional understanding. With a compassionate and intuitive nature, Cancer values emotional depth and empathy, leading with their heart and emotions in all aspects of life. Cancer energy initiates through nurturing, family life, and ambition, bringing a spark of initiation and courage to endeavors. Ruled by the Moon and residing in the 4th House, Cancer emphasizes the importance of home, family, and emotional nourishment. Here, our sense of belonging and emotional climate is defined, shaping our roots and psychological development. The Moon guides the Cancer inner landscape and emotional expression, fueling instincts and driving desires for security and nurturance. Cancer Season brings a nurturing and protective essence as you navigate the realms of creativity, family life, and emotional well-being.
The nurturing energy of Cancer Season can lead to deeply fulfilling and emotionally rich outcomes with a caring and intuitive nature to foster a supportive and empathetic work environment. Take time to nurture relationships with colleagues and clients, prioritizing emotional connections and understanding. Utilize natural leadership qualities of Cancer Season to guide teams with compassion and empathy, fostering a sense of belonging and trust. Focus on building a strong foundation rooted in emotional intelligence and authenticity. Embrace creativity with a nurturing approach, allowing intuition to guide artistic endeavors and infuse your work with emotional depth. Cancer season offers an ideal time to cultivate a nurturing and supportive atmosphere in all aspects of your professional life, fostering growth, connection, and creative expression.
NEW MOON
6-25-25
Cancer
Gate 52
Gate of Perspective
The Energy of Emotional Resilience and Focused Stillness
The New Moon on June 25, 2025, in Cancer invites us to reconnect with our emotional core, nurture our inner world, and create a foundation of security and care. Cancer, the intuitive and nurturing Water sign, governs this lunar phase, emphasizing themes of emotional connection, home, and self-care. This celestial event occurs in the 4th House, highlighting our sense of belonging, family bonds, and the ways we cultivate emotional safety.
Ruled by the Moon, Cancer encourages us to honor our feelings, embrace vulnerability, and nurture both ourselves and others. This New Moon offers a powerful opportunity to set intentions around building deeper emotional connections, cultivating resilience, and creating a safe space for our personal growth and creative exploration.
Paired with Gate 52, The Gate of Perspective, this New Moon amplifies the energy of stillness, focus, and the ability to see challenges from a higher vantage point. Gate 52 in Human Design is associated with cultivating inner calm and using that stillness to develop clarity and purpose. It encourages us to pause, reflect, and view our current situations through a lens of patience and wisdom. This energy challenges us to embrace moments of quiet as fertile ground for insight and inspiration.
This New Moon in Cancer and Gate 52 invites us to balance emotional depth with mindful stillness. It’s a time to create space for reflection, deepen our understanding of our inner world, and gain clarity on the path ahead.
Journal Prompts to Align with the Energy of the New Moon
Reflect on emotional resilience: How do you nurture your emotional well-being? What practices help you build resilience and navigate challenging emotions with grace?
Cultivate stillness: Where in your life can you benefit from slowing down and taking a pause? How can moments of quiet help you gain clarity and perspective?
Nurture your foundation: What aspects of your home, family, or inner world need your care and attention? How can you create a sense of safety and belonging for yourself and those you love?
Embrace patience and perspective: In what areas of your life can you step back and view the bigger picture? How can you use this perspective to guide your next steps?
This New Moon in Cancer and Gate 52 encourages you to honor your emotional depth while cultivating a calm, reflective perspective. It’s a time to nurture yourself, find stillness amidst life’s noise, and trust that clarity will emerge through patience and care.
Next week, I’m taking a tiny detour inspired by a conversation with a client last week about the importance of creatives taking a modern day cigarette break (sans smoking of course).
Inside this week’s These Three Things
What does growth look like when independence becomes a shield?
This week, in an exclusive edition of These Three Things, I’m joined by the insightful and thoughtful
for Unlearned: a deeply personal reflection on what happens when self-reliance crosses into isolation and what’s possible when we begin to ask for help.Ryan shares how he’s learned to soften the edges of stubbornness, embrace support, and trust that growth doesn’t have to be solitary. His reflections offer a meaningful mirror for any creative (or human) who has ever believed they had to carry it all alone.
These Three Things is available for paid subscribers only. A quiet, focused space for thoughtful prompts, honest process, and building a reflective creative rhythm, even when the world feels tender.
Come take your seat at the table. We begin again each Sunday.
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