Creativity as Sovereignty: Sustaining Our Collective Energy
Finding strength in unsettling times
I have spent the last two weeks in deep thought. In the woods and by the ocean.
Full disclosure, I have also eaten many pints of Ben + Jerry’s Vegan Phish Food. I’m deeply human.
On Wednesday after election night, I went to a women and trans community skate event. There were skaters of all ages and abilities, snacks, skateboards and gear to borrow, and a raffle to benefit the Transgender Law Center. In that room, on those ramps, with those wheels, it seemed like nothing had changed since Election Day. And energetically it hadn’t. The group didn’t match to the energy of the election outcome. As a collective we were present. That room in that moment was sovereign. A reminder that we can find steadiness, even in unsettling times.
Life is weird right now.
I’m hearing from many of you, wondering what to do, how to do it, but mostly what I hear in all of your questions, is how to sustain.
There is a Toni Morrison quote making the rounds on socials quite a bit:
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”
And yes, totally.
But also, parenting through two T***p presidencies and a pandemic was never on my motherhood bingo card. I’m tired. Existentially. And I know I’m not alone.
As a creative, yes this is a time for artists. How we see the world and reflect it back to the collective is part of our purpose. Yet, this is a tall task and demands clarity, neutrality, and most importantly energetic sovereignty.
Because sovereignty fosters sustainability.
Here’s an idea: creativity is energy.
And if creativity is energy, then it is sovereign. It can never actually belong to another. Your creativity and creative process can be influenced, stuck, impinged, and impacted by external forces, but it is not something that another can take from you. No matter what.
I find this idea enormously comforting. When it feels as though so much is in the balance, contemplating creativity as sovereign and originating within us is a calming sentiment.
Having seniority over our creativity and energy also means that we do not have to be in resistance. There is a loud call right now to fight and resist. And yes, this makes sense. But resistance is what actually cultivates us being stuck, energetically. Resistance takes our energy outside of ourselves and pushes us against something, rather than organically moving our energy toward something. Resistance is alluring, but not sustainable. Instead of resistance, working toward neutrality and being present will provide us with the energy to go the distance. This is not a sprint.
The question becomes, if now is the time for artists to go to work, how do we sustain the energy necessary to be cast in the role of the creative for the greater collective? How do we move toward the work instead of work out of resistance?
A brilliant friend of mine outlined her plan for the next 4 years during a walk to the ocean last week. “I’m staying in my lane,” she said. “If I do what I do best for the next 4 years, I will be a helper. But if I spread myself too thin, playing in the lanes of other people’s gifts that are not mine, I will not be of service to anyone.”
I thought about what it means to stay in my lane as a creative, a mother, as a friend. What if I worried less about all the work to be done and spent my energy doubling down on the work I can do. The work I excel at. What if I doubled down in my lane?
I don’t have all the answers on how we continue as creatives right now, especially when so much feels uncertain. But I do know this: there are ways to create sustainably. Approaches that help us not only survive but thrive. Sustainable ones. And perhaps this is my lane for the time being. To help those of us determined to create, sustain the energy to do so.
If you’re ready to explore how to sustain your creative energy, I’m here to guide you through it.
Let’s go to work, together.
I’m not sure what this looks like, but my intuition guides me to create a community - a living, breathing collective rooted in creativity as energy. A place to explore creativity as a form of sovereignty, a journey we’ll take together as we draw on tools like Human Design, astrology, meditation, and energy work to connect with our creative source in a sustainable way.
A fluid, evolving experience. A space where I’ll bring in new concepts, techniques, and insights as I continue my own learning journey. Together, we’ll explore creativity from fresh angles, discover how to sustain our energy, and cultivate a deeper, more resilient relationship with our creative purpose.
If the idea of this collective resonates, lights you up, turns you on, let me know in the comments with a hells yeah. I am incredibly interested in creating this but only if there is interest.
For now, I’d love to hear from you: What would make this community feel like home for you? Comment below with what you’d love to see as part of the experience, what sparks your curiosity, and how you envision your creativity thriving in this potential virtual space.
ASK ME ANYTHING
Answers & Insights: Your Questions, My Thoughts
Diving deeper into creativity, energy, and purpose
Thank you to everyone who jumped in to share their questions, curiosities, and challenges! It’s been a joy to reflect on your inquiries, and today, I’m sharing some responses that dive into themes from creative blocks, Human Design insights and clairvoyance, to nurturing mental resilience and sustainable creativity. I’ll continue to answer questions in the coming weeks.
Let’s keep this connection growing—these conversations remind me how dynamic our community truly is. Read on for my response, and feel free to keep the questions coming! You can find the original post here.
Q. Are some of us born with ‘gifts’ of clairvoyance etc. or is that something anyone can learn to develop?
I think of clairvoyance much like I think of artistic talent. Broadly speaking, it’s an innate ability that we all possess as humans, though it may manifest in different ways. Through my own studies and work, I've encountered people who have experienced a major life event that awakened this ability within them (like me), as well as those who approach clairvoyance, mediumship, and psychic phenomena purely out of curiosity or intellectual interest.
The foundational skills of clairvoyance can indeed be taught. The introductory processes are relatively simple to understand and practice, but as with any skill, advancing requires increasing complexity and commitment. For some, this deep work is compelling, while others may find it challenging or simply not as engaging as they expected. Developing and maintaining these abilities involves a significant amount of personal upkeep and cultivation, both to ensure one's own well-being and to provide clear, accurate readings. Many discover this essential boundary work to be demanding.
In some cases, individuals with heightened empathy find this work particularly challenging, as they may unintentionally absorb emotions and experiences from a reading. This makes self-discipline and boundary management even more crucial for safe and effective practice, and not everyone finds it appealing to take on this level of work.
Just as some individuals may naturally excel at drawing or painting with minimal instruction, others may experience quantum leaps in clairvoyant abilities. However, no matter one's starting point, developing true proficiency in clairvoyance requires a devoted and disciplined practice. Some may progress faster or show a higher level of initial skill, but ultimately, ability is built on dedication and commitment to the work itself. But yes, absolutely, it can be learned.
IN HARMONY
Music serves as a vital source of inspiration in my creative process. It acts as a catalyst, shaping my mood and sparking new ideas. Whether I’m diving into intricate details or dreaming big, the rhythms and melodies guide my thoughts and fuel my imagination. Each song carries its own energy, helping me navigate the complexities of the creative process. Music allows me to let go, surrender to the work, and listen. It is an essential companion.
Once a month, I eagerly share a song that resonates deeply with me. Music has been an unwavering companion in my life, consistently infusing immense joy into my days.
I had planned on sharing a favorite song from The Smashing Pumpkins this month, but I have found myself listening to something else entirely these past weeks. Frank Ocean’s Blond is one of my favorite albums and I never seem to tire of Pink + White. It’s a beautiful song that has been on repeat in my house. It makes me feel like I’m floating. I went on a search for covers of the song, only to find a lovely version by Remi Wolf. Equally striking and true to her own style. Both versions work.
Comment below and let me know what you are listening to these days.
And hey, some of you asked for all the In Harmony songs as a playlist. If that's you, here it is…
SOLAR TRANSIT
In Human Design, a solar transit shifts our energy as the Sun moves through Gates; use it to tap into fresh creative inspiration.
11-22-24
Gate 34
Gate of Power
The Gate of Power
On November 22, the sun gracefully moves through Gate 34, also known as the Gate of Power. During this celestial transit, you are presented with a unique opportunity for profound introspection and self-discovery. Gate 34 invites you to explore the essence of your sovereignty, empowerment, and unwavering vision. This gate, with its potent energy, empowers you to nurture your inner strength, foster faith, and facilitate the seamless realization of your aspirations.
This transit prompts you to reflect on a tendency to push or exert excessive force in an attempt to bring your dreams to life. Do you push or can you practice patience and be guided by your Strategy and Authority?
Gate 34 tasks you with dedicating consistent time and space to breathe life into your visions and achieving a crystal-clear understanding of the ideal timing and the actions that resonate with alignment.
Here are some journaling prompts to deepen your understanding and engagement with this transit:
1. What environments encourage your sense of sovereignty?
2.How do you currently make time for your vision and desires?
3. Is it difficult to loosen your grip and be guided by your Strategy and Authority? How often do you make decisions from your mind instead of body?
4. Reflect on a time when you forced a situation without a clear vision. What were the results, and what did you learn?
Gate 34 represents a spectrum of energy from empowering sovereignty and vision realization to potentially forcing dreams into reality when lacking clarity. To harness the positive aspect, it's vital to cultivate inner strength and faith, allowing visions to manifest with grace. However, mishandling this energy might lead to drained resources and energy, emphasizing the importance of clear vision and timing in our pursuits.
TAPPING PROMPT
Do you know about Tapping? It can be an effective addition to energy work and nervous system regulation. Many of my Mentorship clients include Tapping as part of their daily ritual. You can learn more about Tapping and how to do it by hitting the button bellow.
And of course comment with your questions!
EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Prompt for this transit.
“Even though I am afraid to be powerful, I now choose to fully step into my power and both receive and serve, and I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
Have a great week exploring these transits! Ready to learn more about your Human Design? Reach out and let me know! I’d love to guide you.
THESE THREE THINGS
Back in 2016, I embarked on a daily writing practice that eventually blossomed into a published book titled These Three Things. Over the course of six years, I chronicled three things I learned each day, using it as a unique experiment to nurture my curiosity and foster my creativity. I paired these writings with original photography of cherished family heirlooms and found objects near and around my wild mountain home. These Three Things as a project continues daily with enthusiastic participants across the globe and can now be practiced in the form of a guided journal with the help of the print edition from Running Press/Hachette.
I loved writing this book and sharing the drops of wisdom that arrived from participating in a daily practice. Always the studio artist, I never imagined that writing would become such a large part of my creative life. I am so glad it did! In preparation of bringing the project back in 2025, right here to MUSE, I’m sharing some of my favorite lessons from my book.
Rituals leave our analytic minds to rest.
They allow us to truly feel and discover emotional spaces in ourselves that are only awakened when we perform acts of repetition. Ritual allows us to experience the species in solitude or with others, in song or in silence, in prayer or in performance.
I am also deeply listening to myself right now, and the resounding message is to keep doing my own work. To keep doing what lights me up; to connect with friends, family, and community; and to be available to give my gifts to help others as needed. All work is important if you are doing it from a place of love. So I am grounding in and working on my path in the way I know how. The talk about resistance resonated - that if we push up against a thing we don't want, we will struggle. For many years I have been trying to not do that, and instead to work on building things that my heart wants. It's so much more fun to run towards something rather than run away. So, let's build great things.
Well, firstly, here’s my “hells yeah!”
A collective sounds like a fantastic idea, Lisa! Let’s make it happen.
The music/creative process dynamic really is fascinating, isn’t it? And on a personal level, while it has been an undeniable building block in my ever-evolving journey (as my various and eccentrically named “Writing Playlists” can attest), the delivery has never been linear, either.
I’m firmly planting my flag in my early 2010s era here but by the time I was in the fifth/sixth grade, iPods and whatnot had become ubiquitous - and I really can’t overstate just how much that changed the “work period”. Rather than being there in silence, everyone, myself included, would be plugged in instead, something that just became the standard, for better or worse, as the years passed. So I’ve always held that association close. I can and often prefer writing with music as a supplement. It can help me focus, lock in and to your point, assist on honing in on a specific energy. But my “writing music” (soundtrack compositions, Americana, folk, etc) is radically different than say, what I’ll listen too when I’m driving/commuting, doing literally anything else - it is a distinction I’ve always found super interesting.
Lately, I’ve been listening to (or rather, rediscovering) quite a bit of Caamp, Camp Cope as well as The Frights. I first saw The Frights as an opening act about ten years ago, when they were just starting to find their legs as a touring group (in support of their second album, “You Are Going To Hate This”).
They were about fifteen minutes late getting onstage but were super apologetic. They wanted to let us all know (a Canadian crowd) that they had just tried poutine for the first time and they were all very excited about it - they were quickly forgiven and played an absolutely fantastic set: which, now that I’m thinking about it funnily enough, was twice as memorable as what the headliners put together.