THE GOOD STUFF
Welcome back to The Good Stuff. I’m having a lot of fun pulling these together for you every few weeks! Keep sending me what’s lighting you up, let me know by hitting reply to this email. What's your early summer pleasure?
Here’s what I’m into this month…
Watch
The story of Thomas Ripley has been told many times on the silver screen and of course originated as the fictional character created by author Patricia Highsmith in her series of popular psychological thrillers. I’m a huge fan of the long con and any story that follows the journey of a slow and measured betrayal is like candy to me. I deeply appreciate the patience and overall vision of this particular type of sociopath. It takes a very deep level of dedication and commitment. And of course a degree of separation from reality. The most recent version of the story of Thomas Ripley appears on Netflix, starring Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, and Johnny Flynn. It is so visually spectacular I am convinced that it could have been a silent film and would have been just as incredible. Maybe even moreso. Occurring in 8 parts the series requires some pacing. It is just so beautiful and features the splendor of Italy as a main character.
Wear
I made a decision this summer to only wear what is cool and comfortable. I have fully become the nightmare my 20 year old self was so afraid of. Loose fitting clothing with comfortable shoes. Ugh. Still though, I am at least trying to attempt what the kids call a fit. I have been looking for cotton block print dresses online and after nearly deciding on a dress by Daughter’s of India I decided to give Etsy a try. what I discovered was basically the same thing, at a fraction of the price, sent directly from the manufacturer. I’ve purchased several dresses for this summer from BabitaTex and they are all beautiful.
Soothe
I’m the worst girlfriend ever when it comes to skincare. I can just never commit to one brand or product. I think that makes me a skincare swinger?! Not sure. I recently ran out of my tried and true Osea Hyaluronic Acid serum and decided to give another brand a try. Asterwood aligns with my clean skincare needs and comes in at a very reasonable price. Like super reasonable. Their Hyaluronic Acid serum seems to be as effective as the Osea one I had come to really love. Being that I am forced to be Botox free everything I use has to work, no joke. Even more than their Hyaluronic Acid serum is their Triple Repair serum which makes my forehead lines and 11’s look like they were placed under a belt sander. In a good way.
Plump
I happened upon this lip gloss late one night when thinking about how I never wear lip gloss. In reality I was hoping to find something that brought the moisture and plumping action of hyaluronic acid to my lips without including endocrine disrupting ingredients. This lip booster from Paula’s Choice is not perfect, but it does come with a decent green rating and it really does seem to work. Plus it has one of those stainless steel applicators which makes everything feel cool and soothing. I like to layer it on top of this Multi-Stick from Ilia in At Last for a natural perk to my lips.
Carry
My love language is tool boxes. Metal ones with trays, without trays, compartments, space to hold other smaller metal boxes. I’m obsessed. The more utilitarian and drab the better. Toyo Steel Co. from Japan offers my current favorites. I love the drab utilitarian colors mixed with some fun brights. The boxes themselves are gorgeous and everything I hope for in a well designed box to hold a bunch of poorly designed smaller things. My favorite is the Y-350 in Moss Green.
What are you loving this month? I'd love to give it a try!
xxx
LAS
SOLAR TRANSIT
5-15-24
Gate 8
Gate of Contribution
On May 15, the sun gracefully moves through Gate 8, also known as the Gate of Contribution, marking a celestial shift that beckons you to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Gate 8 extends an invitation, offering a unique opportunity to delve deep into your inner realm, with a specific focus on authentic expression.
As the sun illuminates Gate 8 you are tasked with the opportunity to learn to express yourself authentically. To step into your own vulnerability and share your true self with others. To trust in the right timing of things and have patience to wait for the right people to share yourself with. To discover your path and walk it with a grounding and certainty of self- worth and self-love. Gate 8 is a force for authenticity and self-expression, positively influencing the world by staying true and empowering others to do the same. To elevate the frequency of Gate 8, begin to question and assess everything learned about life, success, and love, ensuring personal beliefs align with one's creative contribution.
The essence of Gate 8 lies in the discovery of one's path and the commitment to walk it with a grounding and certainty of self-worth and self-love. This gate recognizes the importance of authenticity in navigating life's journey and emphasizes the significance of being true to oneself. By learning to express our true selves, we not only enrich our own lives but also create a positive impact on the world around us.
Authenticity is a powerful force, and Gate 8 serves as a catalyst for this force to manifest. It encourages individuals to question and assess everything learned about life, success, and love. This introspective process ensures that personal beliefs align with one's creative contribution to the world. By aligning with one's authentic self and purpose, individuals with Gate 8 can elevate their own frequency and positively influence those around them.
To enhance the frequency of Gate 8, individuals are prompted to delve into self-exploration and question the narratives and beliefs they've acquired. This involves a continual reassessment of one's values and the alignment of those values with creative contributions to the world. As individuals strive to express their true selves, they become a beacon of authenticity, inspiring others to do the same.
Here are some journaling prompts to deepen your understanding and engagement with this transit:
1. Recall a moment of authentic self-expression. What were you doing, and how did it feel? How can you create more of these moments in your life?
2. Reflect on vulnerability. What fears do you have about being vulnerable? How can you find the courage to share your true self?
3. Consider timing and patience in sharing yourself with others. How can you trust in the right timing and wait for the right connections?
4. Assess your sense of self-worth and self-love. Do you feel grounded in your path? How can you deepen your sense of worthiness?
In essence, Gate 8 is a call to authenticity and self-expression, urging individuals to embrace vulnerability, trust in the timing of life, and share their true selves with the world. By doing so, they not only contribute authentically to the collective but also empower others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and genuine self-expression. The elevation of the frequency of Gate 8 becomes a positive force for personal and collective transformation, fostering a world where authenticity is celebrated and valued.
NEW 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.
EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Prompt for this transit.
“Even though I question whether I can truly share my authentic self I now choose to recognize those who value my insights and share my powerful expression and contributions and I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
Have a great week exploring these transits! Ready to learn more about your Human Design? Hit the buttons below to schedule a reading with me and download the free Human Design information sheets to learn more!
THE CREATIVE
Welcome to a new little Newsletter feature. Twice a month I will be sharing quotes from the books, Art is the Highest Form of Hope 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. Often times we do not realize the purpose of a singular creative process until years later. Creativity likes to surprise us.
“Every innovation risks becoming a rule.” - Rick Rubin
This is such a big picture insight, I just love it. For every innovation we birth it risks becoming the standard upon which we build. Rubin writes this as a warning and to encourage us to get a little space from chasing innovation each and every time. Sometimes the best work is not innovation but a refined version of something that we have already created but just wasn’t quite ready yet. The full story hasn’t been told.
As creative professionals we do indeed have the tendency to chase innovation. The desire to create something entirely new is very, very seductive. Newness is often expected. Both from ourselves and the audience, whether it is an individual or an entire agency. The chase becomes about what we can leverage to always be innovating - let's call that ABI. Certainly every new idea or insight is integrated into our work and if our creative process is running smoothly these innovations become layered into our work from that point forward, becoming new rules from which we build. In this instance I do not think this transition is a bad thing. We want to expand our work and create new foundations from which to build.
However, there is a delicate balance which I think allows us to find some humor and space from the chase for innovation. Once we reach that new juicy brand new nugget of innovation, it just becomes another tool, or as Rubin calls it, a rule that we integrate into our process and how we create. This quick turn around from innovation to just another rule happens at warp speed sometimes. And it is in the speed that the chase begins to drive all of our work. This is the warning. Innovation is amazing and it is always there for us to access, especially if you nurture your creative process with energy work. But innovation isn’t always the point. Not everything needs to move forward. Sometimes the best idea is one that revisits a failure and employs subtractive design.
What do you think?