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The Good Stuff: Spring Things

The Good Stuff: Spring Things

What I’m into this month. From energy alignment to indigo-dyed basics, and an invitation to reimagine your rhythm.

Lisa Anderson Shaffer, LMFT's avatar
Lisa Anderson Shaffer, LMFT
Apr 20, 2025
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The Good Stuff: Spring Things
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Welcome back to The Good Stuff! Always a fun time pulling these links together for you every few weeks. Keep sending me what’s lighting you up, let me know by commenting below. As we enter the middle of March, what's your early springtime pleasure?

Here’s what I’m into this month…

NORTH STAR

Lately, I’ve been working with creatives and leaders who are reimagining how they move through the world. Not by doing more, or working harder, but by choosing to operate in a way that truly honors who they are.

It feels especially resonant right now, as many of us are coming out of the quiet. The pause, the wintering, the internal seasons and asking: What does it look like to reemerge with intention?

Not to rush.
Not to hustle.
But to return to ourselves gently and move forward from there.

What I’ve witnessed in these conversations, in client readings, in decision-making, in quiet, powerful moments of recognition, is how Human Design becomes a mirror. A map. A way back to creative rhythm and energetic alignment.

I’ve seen clients use their design to:
Say no with clarity and without guilt
Wait with intention instead of urgency
Step into their creative authority with purpose, not pressure

If you’re in a moment of reemergence, and curious what it could look like to lead, create, or simply feel more like yourself this is your invitation.

Download your Human Design chart (free)
Then receive two beautifully designed, reflective guides:
The 6 Gifts of Human Design Workbook: to help you reconnect with the deeper benefits of living your design
The 5 Pillars of Your Chart: a clear, foundational overview to understand your unique energetic architecture.

No pressure. No hustle. Just the beginning of alignment.

Get Your Chart Here

COZY

Beach days are rapidly approaching in the Bay Area and I couldn’t be more ready! I love to keep a beach bag packed in my car so when the mood strikes I can just get up and go. Among the sunscreen, Yankees cap, and EVA Birkenstocks, I’m always sure to pack a cozy sweatshirt. Right now I’m loving this cosmic gem from Mira Blackman. These beauties are 100% organic cotton and hand dyed in Mira’s own Bay Area studio. All the colors are gorgeous, my current favorite it Lichen. It is the perfect weight and cut for over a summer dress or swimsuit when the beach breeze picks up (I prefer an oversized fit and went with the XL).

READ
I have a habit of returning to the same books again and again. Partly because I tend to dip in and out of multiple reads at once, but also because some stories simply deserve to be revisited. Right now, I’m back with Love in the Time of Cholera, for what I believe is the fifth time. Few authors weave magic like Gabriel García Márquez. He had me from the very first line: "It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love."

Each time I return to this novel, I find something new, a quiet detail in his language, a shift in emotional tone, or a richer texture to the landscape he paints. This time, I’m reading an illustrated edition, which brings an entirely new beauty to the experience. It feels good to be in his world again.

CUSTOMIZE

My transitional wardrobe leans almost exclusively on vintage army shirts. I wear them over denim shirts, over dresses, over tank tops and tees. I’m a bit of a collector. There’s just something about the utilitarian cut and those thick buttons, swoon.

Every now and then, I like to dress one up. And there’s no better place to help make that happen than Die Trying, a beautiful shop based in Austin, Texas, filled with the most stunning chainstitch patches you could dream of. They wash beautifully, last for years, and bring some serious aesthetic wow to an everyday staple. My favorites are the larger ones, sized perfectly for the back of a shirt or jacket.

WEAR

Sticking with the transitional weather theme, one item I reach for again and again is a good bandana. There’s just something about their versatility, perfect around the neck when there’s a chill, great for taming beach hair or shielding your neck from the California sun. I’ve used mine to wrap food on the go, hold feathers and shells found on hikes, and even as a quick placemat when I need one.

The one I’m loving most right now is from Taylor Stitch. It’s hand-dyed in rich, indigo kaleidoscope patterns by artist Teresa Misagal, and made from soft organic cotton. It feels more like a pocket-sized piece of art than a simple accessory. Beautiful, useful, and endlessly adaptable, exactly how I like my basics. These are part of a small batch so don’t sleep on it.

What are you loving this month?

Leave a comment


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.

“In time, almost every artist finds themselves too close to the things they make.” Rick Rubin

Yes. This.

What a subtle ache this truth holds, one that many of us carry quietly. We labor, shape, refine. We pour our questions, contradictions, and longings into the work. And inevitably, we reach a moment where we can no longer see it clearly. We are too close.

Too close to know if it’s good.
Too close to know if it matters.
Too close to recognize the thread of ourselves that runs through it.

Closeness can be disorienting. The very intimacy we cultivate with our creative work, our proximity to its origin, can cloud our ability to see it for what it truly is. Like trying to read a sentence with your nose pressed against the page.

This is part of the process. It’s not a failure or a sign that something’s wrong. It’s a natural threshold, a call to step back, zoom out, let the work breathe.

But here’s the thing: we don’t always have the luxury of time.

As creative professionals, we are often called to see clearly much sooner than time can allow. Deadlines, deliverables, and client demands don’t wait for our sense of detachment to catch up.

One of the most powerful tools I’ve found for navigating this exact moment is energy work. When we’re too close, what we often need isn’t distance in time, but neutrality in energy.

Energy work helps clear the charge so we can return to the work without our self-worth tangled in it. We stop taking feedback personally. We notice where we’re gripping too tightly. We can allow clarity to arise without needing to step away entirely.

It’s a subtle shift, but it can be profound.

When we access neutrality, we gain access to something deeper than objectivity, we regain trust in our ability to know what the work needs. And more importantly, we remember that we are separate from it. The work is of us, but it is not us.

Rubin’s words remind us that closeness is not a problem to solve, it’s a part of the rhythm. Yes, and great, but when time won’t wait and a deadline is looming, energy work can become our greatest ally in regaining the spaciousness we need to see clearly.

What helps you regain neutrality in your work? I’d love to know.

Leave a comment


TAURUS SEASON

April 20-May 20

Taurus Season embodies the grounded and practical qualities of the fixed earth element, bringing stability and security to the cosmic landscape. With a strong connection to the material world, Taurus values embodiment, groundedness, and the tangible aspects of life. Anchoring us into physical reality through steadfast values and contributions, Taurus epitomizes stability, solid foundations, and tangible results. Ruled by Venus and residing in the 2nd House, Taurus energy emphasizes the importance of personal finances, material possessions, and self-worth. True self-expression for Taurus is characterized by traits such as dependability, sensuality, and a talent for resourcefulness. Venus, the planet of love and beauty, guides this groundedness with affection, values, and social interactions, shaping relationships and artistic endeavors with grace and elegance. This season brings the enduring strength and abundant creativity of Taurus to navigate the realms of stability, security, and self-expression.

The grounded energy of Taurus Season can yield fruitful results. In the professional realm, emulate Taurus' dependability and practicality to establish solid foundations for projects and initiatives. Take a methodical approach, focusing on tangible goals and long-term outcomes. Prioritize stability and security, making calculated decisions that support sustainable growth and financial prosperity. The patient and persistent nature of Taurus Season can guide you through challenges, ensuring steady progress towards your objectives. Now is the time to tap into sensual and creative sensibilities to infuse your work with beauty and quality craftsmanship. Embrace the process, savoring each step as you bring your creative visions to life with patience and precision. Taurus Season offers an opportune time to cultivate a sense of stability, abundance, and creative fulfillment in all aspects of your endeavors.

Use these short journal prompts to connect with the dependable, creative, and deeply embodied energy of Taurus Season:

Havingness
What tangible rituals or practices remind me of my inherent worth, and how can I anchor them into my daily routine this season?

Sensuality
In what ways can I invite more beauty, pleasure, and sensory richness into my creative work without sacrificing structure or discipline?

Growth
What area of my professional life is asking for a slow, steady investment of time and care? How can I commit to its long-term growth?

Values
Which of my core values are reflected in the material aspects of my life—my space, possessions, and finances—and which are asking to be more fully embodied?

Let this season be your reminder that slow, intentional progress is still progress, and often the most sustainable kind.


SOLAR TRANSIT

4-22-25

Gate 27

The Gate of Caring

On April 22, the sun transits Gate 27, the Gate of Caring. During this celestial transit, you are presented with a unique opportunity for profound introspection and self-discovery. Gate 27 invites the opportunity to contemplate your boundaries. Whether you can allow yourself to be open to care and love while maintaining a sustainable and aligned capacity.

Can you love and be attentive while still loving yourself and tending to your own care and needs? This is an ideal time to reflect on your motivations for showing up. Think about whether you are present with others out of authentic desire, or if you are creating boundaries out of guilt. Understanding your Energy Type, Strategy, and Authority is really helpful when contemplating boundaries and presence.

Human Design Gate 27 embodies the delicate balance between self-nurturance and caring for others. This gate illuminates the path towards nurturing healthy relationships by assuming responsibility for one's values, needs, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions.

At its core, Gate 27 radiates an abundance of energy directed towards the compassionate care of others, particularly those who are ill, young, or in need. However, it's vital to recognize that Gate 27 can sometimes lead individuals to shoulder undue responsibility for the needs of others. This inclination towards self-sacrifice often stems from a deep-seated desire to validate one's worthiness of safety, love, belonging, and support.

To elevate the vibrational frequency of Gate 27, it's imperative to prioritize and honor your own needs. Beyond the essentials like food, shelter, and water, attending to your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being is paramount. Your unique Human Design blueprint serves as a compass, revealing these fundamental needs and guiding you towards establishing healthy boundaries, utilizing appropriate tools, and integrating supportive practices. By embracing and respecting your own needs, you cultivate a stronger foundation from which to authentically care for others while maintaining equilibrium in your relationships.

As the sun transits Gate 27, the Gate of Caring, you're urged to deeply reflect on the balance between nurturing others and prioritizing self-care. This celestial alignment encourages you to examine whether your care for others stems from authentic desire or obligation, and to understand how honoring your own needs is key to fostering healthy relationships.

Here are some journaling prompts to deepen your understanding and engagement with this transit:

1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you felt torn between caring for others and attending to your own needs. What emotions and thoughts arose during this experience?

2.Consider a time when you set boundaries out of guilt rather than genuine desire. How did this impact your relationships and well-being?

3.Explore your Energy Type, Strategy, and Authority in the context of setting boundaries and being present with others. How can understanding these aspects of your Human Design empower you in navigating relationships?

4.Envision an ideal scenario where you effortlessly balance caring for others and prioritizing self-care. What steps can you take to manifest this equilibrium in your daily life?

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 below.

Tapping Tutorial

“Even though In the past I sought to control everything to create abundance, I now trust that the collective will be best resourced when I follow my strategy and authority and seek what lights me up and I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”

  1. What Gate 27 insight will you put into practice first?

  2. What's stopping you?

  3. What help do you need?

Curious to learn how following the transits and lunar cycles can impact your creative process? Start by knowing your Design! Download your free Human Design chart below. And PS it comes with a free workbook and a free guide!

GET YOUR CHART HERE


Next week’s Muse is titled the Quiet Violence of Change. Any guesses on what I’m contemplating for ya?


Inside this week’s These Three Things:

What a car fire, a small glass bottle, and a slow exit reminded me about creative endings, emotional direction, and the things we carry when it matters most.

These weekly reflections are where I share what I’m noticing beneath the surface, where intuition, energy, and creative practice meet.

These Three Things is available for paid subscribers only. A quiet, focused space for thoughtful prompts, honest process, and building a reflective creative rhythm.

Come take your seat at the table.
We begin again each Sunday.

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